Babysitting
in Baja
At Last!!!! A much needed service has come to Los Cabos. Yes, there are now experienced babysitters at
your service in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Do you need a babysitter for just one night out without the kids, or do
you want an extra set of hands for your entire stay? Baja Babysitting is ready to serve you and
your family whatever your needs may be.
Your options for activities and entertainment in beautiful Los Cabos are
endless but vacations don’t come around often enough so let Baja Babysitters
help your family for most of their time in Mexico.
Baja Babysitting is a professional service
that was created specifically to cater to English speaking tourists
here in the resorts, residences and private homes of Los Cabos. With the
opportunity to book one of their highly qualified sitters your
family really can have it all – sun, family fun, relaxation and new
experiences. You will have peace of mind knowing your children are safe and
entertained with their experienced sitters while you enjoy
some well-deserved adult-only time because we all know not all activities in
Los Cabos are ideal for children and some of the fun goes on way past bedtime.
As their motto states “Take care of yourselves while we take
care of the kids.” Baja Babysitting’s
top priority is the safety and happiness of your children.
Check out their website, www.BajaBabysitting.com, for testimonials, rates, family friend Los Cabos info, and
more.
To contact Gillian (owner of
Baja Babysitting) directly email her at BajaBabysitting@gmail.com"
May 10th is the
day Mother’s Day is celebrated in Mexico.
Mexicans start the day
with great enthusiasm and gusto. Children get up early in the morning and sing
beautiful songs dedicated to their mothers. It is celebrated with a mass at the
shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, where an orchestra plays 'las mañanitas' of
the Virgin. The Virgin here is symbolical of motherhood. After the mass,
Mexicans follow a wonderful custom of providing early morning meal to all the
mothers. The meal involves distribution of 'tamales' and 'atole'.
Many-a-times, kids celebrate the day at school
with their mothers. It happens when the day falls on a school day. They sing
songs, dance, tell jokes, and sometimes perform a short skit. Lunch or Dinner
is arranged in a restaurant, for which booking is done many weeks prior to
mother's day.
Apart from giving the conventional flowers,
Mexicans also indulge in the custom of giving gifts to their mother. Whilst the
older children give expensive gifts to their mother, the young ones make her
happy with handmade gifts. However, all of them have a single aim - to make the
day special for their mother. They want is to let their mother know that they
realize her importance and she holds a very special place in their life, which
no one else can take over.
Mexico celebrates mother's day in the honour of
womanhood and making others realize the strong role of a mother in the family,
who binds everyone together. Mexicans justify the fact with their immense
loyalty and love for mothers.
This day, irrespective of geographical
boundaries, is celebrated with great zeal and happiness. It reminds us all
about the joy and warmth we get after hugging our mothers who take all our
pains away.
Los Cabos….the Capes
Los Cabos, meaning “the Capes,” isn’t really a city. It’s the name
Mexican tourism officials bestowed on the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose
del Cabo, as well as the 20-mile stretch of coast known as the Tourist Corridor
that connects them. Located at the southernmost tip of Baja California Sur,
these once remote fishing communities exploded in growth since the 1970s when
tourism discovered their local charms, beaches and most importantly sport
fishing/
So the question is….where to stay in Los Cabos. Where to stay in Los Cabos really depends on
your interests. Cabo San Lucas is party central with many
restaurants, lively bars and nightclubs that stay open until the last patrons
leave. Shoppers can find everything from fine leather and silver to cheap
souvenir trinkets. At the Marina, touts sell tours and restaurateurs hawk their
menu to every passerby, giving it a carnival-like atmosphere. It’s even more
frenetic when cruise lines call on Cabo San Lucas, shuttling masses of people
to the marina via tenders.
At the other end of the Corridor, San Jose del Cabo is a quieter town with a more historic
Mexican feel. A mission church dating to the early 1700s faces a pleasant
central plaza which anchors a four-block Arts District. On Thursday nights,
dozens of galleries bring their art outside for the weekly Art Walk where it’s
fashionable to enjoy a glass of wine, stroll, view and shop. Several fine
dining restaurants are also in the heart of the old town.
Wherever you decide to stay, time spent is Los Cabos will be remembered
fondly for years to come. Maybe, like
many others, you will decide to stay and call Los Cabos home.
WHERE
IN MEXICO?
Where
in Mexico can you drink tap water, eat fruits and veggies, not need Imodium and
feel really safe?
