I have been going to Los Cabos for many years now, I remember a time when I used to carry 3 to 5 books for every week vacation, I would plan ahead for which titles I wanted to enjoy; sometimes I would buy a book a couple of months in advance and ask my girlfriend to hide it from me, just because it would be the perfect book for a day on the beach,  crazy ,isn’t it? Then I start to buy books from the airport, after all I was going on  a vacation to relax but now, after reading this post on Las Ventanas, I may let go the book controlling issue and open up for whatever the hotels have to offer, well in a second thought I will bring one emergency book just in case.…

Read Next Year’s Hot Books Today at Las Ventanas in Mexico || HotelChatter

We’ve been following the Hotel Bookshelves craze for awhile now, and for good reason. We’re fans of anything that lightens our carry-on load, so books in our room or lobby are welcome. We like to leaf through those big, sexy art books that hotels like the Cooper Square and the Greenwich Hotel in New York stock bedside, and occasionally we might reacquaint ourselves with a classic while we wait for room service.

But the best thing about the books available for guests at Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos Mexico is the fact that you can read them before anyone back home. As we mentioned when the resort first introduced its Hot Type Menu, an arrangement with top publishing houses means that the Las Ventanas library features books six weeks to six months before their official publication date.

The titles are rotated every quarter, with a new batch just hitting shelves before the holidays. Here’s what you can pick up to read poolside right now:
* Impatient With Desire, by Gabrielle Burton
* The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom
* One Amazing Thing, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
* The Information Officer, by Mark Mills
* Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, by Helen Simonson
* Noah’s Compass, by Anne Tyler

The books’ backdrops range from pioneer days in California and a quaint English village to the island of Malta after WWII and the dreary outskirts of Baltimore. Frankly, all very serious and important sounding. Given Las Ventanas’s pretty beach location, we wouldn’t mind if they loosened up this lineup with a few trashy thrillers or potboilers to go with our Margaritas.

You can’t take the books with you when you check-out, but read all six titles and you’ll have enough posh-party conversation to get you through the holidays. These books don’t hit stores until January through March, so you’ll sound like quite the insider—and have something to brag about other than your tan.

Located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, the Los Cabos resort area is an increasingly popular tourist destination for Americans and other foreign visitors to Mexico. So beautiful is the natural setting of the area, which in recent decades has grown from a couple of sleepy fishing villages into a dynamic, yet relaxing resort destination, that it is easy to forget how much there is to see in the region. Far too many tourists just check into their hotels, head to the beach or pool, and soak in the exotic natural beauty of the area, stirring only to go out for meals. I know because on a previous trip, that’s precisely what I did.

For my second trip to Los Cabos, I had determined in advance to see all that there was to see in this beautiful region, which includes the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, as well as a strip of resort hotels and restaurants that connects them. I was frankly surprised by the amount and variety of tours available in Los Cabos.

No matter what your favorite pasttimes might be, there are Los Cabos tours that are tailored to your personal tastes. You can sightsee by air, land, or sea, and also take tours that explore the fascinating towns of both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. For those who like to stay active during their vacation, guided activities include rock climbing, surfing, off-road ATV expeditions, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

If, on the other hand, you’d prefer to take a more laid-back approach to sightseeing, there are dinner cruises, bus tours, and tours led by personal guides that offer a close-up look at the people and culture of the Los Cabos region. Another popular option for those who are green in mind and spirit are the numerous eco-tours, both by land and sea, some of the latter which offer the opportunity to spot migrating whales at certain times of the year.

Since my personal preferences lean a bit more to the laid-back style of sightseeing, I opted for a dinner cruise that offered not only a fine dining experience but a glimpse at an unforgettable sunset and a Las Vegas-class show to go with it. I also took to the sea on a whale-watching expedition, which managed to provide a chance to see several of these gentle giants as they migrated through the Los Cabos area on their way to their summer hunting grounds.

Another great experience came when I got together with some newfound friends to cycle between the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. It was an unforgettable expedition with plenty of stops along the way to marvel at the scenic wonders that lie around virtually ever corner.

I have only one recommendation for travelers who are bound for Los Cabos: Don’t miss out on all that there is to see in this beautiful region and be sure to book some tours guided by knowledgeable locals to ensure that you see all the sights.

Whether you’ve fished for marlin before, or would just like to try your hand at it, there are few better places to give it a shot than Los Cabos, Mexico. There is a true abundance of these popular fish in the waters around Los Cabos all year long, and black marlin can be reeled in at some really impressive sizes. There are few species of fish that make for as entertaining sports fishing – the possibility of snagging an astounding specimen is enough of a draw to lure countless fishermen to the waters for San Jose del Cabo fishing. To learn more about why marlin fishing is so popular, read on.

The Tradition Of Marlin Fishing

Marlin are closely related to trout, and have been hunted for spot for many centuries. Although they are exceptional fish that make for a stunning scene upon being captured, they are rarely actually eaten or consumed. Most fishermen merely reel one in, snap a few pictures and let the fish carry on. Once in a while, you might run into marlin dishes at upscale dining establishments, but generally these fish aren’t a part of most types of cuisine. In Ernest Hemingway’s classic novel The Old Man And The Sea, the fisherman caught an 18-foot marlin and set off to sell its meat at the local market – whether or not he gained anything for his efforts remains unknown.

