Good drinks/food in Cabo? Massage?

My husband and I will be on the Mariner in May, stopping in Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. We're set on doing the zip lining tour in PV because of the great reviews, but aren't sure about Mazatlan and Cabo. I would love some suggestions! We're in our mid-20s and basically just like to drink and party :cool:

Thinking about doing massages at Aroma Spa in Mazatlan, but would love suggestions for other things.

What is a lively, happening bar/restaurant in Cabo not far from the pier?

In Ensenada in July we were with a large group. We hit multiple bars/restaurants, grabbed the best fish tacos we've ever had from a stand by the pier and stumbled back onto the ship. This is the kinda thing we're looking or in Cabo :D

Thanks!

Ok, in Mazatlan, from our point of view, you got two choices; cheap or some $. If its cheap, head right to stone island. If you have $100 per port, we suggest the following (A repost from a prior thread)

ok, there are alot of posts following. If you have more questions, perhaps it's a good idea to repost, so others can chime in on a clean thread, and we will leave your post alone. Just trying to help, when it took us so many years to learn all this on our own, also you can get the Massage on stone island $20 - $40 for up to an hour

OK, don't mean to clutter the thread, but wish we had known the info years ago. Feel free to chime in with your experiences!

We are always up for something new

Mazatlan,

for those planning to head out on their own, some ideas. On many cruises in the past we have done this route, and had a great time.

A Mazatlan taxi can be chartered for the whole day for less than $40 (we have always rented a scooter or golf cart, but we were approached while bargaining for a golf cart inside the terminal recently and we were quoted $40 for the whole day, so you could get it for less outside the terminal). Maybe even 100 pesos and hour ($7.50/hour)

We motor strait up the coast to Playa Bruja where we get the trip started with 2 large WOW margs and chips for $10.

Then we start back and stop at the NEW GINORMOUS ELEGANT RIU HOTEL (it may cost ya to stay and swim).

Then we head south down to the El Cid Moro Resort, where you can stay as long as you like for FREE and pool it, or beach it, or Senor Frog it (when ordering an occasional cool drink).

Then head south for a brief browse in the golden zone shopping district (expensive),

Then head south for an in-expensive shrimp taco and cool drink at a Malacon palapa cafe.

Then head on to old town for a visit to the central market, opera house, or cathedral.

Then say farewell to the cab when he drops you off at the Stone Island water taxi (right near the cruise terminal, $2 round trip), and enjoy more shrimp tacos and cool drinks, and perhaps a horse or atv ride

Then walk back to the nearby, very nice, cruise ship terminal for the final hurrah before boarding the ship.

This is what we have done many times. Wish we had known these places years ago.

First the maps, given to us recently by a vendor in the cruise terminal

The top is north at the Playas Brujas, the bottom is south at the cruise terminal

Now for a closer look, first the north half with the Playa Brujas at the top, and Golden Zone at the bottom

Next a closer look at the southern half with the Palapa beach cafe's on the Malecon between the #14 and #1, and all the old town below (market, cathedral, etc.), down to the cruise terminal at the bottom. Stone island is just past the cruise terminal across the channel, just out of the map.

Now the map numbers legend

Now for the pictures

Find the extra kind looking elderly Mazatlan taxi driver for minimal $/hour

Head to the Playa Bruja for the margs/chips with a view

Then off to the GINORMOUS NEW ELEGANT RIU hotel

RIU

RIU

The RIU is new and all inclusive. They may want to charge you to get in. If so, we suggest moving on, as there are many interesting places to visit between the RIU & the El Cid. The Cab Driver will stop and patiently wait for you at as many stops as you like. Most all the many beachfront resorts and attractions welcome visits from cruisers.

La Marina area below

Then stop at the lively El Cid Moro resort and beach area. You will likely see a few of your cruise ship mates.

El Cid Pool

El Cid Beach

After you leave the El Cid, you can browse thru the Golden Zone, and then we head south and make a Palapa stop for an inexpensive Malacon Shrimp Taco & cool drink

Then head over to enjoy some Central Market shopping with the locals

and visit the nearby Opera House

Opera House area custom in-expensive artsy gift shopping

Stone Island water taxi

To Stone Island

Stone Island

Stone Island Taco Cafe with atv rentals, horses nearby

Take a water taxi back across, and then walk back to the Cruise Terminal for the Sail Away party

Hopes this helps some of ya

Cabo, once again, very little cash, buy a 6 pack and head to Medano Beach and hang in the sand. If you have $100 per port, perhaps the following

once again, a repost

Ok, Cabo (from our point of view)

Cabo is a favorite port, and a favorite destination for the "rich and famous". It is a young area centered around it's beautiful bay with DRY DESERT heat.

A short stop cruiser's first visit would seem best enjoyed with; a Cabo Bay area boat tour followed up with a Medano beach visit and/or a marina boardwalk stroll; a great way to first visit Cabo.

The most popular Cabo bay area boat tours are by Pez Gato and Eco Cat (we have done a Pez Gato boat tour once).

Medano beach is most easily visited by water taxi ($3 per person each way from the tender pier area). If you take off your shoes and are patient getting on and off, it is relatively safe and most convenient way to arrive and leave Medano beach. Medano beach is great place to enjoy a cool drink/snack in a cafe, in the sand, or on a deck. Folks of all ages love the view of the lively beach and cruise ships in the background. There will be relatively few partying teenagers there when we visit in late February.

