Casa Seagull - About the Area - Things to do

Swimming and the Beach

The beaches of Spa Buena Vista are superb. The Sea of Cortez is warmer than the Pacific Ocean, and there is no swell. Some days the water is totally calm and other days the wind may bring up some nice waves. The water is warm and incredibly clear. The sand is white and clean, and the beaches extend for miles with almost nobody in sight. In front of the spa, thermal vents bring hot spa water out of the sand making it nice to swim here even on a cool evening. The house is on a dead end street, just steps from the beach and the kids and dog can easily go to the beach unsupervised.

The Spa

The house is adjacent the Spa Buena Vista Resort. The spa offers a superb restaurant, additional rooms for visitors and a great pool. Fishing trips can also be arranged at the spa.

The water supplied to our house is spa water, arriving at the water meter at 140 degrees! It is good mineral water and great to drink, unlike most water in Mexico.

Game Fishing

This section of the East Cape has some of the best game fishing in the world. A private day of fishing can be arranged for under $400. Four or five are taken out fishing for tuna, marlin or rooster fish. Eight or 10 tuna are not an unusual catch, making this a very cost effective way to stock up on fish. Your charter captain will do as little or as much as you like. All supplies are provided, and he will bait the hook and help land the fish if you need the help. The water is quite calm without any swell, so sea sickness is less of a problem than normal deep sea fishing.

Diving and Snorkeling

The water is warm and very clear. For those interested in a little snorkeling, there are rocky areas just down the beach with many interesting fish. Punta Pescadero is just to the North. Large boulders on white sand make a great place for snorkeling. For those with more interest, the only reef on the West Coast of America is just a few miles south of Buena Vista and can be reached by boat or car.

Wind Surfing

The winds pick up considerably in the Spring, and this area becomes a mecca for wind surfers. Leave the wet suit behind and check out our surf.

Off Road Adventures

Our street ends in an arroyo. These are dry riverbeds that flood during Hurricane session, but provide miles of sandy flats, which cut through rocky gorges. These arroyos cut through and provide easy access to the desert. At the head of some of the arroyos, you will find giant granite and sandstone cliffs, and even some amazing waterfalls, that run year around. Buenos Aires Waterfall is amazing with a 30 foot falls.

You can hike the arroyos and beach on foot, but another way is on 4 wheelers or ATVs. These are available for rent in Los Barriles from several sources. A typical rate is $50 for a half day. You can ride on the beaches, in town or up into the hills. This is Mexico, so the rules are lax - actually, what rules?

The Weather

Typical summer weather is in the 80s and you will be glad to have air conditioning in the house. The rest of the year is cooler and we are perfectly comfortable without the air conditioning, with highs around 80 but lows in the high 60s. Rain is unusual. Hurricane season is in the late summer and can be an exciting time.

Shopping

Spa Buena Vista is a residential community with one small grocery store with fabulous home-made empanadas, and a few restaurants. Just north is the town of Los Barriles, a thriving beach town with all the services you might need. It has a large grocery store, Amerimed Clinic with a full-time doctor and 24 hour emergency care, Veterinary hospital, a bank and numerous cafes and restaurants. The clerks will speak some english, and will take dollars or pesos.

Access to Cabo and La Paz

The house is 35 miles north of the Cabos Airport which takes about 45 minutes to drive. Past the airport is Cabo San Jose and Cabo San Lucas complete with a Costco, Home Depot and a Walmart Supercenter as well as thousands of tourists and all that goes with them.

Traveling the the North, La Paz is 65 miles away and takes about 1.5 hours to reach. It is a good sized Mexican city with a long history and much to see and do. Although you do not find as many US brand stores, you can find anything you need there. It makes a great day trip.

Other Points of Interest

Many small towns can be found in the area. Some date back 100 years or more to the time of the mining boom. El Triunfo is such a town, with a great old church, music musium and the remains of the silver mines and foundries to be explored. This town is found on the road to La Paz.

You never know who you will meet on the beach!