Lend a hand to a sea turtle hatchling
Sayulita ’ s festive streets
STREET : DaniEla CaRam PuEnTE / GETTy imaGES ; BEaDS : FREDERiCk DEnnSTEDT / FliCkR ;
TuRTlE : STEPhEn SimPSon / GETTy imaGES ; TEQuila : REGGiE CaSaGRanDE / GETTy imaGES
The intricate beadwork of the indigenous Huichol tribe
a break from the saltwater , they head to Don Pedro ’ s beach restaurant . Try to get a table on the sandy back patio to kick off your flip-flops and soak up the postcard-perfect sea view . If you ’ re feeling a little parched , a michelada is the remedy . Think of it as a Mexican Caesar : a combination of cerveza ( beer ), Clamato juice , lime and salt . For food , you can ’ t go wrong with the fresh mahi mahi ceviche .
Belly full , stroll along Calle Marlin — one of Sayulita ’ s main drags . The cobblestone street is a bonanza of boutiques brimming with all kinds of Mexicana , from Day of the Dead tchotchkes and lucha libre masks to intricately painted ceramic tiles that would be at home in the pages of Architectural Digest .
When you tire of shop-hopping , Sayulita Fish Taco makes for a most delicious pit stop . Yes , they serve some of the best and freshest fish tacos in town , but don ’ t let the name fool you — this bar is all about the tequila , stocking more than 300 varieties . ( This traveller ’ s personal favourite is 1800 Coconut , for a truly tropical sipper .) Instead of throwing back a shot , savour your spirit the Mexican way : Straight up — no salt , no lime — and sipped , not gulped .
Sayulita attracts its fair share of surfers and tequila enthusiasts , but local and expat artists also flock to the area . Explore the cultural side of the village at Galeria Tanana , a gallery and shop showcasing the handiwork of the Huichol people . The tribe , indigenous to Sayulita and the surrounding area , specializes in colourful beadwork . At this museumlike space , visitors can admire Huichol artistry and pick up some one-of-akind baubles , from chandelier earrings to ornate belt buckles . All proceeds support the Huichol Center for Cultural Survival , a group dedicated to preserving the community .
After a day of surfing , sipping and shopping , retreat to the beach for a last glimpse of the legendary waves . Look for one of many stands selling cocos frios , literally translated “ cold coconuts .” For a few pesos , you ’ ll get a whole chilled shell with a straw — the cool coconut water is the perfect way to toast a day well spent in this scenic surf town .
Tequila brands on offer at Sayulita Fish Taco
If you ’ re In Cabo San LuCaS : Todos Santos
By RoBin SchRoffel
Cabo San LuCaS iS many things , but slow isn ’ t one of them . Synonymous with yacht clubs , anything-goes nightlife and air-conditioned luxury malls , Baja California ’ s hub city is a one-stop vacation shop . But when Cabo ’ s fast pace has you needing a vacation from your vacation , it ’ s time to head north to Todos Santos .
Situated on the seaside about 75 kilometres north of Cabo , quiet and congenial Todos Santos (“ All Saints ” in English ) is a true oasis . It thrived as Baja ’ s sugarcane capital in the 1800s , but a 30-year drought beginning in the 1950s parched the industry into extinction — and nearly took the town with it . When the water finally returned in the ’ 80s , Todos Santos began anew as both a centre of agriculture — papayas , mangoes , avocados — and a haven for artists from around the globe .
Designated a Pueblo Mágico ( literally translated “ magical town ”) by Mexico ’ s Secretariat of Tourism , Todos Santos makes no secret of its special qualities : They seem infused in the warm air and the ubiquitous dust . See its magic during a stroll through the historic centre , »
CAA maniToBa Fall 2016 43