gray whales and several types of dolphins.
To get even closer to these cetaceans, I take a
whale-watching tour. Starting at the Cabo San Lucas
marina, my tour takes me past the picturesque rock
formations of Land’s End and the aforementioned
sea lion, one of many who inhabit the area. When
we pass by Lovers’ Beach—an excellent area for
snorkelling and swimming—our guide points to
a gap in the rocks leading to the aptly named
Divorce Beach. Though meant in jest, the name
hints at the dangers here: The beautiful beach isn’t
safe for swimming, owing to its tumultuous waves
and strong undertow.
As we sail past the iconic rock arch of Cabo San
40
Winter 2018
caa saskatcheWan
Lucas—El Arco to locals—we move into the open
waters of the Pacific. It’s not long before our first
whale encounter. Off the port bow, a spout of water
shoots up as a whale surfaces and quickly disappears.
We spend the afternoon following spurts of water
and watching the enormous creatures emerge. The
experience gets even tastier when our host produces
small bottles of Don Julio tequila.
Back on terra firma, I head to the weekly mercado
organico (organic market), held every Saturday
on a tree-lined patch of land in San José del Cabo.
I arrive mid-morning to find the raucous market in
full swing—live music, jugglers, playful bartering
and delicious smells wafting through the air. I can’t
resist the homemade corn-husk-wrapped tamales.
Between bites, I browse stalls filled with fresh
produce, cigars, tequila and jewellery made by locals
like Angélica Hilaria, who uses local cactus wood to
form intricate creations.
I
n the nearby communIty of Puerto Los Cabos,
I venture into a veritable cactus museum. The
picturesque Wirikuta Cactus Garden houses row
upon row of prickly plants. Explore the sprawling
grounds on foot or by rented bicycle. Succulent lovers
can also hit up Cacti Mundo, a botanical garden in
San José del Cabo, which grows an abundance of
native Mexican varieties.
Equally impressive as the towering cacti, the area’s
arts scene takes culture to new heights. On Thursday
evenings from November to June, galleries in San
José del Cabo throw open their doors, luring would-
be collectors until 9 p.m. My top pick: Galería de Ida
Victoria, with its eclectic collection of paintings and
sculptures from international and Mexican artists
like Andres-Garcia Peña and Belinda Palomino.
luke
clockwise from
top: eclectic art
at Galería de Ida
Victoria; fresh
fish tacos; home-
baked loaves at
Bread Flora Farms