Nestled off the southern tip of Baja California, Cabo San Lucas offers escape from the outside world for visitors today, just as it has since the 16th century. Pirates were the first to escape here, seeking refuge. Fishermen came later, pursuing a different type of escape: recreation. Today the tourist makes his or her way to Cabo San Lucas simply for a quiet retreat from the hectic pace of modern life. Jutting out from the Mexican peninsula, where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific, Cabo San Lucas is separated from the north by the Baja's deserted interior.

Due to the terrain, visitors still arrive in Cabo San Lucas most often by ship, following the same path that led pirates to the strategic promontory. As a matter of fact, Thomas Cabendish's legendary treasure is still believed to lie inside one of the ships at the bottom of the sea. Visitors know that the real treasure is the place itself.

The following pictures were taken on our last visit to Cabo San Lucas in 2004.