Living in Mexico is different for all expats, so I would like to share with you my personal experience living in Cabo San Lucas. You can do as much or as little as you want here, but the opportunities for staying busy and enjoying this amazing paradise are endless.
Many expats come to Mexico already retired. I feel blessed that I am still able to work and have chosen a profession that is quite popular here in Los Cabos, REAL ESTATE. I enjoy working in real estate which certainly keeps me busier than most. However, if you are retired there are still many volunteer opportunities, group activities and entertainment venues that can keep you as busy as you want to be.
I have lived in two different communities of Cabo San Lucas over the past 7 years. Each has had a special place in my heart, and each has brought its own special community events/activities. First, I lived in Pedregal, which is a very popular community that used to be known as “The Beverly Hills of Cabo.” This incredibly tight knit community of majority U.S. and Canadian citizens offers many community events. The first Wednesday of every month is “hump night at the beach.” Homeowners are encouraged to bring a shared appetizer and their own drinks to the beautiful, private Pedregal beach to visit with neighbors and watch the sunset. Pedregal also offers an exclusive “Ladies Pedregal Luncheon” that is usually held the second Tuesday of every month and only runs November through May. This is an opportunity for the Ladies of Pedregal to get together in either a personal home in Pedregal or a new restaurant. (There are always new restaurants to try out!)
The second community I feel lucky to have lived in is the gated community of Rancho Paraiso, located north of Costco. This small yet growing community is known for being quiet and centrally located. The views are incredible and there is no short-term rental in this community. Just on the side of the mountain in El Tezal, it is possible to see both the Pacific Ocean (looking over the Pedregal mountain, Lands’ End and the Arch) as well as an incredible view of the Cabo San Lucas Marina and on up the Sea of Cortez. The night time views from this area are also phenomenal.
I have found that every community in Cabo has its own closed Facebook pages that help neighbors stay informed about the goings-on of their own community and throughout Los Cabos. Many of these communities have walking groups, tennis/pickleball groups, card game groups, and one of my personal favorites, Mexican Train (dominoes) groups.
Many of the communities in Los Cabos have their own golf courses that offer membership to the golf clubs. The golf courses in Los Cabos are the cream of the crop. To get to play a little more golf more often, I found out early on that if you work as a Marshal at one of these famous golf courses, you can play for free. Many courses allow you to work one day a week, which allows you to golf one day a week. If you work two days, many allow you to golf unlimited, or whenever there is room. (This includes free golf for your significant other.)
However, the original Cabo San Lucas town was known as being a small, quaint fishing community. I would not call the fishing in Cabo small or quaint anymore. The fishing tournaments being held in Los Cabos are some of the largest in the world! There are two Marinas in Los Cabos. One is the Cabo San Lucas Marina, and the other is the Puerto Los Cabos Marina in San José del Cabo. If fishing is your passion, then I would say Los Cabos is a perfect fit for you. There are also whale watching boat tours (in season) and boat tours of lands end and the arch that offer drinks and food for evening out on the water.
In the old days, while the men were out fishing, the Ladies of Los Cabos decided to have their own “ladies only” group. The Tomatoes group was created and has grown to over 300 members. The Tomatoes group gets together about twice a month. They also have a fantastic show every year – in which I personally love to participate – called the Tomatoes Follies. Even if you don’t participate, it is always an amazing night of food and entertainment provided by our local Ladies of Los Cabos. This group continues through the entire year.
There are sailing groups, snorkeling groups, stand-up paddle boarding groups, bunko groups, writers’ groups, wine tasting groups, and so much more offered down here at the tip of the Baja. If you prefer the quiet, there is also meditation on the beach and turtle release events. Truly there is something for everyone and you can stay as busy as you want. For me, it is active, fun, camaraderie with very close friends, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
