The Cabo San Lucas Marina is delightful any time of day
By Sandra A. Berry
People of all ages—some locals, some tourists—stroll and jog around the marina morning, noon, and night. Music plays as folks enjoy people watching, and still others ogle the beautiful moored yachts. Whether it is 8 o’clock in the morning or 11 at night, there is always something open or something to see: strolling mariachis, artists who will draw your caricature, venders, perhaps a xylophone serenade, and plenty of places to eat.
When exploring the marina, there’s one section you cannot pass up. The decade-old Marina Golden Zone has restaurants, shopping, and a beautiful resort. This stretch of the marina is the brainchild of Los Cabos entrepreneur Gabriel Macias, who also developed the Hacienda Encantada Resort on the Tourist Corridor. Here we take you on a quick tour of the Marina Golden Zone, highlighting some of its best offerings. Those who are driving to the Marina Golden Zone will want to park in the adjacent Puerto Paraiso shopping center’s multilevel garage. It’s secure, and the price for all-day parking is only $20 M.X. (roughly $1.50 U.S.). From the parking garage, you can walk through the elegant Luxury Avenue boutique mall and, as you exit out the door to the marina, turn left.
Jack’s Bar & Grill will undoubtedly catch your eye with its outdoor terrace, where guests can sit and enjoy a view of impressive yachts bobbing in the marina. But perhaps the most intriguing views are what you’ll see once entering the dining room. The pirate-themed decor is awash with nautical memorabilia such as ship models, swords, skulls, and a mermaid figurehead, which hangs from a ceiling that is painted with a treasure map of Baja reminiscent of those used by the pirates who long ago roamed the Sea of Cortés.
Even the waitstaff is dressed in pirate regalia and always up for a photo op. In addition to the fun pirate theme, you can enjoy your favorite sports on the large TVs while indulging in an international menu that offers popular Mexican and American grub that will satisfy any pirate, young or old. Stop by any night of the week to listen to soft rock music while sipping a local beer or frozen margarita.
The next stop is El Museo del Tequila, the only tequila museum in Los Cabos. Step inside to learn how agave is planted, harvested, and transformed into tequila, then bottled. You can also discover the difference between light and dark tequila. Naturally there are samples to be tasted during the learning process.
Mi Mexico is a beautiful jewelry store showcasing handmade articles by Mexican artists. These include unique pieces made of silver, natural stones, ceramics, and glass. A favorite is a colorful and engaging large ceramic cat that would enhance any niche back home.
The upscale, multistoried Marina Fiesta Resort is located behind the stores. Recently remodeled, it boasts 155 rooms—including a penthouse and presidential suites, many with balconies overlooking the marina—a full-service spa, and a beautiful pool. Guests at the Marina Fiesta or those strolling by can take advantage of the Agua Market and Pharmacy convenience store to pick up any of those items that somehow didn’t make it into the suitcase. But that’s not all. Enjoy a frappé or latte, or pick up souvenir T-shirts for the folks back home. The benches out front are some of the most photographed in all of Los Cabos. Sit next to the señorita or caballero statues for a pic to commemorate your trip.
Los Deseos (“The Desires” in English) serves traditional Mexican dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try the pork chicharrón with cactus for breakfast or a traditional Puerto Nuevo lobster from northern Baja and a jalapeño-flavored margarita any time of day.
Want something a little more international? Keep walking and you’ll find Presto, a small but very representative Italian restaurant run by Italian-born chef Roberto Maschiadri. Baked pastas include San Remo penne (a combo cheese and pasta with white wine). And, of course, there are calzones, pizzas, and everything that bespeaks Italian, including tiramisu.
If it is sushi you are craving, look no farther than next door. Step inside Imomo Sushi House’s cozy dining room with its bold red and white decor to enjoy chef Bernardo Granados’s rendition of Japanese food from sushi to tempura fried ice cream. The restaurant opens daily at noon and offers a robust sushi menu as well as a teppanyaki table, which is located on the outside patio. It accommodates six diners from 6 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. For the unitiatied, teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food—think thin slices of beef, fish, seafood, or veggies—in front of guests.
And last but not least is Baja Lobster Co., which as you might expect, serves many different lobster preparations. Sit in the elegant air-conditioned dining room, on the terrace, or on the deck that is cantilevered over the water. You can also ask to take a tour of the wine cellar.
As nighttime approaches, the Marina Golden Zone takes on a different feeling with a lovely glow. This is in part because of colorful green rope lights that circle the palm trees and look like large swizzle sticks in the air. This is a safe area and a nice diversion after a hard day’s work of fishing or playing 18 holes of golf.
For more information about the Marina Golden Zone, visit www.marinagoldenzone.com. To make a reservation, call (624) 145-6011.