There are plenty of billfish to be found in Los Cabos fishing spots, but none capture the imagination and garner nearly as much as attention as the marlin. Among the region’s more than twenty annual fishing tournaments, a great number revolve around billfish in general and marlins specifically. For instance, in San Jose del Cabo fishing there’s the Black and Blue Marlin Jackpot Tournament, The Billfish Tournament and The Pete’s Sake Memorial Marlin Tournament – just to name a few. Around Los Cabos fishing waters, you just can’t go fishing without hearing about marlins; it’s little wonder that the area has been hailed as “The Marlin Capital Of The World.”

Cabo San Lucas Fishing – Catching The “Big One”

Every fisherman hopes to catch the fabled “big fish” during any outing; during the 2008 Los Cabos Billfish Tournament, Team Karma reeled in a stunning black marlin weighing in at a whopping 415 pounds. Amazingly, this is actually a conservative size in terms of the maximum weights these fish can grow to; black marlin – or Makaira indica – have been definitively recorded weighing in at as much as 1,500 pounds. However, Team Karma captured the prize with their impressive black marlin and also serve as a reminder to eager fishermen that Cabo San Lucas fishing can result in some truly big catches.

Although black marlin are the larger of the species, a blue marlin weighing in at 870 pounds won the Bisbee’s Los Cabos Marlin Tournament in 2008. That win definitely captured the imagination of many sports fishermen, and probably spurred many more to try their hand at the sport. Considering these relatively recent examples of catching the “big one,” it’s reasonable to try for yourself; there is no better place in the world for marlin fishing than Los Cabos.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard people mention Cabo San Lucas golf again and again as being a premier destination for experiencing some of the most incredible golfing in the world. Some people even consider Cabo one of the best golf vacation destinations in North America – and that’s quite a distinction. I’ve golfed all over North America, but had never ventured down into the Baja California peninsula to see what it had to offer. All of that changed recently when I finally went to see what all the hype was about – and experienced one of the most incredible golfing vacations of my life.

Boundless Golfing Opportunities

Considering the gorgeous weather in this part of the world, it makes sense for it to feature a good number of excellent golf courses; the funny thing is, though, that these world-class resorts only sprang up within the last twenty years or so. In 1990, Don Koll commissioned golf megastar Jack Nicklaus to design twenty-seven holes at the Palmilla resort; that was the first of three spectacular efforts that Nicklaus participated in, and the area experienced a true golf boom in the meantime.

Knowing all of this interesting history, I was especially revved up about seeing all of this in person. Although there are many times when hype overshadows the reality of a situation, Los Cabos golf is definitely not an example of that. If anything, the enthusiastic descriptions of golf in this region don’t truly do it justice; then again, there’s no way to truly explain the experience of golfing here in a way that will convey how mesmerizing and perfect the surroundings and accommodations are – you just have to see for yourself.

Touring Cabo San Lucas Golf Courses

During my whirlwind trip, I managed to check out all of the major and most talked-about golf courses in the Cabo San Lucas area. In addition to Palmilla, these include the Eldorado Golf Club, Cabo Del Sol and the Cabo Real Golf Club. Each of these was located within close proximity to one another, and each had many phenomenal attributes. Beyond sheer playability and the challenging aspects of many of these courses, dramatic backdrops were a part of many and made the experience that much richer and more memorable.

After checking out all of those fantastic courses, I moved along to check out some San Jose del Cabo golf resorts. As with the others, these were consistently of excellent quality and boasted unforgettable vistas – a true golf lover’s dream come true. The Sea of Cortez sparkles and shines in the background of many of these courses, and the desert-like terrain offers an interesting juxtaposition to that blue majesty.

Ultimately, Los Cabos golf not only met my expectations – it exceeded them. Between some of the most challenging yet playable courses I’d ever seen, and the amazing natural scenery, I had one of the most memorable and enjoyable golf vacations of my life. Anyone who counts themselves as an avid golf player should absolutely get down to Los Cabos at least once during their lifetime.

Los Cabos is bustling this month, with visitors from around the world arriving to enjoy the sun and sand. Baja California Sur, the state in which Los Cabos is located, remains a sound choice for travelers, with low crime rates and no reported cases of swine flu.The streets of Cabo San Lucas are alive with excited visitors and the shouts of street vendors. The crowds bring a welcome energy to the already lively town. There are several notable upcoming events, involving fishing and other activities.

The recent weather has been ideal, ranging from 77 ºF (25 ºC) to 82 ºF (28 ºC). Seen from a boat on Cabo San Lucas Bay, the town is a rare paradise, a safe haven at the foot of tall mountains that reach up toward clear blue sky. At night, the town lights up and the laughter of revelers can be heard across the water. The bars are enjoying the influx of visitors, increasing each year as the region achieves more and more renown as a high-end vacation destination. The tempting aromas in the street are proof that the restaurants continue to work hard to lure in passers-by.

Although Los Cabos is an established tourist attraction, there are still many new faces discovering its delights. San Jose del Cabo, the rustic colonial town a short distance away at the other end of the Los Cabos Corridor, is also seeing an increase in visitors eager to enjoy its charm. To those who return each year however, the town is an old friend.