The drive from the airport to the highway took about ten minutes, maybe a little less. The main highway runs along a stunning coastline, with views that will help drive all the stress of travel away. Welcome to The Corridor, a vacationer’s paradise of golf courses, hotels, villas, and condos that hug a sensational coastline. It also connects the two main areas of Los Cabos. Turn left, and within ten minutes you’ll be in San Jose del Cabo; turn right, and you’ll reach Cabo San Lucas in a little less than a half hour.

These two destinations are studies in contrast. While Cabo San Lucas is quickly becoming one of the most popular high-end vacation spots in the world, San Jose del Cabo represents an older, quieter, and more traditionally Mexican resort town. Cabo San Lucas offers an abundance of shops and restaurants, not to mention a nightlife that is one of the best in North America. The pace in San Jose del Cabo is less commercial and more tranquil; relaxing strolls along the enchanting Boulevard Mijares and refreshing dips in the warm ocean waters at uncrowded beaches are just a couple of the examples of the peace that can be had in Cabo’s “other” town. By virtue of these differences, Los Cabos offers something for just about every kind of traveler. As travel lovers, my husband and I decided that we wanted a taste of both areas.

With the intention of playing hard and then relaxing in restful San Jose del Cabo, we turned right. For the first few nights of our stay in Cabo San Lucas—on the advice of a friend—we settled in Pedregal, a private gated community of luxurious villas just off the Sea of Cortez. Homes of Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas feature either sweeping views of either the Pacific Ocean or a beautiful marina on the Sea of Cortez. Some of the most notable features of Pedregal include 24-hour security, a tennis club, and exclusive access to a private Pacific Ocean beach. While there is currently a fair amount of construction in the area, we never found it bothersome during our stay. The work does not seem to obstruct any views, and there is enough space between the homes that noise is never a distraction.

During our week in Cabo San Lucas, we stayed in a villa called Brisa del Mar and had the opportunity to see several other home rentals where our friends were staying. Looking back—while it’s hard to go wrong with any of the homes available to rent in this neighborhood—I must say, we picked one of the best.

Brisa del Mar is a four-bedroom, 4,500-square-foot residence, featuring an outdoor patio with a heated infinity swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and wet bar, which was perfect for watching the sunset and taking in stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The exterior of the home offers several covered terraces that we used for cookouts. It was a pleasant place to share a meal because the views are fantastic, and the property’s landscaping is impeccable. Some mornings, before my husband arose, I escaped to one of the villa’s palapa areas, where I swung in a hammock and read. I can’t remember being more relaxed than I was during those times.

As far as the interior of our rental goes, I really liked the open-air layout that gives the home great flow. All four bedrooms were large and had en-suite bathrooms. The den even includes a deceptively comfortable sofa bed, which was used on a couple of occasions by friends who spent the night. My husband remarked what a perfect rental it would be for large families with so much space available. While I agree with him, I thought the home also worked just fine for a single couple like us. An added bonus of Brisa del Mar is its proximity to miles of private beach. An easy, unhurried five-minute walk, and you’re there.

And “there” is paradise. Because of the exclusivity of the community, the beach is relatively secluded. On a few evenings, my husband and I had the beach to ourselves when we visited with a bottle of wine to watch the sunset.

But there’s much more to Cabo San Lucas than just stunning villas, tropical weather, and beautiful beaches. From watersports like snorkeling and surfing (a favorite of hubby’s) to golf and horseback riding, there’s no shortage of activities to fill a day in Cabo San Lucas. I didn’t even have time to do some shopping; although, I was told there are plenty of shops to choose from downtown. One of the more exciting moments of our stay was spotting diving whales on Magdalena Bay—while standing on the patio of our villa!

If you like nightlife—and my husband and I still do—Cabo San Lucas is the place to be. The club scene, to which I liberally include trendy bars and restaurants, offers a lot of variety, and most travelers shouldn’t have trouble finding a place-or several—that fits their style.

As Jazz-lovers, my husband and I really loved Sancho Panza Wine Bistro and Jazz Club Restaurant. Aside from great music, Sancho Panza serves up creative Mediterranean cuisine and features a top-rate wine list. It’s not an easy find, so be sure you know where you’re going before you start out—especially if you have a husband who thinks he knows where everything is and refuses to ask for directions.

