10 Things That Surprised Me When I Moved to Cabo
Since moving to Los Cabos, I’ve noticed a variety of things that really stood out to me. These things were different enough from what I was used to that they made an impression in my mind.
Animals everywhere
Cows and horses are commonly seen roaming along the roadways eating grass. Donkeys and goats cross the roads in the East Cape area. Stray dogs walk by to see if you have any scraps to toss them and turkey vultures, Osprey, and Caracara can be seen flying low overhead in search of food. During whale season, you can watch multiple species breach for hours a day at any beach. Other marine species you’ll see often are brown pelicans, turtles, manta rays, and sand crabs. Geckos hang tight around light fixtures to catch dinner. The Baja peninsula is home to a huge array of animals that you’ll have the pleasure of encountering.
U-turns
U-turns are a daily occurrence. Not because you’ve gone the wrong way, but because the infrastructure here was designed with them. Most roads are divided and have U-turn areas every so often to allow you to swing around and reach your destination on the other side. Highway 1 is the only road connecting San Jose to San Lucas and as such can get pretty busy. Luckily the road has many retornos allowing you to easily cross above or below the main road and head the other direction. The retornos are usually just dirt exit roads off the main highway that cross under the main road. These same exit roads usually lead down to a beach since all beaches in Cabo are public, even if within a private community. Most communities have built public access roads down to the beach to make visiting easier and prevent people from driving around trying to figure out how to get to the beach.
Public displays of affection
From doing a lot of people watching, my wife and I noticed people of all ages show affection in public more than what we were used to seeing. From teenage crushes to decades old romances, people aren’t afraid to show their affection. You’ll see a lot of bench makeout sessions and hand holding. Seeing this makes you feel the love in the culture and reminds you of a scene from a romance movie. In the main plaza in San Jose del Cabo, there is a big metal heart that you can put a lock on to symbolize your love with your partner. It’s the same concept as the love lock bridge in Paris.
Tipping
The tipping culture in Mexico is a bit different from the US. There are more situations here in which tipping is customary. For example, the baggers at the grocery store, the parking lot attendant, and the gas station worker. Tips can be 10-20 pesos depending on the service but are a regular occurrence. Make sure you carry enough small bills and coins as some places can’t always break larger bills, especially in US dollars. I recommend changing your USD for pesos at a currency exchange when you first arrive to make all of your cash transactions easier. Most currency exchange places require you to show your passport when exchanging currency. When we eat out, we always try to tip in cash. We have talked to multiple servers who said tipping in cash is beneficial since they don’t pay taxes on it and they take the money home with them the same day.
Asking for the bill at restaurants
After you’ve finished eating, feel free to sit and chat or order a drink. Most restaurants will let you enjoy your time without bringing the bill until you request it. Your server isn’t ignoring you, they’re being polite by not insinuating you should leave by bringing the bill right away. Your server is expecting you to politely ask for the bill when you are ready. This is popular in other countries as well since after eating people may continue to buy drinks. If paying by card, the server will bring the mobile terminal to your table and ask how you want to leave a tip. Occasionally we are asked if we want to pay in dollars or pesos. From my research, paying in pesos is the more cost effective option. Be aware there is a 16% IVA tax from the Mexican government that does not go to your server. Before traveling I’d check with your credit card company to see what your foreign transaction fees are.
Crazy driving, nice drivers
Driving can get a little crazy here with last minute maneuvers, tight squeezes, and random stops. Motorcycle drivers rush past with no helmets while carrying boxes and bags. The main highway connecting San Jose and San Lucas through the Golden Corridor has some tight turns and blind spots so use caution and remember you’re not on the Autobahn. Despite some craziness, drivers generally merge well, let each other make turns, and traffic works harmoniously together. Traffic lights here will flash green before turning yellow, giving you an extra moment to decide if you should stop or proceed through the intersection. Stop signs are said to be suggestions instead of mandatory stops. Use your best judgement. Just like in the US, when on a four-lane road, it is common courtesy to stay to the right unless you are passing. The main roundabout in San Jose has stop signs for those entering the circle AND those inside. When you’re in the circle you stop at each entry road to alternate letting in other drivers. This practice has made its way into other roundabouts even though there are no stop signs for drivers inside the circle.
Most people speak at least some English
I encourage you to try and learn as much of the native language as you can. In my experience, those who use Spanish as their primary language appreciate when you converse in Spanish. It’s also enjoyable to make people laugh by knowing a few phrases in Spanish and using them well. Due to the tourist-centered economy in Los Cabos, most people you’ll encounter will have at least a basic understanding of English. In situations where the language barrier is causing confusion, try using Google translate or any other translation app easily available on your phone. If you embrace using the language, you’ll leave knowing way more Spanish than when you showed up.
There’s a lot of people trying to sell you something
Compared to the US, there are a lot more instances where someone is trying to casually sell you a product or service. At stop lights you may be offered flowers, fruit, a windshield cleaning, or sometimes a show or musical performance. At dinner, singers or musicians may stop in and play for you and ask for tips. Walking down the street, store owners will ask you to come check out their shop and see what they are selling. There are activity tour booths located all around San Lucas and San Jose and they often have a salesman out front offering deals on snorkeling, boat tours, camel rides, and more. In our experience, all of these people have been friendly and trying to support themselves like the rest of us. If someone is selling something you’re interested in, interact! The fresh fruit stands are our favorite. They offer mango, pineapple, melon, watermelon, and more for a great price. Having your windshield washed at a light or the gas station allows you to enjoy the beautiful Cabo landscape better. Make sure you tip before the light turns green!
Full service gas stations
All gas stations here are full-service. If you aren’t familiar with this concept it essentially means you’ll wait in line and then talk to the station attendant who will pump the gas for you. The attendant will usually ask you to verify the meter is at zero before they start pumping. They may also ask you if you want your windshield cleaned or need any car fluids. Our windshield is usually dirty since there are quite a few dirt roads around the area. It’s customary to tip the attendant for the service, especially if they do more than pump the gas for you. We usually leave 10-20 pesos depending on what we have in the cupholder. Most stations have grades 87, 93, and diesel.
Tons of development
Los Cabos is a worldwide tourist destination. The area is constantly being improved with new roads and infrastructure. In recent years, with the increase in remote jobs and work from home situations, the area has really expanded. With more developers coming to the area to build, the competition has led to a higher standard of build quality and more options for consumers. The housing market here has a huge range of options from $100k condos to $60M oceanfront villas. If you have questions about the market or want help narrowing down your search based on the areas and communities that best fit your lifestyle goals, send me a message. I’m happy to help.