Mexico - Los Cabos Holidays

Los Cabos is made up of two good-looking towns. You can rely on sleepy San Jose del Cabo for a taste of traditional Mexican charm – it's got craft breweries, traditional taco stands and pretty, pastel-coloured buildings. At the other end of the scale is upbeat Cabo San Lucas, a vibrant town with a bustling marina. Huge yachts, whale-watching boats and catamarans set off from the jetties, past Los Cabos' most famous landmark - a rock formation known as 'El Arco', or The Arch.

Because Los Cabos spans out along the coastline, there are loads of spots where you can watch the sunset. Hotels are spread out along the shores of the Sea of Cortez, which puts them in pole position for seeing the silhouetted rocky headlands at sundown. The sky turns vivid shades of red, orange and purple, especially on days where there's a hint of cloud. For some of the best views, board a sailing boat at around 5.30pm to see it from a peaceful spot on the water.

Away from its built up areas, Los Cabos has got weird and wonderful wilderness nailed. There are huge sandy plains known as the 'Green Desert', because of the tufty shrubs and cacti that poke up from the ground. Quad biking tours hurtle along the dusty trails that run parallel to East Cape Beach, finishing on the bumpy sand for pictures by the shore. And no matter where you drive in Los Cabos, you'll have a sight of the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range. If you venture among the peaks, you'll find ziplines and natural pools tucked away.

The marine life in Los Cabos is one the area's signature features. From January to April, the waters where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez are packed with humpback whales and dolphins. It's common to see them leaping from the water and splashing their tails, and there's even a slim chance of seeing rarer grey whales while you're out. Cabo San Lucas has a resident colony of sea lions, which sunbathe on rocks and hop onto the back of boats cruising into the harbour. For underwater scenes that look like a David Attenborough documentary, Cabo Pulmo Marine Preserve is home to huge schools of tropical fish, whale sharks and sea turtles.