If you’re into trendy clubs that attract celebrities (not me!), then you might want to try out Cabo Wabo, a rock venue owned by Sammy Hagar. On the other end of the spectrum is El Squid Roe, which plays mostly pop from the 80s and 90s, and has a laid-back beach atmosphere. This club caters customers of all ages, but after ten, watch out: a Spring Break-style vibe begins to dominate the scene. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Regarding other rental options in San Cabo Lucas, here are my impressions of the villas our friends stayed in:

Villa Stein: With lots of room (four bedrooms on three different levels), this oceanfront residence is another good choice for families—as long as you don’t mind lots of stairs! Besides space, the house features an excellent pool area that had the children jumping for joy, and us adults enjoyed the swim-up bar and hot tub. The house also offers two living areas each with a kitchen, but guests have access to the lower living area only. Along with my friends Harriet and Dan who rented the house, I was surprised to find out the owner lives in the main living area—even when guests are there. Though there is a washer and dryer for guests to use, these appliances are actually in the entrance of the house manager’s personal apartment. While Harriet and Dan said they did not mind this arrangement, I would personally not be comfortable about having the owner around while I was trying to relax and enjoy vacation, and I think the majority of our other friends felt the same way. When you’re staying in a villa, the last thing you want is to feel like you’re intruding.

Punta Vista: My friend Julie rented this versatile—and beautiful—seven-bedroom home, featuring stunning ocean views and lots of room to roam. Space was an important factor for Julie, who brought along her four children. With three bedrooms, a huge kitchen, and spacious living and dining areas on the main/entry level, it occurred to me that the house would also be a good option for an older couple, or any individual who required the use of a wheelchair. And plenty of parking along with the size of the interior would make it an appropriate choice for groups as well. An outdoor terrace boasts lots of room for entertaining, a lovely infinity pool, and a hot tub. Additionally, off of the pool area, there are steps that lead down to a landing perfect for catching the sunset at the end of the day. If we returned to Cabo San Lucas someday, I think I would try to talk some friends into renting this home with me.

Casa del Amor: This very comfortable five-bedroom home sleeps ten and offers two living areas—one on the entrance level where the kitchen is and one on the lower level—making it an ideal home for a large family or group. Our friends Nancy and George and their three children stayed here, and it became a common meeting place because of the space it offers. This rental is not that fancy, but it is well maintained and clean. And, at $400 per night, it’s one of the best deals in Cabo.

Casa Cascadas: This four-bedroom villa has three different levels, making it not very practical for older couples or families with small children. But it worked out fine for our friends Mike and Lisa, a middle-aged couple with two teenage girls. While both the living area and the pool terrace are on the smaller side, the house does have some interesting features, like a hot tub on the main level and a second terrace off the master bedroom on the third level that overlooks the pool and offers excellent views of the Pacific. Also, the home receives a wonderful ocean breeze.

Casa del Sol Sonriente: This three-bedroom home on the Pacific side of the Pedregal community offers fantastic ocean views and receives terrific breezes. While the size of the home is listed as 2,700 square feet, the layout makes it feel considerably smaller. Also, the furnishings and décor are more comfortable than luxurious. But the property certainly has its advantages that made it a good choice for our friends Stacy and Dave who were travelling with their adult son. A third bedroom that includes a kitchenette and bathroom is a studio for all intents and purposes and provided Dave Jr. with all the space and privacy he needed. And, at $450 per night, this rental is a steal.

St. Amour: This split-level, three-bedroom villa on Pedregal's Pacific side is small, but cute. With a bright colors and warm décor, I think it would be perfect for a girls' weekend getaway or a family with young children. The property includes a large terrace overlooking the ocean and a small patio with swimming pool and hot tub. What's more, it's only minutes from downtown, and it's reasonably priced ($600 per night.)

Tres Hermanas: Another adorable home that's relatively small, this four-bedroom, hacienda-style villa is located on the marina side very close to the road, meaning there are no views, but it's an easy walk to town. The property features bedrooms with balconies and a small courtyard with a pool and Jacuzzi. At under $400 per night during the low season, the rental is yet another great bargain.

My Bio
Jennifer Taylor started her career with Creative Leisure International in the summer of 1996. After a few years as a reservations agent, she moved on to become Creative Leisure’s Marketing Manager. Soon, however, she realized that her true passion was selling, so she moved back into Creative Leisure’s reservations department. In early 2007, she was promoted to her current position in the reservations department of Villas of Distinction where she sells the company's luxury villa brand. Jennifer has also used her experience as a reservation agent combined with her marketing experience to assist the Creative Leisure's marketing department in writing copy and content for company literature.
When Jennifer isn’t chasing after her two year old or working on home improvement projects with her husband, she enjoys traveling, reading, and exploring Northern California where she grew up and currently resides. Email Jennifer