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    San José del Cabo

    Mexico

    San José del Cabo

    CityCulture

    San José del Cabo is the administrative seat of the municipality of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, located approximately 32 km northeast of Cabo San Lucas.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Baja California Sur
    9. San José del Cabo
    San José del Cabo is the administrative seat of the municipality of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, located approximately 32 km northeast of Cabo San Lucas. You come for the quiet historic center around Plaza Mijares, with its mission church, low colonial buildings, and gallery district, where the Art Walk takes place on Thursday evenings from November to June. On the outskirts of town is the Estero San José, a lagoon at the mouth of the Río San José.

    Sights in San José del Cabo

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Mission San José del Cabo Añuití
    Church

    1Mission San José del Cabo Añuití

    The Jesuits founded the mission in 1730; during the Pericú Rebellion in 1734, Father Nicolás Tamaral was killed. The current church on Plaza Mijares is a new building, after a hurricane destroyed the old mission church in 1918. A mosaic above the entrance depicts Tamaral's death.
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    Attraction

    2Plaza Mijares

    San José del Cabo's main square, with gazebo and stage, faces the mission church. Restaurants and shops surround it; families gather here evenings.
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    Gallery

    3The Arts District

    The Gallery District lies in the alleys behind the Mission Church. From November to June, the galleries open on Thursdays from 5 PM to 9 PM for the Art Walk, with music and stalls in the street.
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    Estero San José
    Park

    4Estero San José

    At the mouth of the Río San José, you'll find Baja California Sur's largest freshwater body, separated from the sea by a sandbar. Paths lead through reeds and palm trees, and in winter, many migratory birds rest here.
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    Attraction

    5Playa Costa Azul

    Beach on the Carretera Transpeninsular southwest of the center, popular with surfers. The surf is often too strong for swimming.
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    City walks in San José del Cabo

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    San José del Cabo: A Walk Through Art and Colonial History

    On this two-hour tour, discover the soul of San José del Cabo. From the historic Plaza Mijares and the impressive mission to the lively art district, immerse yourself in the rich culture and colonial charm of this enchanting town. A perfect mix of history, art and local atmosphere awaits you.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (7)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Traspatio

    Residential Mexican restaurant west of downtown San José del Cabo.
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    2

    Casa San José

    Upscale Mexican restaurant on Calle Manuel Doblado in the historic center, just a few steps from Plaza Mijares.
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    3

    La Lupita Taco & Mezcal

    Taqueria with a Mezcal bar on Calle Morelos downtown, near the gallery district.
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    4

    Barrio del Tango - Restaurante Argentino

    Argentinian restaurant on Calle Morelos, south of Plaza Mijares, with grilled meat.
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    5

    Cuervo's House

    Mexican restaurant with fish and seafood on Boulevard Antonio Mijares, which leads from the center towards the hotel zone.
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    6

    Don Sánchez Restaurant

    Upscale restaurant with Mexican cuisine and wine bar on Boulevard Antonio Mijares, just steps from Plaza Mijares.
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    Dining and Drinks

    The center offers everything from taquerias to fine dining, plus fish and seafood from the Gulf.

    Tacos de pescado

    Fried fish in corn tortillas with slaw and salsa, the classic of the peninsula.

    Mezcal

    Mainland agave spirit, widely available in many downtown bars.

    The Chocolate Clam

    Large Venus clam from the Gulf with brown-colored shell, often grilled.

    History and Culture

    Mission and UprisingIn 1730, the Jesuits José de Echeverría and Nicolás Tamaral founded the Mission San José del Cabo Añuití on the Río San José. During the Pericú uprising from October 1734, the missions in the south were destroyed and Tamaral was killed. A hurricane damaged the old church so severely in 1918 that a new building was erected in its place.ExcursionsCabo Pulmo: National Park with coral reef on the east coast, approximately two hours' drive away.Cabo San Lucas: El Arco and boat tours at the tip of the peninsula.Todos Santos: Artist town on the Pacific coast.

    Local explorations

    Explore the historic center on foot. Regular buses run between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas along the Carretera Transpeninsular; payment is made in cash to the driver. Taxis are common; confirm the fare before your trip.From the airport, reach the city by shuttle, taxi, or rental car. For excursions to Cabo Pulmo or Todos Santos, a rental car is most practical.

    Accommodations in San José del Cabo

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    Plan your trip to San José del Cabo

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      Trip to San José del Cabo

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      • 1Mission San José del Cabo Añuití3 days
      • 2Plaza Mijares4 days
      • 3The Arts District5 days
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    Nearby

    Cabo San Lucas

    Cabo San Lucas

    Cabo San Lucas is located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean. Its landmark is the rock arch El Arco, which you can reach by boat from the marina. The town is geared towards tourism, with hotels along El Médano beach and many bars in the center.
    Todos Santos

    Todos Santos

    Todos Santos is a small town on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, precisely on the Tropic of Cancer. Since 2006, it has held the title of Pueblo Mágico. The center around the mission church features many galleries, cafes, and restaurants, while long surf beaches lie on the outskirts.
    Baja California Sur

    Baja California Sur

    Baja California Sur encompasses the southern half of the Baja California peninsula, a desert land between the Pacific and the Gulf of California. You go for the resorts of Los Cabos on the southern tip, for boat trips from La Paz to Espíritu Santo Island with the sea lion colony of Los Islotes, and for the artist town Todos Santos near the Pacific coast. Further north lies the mission town Loreto on the Gulf. The islands and protected areas in the Gulf of California have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005.
    La Paz

    La Paz

    La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, nestled on a protected bay in the Gulf of California. You come here for boat tours to Isla Espíritu Santo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for Balandra and El Tecolote bays, and from October to April for whale sharks in the bay. The city center, with its cathedral and approx. 5 km long Malecón, is easily explored on foot.
    Loreto

    Loreto

    Located on the Gulf Coast of Baja California Sur, Loreto was founded in 1697 as the peninsula's first permanent Spanish settlement. The Mission Church and Mission Museum form the heart of its small downtown. Off the coast is the Bahía de Loreto National Park, home to five larger islands.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI