It isn't natural beauty alone that makes Baja's southernmost resort city such a popular destination for romantic getaways and preferred site for destination weddings, honeymoons and renewal of vows ceremonies. The residents of Cabo San Lucas have turned love itself into a cottage industry. It's as easy to arrange tandem horseback rides along picturesque coastlines or barefoot fine dining for two at private tables set on the shores of the Sea of Cortez as it is to exchange money or rent a car. Perhaps easier.
What's harder is finding the most romantic way to spend a day in a romance-obsessed area filled with pristine beaches, secluded coves and pampering seaside luxury resorts. But here are three musts for your perfect day in paradise.
Cabo San Lucas' romantic restaurant, Sunset da Mona Lisa, features fresh local seafood and stunning Land's End views — Photo courtesy of Sunset da Mona Lisa
What could be more romantic than a day at Lover's Beach? This gorgeous stretch of golden sand is only accessible by water. Surrounded by the unique granite rock formations that extend from the old cannery to Land's End, Lover's Beach (in Spanish, Playa del Amor) is the perfect place for swimming, snorkeling or picnicking.
The island boasts picturesque views of Cabo San Lucas Bay and the luxury hotels that line Médano Beach. Water taxis are the best way to reach the beach. Just remember to tell the driver when you want to be picked up. One more tip: don't stray too far. If you walk through the gap in the rocks to the Pacific Ocean side, then you're on Divorce Beach.
In Los Cabos, romantic restaurants offer much more than candlelight and soft music. The most atmospheric area dining establishments also feature spectacular seaside vistas. The twilight views of The Arch, Land's End and the Sea of Cortez from Sunset da Mona Lisa's cliff-side terraces in the Tourist Corridor are absolutely breathtaking. The landmark eatery is as popular a site for destination weddings as it is for delicious Italian cuisine and fresh local seafood.
Not in the mood for dinner? Share a bottle of wine and watch the sun sink beyond the southernmost point of the Baja Peninsula from the restaurant's Sunset Point Wine and Pizza Lounge.
No romantic getaway to Los Cabos is complete without a visit to one of the area's world-class spas. The Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso is one of Baja California Sur's benchmark wellness centers, and is particularly renowned for couples' treatments like the romance ritual, a three-hour sensory experience that concludes with a rose petal bath for two and a serving of the spa's special Pasión cocktails.
But for a truly unforgettable experience with that special someone, visit the Renova Spa at RIU Palace for a moonlight couple's massage with hot lava shells. This soothing spa treatment allows you to relax with your loved one on a beautiful beach as waves lap the shore, and all the stresses and worries of the workaday world are carried away with the tides.
Moonlight massage for two? Visit Renova Spa at the RIU Palace Hotel — Photo courtesy of RIU Palace Hotel Cabo San Lucas