While all Mexican travel comes with some risk, in Cabo some of your biggest concerns will be 'should I just lay poolside or jump in the pool?' and 'should we really eat tacos again tonight?'. As always, when travelling abroad, be cautious and mindful. Do not travel alone late at night and utilize the concierge service available at the hotel. We feel safe each time we visit Mexico and want you to feel the same way!
Both the wedding and reception will be held outdoors. Expect hot and humid weather. Average temperatures in August are 93°F (34°C) during the day and 85°F (29°C) at night. Crossing our fingers for a nice cool breeze!
Passport, passport, passport! Keep it (and your white customs slip to return home) on you the whole trip. After that... sunscreen, a bathing suit (or 5), phone charger, camera, hat, good vibes only, flip flops... OH! and your party pants. Definitely don't forget those, along with your formal wedding attire.
Most resorts in Cabo only serve bottled or purified water and use safe ice for mixed drinks. If you go into town and you do get ice in your drink, make sure it is coming out of a bag. Also, feel free to go to La Comer Grocery Store (5 minutes from Cabo Azul) and stock up on water and other goodies.
Unfortunately, the ocean is not swimmable at Cabo Azul. The water gets very deep, very quickly and the currents are strong. However there are lots of pools on-site for swimming!
Cabo Azul is located in the artsy area of San Jose del Cabo which has several walkable bars and restaurants across the street from the hotel (some open until 1am, like Rock & Brews), along with their own Downtown nightlife about a 7-10 min taxi from the hotel. The hotel bars/restaurants shut down at 10:30pm so you will need to leave the resort for nightlife.
If you wish to check out the bustling Downtown Cabo San Lucas (El Arco at Medano Beach, Cabo Wabo, Mango Deck, etc.), a taxi will be needed as it is a 30 minute drive from San Jose. Make sure you have cash/pesos for the ride (~$40 USD each way and can be split among riders). The front desk can help coordinate taxis.
Pro tip: Bring cash with you. The dollar is accepted mostly everywhere and is preferred in most cases. You can exchange your cash for pesos, but you will get your best rate at an area bank, not the airport. We recommend having some cash on you for souvenirs on the beach and in town for taxis. The exchange rate usually runs $17-19 pesos to $1 USD. You can check it online before you depart the U.S. When purchasing goods in Mexico, you can almost always play "let's make a deal". You can use your debit/credit card at most restaurants as well, but make sure you notify your bank prior to leaving that you will be traveling internationally and where you will be using your card.
Transportation to the resort is readily available at the airport when you arrive, for a nominal fee. However, your experience will probably benefit from arranging transportation prior to your arrival. The resort offers one way and round trip transfers from SJD to Cabo Azul. Transportation reservations must be made 2 weeks prior to arrival by emailing: Conciergecaboazul@diamondresorts.com Rates can be found on our Travel page.
No it is not, however info for hotels in the immediate area that do offer all-inclusive dining options is available on our Travel page. HEADS UP: Cabo Azul offers timeshare properties, so try to dodge the sales pitches if they come your way (just say NO so you don’t end up in a 3 hour presentation when all you wanted were the free tequila shots they offered you). Also note, if you choose to stay at a different hotel, you will only be allowed to enter Cabo Azul one hour before the ceremony.
We suggest stocking up on a few duty-free refreshments at the airport OR if you’ll be here for awhile, there is also a grocery store called La Comer 1.5 miles away (~$6 taxi) that has food & drinks available at great prices. There is also a grocery delivery service you can schedule in advance. Go to cabogrocery.com for more info! Larger rooms have full kitchens including fridge, oven, microwave, etc. to utilize, so take advantage & help save on your daily food/drink bill. Pro Tip: Happy Hour at the resort is daily from 3-5pm. Also, weekly specials are available on Cabo Azul’s website.
Cabo Azul has an event planning concierge that you can chat with at the front desk. They can provide recommendations and offer you VIP discounts if booked through concierge (such as fishing, golf, parasailing, ATV rides & more!). Check out their website for more information: http://www.caboazulresort.com/activities. You are also able to go to the vendors directly to play ‘lets make a deal’. If you have time, head down to Cabo San Lucas for a day to take advantage of their activities and swimmable waters. There are lots of beach vendors to negotiate with for shopping and activities up and down Medano Beach.
The wedding and reception will both be held outdoors. We recommend formal attire (& comfortable shoes!), as we hope you will be joining us on the dance floor! Please, no shorts, jeans, flip flops or Hawaiian shirts, save those for the rest of the trip.