Easy
to understand why celebs like George Clooney, the late Frank Sinatra-led Rat
Pack and others, have regarded Cabo as their hideaway.
San Jose del Cabo? Los
Cabos? Cabo San Lucas? Baja California? What happened to Cabo and why the different names?
About
1,000 miles from the US-Mexico border, Los Cabos is in Baja California Sur.
With three distinct areas, Cabo San Lucas (on the west) where the Sea of
Cortez meets the Pacific, the Corridor and San Jose Del Cabo to the
east.
The
Corridor is a new highway about 20 miles between the two. San Jose del
Cabo is a more traditional town, founded by Jesuits in the 1700s. Cabo
San Lucas was a small fishing village. Original denizens were not Mayan
nor Aztec, but Pericu Indians (known as the Cora or Edues).
Initially
a collection of fishing villages and a few resorts, the area burgeons with
palatial homes dotting the shores with picturesque taquerias and local families
pulling in the daily catch. Tranquil town squares with historic
architecture share space with designer nightclubs. Celebrity sightings
really do happen.
San
Jose del Cabo lies about 30 km from Cabo San Lucas and a jaunt to Todos Santos,
about 60 minutes north, boasts a thriving community of artists, surfers and
North American expats. Galleries, cafes and the Hotel California make for
time well-spent.
Cabo is Inexpensive….Let me Explain!
Recently we read a report that stated the
city of Los Cabos was ranked the most expensive city in Mexico. It is obvious to those of us who live and
travel in Mexico that this report must have been done by someone unfamiliar
with Mexico and especially Los Cabos.
Los Cabos does have its high end real
estate and luxury hotels. But that is
true in any resort location. And in
those locations, we can expect to find high prices. This is true be it in Mexico, the United
States or Canada.
We have recently traveled to other beach
areas in Mexico and can unequivocally state that prices are not higher in Los
Cabos. As an example, prices in
restaurants in Cancun are about double what they are here in some of our better
dining spots. Los Deseos, a charming
restaurant on the marina, offers selections for dinner from 120 pesos to 200
pesos. The same goes for Hacienda El
Coyote where an entrée will run you about 150 pesos. These are the same prices you will find on
the mainland in Guadalajara in the better dining spots. Then take into consideration that here in Los
Cabos, we pay 5% less sales tax than the mainland pays.
La Fonda located 8 blocks from the center
of town offers a comida executiva
from 2 to 4 p.m. at 85 pesos. Alcaravea
also offers a comida executive at the
same price. And while we are on the
subject of Italian restaurants, let’s not forget, Romeo and Julieta, Rafalle’s,
and the ever popular Salvatore’s.
Reasonable prices at all these great establishments.
Prices in Walmart and Costco in Los Cabos
are identical to the same establishments in Guadalajara. Again, factor in the difference in the tax
and you will see that Los Cabos is less expensive.
We are fortunate in Los Cabos to have
several major super market chains. And
coming soon will be a giant Mega due to open shortly. These stores understand competition and by paying
attention, a shopper is able to take advantage of the many “ofertas”.
We have excellent health care in Cabo as
well. If you want to pay top dollar you
are free to go to Amerimed but the locals use places like Hospital Reforma just
behind the Plaza Sendero. A visit to a
doctor there will run you 150 pesos. Try
that in the U.S. There are many small
hospitals such as Reforma throughout Los Cabos.
Before we leave Plaza Sendero be aware
that it is a mall that offers real products to real people. This is not a tourist mall such as Puerto
Paraiso. They offer a great food court
there as well. Not a seat is available
on a Sunday afternoon at this food court. Why?
A good example would be a 75 peso Chinese meal from Hong Fat that easily
serves three people. While you are
there….you might want to catch a movie at the Cinepolis theatre. First run movies from the U.S., in English
with subtitles in Spanish. If you are a senior you never pay more than 43 pesos
no matter the day or time.
Some people have commented on our taxi
service. We have to agree that the blue
and green taxis tend to be highway robbers.
But if you want to take a taxi out along the corridor, the trick is to
take a blue or green taxi from downtown to Plaza Sendero where you can then
take an Eco Taxi anywhere for a fraction of what the other taxis might quote
you. Eco Taxis cannot pick you up
downtown but they can drop you off there at the end of you trip.
