Freefalling 8,000ft above Cabo San Lucas was certainly a different way of seeing this star-studded resort city with the white sand beaches and azure waters zooming closer second by second.
In a bid to explore the more adventurous side of this glitzy coastal destination in the Mexican state of Baja California which is beloved by everyone from George Clooney to Justin Bieber, I’d signed up for skydiving on day four of my vacation with a run of other adrenaline-pumping activities thrown into the mix.
There had been a high speed jeep tour and waterfall hiking excursion on the first day, scuba diving in a UNESCO-protected area on the second, mountain biking on the third, with the heart rate peaking on day four in the form of a plane jump.
The majority of locals I spoke to in Cabo didn’t appear to know skydiving in the area was an option, as most tourists tend to stay poolside sipping salt rimmed margaritas, but if you are looking to spice up your Cabo break, this is a must.
DailyMail.com’s Sadie Whitelocks ventured on an adventure trip in Cabo with skydiving on the agenda
Cabo Skydive is run by Luca, a characterful Italian, and jumps take place over the stunning surrounds of Cabo Bay
Luca, who has more than 1,000 jumps under his belt, ranks Cabo among one of his favorite locations to skydive
Cabo Skydive is run by Luca, a characterful Italian who moved to Cabo after falling in love, and don’t be put off by the ramshackle beachside set up which consists of a tin shack to store your goods in and a 4×4 to take you to the local airport.
This guy, and his assistant Fausto, are pros with more than 1,000 dives under their belts at various spots around the world from New Zealand to Hawaii.
Luca ranks Cabo among one of his favorite locations to skydive and after being strapped to his chest and following one of his flight paths, I can see why.
The scenery around Cabo on Baja California’s tip is surprisingly varied, with everything from verdant mountains to sandy deserts to golden beaches skip between.
For our dive, we flew over the coast and jumped out over Cabo Bay, with the sandy landing site encompassing views of the rugged peninsula and famed Arch rock formation which attracts droves of boats come sunset.
Despite an initial feeling of fear, the jump made for an exhilarating experience and at the end when Luca asked if I would do it again, I responded with a grin and a big ‘yes.’
From skydiving, one of my final adventure activities in Cabo was a UTV beach and desert tour with G Force Adventures.
Not being a terribly confident driver, I let my partner take the wheel and remained vaguely terrified for the duration as we sped across the higgledy piggledy course following a family who had flown in for a weekend vacation from Los Angeles.
Sadie took a hike up to the wild Fox Canyon, where the slopes were carpeted with leafy trees thanks to a recent deluge of rain
Another adventure activity on offer in the region is mountain biking
G Force Adventures offers UTV beach and desert tours in Cabo
Cabo Pulmo National Park is a popular dive spot, attracting visitors from all over the world
By the end of the two-hour high speed chase, where the speedometer topped 70kph at times, we were completely covered from tip to toe in dust and a hose off back at the reception was most welcome.
With so much adventure over our six-day trip, we opted for a plush basecamp to pack in some rest and recuperation, with Nobu being our hotel of choice.
While many of the other high end resorts in Cabos are in the thick of things, Nobu is set on a peaceful beach with nothing much around except for a neighboring golf course and the rowdier Hard Rock Hotel next door.
Because of this, be prepared to do quite a bit of driving between the slickly designed resort and local attractions.
Cabo San Lucas is around a 30 minute drive away, while the picturesque historic city of San José del Cabo is close to 45 minutes by car.
In both of these bustling towns, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to places to dine with spots to suit all occasions.
For a romantic night out, a trip to El Farallon at the Waldorf Astoria should fit the bill.
The venue, which comprises an open air restaurant and champagne terrace, is set on the side of a cliff with the rolling ocean below and prime sunset views to boot.
Alternatively, Animalón by The Sea is housed aboard a boat with a multi-course tasting menu masterminded by acclaimed chef Javier Plascencia reeling diners in.
