5. Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas, a resort on the southern tip of the Mexican peninsula Baja California, is known for its beaches, water sports and nightlife. The main beach Playa El Médano is lined with many restaurants and bars. Behind the marina is the Land's End promontory, home to various beaches and El Arco, a natural rock arch in the sea cliffs.
Although the area around San Lucas had probably been inhabited for thousands of years, the former fishing village was not built until the beginning of the 20th century. Within the last century the area changed completely from a quiet fishing village that was surrounded by estuaries to a mostly US-american tourism destination. We stayed for a couple of days in the Marina del Rey, one of several marinas in the port. Our main purpose for the visit was getting food supplies as well as water, diesel and propane and to wait in the protected harbour for the wind switching around to ease our onward journey in the Pacific to the north.
The headland is lined with beaches as well as hills, cliffs and more and more hotel blocks. Whether family with small children or young party people, everyone will find the right beach here. All kinds of day trips out to sea are offered in the city, for fishing, snorkeling or jet ski rides.
As the beaches as well as some reefs were within five minute walking distance from the boat and the temperatures required to cool down anyways I jumped into the water several times to do some snorkeling. Although these reefs are so close to the city and exposed to a lot of tourists I was surprised that they are pretty intact. Actually, I saw just a few other people who were interested in the reef. Most of the people were not interested in the underwater world but relaxed at the beach all day long. I found a number of empty beer cans and other objects which actually have no place here, which was a bit unfortunate. Nevertheless, the diversity of fish and corals was astonishing and I spotted waterlife I've never seen before.