At the end or your trip when you need to
get to the airport…..you can always take a bus to the airport for 15 pesos. They do not deliver you right to the terminal
but it is another option.
So
do not tell us that Los Cabos in one of the most expensive cities in Mexico. We
live here and we know better.
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To Live in Pedregal………
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Pedregal de Cabo San
Lucas is one of the premiere, private, residential communities in
Cabo. It has grown steadily for over thirty
years and it offers breathtaking views, cobblestone streets and all the
modern amenities.
In Pedregal you can
live in privacy and enjoy a casual lifestyle and, yet, be just a few minutes
away from world class restaurants and sports facilities.
Investors have been
attracted to the Pedregal for three decades. Besides buying a turnkey
home, the area offers great building sites and the opportunity to choose a
view of the marina and downtown Cabo or the Pacific Ocean and unending
beaches.
From the beginning,
superior quality and meticulous planning have been the watchwords of the
region’s most prestigious development.
To protect the value
of every residence and property within Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas, an
architectural review committee approves all construction plans and ensures the
uninterrupted beauty of views from adjacent lots.
For the best views in
Los Cabos and the proximity to town…….you cannot beat Pedregal living.
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Is a
condo the right home for you? There are many benefits in living in a condo that
can make your life better and more enjoyable. . The best part about owning a
condo is that your condominium sets you on the path to financial freedom... And so you ask….What is a condo?
A
condominium is usually a housing unit or apartment in a multi-unit building in
which each unit is individually owned, while common areas and the property in
general are jointly owned by the residents and the owner of the building, or
all of the residents together. Some people choose to purchase and live in a
condominium because some condos are less expensive than a traditional
single-family house. Additionally, many condos have added amenities and
facilities.
Most
condominiums have amenities you won’t find on a similarly priced single family
residence. A typical condo has a pool, a work-out room, and party room.
Typically all or some of the exterior maintenance and lawn care is provided by
the condo association. These and many other luxuries are standard in a
condominium community but are beyond the reach of those who reside in single
family homes. In short, condo owners choose condo life because they love life
and they don’t want to be bogged down with maintaining a lawn or cleaning gutters.
They want to walk out the back door and enjoy a dip in the pool while the other
guy is spending time writing checks to pay his utilities.
Although
there are various types of condominiums, the most common legal arrangements
involve individual ownership of each unit, with joint ownership of the communal
or common areas by all of the residents in the building. You might be surprised
to learn the variety of sizes found in condominiums. Condos range from studios
and one bedroom apartment, to a four bedroom penthouse apartment. Even
condominiums with the same number of bedrooms can have different floor plans
and different numbers of bathrooms and half-baths.
While
some condominiums are located in large multi-unit buildings, others may be
detached from each other and be located in a gated or planned community. Some
condominiums may be located in resort or vacation destinations like Los Cabos.
Besides total cost of the property, you should also inquire as to the annual homeowner’s
association costs. These fees are usually charged in order to pay for the
upkeep and maintenance of the common areas. Owning a condominium can be one of
the largest investments you make, so make sure that the one you choose can
accommodate your specific needs. Purchasing a condominium can be a great way to
buy a property in the location you really want with all the amenities you seek.
Among the top retirement spots in the world this year,
you’ll find great variety in the cultural offerings, climates and lifestyles.
Each destination is desirable in its own way, but they all offer something
increasingly hard to come by at home: A good quality of life for a reasonable
price. This year, International
Living.com ranks Mexico as #4.
4. Mexico: Culture and
Convenience
By Glynna
Prentice
“You don’t have to look far to find fascinating cultural traditions
here,” says expat Deborah Mackay about Mexico, her new home. “Music, dancing,
all kinds of colorful exhibitions are a regular part of life. And the cherry on
the cake is that they’re usually free!”
Mexico’s
colorful, vibrant culture does rank high with expats who live here…but it is
just the cherry—and the icing—on a very rich cake. For expats, Mexico is an
easy, convenient choice…a largely First-World country, at bargain prices, right
on their doorstep. No wonder a million or more expats make Mexico their home.
Today’s
Mexico offers modern highways and airports, cable and satellite TV, Internet,
and other goodies expats enjoy at home. Want a big U.S.-style washer and dryer
or a monster refrigerator?
No problem in Mexico —you’ll even find familiar brands. Yet the overall cost of living can be
as little as half what you’d pay in the U.S. or Canada.