At Cabo Pulmo National Park, Sadie got to swim amid a ferocious tornado of jack fish. Stock image taken in the marine reserve
For a romantic night out, a trip to El Farallon at the Waldorf Astoria should fit the bill
The venue, which comprises an open air restaurant and champagne terrace, is set on the side of a cliff with the rolling ocean below and prime sunset views to boot, as seen above
Animalón by The Sea (pictured) is housed aboard a boat with a multi-course tasting menu masterminded by acclaimed chef Javier Plascencia reeling diners in
The colorful town of San José del Cabo is brimming with boutique stores and dining options
If you book the dinner sitting, the floating restaurant departs from the marina and sails towards the famed Cabo Arch just in time for sunset.
For more of sceney vibe, Sage in San José del Cabo makes for a great spot with contemporary outdoor furnishings and an upbeat playlist (the clam linguini is a must-try!), while the eco friendly Acre resort nearby will keep you Instagram-happy all night.
Tucked away on the outskirts of town, this ultra cool complex is set on a 25 acre plot with a spread of tropical plants making it feel like you’ve just stepped into a jungle.
There are eight ‘treehouse’ rooms for the more adventurous traveler or traditional villas for those who prefer to feel more grounded.
The restaurant, which is set amid towering palm trees, prides itself on offering one of the region’s best farm-to-table menus and there is everything from soft shell crab tacos to braised short rib on offer.
Another Baja California town which is steadily gathering momentum as the next ‘hot spot’ is Todos Santos, and here you will find a sugar mill which has undergone a stunning conversion to house a handful of boutiques along with a highly digestible seafood restaurant called Oystera.
Of course, with staying at the Nobu hotel, the 200-room resort is centered around food, with multiple restaurants to carry you through from dawn until dusk.
The standout dining experience came in the form of a tasting dinner at Muna, which boasts a rooftop setting in the residential part of the Nobu resort.
Sitting on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos serves up top notch views of the ocean
The slickly-designed hotel offers 200 guest rooms and suites, along with ample event spaces and multiple restaurants
Nobu’s state-of-the-art 3,691sq ft Esencia Spa offers 13 treatment rooms, salon services and outdoor hydrotherapy areas
Here part of the sprawling dining area looks into the kitchen, with sweeping windows allowing diners to watch the team of chefs hard at work.
While dining out allowed us to replenish energies until the next adventure activity, a trip to Nobu’s state-of-the-art 3,691sq ft Esencia Spa was also most welcome.
Here the facilities include 13 treatment rooms, salon services and outdoor hydrotherapy areas.
We booked a traditional Swedish massage to soothe our bones on returning from a day of scuba diving at the Cabo Pulmo National Park.
At this marine national park we had two unforgettable dives with a large loggerhead turtle swimming up to us on the sea bed at one point.
On our second dive we also got to swim amid a ferocious tornado of jack fish and there was a foot-long Porcupine fish with large eyes which followed us around like a dog.
Landing back in New York, I showed a friend who has spent lots of time in Cabo some photos from my vacation and even she was surprised to see the area’s more adventurous side.
‘I didn’t even know there were waterfalls like that!’ she said as she looked at a couple of snaps from my hike up to the wild Fox Canyon, where the slopes were carpeted with leafy trees thanks to a recent deluge of rain.
While the Baja California peninsula might have become known as one of Mexico’s flashiest (and most expensive) states due to Cabo’s rise to celebrity status, its more rugged side shouldn’t be overlooked.
So buckle up, and prepare for a wild Cabo ride.
TRAVEL FACTS
For pre-trip accommodation in New York book into the sustainable and pet-friendly the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, which boasts a rooftop pool and a restaurant run by celebrity chef Dan Churchill.
JFK airport is around a 30 minute drive from the hotel, with luxury taxi transfer bookable with Blacklane. Rides can be scheduled in advance with clear and convenient communication.
Regular direct flights run from JFK to Cabo San Lucas with JetBlue with varying rates depending on the time of year.
Sitting on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos serves up top notch views of the ocean stretching as far as the eye can see. The hotel offers 200 guest rooms and suites, ample meeting and event spaces, a luxurious spa, retail shopping, infinity pools, private cabanas and a variety of bars and dining, including a Nobu restaurant on the beach.
For more information on the Los Cabos region visit visitloscabos.travel.
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