a humpback
flashing its fluke;
an olive ridley
sea turtle makes
a run for the sea
(left); traditional
painted skulls
(right)
38
Winter 2018
caa saskatcheWan
A corridor of resorts and hotels separates the vastly
different communities.
Arriving at night, darkness shrouds the landscape,
but the warm breeze is already a stark contrast to
the cold afternoon I left behind in Canada. The
next morning, I open the shutters of my room at the
Hilton Los Cabos to a view of the brilliant blue ocean.
Hotel guests are already claiming their loungers next
to the infinity pool and, in the distance, tourists on
horseback trot alongside the pristine sea.
That beautiful beach also boasts unique wildlife
experiences. Each year between April and July,
olive ridley sea turtles emerge from the ocean to
lay eggs on the beach. “We protect an average of
25,000 to 40,000 eggs each year as we patrol
10 miles of beach,” says Phil Sanders, the Hilton’s
imaGe
A
s I cruIse Along the seA of cortez ,
basking in the sun and serenity of Los
Cabos, my peace is unceremoniously
interrupted by a spunky sea lion. Out of
nowhere, the animal leaps from the water into the
back of our tour boat. As he noses around for food,
I inch closer to the slick creature. I’ve never been
nose to snout with a sea lion, so I’m surprised by its
size—and its boldness. Our quick-thinking guide
springs to action, pretending to hold out a handful
of food. The hulking mammal investigates, but soon
realizes there’s no tasty fish on offer. As quickly as he
boarded, he dives back into the smooth water and
joins his sea lion pals on a nearby rock.
Located on the tip of the Baja California Peninsula,
Los Cabos intersects the Pacific Ocean and the Sea
of Cortez. The area is popular with beach lovers
tempted by its sand, sun and free-flowing tequila.
But as I discovered on a recent trip, the area offers
so much more. Mexico’s cultural riches and natural
beauty flourish on every beach and street corner.
Los Cabos comprises two distinct areas: the lively
party town of Cabo San Lucas and the sleepier San
José del Cabo, with its art galleries and local charm.