Many people have gazed out over the desert landscape of Mexico’s Cape San Lucas, and each of them has formed their own opinion of this isolated place. In the year 1534, the Spanish explorer Fortún Jiménez paid little attention to what he thought was probably an island. This was not the case with Hernán Cortés, who landed on its shores, planted the Spanish flag and claimed credit for discovering not only Cape San Lucas, but also the entire Baja California peninsula where the city of the same name is now located.

Centuries later in 1974, Mexican and international investors came to take a closer look at this place with its benign climate, beaches to dream about and a landscape to take your breath away. They realized that it had great potential as a tourist destination and decided to turn it into a first class resort development. This most recent sighting of Cape San Lucas lead to its transformation into what it is today: a paradise waiting to meet the demands of the most discerning traveler, with its resorts enveloping their guests in comfort and luxury, world class gastronomic offerings, the widest imaginable selection of water sports, a frenetic night life and the richness of nature that leaves no doubt as to the existence of a higher power.

Where to begin enjoying Cape San Lucas? How about starting off with the things that every visitor should see? The first of these is El Arco, a rock formation shaped by the winds of the Pacific Ocean which has become the region’s symbol. This feature can only be reached by boat, but the experience is certainly well worth the trip. As you continue enjoying huge structures carved out by the action of wind and waves, the next stop is Land’s End, with its tall structures which take on the most curious of shapes. Wait for low tide and take an unforgettable walk with your partner along Playa del Amante (Lovers’ Beach).

Having enjoyed your fill of the landscape, it is time to immerse yourself in Cape San Lucas’ rich animal life. You have a wide variety of choices, from bird watching, enjoying some of the 200 species that live in the San Jose Bird Sanctuary, including egrets, herons and brown pelicans, to photographing sea lions playing on the cliffs of Punta Lobos. For the more adventurous, how about a boat trip on the Sea of Cortés, watching gray whales which end their 9,000 km annual pilgrimage from Alaska right here to give birth to their young, or swimming alongside giant manta rays, whale sharks and the numerous shoals of dolphins. The scuba diving fans can be truly sure that they will not get off the Cape disappointed.

After such an adrenalin rush, its time to enjoy one of the following relaxing alternatives: pamper your senses in the relaxing surroundings of one of the luxurious resorts that have sprung up in the city, or enjoy the almost unspoiled beaches for which the Peninsula is known. The first alternative will take you to the city’s hotels that specialize in offering excellent service to their guests, all of which enjoy wonderful views over the Pacific Ocean, which you can enjoy while taking a massage, sipping a refreshing Margarita or simply allowing your body to take on the golden color of the sun’s rays.

The second alternative also brings its rewards. Between San José del Cabo and Cape San Lucas there are 23 beaches to explore, each with its own points of interest. Playa Chileno for example is perfect for swimming and snorkeling, while surfers will be attracted to the turbulent waters of Playa Costa Azul and photographers will certainly want to capture Playa Palmilla in their view finders. Having enjoyed nature’s abundance and modern hotels, why not try your luck with some sports? The most accessible sea sport among the many on offer in the area is sport fishing. After all, Cape San Lucas is known as the “World Marlin Capital”; its waters are teeming with this species and thanks to the catch and release policy, they are in no danger of extinction. In addition to fishing you can also enjoy windsurfing, diving, snorkeling and water skiing.

Away from the water, the Cape’s most popular sport is golf. The city boasts a total of eight golf courses that follow the sinuous desert contours of the landscape and are more than enough to challenge all golfers, whether enthusiast or expert. These courses, designed by such famous names as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones II, are the equal of any courses in the world.

Finally, no stay in Cape San Lucas would be complete without taking in the enormous range of gastronomy which the city offers. With food from Canada, Brazil, North America, Italy and Asia, the possibilities are endless. However, given that this is Mexico it is highly likely that travelers will want to enjoy authentic local cuisine and if this is the case there are three places that must not be missed.

The first is Edith’s Restaurant on the Marina, which specializes in cooking sea food and meat on a Mesquite grill (a tree native to Mexico). Margarita Villa is close to it, and is famous for its Mexican food and the largest Margaritas known to man. Number three on the list is the Hacienda del Cuervo, which recreates authentic, traditional ‘manitas’, complemented by their amazing tequila and mariachi music. When this gastronomic episode rounds off their adventure, visitors will be secure in the knowledge that they have got to know the true essence of Cape San Lucas and will be able to recall their experiences and enjoy them from their own particular perspective.