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San José Del Cabo iIt is one of the trendiest beach destinations in Mexico.
With its honey-coloured sandy beaches along an azure ocean and a picturesque coastline interspersed with resorts and modern developments – in terms of arrivals it is only second to the Caribbean giant Cancun.
While most tourists visit Cabo mainly for the city’s sunny weather and five-star accommodations Cultural attractions are usually overlooked.
It turns out there’s more to it than sunbathing at Playa Palmilla or enjoy the newest wellness retreat in town.
The historic colonial-style center of San Jose Del Cabo is largely ignored by beachgoers incredible charmingand it will surely steal the hearts of culture lovers:
A colonial center that is usually skipped by tourists
A beach destination on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, San Jose Del Cabo has been the southern retreat of Americans (and especially Californians) for decades, thanks to its warm year-round weather, excellent hospitality, and proximity to western The United States. Coast.
In addition to Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos is the most popular holiday destination in Mexico after Riviera Maya.
Between the lively bar district, which is full of holidaymakers looking for a good time, and monumental resorts, it’s not like it needs an introduction.
On the other handThere is another side to Cabo that most tourists have ignored, either due to a lack of interest or simply poor promotion on the part of the authorities: the beautiful historic centerunlike the iconic arch protruding from the sea or the many sandy beaches, this is usually not the case teeming with tourists.
You already know that Cabo is a world-class wellness destination, but did you know, for example, that unlike Cancun and neighboring hotel zones, it wasn’t built in the late 20th century to primarily cater to visiting Americans?
Cabo’s history dates way back, and there it is growing interest in the city’s cultural heritage:
Did you have any idea Cabo was so charming?
In case you didn’t know, San Jose Del Cabo was founded by Spanish colonists in the early 18th century when Mexico was under European control.
Although it is not as old as most of the colonial treasures of the Yucatán, such as Mérida or Campeche, it still has some of that idyllic appeal.
That said, it’s not a modern settlement without character either: after its founding it quickly flourished as a fishing village, and despite currently being dominated by a bustling Resort Corridor, it has retained at least some of that former idyllic appeal .
The historic center roughly corresponds to the main square, Plaza Mijares, which is dominated by a Spanish-built parish church dates back to 1730and the numerous pedestrian streets lined with restaurants and souvenir shops surrounding them.
Promised, it’s not enormousthat has now lost much of the former, pre-development city to the centuries, but it’s beautiful nonetheless: we’re talking less high-rises and chaotic traffic, low houses along narrow roads, casual eateries serving delicious seafood, and a overall relaxed atmosphere.
Among other attractions there is Cabo’s Art District, with a wide choice of art exhibitions and craft shops, including the monumental Frank Arnold and Ivan Guaderrama Galleries, and the lively Marina Puerto, with its informal seafood restaurants and palm-lined waterfront promenade.
In short, Cabo San Lucas may not be the Mexican destination for every culture lover, and it certainly pales in comparison to the likes of San Miguel de Allende or Oaxaca, much older colonial cities with greater architectural wealth, but it is not to be underestimatedor.
The first Barrio Magico In Baja California Sur
It should come as no surprise that the historic center is the place to be first in the state of Baja California Sur to get the title Barrio Magicoor ‘Magic Neighboorhood’, the Mexican equivalent of a UNESCO heritage monument or site:
The Barrio Magico badge, an award granted by the Mexican government, is reserved for specific areas of Mexican cities an aesthetic or cultural value: In other words, don’t expect your usual business district or run-down suburbs to make it.
It is a different distinction from that of the Magic Cities, which do not include one particular area in a municipality, but the whole of it: this is the case in Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí and a host of other cities famous for their preserved colonial centers.
San Jose Del Cabo remains a rapidly developing holiday destination, with luxury hotels and nature at the forefront of its tourist offering, in contrast to its rather compact historic centre. So it’s understandable why Mexican authorities haven’t managed to call the entire city “magical.”
That doesn’t mean San Jose Del Cabo As a whole isn’t magical––this is one of the best places in Mexico to relax and enjoy coastal nature, remember?––but if it is The allure of the Old World that makes your heart beat faster, you will certainly not find it in the Resort Corridor.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
