Charming is the word most often used when someone is asked to describe San Jose del Cabo. The old buildings of the historic center, the overwhelming presence of the Parroquia San José church along with the inviting atmosphere of the main plaza, all share in the responsibility for this very appropriate description of the city, San Jose del Cabo instills a sense of old Mexican charm into the harsh desert landscape and beautiful coastline that surround the city. Old customs and traditions prevail here and time seems to be nothing more than a symbol of the modern world…a symbol that is very easily ignored by many of the locals and visitors alike.

San Jose del Cabo is laid out much different than most beach resorts. The downtown area is actually about a mile away from the beach. What most would consider the main beach, in the hotel zone, is really not that popular and not all that safe for swimming much of the year. Costa Azul, an area of resort condos, is probably the most popular beach in San Jose del Cabo.