Spring Break – Cabo San Lucas Style
Cabo San Lucas is a popular destination for West Coast college students
every spring.
Soon it will be that time of year when studies, common sense and moderation are abandon by the visiting US college students and the average age of the Cabo tourist drops considerably. It's Spring Break time.
Beginning in late February and running through mid April, thousands of young adults descend on Cabo to blow off a little steam and a bunch of dad's money. We visited some of the usual hot spots to see what this year had to offer.
Let's start by getting the rules out of the way. Public drunkenness can get you arrested. Fighting can get you arrested or at best, an immediate trip home. Know that even verbally threatening someone in Mexico is a felony. Open containers, just like most US cities, can get you a ticket. Most bars will offer to pour your unfinished beverage into a plastic cup.
If you or your friend have had too much to drink, don't venture back to the hotel alone. Although the incidents are low, putting a drunk into a cab alone is not a good idea.
We have some new establishments along Marina Blvd like The Zoo, which hopes to attract the breakers who want to dine & dance. One of the more spacious bars in town, the decor is upscale, (there is a waterfall in the men's room!) the sound system good and the food is much more than usual bar fare.
The Crazy Iguana is located up stairs above the busiest intersection in Cabo. They are new this past summer and get a good crowd only on the busier nights in town.
For those Breakers craving the Latin Rhythm, the hottest ticket in town right now is probably the Mambo Cafe. Located next to Hotel Costa Real Cabo San Lucas and Solomon's Landing this place sways with the Cuban beat with both live music and disc. Saturday night is hot, there is usually a long line to get in after 11PM. The flavor is tropical, men should wear long pants and a collared shirt, ladies should dress competitively. Obscene Spring Break drink specials really pull them into places like Squid Roe, Cabo Wabo and the Giggling Marlin.With a bit of experience in the subject, I must suggest avoiding the Jell-O Shooters. As delicious and tempting as they are, I and several of my friends describe them as the "Express lane to a nasty hangover" Aw, but cheap tequila straight up never does that.
If
your gonna drink tequila stay away from the names you remember from
the states. Those are OK if you want to belt something down that is
gonna prove your a man (even if your a woman), make your eyes water
and your head pound in the morning. Try better brews like Don Julio
or Tres Generacions. You don't have to toss them because they taste
much better than Jose's stuff. Personally, I don't think 1800 is a brand
name, it's the last time they cleaned the vats!
Oh, and that salt and lime thing, totally a gringo invention. Probably by the big name company to cover the product's poor taste. Good tequila is as sip-able and can be enjoyed like any other fine alcohol. Done right it doesn't have to be concealed in margarita mix or slammed down the throat with a yowl.
Around
1AM there is usually a wait to get into Squid Roe. The bar (I understand
they serve food too) was packed and the pea whistle blown by the DJ
was encouraging the flailing dancers on the tables near the dance floor.
A complete wardrobe, on occasion, became optional.
On party nights
I personally enjoy getting started with dinner at the Giggling Marlin.
The 'Floor Show' is provided by the staff and unsuspecting participants
from the guests. The food is good, the price ain't bad and the margaritas
and fun get you fired up for an evening of debauchery and slaughtering
brain cells.
Hands down of the above mentioned pubs, Cabo Wabo has the food. Always busy with those who remember Sammy Hagar (sorry Sammy) and those who have heard of Cabo Wabo make it happenin' all the time. If your in Cabo to party, make it to the Wabo. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other bar food, but I like it.
In the courtyard adjoining Cabo Wabo are Rip's & The Jungle Bar. Within feet of each other these two smaller bars rock during spring break.
Medano Beach will littered with "cruedo" corpses Sunday mornings, basking in the warm tropical sun. By 11AM all of the lounge chairs will be filled at the Mango Deck, Billigan's Island and The Office most with folks feeling a bit pale or unconscious entirely. But, that's what vacation is for folks! It's good to rotate through these beach hang outs, after you've been here a few days you can tell what time it is by when "YMCA" is played at Mango Deck.
Along Medano Beach you will find places to rent Jet Skis, kayaks, skim boards and snorkel gear. There are also several kiosks that offer scuba trips. Your best bet for a scuba trip is early morning or ebb tide.
Our friends at La Princessa Catamaran Charters are gearing up for Spring Breakers too. Their Snorkel trips to Santa Maria and Sunset Cruises are very popular, but in winter it's prime whale watching season. The grey whales come within a kilometer of the harbor and sightings are all but guaranteed. These trips make an impressive date
Moonrise with Spin Doctor
All La Princessa Cruises enjoy margaritas, bottled beers, water, fruit juices, rum and vodka beverages. The crew is very friendly and works hard to make your trip enjoyable. Say "hi" to Captain Ismail for us please!
La Princessa is located at Dock M-O behind Hotel Costa Real Cabo San Lucas & in front of Solomon’s Landing Restaurant.
It's not uncommon to find the staff of the BajaInsider enjoying dinner at the Stoplight Cafe. Right next to Squid Roe (by the stoplight!) the food is very good, the prices reasonable and I love the Rare Ahi Salad. The big plus is you sit in view of the parade of Cabo as all the contestants for "Party Animal of the Night" pass you on the sidewalk. You can also make a game of rating sunburns; Blonde Finnish girls from Minnesota on their second day in Cabo usually rank in the top 5.
There are a number of other bars worth noting for the Spring Break Crowd. The Love Shack is a Cabo fixture. Located just off the strip on Morelos. The No-Where Bar is hot on Tuesday (Ladies) Night and Tanga Tanga draws an outdoor sports bar crowd - particularly a lot of local gringos.
A couple of significant closures are Kaboo, a large
stylized disco in a cursed location closed over the Labor Day weekend.
One of my local friends said that they joke about walking along the strip after midnight amongst the revelers "...collecting drunk blond gringas into a burlap sack." They don't keep the trophies though, they just "...empty the bag out on Medano Beach in the morning."
Cabo never ceases to be amazing though, for both the partiers and those of us who have retired from the big game. My advice, get up there and get involved when the master of ceremonies grabs your hand at any of your stops. You'll never see (most of) those people again anyway!