Los Cabos

Los Cabos, the area at the very tip of the Baja California Peninsula ("cabo" means "cape"), has become a major resort destination thanks largely to its climate: dry year-round, with an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and about 300 days of sunshine annually.

The isolated fishing camps that once catered to a handful of visitors who came in their own private planes or yachts, are now among luxury hotels that dot the coast around two towns -- San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas - and especially the 20-mile stretch of coastline that lies between them, known as "the corridor."

The corridor is where many of Los Cabos' major hotels are situated, with the dramatic meeting of the sea and desert inspiring developers and architects to build some of Mexico's most unique beachside resorts.

Taxis are plentiful, but expensive. A rental car is convenient for getting around Los Cabos, especially for reaching its many secluded beaches, and jeeps are ideal for the terrain and climate. In Cabo, Thrifty, Canada and Australia's No. 1 car rental agency, has an office at Plaza Nautica. In San Jose, Dollar has an office on Mauricio Castro. Ask about their special rates.

Another option are the buses and colectivos (minibuses that serve as communal cabs) that shuttle between Cabo and San Jose every half hour.