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History
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California
Sur, was originally settled by indigenous tribes. In the mid-sixteenth
century, European explorers came to the area, including Hernan Cortes
in 1535 and Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. For over 300 years Los
Cabos was a supply port for Spanish galleons returning from the Far
East laden with spices, silks and other treasures. Pirates would hide
out in Baja’s numerous coves awaiting the opportunity to raid them.
Later, whalers called on nearby San Jose del Cabo for the game and fresh
water from the large estuary. Local Cabo families can trace their
ancestry
back to pirates, whalers and sailors who settled here well over a
century
ago.
In 1917, an American company
moved in and built a fishing station and packing plant. The shell of
their tuna packing plant can be seen on the shore on the south side
of Cabo’s harbor entrance. But Cabo was little more than a fish camp
until the Transpeninsular Highway to the US/Mexican border was completed
in 1971.
From the 1940’s to the early
1970’s – Cabo was known among the rich and famous as a place for
near mythical big game fishing where one could catch monster marlin
upwards of 1400lbs. Bing Crosby, John Wayne, Dean Martin and many
others
would arrive on their yachts or fly in landing on a dirt strip
approximately
where Marina Blvd exists today. In the early days they stayed in rough
bunkhouses, emptying the scorpions from their shoes before they put
them on in the morning.
Today over 2.5 million tourists visit Los Cabos annually. Nearby San Jose del Cabo International airport receives flights from all over the world, and over 40 cruise ships visit the port monthly. Most visitors come for 3 main reasons – the incredible big-game fishing, golf on world-class ocean courses, and whale watching. But there’s much more to do including fine dining, dancing in nightclubs, shopping in waterfront malls and a myriad of water sports, fun activities and tours. Some come just to relax by a hotel pool or on an isolated beach on the East Cape. And many savvy people come on medical and dental vacations as Cabo is Mexico’s hot spot for healthcare tourism.