Picture this: After two short flights, you can be transported to a place Californians go for a good time: Cabo, Mexico. Your friends at Off The Grid Greenville want to help you experience a new place like a local. We’ve put together an “off the grid” time that includes all of our favorite things to do. Eat. Drink. And explore. Yep, we also included some unique off-road excursions.
Why Cabo? Think CA vibe with the usual suspects; tacos, tequila, beaches, desert, and BONUS - friendly people. This is the México where folks smile from their hearts and don’t correct your third grade Spanish. Plus, it’s closer than you think with just a couple of short 2-hour flights from GSP, on American, Delta or Southwest.
Or you can go with option #2, a long excursion to the arch including a stop at one of the beaches. Water taxis start leaving as early as 8am and run until 4pm. With calmer water in the morning, you can stay all day. Some of the beaches offer snorkel rental, refreshments, and local crafts. Tip the folks that are working hard to unload and load beach guests.
If you’re ready for a true “off the grid” adventure, you’re gonna love Los Zacatitos. It’s an oceanside community with beautiful beaches, donkeys (bring a bag of apples and feed them from your car) and the delicious *cash only Zac’s Bar & Grill.
If you’re an animal lover, you’re gonna dig the tunes of Lady Gaga, a singing camel that will “cantar” on command if rewarded with carrots. She also gives kisses to everyone who leaves a tip. If you’re good at finding a camel in a haystack, you’ll find her on the property at the Marina Puerto Los Cabos.
We stumbled upon a couple of high-end resorts (Hacienda Cerritos and Hotel San Cristobal) that were more than happy to allow us to enjoy their tasty, outdoor restaurants and high (for Mexico) prices at $12-$14 for a cocktail.
Bonus: At the beach, alongside the exclusive Hotel San Cristobal, there’s a lot to watch. Enjoy a cocktail while several fishing teams haul their boats out of the water by truck and then quickly filet the fish and feed the remains to anxious pelicans.
Cabo Surf Hotel.
Grab a public parking spot next to the hotel. The beach and bar are open to the public. Start a tab and let them bring your beverages to you. It’s not a swimming beach, but definitely one for a long walk.
Keeping true to our name, we sought out the unique, tasty, and hidden dining spots.
We really dug The Hangman. A local spot in San Jose del Cabo with live music, plenty of character and the whole family cooking (don’t miss the charros beans). We left stuffed at $11 per person.
Así Asado (yep, Guy Fieri was right). It’s fresh and has one of the best salsa bars. Don’t miss the grilled shrimp taco! Heck, they’re all amazing.
Lolita Cafe is located in downtown San Jose del Cabo. You are welcome to enjoy their awesome coffee, fresh-baked pastries, breakfast burritos, and poached eggs on toast with brie in their adorable courtyard. It was a winner for us, satisfying our foodie friends.
For us, there’s no better way to get to know an area than going to the grocery stores. Or two. We found our way into three different types of grocery stores. All were equipped with in-store WiFi (a great way to keep your cell on airplane mode and not pay for text), beach clothing and gear, reasonably priced high-end tequila, fun snacks (Fritos, cheese, sweets) and fresh baked goods! They accept Visa/Amex, so you can save your cash for the many places that do not accept credit cards or stiff you with an additional fee or poor exchange rate.
Chedraui is for the true foodie adventure!
Where to stay? If you’re looking for a spring-break-style vacation, check into Cabo. For folks seeking more relaxation, San Jose del Cabo is just 20 minutes away (and closer to the airport). It’s a beautiful suburb with mind-blowing hotels, condos for rent and sale, an amazing variety of restaurants, and retail shops. There’s plenty of art, sun-worshipping, and tequila drinking too.
Club la Casa made the perfect spot in the central part of San Jose del Cabo. A gated golf community, equipped with its own hot tubs and pools, is within walking distance to the retail plaza, Fisherman Square. Nearby, there are horse rides, bike rentals, and the stunning beachfront hotel, The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Los Cabos. Grab an Uber ride to downtown San Jose del Cabo, the Gallery District’s San Jose del Cabo Art Walk, or ride up into the hills to dine at some of the glamorous restaurants, such as Flora Farms or Acre.
If you’re in town on a Thursday, don’t miss the Art Walk in downtown San Jose del Cabo. Bring home a treasure and support this small community of talented artists.
How do you transport original art? For paintings, ask the artist to take it off the stretcher bars, carefully roll, and use a tube. Or use your last pesos and pay a small fee at the airport to have it wrapped better than the spider from Charlotte’s Web. Sculpture? You’re on your own here. Too fragile - and our suitcases are already full with bottles of mezcal and tequila.
Shopping: there are a plethora of places to purchase traditional crafts imported from different states in Mexico. Everything from old school blankets, table cloths & runners, functional ceramics & glass, Day of the Dead everything to shot glasses, t-shirts, and mezcal. Lots of color and negotiating depending on location.
Airport tips:
When departing, bring your own food that travels well, like a torta or burrito. Expect long lines.
OTG tip: Buy your booze at the grocery for less money and a bigger selection. Use t-shirts and the Mexican blankets you couldn’t say no to for wrapping the bottles in advance, keeping them safe under the plane.