The marina boardwalk is a very nice long stroll. The port has recently cleaned up the vendors, so it is a relatively harassment free calm stroll for us tourists. A ways down the boardwalk to the right, there are marina view cafe's and luxury shopping. From the cruise tender pier, one would turn right to stroll the marina boardwalk.

Because Cabo is a young city, it has more master planning, and is very popular to time share and resort users. If you like to see nice nice resorts, there are several worth visiting. The Finnistera, Sheraton, and Westin stand out. A vehicle is the best way to visit these resorts. Other vehicle stops worthy of consideration are Costco and Sam's club, the Roadhouse Latitude 22 (the hidden fisherman's cafe/bar with a pictorial history of Cabo's world class fishing history), the glass blowing factory, and San Jose del Cabo. With this slim list, there is no real strong attraction to leave the Cabo Bay area in a vehicle.

We typically rent a scooter in Cabo ($40 all day). On this short visit (we sail at 3pm), we plan to walk a bit on the marina boardwalk and town area, and also relax some on Medano beach

Here are some pics

Beautiful Cabo Bay

The Cabo pier area vendors are recently restrained from harassing cruisers (& are good sports for picture takers). You can see all the strolling cruisers on the far left of pic

The beautiful Cabo Marina boardwalk

The Cabo Marina area luxury shopping

Cabo's has many marina front cafe's

Cabo's has many marina front cafe's

More Cabo Bay pics

Cabo bay boat tour (pez gato)

Medano Beach has a large variety relaxing locations to enjoy the beautiful beach/bay view

Medano Beach has a large variety relaxing locations to enjoy the beautiful beach/bay view (vendor free below)

Medano Beach has a large variety relaxing locations to enjoy the beautiful beach/bay view

Lovers beach is also a popular stop (center rear of pic, lands end & arch on left)

Medano Beach taxi from tender pier ($3 per person each way)

Cabo has some very nice large resorts

Hotel Finisterra pools (close enough to walk to & welcomes cruisers for free)

Hotel Finisterra Cabo Marina view (dolphin tank in center, tender pier on far right center)

Sheraton

Westin

Westin

Westin

Other Cabo area attractions

Cabo Wabo Cantina

Cabo's roadhouse lattitute 22 is a must visit for devout fishermen

Cabo's roadhouse lattitute 22 is a must visit for fishermen (100's of amazing historical photos)

Cabo's glass blowing factory

San jose del Cabo area taco stand w/self serve meat cleaver

San jose del Cabo area leather shop

oops, also in Cabo, a good place to eat and drink cheap are Rips/Taco Loco near Cabo Wabo, and Tobasco on Medano Beach (cheap eats and drink)

Rips/Taco Loco (4 tacos + 1 beer = $6.25, 3 beers = $5) rips on left

Tobasco on Medano (cheapest)

If we just wanted to party in Cabo, we would head right over to the Mango deck in Medano and watch the show ($5 a marg, nor cheap, but what a show), announcer gets the crowd to do wild WILD things on the stage in the middle of pic for free drinks (unbelievable)

In Cabo...go to "The Office". It is a great restaurant on the beach (literally) with great food and a great atmosphere....I wouldn't go anywhwere else. Always where I go in Cabo!

if you want to keep it real simple and do a resort all inclusive in Mazatlan (free food and drink) head into the Cruise terminal to the El Cid Booth, pay $35 per person, enjoy round trip transportation, Eat Drink, and be merry at the always lively El Cid

El Cid booth in Cruise Terminal

El Cid Pool

El Cid Beach

Senor Frogs party bar is in the El Cid (don't think it is part of the all inclusive deal)

Hey, Sofi,

Your pictures are an adventure right here at my computer!! Thank you!!

I saw that you were at the Sheraton along the Corridor, which is where our time share (Hacienda Del Mar) was before I got cancer and lost my job.

Do you have any other pics from there? I would love to see them.

Thank you, too, for all the suggestions and your experiences in all the MR ports. You should write a book!!

Always look forward to your posts/pics. You rock, girl ;)

Teri

we have never done this, but seems one could hike around to Medano, stop by an Oxxy store on the way (like a 7/11), pick up a bunch of beer/ice and margaritas, and then head to Medano Beach and rent a beach chair and umbrella, and move around for all the shows, and do the whole medano day for minimal $ (depending on how thirsty you are).

If you notice, those folks near the water have their own chairs and umbrellas and they still get a great view of the wild Mango Deck show (the Mango Deck announcer does things like offer a guy and gal free shots to run down to into the water and trade bathing suit bottoms)

Medano Beachfront scene (jet ski rentals available)

Sheraton. Do you have any other pics from there?

Sure, we have more pics of the beautiful Sheraton, but you better post your own thread. Already feel like we have TOTALLY cluttered this one up, when all socalcruiser23 asked for was a fish taco and a cool drink. FUN STUFF! love the Mex Riviera!

bobnsofi,

Thanks for all of your replies. I probably will post another thread down the road. But thank you for all of your suggestions.

Sheraton... Do you have any other pics from there?

Ok Teri, seems socalcruiser23 is cool with it, so here are the easy ones ready to go. Hope'n for'ya a little Cabo warmth will fight the oncologyunemploy blues.

your photos are awesome

Great pics, thanks. Did you leave any alcohol for the rest of us?

Heading to Cabo in a few days, thanks for the great photo's.

I have read on other posts that the Hotel Finisterra does not allow cruise visitors. How long ago were you there?