CONNECTIONS October 2016 issue 17 The Presidency

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 Sierra de Laguna mountain range funnels rainfall down sandy arroyos. Baja Norte A region of fertile vineyards and commercial fishing towns. Los Cabos Talk about contrasts. Once the harbor of a solitary tuna cannery, the port town of Cabo San Lucas has become a nonstop fiesta machine packed with souvenir stalls, cigar shops, and theme bars. Off the coast, the remarkable rock formation of El Arco marks Land's End. Twenty miles away, colonial San José del Cabo clings tenaciously to its Mexican heart and soul; narrow side streets reveal sleepy cantinas and folk-art boutiques. The Tourist Corridor A 20-mile four-lane highway between the two major cape towns is lined with sandy beaches, golf courses, and a heavy concentration of glitzy resorts. East Cape An undeveloped region of dirt roads, dive shacks, and surf camps that is some 50 miles north of Los Cabos, on Bahía de Palmas in the Sea of Cortés. The two main fishing villages are Los Barriles and Buena Vista. Farther Afield Todos Santos, one of Baja's colonial towns, is an hour north of Los Cabos—and a world apart. If you're willing to endure a grueling drive or a bumpy twin-prop flight, it's worth the detour 250 miles north on the peninsula to Bahía Magdalena, a saltwater breeding lagoon near the cannery town of Puerto López Mateos where gray whales migrate annually. What to Do FISHING More than a half a century ago, legendary anglers like John Wayne and Ernest Hemingway were lured to Cabo for wrestling matches with the Big Three: black marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish. Today, the biggame fishing is still considered some of the world's best, with several professional contests held annually. Captain Tony Berkowitz of San Lucas Yachts (52-624/147-5679; from $500 for four people) can arrange charters. Picante Bluewater Sportsfishing (52-624/143-2474; day charter from $955 for five people) and Pisces Sportfishing & Luxury Yacht Charters (52-624/143-1288 or 619/819-7983; day charter from $320 for four people) also have Englishspeaking captains and tournamentcaliber gear. DIVING About 1 1/2 hours northeast of San José, Cabo Pulmo shelters the only coral reef system in the Sea of Cortés. Stretching a mile offshore, this national marine park teems with parrot fish, moray eels, manta rays, and giant coral heads. Vista Sea Sport (Buena Vista; 52-624/141- 0031; two-hour trips $35 per person) takes you snorkeling among sea turtles or diving under the reef of El Bajo de los Morros. SURFING The nomadic surf tribes from SoCal and Hawaii love the long barrels, cheap combo platters, and even cheaper digs at casual trailer 13
CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 parks scattered up and down the coast. Look for great wave action at Playa Costa Azul, which fronts San José, and the expansive beaches of Los Cerritos and San Pedrito, 33 miles north of Los Cabos. On San Pedrito, expat surfer Patricia Baum's ecofriendly Teampaty Surf Camp(www.todossantos.cc/ecosurfc amp.html; lessons $20 an hour) has the best rental gear and instructors on the peninsula. BajaWild (San José; 52-624/142- 5300; www.bajawild.com; lessons from $65 per person) runs daylong classes on both the East Cape and Pacific shores. WHALE-WATCHING From January to March, thousands of gray whales migrate from the Bering Sea to protected lagoons along the Pacific Coast. The best place for close encounters of the Moby kind is Bahía Magdalena. Aéreo Calafia (Plazas Las Glorias hotel, Cabo San Lucas; 52-624/143-4302; day trips from $381 per person) provides certified guides, boats, lunch, and round-trip flights. A naturalist for Tofino Expeditions (800/677- 0877; www.tofino.com; from $1,050 per person, including all meals) leads weeklong sea kayaking trips to observe grays and birdlife in Mag Bay. Sleep in safari tents pitched on fawn-colored dunes, paddle calm bayside waters, and watch white ibis scour the mangroves. BEACHING IT Powerful riptides and brisk Playa Las Viudas, the Corridor Also known as Twin Dolphin Beach. Perfect for picnicking and prowling tidal pools. Wear rubber surf mocs. El Médano, Cabo San Lucas Fronted by barefoot bars and restaurants, this two-mile beach is water sports central: Jet Ski rentals, parasailing. Playa del Amor, Cabo San Lucas A smooth stretch of sand close to Land's End. Reachable from the marina by water taxi. Playa San Pedro (Las Palmas), Todos Santos Shallow water protected by promontories. Look for a sandy road next to a palm grove at Km 57 off Highway 19. Where to Stay Before the Transpeninsular Highway was completed in 1973, Los Cabos remained the backwater that Steinbeck encountered. It wasn't until the mid- 1990's that the Mexican government began developing the region for tourism. Since then, resort hotels, golf courses, and condo complexes have quickly brought the 21st century to La Frontera. Sadly, some of the new architecture along the shoreline is less 14
Page 1 and 2: CONNECTIONS The New Presidency in W
Page 3 and 4: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 now disengag
Page 5 and 6: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 The third re
Page 7 and 8: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 Emma Roberts
Page 9 and 10: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 Hello beauti
Page 11 and 12: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 be an act of
Page 13: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 journalism a
Page 17 and 18: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 THE NEW PLAY
Page 19 and 20: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 man or woman
Page 21 and 22: CONNECTIONS Issue # 17 20

CONNECTIONS October 2016 issue 17 The Presidency

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?