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 from the seas. Fisherman came later, pursuing a different type of escape, recreation. This water is one of the best fishing regions in the world, with natives proudly claim that no less than 857 varieties of fish. Today, tourists make their way to this beautiful port 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 Baja's desert interior. Due to the terrain, visitors still arrive most often by ship, following the same path that led pirates to their strategic peninsula, which served as a gateway to the Gulf of California and the Pacific.