The unique and perfect retreat for a quick, budget-friendly de-stresser in Los Cabos. If you are like me and want to experience the place for the place, and not so much for the wealthy tourists looking to buy a slice of uppity San Diego Sur, then you will appreciate the rugged, deserted expanse of East Cabo that beckons from this spot (the neighborhood of La Playa, just up the coast from the marina separating you blissfully from the resort-heavy hotel zone). You will also appreciate the easy access to the quaint and quiet marina, which draws a sportfishing crowd but which also has a sweet, low-key vibe, with some really nice places to eat and drink with a combination of locals and visitors. Also very accessible is "old town" San Jose del Cabo, with its shopping, gallery & food scene. But more than anything, you will fall for the quaint, quiet, slightly offbeat, funky yet friendly splendor that is Palapas, lovingly built by John, the proprietor, in 1990, and which he and his partner Patty, along with their adorable yellow lab Baby J, now share with their guests. I stayed in one of the budget cabanas on the ground level, which had the feeling of openness and seclusion. It was hot, but I never used the a/c, instead keeping the big window open and letting the ocean breeze and overhead fan do the trick. Great falling asleep to the trickling fountain out my window, filtering the pounding surf beyond. I didn't mind the separate bath setup (no one else was sharing it with me while I was there; the deluxe units I believe have their own), and it was nice to feel like moving through the tropical garden setting was part of the domestic routine, especially using the well-appointed open air kitchen. What could be more pleasant than mingling with all the colorful songbirds the garden attracts, on your way to a lovely pile of tropical fruit welcoming you into the shade for breakfast? The jewel of the place is the glorious pool which John has built, right above the kitchen, small but neck deep, lined with beautiful azure tile and resembling some bygone Roman bath, surrounded by crowning palm trees and looking dreamily out over the sea. No: the jewels of Palapas are John and Patty, who have figured out the right balance between making you feel welcome, being there to offer any assistance, yet leaving you to merrily bliss-out on your own. An oasis of old Baja bohemian charm, just off the beaten path, opening your spirit to a wider perspective on Los Cabos.