EXQUISITE

Art & Culture

STATE OF

THE ARTS

From bustling art districts and galleries filled with local talent to traditional music, dance, and cultural festivals, Los Cabos offers a rich array of experiences that captivate visitors year-round.

Baja California Sur is home to a rich tapestry of art with a deeply rooted cultural heritage, ranging from the historic gallery district in San José del Cabo to the mystical bohemian town of Todos Santos that, with its historic architecture and thriving arts community, has been officially designated as one of Mexico’s pueblos mágicos, or “magical towns.” But Baja isn’t all ancient folkloric art. Here, visitors will also find compelling contemporary works by both Mexican and international artists in galleries and museums for an opportunity to contemplate the past, present, and future; and music and movie lovers can plan a Los Cabos vacation around one of the area’s exciting annual music, film, and arts festivals.

SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO GALLERY SCENE

San José del Cabo is home to a thriving historic gallery district. One of the best ways to experience the area is during the San José del Cabo Art Walk held Thursday evenings during season (November through June) from 5 to 9 p.m. Situated in the charming streets surrounding Plaza Mijares and the Misión San José del Cabo church, the main thoroughfare is closed to traffic during Art Walk to make the evening pedestrian friendly.

Over a dozen galleries stay open late, often launching special exhibitions and hosting artists, while the surrounding restaurants and bars fill with art enthusiasts for a festive evening out on the town. On display, you’ll find a wide range of works created by folk artists and artisans of Los Cabos and other Mexican regions, ranging from Mata Ortiz pottery from Chihuahua to Neo-Zapotec hand-painted wood carvings from Oaxaca and intricate beaded Huichol art from Nayarit and Jalisco. The galleries are also home to a variety of contemporary art by international artists, from paintings to sculpture, photography, jewelry, and beyond.

During your visit, don’t miss Galería de Ida Victoria, home to works by both emerging and established contemporary artists from Mexico and around the world. From New York–based Colombian artist Andrés García-Peña’s captivating neoexpressionist paintings to American artist S. Brooke Anderson’s sublime abstract landscapes and Baja’s own Hresula Bentsen’s playful mosaic sculptures, the range of talent on display is truly captivating. Nearby, artist Frank Arnold’s eponymous gallery displays his abstract figurative paintings and sculptures in a sleek modern space that also acts as his studio.

TODOS SANTOS DAY TRIP

For a culturally rich day trip from Cabo San Lucas, set your sights on Todos Santos, a charming town nestled between the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. About an hour’s drive north up the coast from Cabo San Lucas, it’s home to a melting pot of multigenerational farmers, expats, artists, musicians, and surfers.

Considered one of Mexico’s pueblos mágicos, you’ll find a variety of art galleries, unique museum spaces, design-forward boutique hotels, and hip restaurants situated inside historic haciendas and restored colonial buildings. The town’s central plaza is a great place to start your exploration, anchored by the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar built in the 1700s, where you’ll also find art galleries and a local theater. The Centro Cultural resides within a former schoolhouse and functions as a local history museum with nationalist and revolutionary murals on display.

LOS CABOS PERFORMING ARTS

Los Cabos also plays host to a variety of exciting arts festivals throughout the year. In Todos Santos, January’s Tropic of Cancer Music & Arts Festival boasts an eclectic lineup of international and Mexican musicians, while the Todos Santos Film Festival in late November shines a spotlight on short and feature-length films and documentaries by Southern Californian, Mexican, and Latin American filmmakers.

Cinephiles visiting in December should make a point to attend the Los Cabos International Film Festival, which has positioned itself as the nexus for filmmakers from Mexico, the United States, and Canada for over a decade. Festivalgoers can attend film premieres, industry panel discussions, workshops, and exclusive parties, with venues ranging from local movie houses to the 700-seat theater at the impressive Cultural Pavilion of the Republic.