The mission town and the Art District
San José grew up around a Jesuit mission founded in 1730, and its center still has the feel of a small Mexican town: Plaza Mijares, the mission church, cobbled streets and low whitewashed buildings. The streets behind the church form the Art District, full of galleries, boutiques and courtyard restaurants.
On Thursday evenings from November to June the galleries stay open late for the Art Walk, and the streets fill up. On the edge of the hotel zone, the Estero San José is a freshwater estuary and bird habitat good for an early walk.
Where to eat
Food is the main reason our guests make the trip. In town, Mi Cocina at Casa Natalia is a courtyard classic. In the foothills just outside, Flora's Field Kitchen at Flora Farms, Acre and Los Tamarindos are farm restaurants worth booking ahead.
The beach catch
San José's hotel-zone beach (Playa Hotelera) is steep with a heavy shore break and isn't a swimming beach. Swimmers drive to Palmilla or the corridor coves, and surfers go to Costa Azul. We compare the towns in detail in Cabo San Lucas vs San José del Cabo.
Getting to San José del Cabo from Villa 1
About 34 km (21 mi) east on Highway 1, 35 to 45 minutes by car, longer at evening rush hour. For an Art Walk night we suggest a driver or taxi both ways so nobody has to drive back; our concierge can arrange one.