SIX MONTHS DIFFERENCE…IT’s A START!
Originally Published the Week of Nov. 10, 2020 in Western Outdoor Publications.
Last week was my first visit to a major Mexican tourist hub.
Six months ago last June, I flew back into Baja after it had been locked down for Covid quarantine for 3 months. It was eerie.
When my plane landed at Los Cabos Airport, my plane was not just the only plane that landed. It was the only plane in sight.
Period.
There was not a single plane on the runway which was completely empty. There were no ground crews to be seen. No little luggage carts being pulled by tractor vehicles. There was not a single person to be seen.
Anywhere.
It was like the proverbial zombie apocalypse.
Inside the airport, it was likewise empty. Just a handful of people waiting at immigration. Only a handful in the line at customs. I passed through and out to the street in five minutes.
Outside, the usual gamut of barkers offering rental cars, shuttle transportation and time-share condos were incredibly absent.
The normally crowded waiting area where shuttle drivers met arriving clients was virtually empty. Come to think of it, so was the parking lot that is usually jammed with vans and busses.
Once away from the airport, streets were largely deserted.
Businesses were mostly shuttered-closed or had very little traffic.
The bustling area around the Cabo San Lucas Marina had almost no people. No one wandering around. No street vendor hawking jewelry, cigars or snorkel trips.
Restaurants and hotels were barely open. Boat traffic was minimal if anything. Maybe a panga here and there or water taxi. No sportfishers or cruise ships in sight.
Away from the marina, it was so desolate you would swear you could hear the breeze whistle through the empty streets and you expected a tumbleweed to go blowing by. . .or a chicken.
Well, all of that surely seems to be over for the most part.
There are still restrictions in place and they are heavily enforced. But, quarantine requirements have abated. Somewhat.
Everyone still wears masks.
Social distancing is very evident everywhere although difficult to enforce.
At the crowded tourist restaurants, your temperature is taken and you’ll probably get a squirt of sanitizing gel.
But, they do count heads. If the restaurant is at capacity, you’ll have to wait.
Bars that do not serve food remain closed. Inspectors are closing other businesses that do not respect the safety protocols.
Other than that, Cabo almost seemed normal. It was definitely different than 6 months ago.
Although it was not as crowded as normal, the airport sure seemed like it was back to capacity with numerous flights coming and going. Planes were full from what I could see.
It took 2-hours to get our rental car even though we had reservations.
The hotels actually had people in them. The Tourism Board says most places have about a 30% occupancy now. Way down, but surely way up from 6 months ago.
The hotel pools were jammed with people. Difficult to social distance when everyone is doing shooters at the swim-up bar!
The beaches were lively although there was no trouble finding a spot for your umbrella and towel.
Street traffic seemed as busy as normal. This was especially true in the non-tourist areas where people went about their daily business.
There were no cruise ships parked in the bay. However, there was a constant stream of sporfishing vessels, tour boats, snorkel and scuba boats and booze cruises going in-and-out of the Cabo Marina.
At night, town wrapped up by 8 or 9 p.m. or so. Far different than normal and the streets got quiet.
But earlier than that, most places for food and nightlife seemed operational if quite a bit under capacity. Obviously, businesses were still working at reduced hours. And reduced staff.
But, at least they were open.
It’s going to be a long slow road to recovery. But, it was good to see lights on and life trying to get back to normal again.
That’s my story!
Jonathan
Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico http://www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Website:
http://www.tailhunter-international.com
Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/
Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g
“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”
That's My Story 
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