Health care,
too, is good to excellent. (So good, in fact, that many Mexican hospitals do a thriving
business in medical tourism.) Across the board, health care—including doctor’s
visits, hospital stays, lab tests, and devices—costs a quarter to a half of
what you’d pay in the U.S. That’s assuming, of course, that you even pay out of
pocket. If you hold a valid residence visa, you can sign up for Mexico’s
national health-care system—which has a top cost of about $300 a year. As far as housing goes, Mexico, much like the U.S. has a variety of price ranges. One of the prime spots to retire due to weather and proximity to the U.S. is Los Cabos. While Los Cabos is noted for its rich and famous reputation.....and indeed, you might rub shoulders with celebrities any day of the week......Los Cabos has real estate opetionf for most anyone. Los cabos Agent, in particular, has many listings under 500K. In fact one of our recent newsletters featured eight properties under 200K.
See our newsletter referenced above .....Click Here
GETTING
TO LOS CABOS
When
looking to buy property in Los Cabos, one of the main considerations is how to
get there the fastest and by the most efficient means.
Airlines are the by far the fastest way to reach Cabo
San Lucas.
When booking your flight your arrival destination will
be the Los Cabos International Airport located 8 miles north of San Jose del Cabo and 29
miles northeast of Cabo San Lucas (airport code SJD).
Arriving airlines in Cabo provide year round or
seasonal flights depending on your departing location.
Spirit Airlines began flying daily between San Diego and Los Cabos,
Mexico, on Nov. 8, 2012
The flight departs Lindbergh Field at 10:10 a.m. and arrive at
1:15 p.m., local time. The return flight leaves Los Cabos at 2:15 p.m. and get
into San Diego at 3:15 p.m.
A new direct flight from
Denver to Los Cabos via Southwest will begin on March 10, 2013.
The airport at Los Cabos serves
both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
The flight is one of
several new international routes from Lindbergh Field, which used to have very
little service to foreign countries.
Other airlines serving Los Cabos are: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska,
Continental, Delta, Frontier ,Interjet, United, U.S. Airways, and Volaris.
There
are also direct flights from Canada through West Jet out of Calgary, Edmonton,
and Vancouver. It is also worth noting that there is a small regional airport
right outside of Cabo San Lucas. Aerocalafia and Aeropacifico that operate a
few regional flights to Baja and surrounding cities.
Good
luck booking your airline and happy house hunting!.
It has been an interesting year 2012 in the Cabo Real Estate market. We have seen more units sold this year compared to 2011 (469 to 440) but a decrease in total sales volume ($175M in 2012 compared to $225M in 2011). We have a median and mean price per unit decrease from 2011 to 2012 also ($256k to $208k and $512k to $373k respectively). Of the sold units in 2012, owners have been on average been able to capture 87% of their list price. With our current inventory at 2,445 units or $1.9 Billion we have about 6 years of inventory on the market. 515 units are in pending status and awaiting to be closed this year 2013. There were 1469 units that came to the market in 2012 or approximately $1.1Billion in inventory.
So what does this all mean? Well I think it is important to see we had more units sell this year but that our average and median sales prices have fallen which makes sense and gives reason to the increase in # of units selling in 2012 compared to 2011. I am seeing a lot of the lower priced inventory being cleared out and making room for a year 2013 of a possible increase in average and median sales prices. It still looks that the sales volume will increase this year and what that means for Buyers is that the time window to purchase at our low prices is closing and for sellers that have held out on selling it might be a great time to consider selling.
Of course, there are always the estate sales, divorce sales, foreclosures and short sale opportunities and it is our goal at Los Cabos Agent to bring those opportunities to you each and every week. Here is to a Glorious Year!
Your New Year’s
Resolutions and Reservations.
At this time of
year, we all are thinking about making New Year’s Resolutions. But before we make resolutions for 2013, let’s
see the 2012 out in style. Although
there are many places to enjoy New Year’s Eve in Cabo, here are a few
recommendations.
Baja Cantina on
Medano Beach 143 1591
Email: sales@bajacantina.com.mx
http://www.bajacantina.com.mx/beach-contact.html
Hacienda Beach Club
Cocina y Cantina 624 163 3144
local, 415-259-4170 from
U.S.
