HERNÁN CORTÉS, THE SPANISH CONQUISTADOR, WAS TOLD ABOUT A GREAT
ISLAND FILLED WITH GOLD AND PEARLS OF WONDERFUL SIZE AND COLOR.
DETERMINED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF SUCH IMPRESSIVE RICHES AND TO
CLAIM THE FABLED ISLAND OF PEARLS FOR THE SPANISH CROWN CORTÉS SENT
VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS.

DOWN THE CENTURIES THE SHORES OF LAS CRUCES
AND THE ISLANDS OF CERRALVO AND ESPIRITO SANTO WERE RENOWNED FOR
THEIR FABULOUS PEARLS BUT A DECLINE IN THE PEARL OYSTER STARTED AS
EARLY AS 1900 AND BY 1929 THE PEARL INDUSTRY OF BAJA BELONGED
TO THE PAST.

STANDING WHERE CORTÉS ONCE STOOD MORE THAN 400 YEARS EARLIER,
ABELARDO L. RODRIGUEZ MONTIJO WATCHED THE RISING SUN CAST ITS ARRAY OF
MAGNIFICENT COLOR ON THE TRANQUIL SEA.

HE SAW THE REMAINS OF THATCHED HUTS, WATER WELLS AND AQUEDUCTS THAT ONCE IRRIGATED BEAUTIFUL
TROPICAL ORCHARDS AND NATIVE PALMS. HE REALIZED THEN, THAT ALTHOUGH DEPLETED OF PEARLS,
LAS CRUCES COULD STILL PROVIDE TREASURE. HE BELIEVED THAT THE ENCHANTMENT OF TEN THOUSAND
ACRES WITH MORE THAN FIVE MILES OF PRIVATE SEA COAST WOULD BE GRATIFYING TO THOSE WHO MUST FACE
MADDENING CROWDS AND CHURN THROUGH CONGESTED TRAFFIC. IN 1948 HE AND HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE,
LUCILLE BREMER DECIDED TO TURN LAS CRUCES INTO A SMALL LUXURY RESORT.

THIS WAS THE BIRTH OF TOURISM IN THE STATE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR. THE SUCCESS OF LAS CRUCES PROMPTED ABELARDO (ROD) TO BUILD OTHER WORLD CLASS RESORTS IN BAJA. HOTEL PALMILLA WHICH OPENED IN 1957 IS STILL THOUGHT OF AS THE SHINING STAR OF LOS CABOS (NOW THE ONE AND ONLY PALMILLA) AS WELL AS HOTEL HACIENDA IN CABO SAN LUCAS. HIS RESORTS GAINED NOTORIETY AND WERE VISITED BY MANY CELEBRITIES INCLUDING PRINCES, PRESIDENTS, DIGNITARIES AND STARS AND SIMPLY BY PEOPLE WHOSE WISH IT WAS TO EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE OF A LAND THAT UNTIL THEN HAD BEEN INACCESSIBLE TO MOST.