Los Cabos is known worldwide as a top Spring Break destination, but there is so much more to this tropical paradise than a week of nonstop parties. In addition to our vibrant nightlife, we also offer art festivals, rich cultural celebrations, and fishing tournaments. People flock to Los Cabos as much for adventurous outdoor activities like whale watching, swimming with the dolphins, mountain biking, zipline canopy tours, surfing, and boating, as they do for sunning themselves on the beautiful beaches. Before booking your stay, you may want to consider planning your travel window based on one of the following memorable Los Cabos events.
Cabo San Lucas festivals combine many of the best aspects of traveling – indulging in local cuisine, people watching, and losing yourself in a foreign culture. Most of the festivals in Mexico commemorate special saints in the Catholic religion, but appeal widely in their expression of culture and festivities.
The Festival of St. Joseph takes place for 11 days in mid-March. Flocks of people come out to partake in carnivals and parades in honor of the city’s patron saint. It’s a great chance to sample unique items like warm tamales and sugared pumpkin candies, while shopping in an authentic local artisan bazaar. “Think block party meets county fair,” says the Travel Channel.
St. James is revered as the saint who introduced Catholicism to Mexico. On July 25th, the streets of Cabo become the parade grounds for riders on white horses, a wondrous spectacle to behold! Battle reenactments entertain spectators in the town square, as a lively street party spills out of the cantinas.
The Mexican Independence celebration runs from 15th- 16th – not Cinco de Mayo, as many people mistakenly believe. Los Cabos kicks off festivities with a reenactment of Miguel Hidalgo’s 1810 calls for revolution, which prompted the 11-year struggle for freedom from Spain. You can find these reenactments in both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. At 11 pm, communities gather to chant “Viva Mexico, Viva Mexico, Viva Mexico!” The tradition is followed by a midnight dinner and night of partying until the wee hours of the morning. There is no better way to experience Mexican culture, with this explosion of people, food booths, drinks, music, sombreros, panchos, flags, carnival rides, and fireworks.
You’ve been to plenty of parties back home, but a Mexican fiesta should definitely be on your bucket list if you’ve never had the pleasure! Fiestas offer unique sights, top musical performers, cultural icons, local sponsors, and lots of people out to have a good time.
Spanish-speaking countries often call the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Our Lady of Mount Carmel,” in reference to her role as the patroness of the Carmelite Order. She is celebrated on July 16th with a parade of school children and their mothers, puppet shows, bullfights, and fishing tournaments down by the marina.
October 18th kicks off the celebration of Saint Luke, the patron saint of Cabo San Lucas. The streets are closed down for a lavish parade, followed by four days of music, dancing, food vendors, and special events. You can expect to see the San Lucas Festival Queen and a top musical performer. It’s also a great time to see migrating whales passing through the coastal waters.
Divers have long known “The Point” – where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean – to be the ideal spot for diving, offering a glimpse of tantalizing resident whale sharks, manta rays, garden eels, and angelfish. Held for a week in August at Pulmo National Marine Park in Cabo San Lucas, the Summer Dive Festival brings a bunch of sponsors in for exciting prize draws and giveaways. Participate in an underwater treasure hunt, enjoy nightly happy hours, check out the best underwater photography, and indulge in Baja’s best dishes.
You can fish any time in Los Cabos, but October is the month that attracts anglers from across the globe who come not only for the fantastic weather, but for the biggest marlin and tuna. There’s no thrill quite like reeling in a 400-pound marlin, but there is also a lot of money at stake. There is a saying in Los Cabos: “Come for the fun, leave a millionaire!”
The Los Cabos Billfish Tournament takes place over three days in October. Top honors go to the team with the most billfish points per pound, with trophies and $10,000 in daily cash prizes for first, second, and third. Additional jackpots exist for marlin, tuna, wahoo, and dorado catches.
Bisbee tournaments appeal to anglers of all ages and skill levels, with the chance to win millions of dollars. The Offshore Tournament takes place in mid-October, with the early bird registration deadline at the end of August. Daily jackpots are awarded for billfish, tuna, and dorado. In their words: “We fish, we party, and we always make time for family.”
The Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament in late October awards daily prizes for the biggest black and blue marlins, as well as the top five teams for highest billfish points. Events include: cantina crawls, parades with taiko drums and fire dancing, a silent auction cocktail party, awards dinner, tournament film screening, and live music.
If you need information on the best times to visit Los Cabos, or the best accommodations near Playa el Medano, Playa Santa Maria, Playa Palmilla, or Monuments Beach, look no further than Sea Side Reservations, a leader in hospitality since 1996 specializing in Mexico vacations.