Email: information@haciendacocina.com
http://haciendacocina.com/contact
Nikki Beach 624 145 7800
Email: reservations.cabo@nikkibeach.com
http://www.nikkibeachcabo.com/
Casa Dorada 624 163 5700
Email: Alfonso.bravo@casadorada.com
http://www.casadorada.com
Wherever you
choose to celebrate, have a spectacular but safe New Year’s Eve. Looking forward to seeing you in the 2013.
New
Year’s Eve in Mexico
The
year-end holidays in Mexico are always known for time honored traditions and a
family oriented spirit. You can sing Christmas carols with your friends and
family and enjoy some buñuelos, tamales and ponche spiked with rum.
Then
comes New Year's Eve. And while it has its traditions, this holiday is not so
family-oriented.
The
most important beach destinations in Mexico are packed with young people
looking for a good time. The most visited ones are Acapulco, Cancun, Playa del Carmen,
Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. They are always packed with young Mexicans
who travel in groups to get together and have fun with friends on the last
night of the year.
Upscale
hotels and restaurants host New Year's Eve dinners with festive menus and
orchestras for dancing.
What
you wear on New Year's Eve is thought to influence your destiny during the next
12 months. Some dress in white from head to toe to invite good vibrations and
assure a good year spiritually. Green clothing attracts a year of good health.
Wearing red underwear is said to bring love, while yellow underwear brings
wealth. And no, it's not fair to wear both colors. You have to decide which is
more important.
Whether
you celebrate with family or friends, New Year's Eve dinner is usually a feast.
Whale Watching in Los Cabos, Mexico
One can never quite describe the awe and wonder you feel at seeing whales frolicking in their natural habitat after your anticipation have built up while scanning the waters looking for these graceful mammals.
These giant mammals go to the Sea of Cortez every year during fall to escape the winter of Northern Bering and give birth in the tropical waters of the Pacific where they can also find a lot of food. Magdalena Bay just a little off the coast of Los Cabos is the best place to go whale watching for the mothers and their young. Although San Ignacio is more famous for whale watching, there is a higher chance of seeing whales in LosCabos than any other place in Baja during the whale season from end of December to end of March.
Strict guidelines are followed during whale watching tours so that the whales are protected. Be a part of this tradition and include this memorable activity in your Mexico vacations itinerary.
Share your whale watching experience with us by leaving a comment on this blog.
What
a wonderful season December is in Mexico: piñatas and Posadas………and much more.
Shortly
after the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities are over the stores and
markets that were filled with cempasuchitl (marigolds) flowers, sugar skulls,
papel picado (confetti) and pan de muerto, or Day of the Dead bread suddenly
become ready for the Christmas season.
Everywhere
you turn there are piñatas of all forms, sizes and colors, as well as candles
for the posadas, nochebuena flowers, better known
as poinsettias (these flowers are indigenous to Mexico and are seen in profusion,
and figurines made of wood, ceramic or paste for the nativity scene.
Stores
and street vendors are also selling all kinds of beautiful ornaments that
merrily announce the proximity of one of the happiest periods of the year
This
week after the fiesta for Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12th)
ends, the preparation for the Christmas season begins. The first of nine posadas
is held on December 16. These are fiestas, which represent Joseph
and Mary's arduous pilgrimage on their way to Bethlehem, and there are nine
posadas, from the 16 to the 24 of December, because
they symbolize Mary's nine months of pregnancy.
Since
people in Los Cabos really enjoy fiestas they like to start the
celebrations as soon as possible. These are what they call pre-posadas, which are, as you may
imagine, posadas that are held before December 16!
Few places in Mexico represent the country so perfectly as does Los
Cabos. The mix of desert, secluded sandy beaches, an ocean with the most
peculiar shade of blue and spectacular rock formations all conspire to make of
Los Cabos one of the most renowned resort destinations in the word.
Surrounded by desert and boasting temperatures that remain constant all
year round, Los Cabos is the perfect destination to enjoy at any given time.
Los Cabos is the place where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortes,
declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. The meeting point of these two
important masses of water is the enclave of one of the most peculiar rock
formation of the region and symbol of Los Cabos: The Arch. This unusual natural
monument is a lot more than a landmark. It represents a passageway to a world
of surreal luxury resorts and spectacular beaches; a fairytale land where you
can easily run into a celebrity lying in the sun or having dinner next to you
at a restaurant.
The Arch can only be reached by sea, and its vicinity is populated by a
colony of sea lions. It is said that every four years the tide lowers enough to
be able to discover sand underneath the arch, allowing people to walk
underneath it.