Cigar Weekly

My husband Gil and I recently made a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to do a little research on cigar smoking South of the Border. In order to ensure a thorough investigation we were forced to experiment quite a bit. We hope this article describing the results of our experiments will benefit you on your trips to Cabo.

We all have very strong suspicions that a high percentage of Cuban cigars sold in Mexico are not Cuban. What we found out is, that the percentage is actually as high as 90%. After visiting many cigar merchants we found a total of two where we felt completely confident that we were buying quality Cuban cigars.

Where to buy

One of the cigar merchants we found was J&J Habanos located in downtown Cabo San Lucas. The owner, Jose Rodolfo Cantu Lozano, aka Pepe was very helpful and informative, and an all around great guy.

Pepe's shop had a great ambiance. The humidor was large and well stocked with a supply of premium and vintage Cuban and Mexican cigars to make your eyes pop out of your head. Sure smelled great in there! The sign on the door of the humidor read as follows: No eating, drinking, smoking, perfume or farting inside.

The shop was well stocked with premium spirits as well as premium cigars. Every kind of Tequila, whiskey, brandy, port, scotch, etc. was available. There was a great supply of hand-made humidors, T-shirts and other cigar smoking accoutrements. There was a photo album filled with photos of some of Pepe's adventures on his many trips to Cuba to buy his cigars. There were photos of Pepe and Fidel Castro at one of their annual dinners together.

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting J&J Habanos and talking to Pepe. We went back daily as it was one of our favorite places to go in Cabo.

J&J's can be found at

Madero S/N E. Blvd.
Marina Y Guerrero,
Cabo San Lucas, Baja Sur, Mexico
Tel (52) (624) 143-6160
Fax (52) 143-3839 fax
J & J Habanos

Ask for Pepe.

The second cigar merchant we found that sold only premium and vintage Cuban and Mexican cigars was in San Jose Del Cabo which is about 30 miles north of Cabo San Lucas. This one, called Amigos Smokeshop and Cigar Bar was also a very charming shop. There was a very cozy cigar bar attached to the smokeshop where the locals and some gringos go for their version of our local Reno "Wednesday Afternoon Cigar and Strategy Sessions". They also sold great Mexican coffee, for drinking expresso there or to take home a pound of great Mexican beans. They had a fully stocked bar with a large variety of premium spirits as well. The humidor was another great experience, which surrounds you with premium and vintage Cuban cigars and wonderful aromas in every direction.

The owner, Alan Baumann (see photo) gave me a great Amigos T shirt and he gave Gil two Saint Luis Rey, Series A, Corona Gordas, 5 5/8 by 46, box date 11/97. Gil said they might be the best cigars he ever smoked. He usually shares his best cigars with me, I guess he just forgot.

We had a great time talking to Alan and felt right at home in his wonderful smokeshop and cigar bar.

Amigos can be contacted at C.Doblado esq S/N San Jose del Cabo, Baja Sur Mexico
Tel/Fax 011 (52) (624) 142-1138
Ask for Alan or Susan Baumann.

Pepe and Alan buy their cigars in Cuba at great prices, but the taxes they pay bringing them back into Mexico doubles their costs.

While we do not recommend shopping at any of the small cigar merchants lining the streets, some of the larger hotels and time shares in Baja have their own cigar shops within their facilities which may or may not be totally legitimate. But we recommend these two shops highly and are sure you can't go wrong in either one. Tell them Gil and Claudia sent you.

Dining and Cigar Smoking Etiquette

As we patronized various restaurants around Cabo San Lucus and San Jose del Cabo, we found that most restaurants were totally cigar friendly. Many of them have open architecture, with palapyas for roofs and no walls and windows. They were all happy to allow us to smoke a cigar any time. Even the more traditionally built restaurants that we visited were fine with cigar smoking within. To mention a few, the Galiano, a great Italian restaurant totally enclosed was happy to see us smoking at our table after dinner. One of the most upscale restaurants we have found in Mexico, Los Arifices, located at the Westin Regina Hotel was happy to light Gil's cigar for him as he sipped a flaming Mexican coffee. The only restaurant we visited where they did not allow cigar smoking was Pedro's Mexican restaurant, which even had an outside open area. So, for the most part, cigars are welcome almost everywhere in Mexico!

Traveling with your cigars

As for bringing your Cubans home with you, as you would expect, we recommend that you don't. If you are searched (which is a good bet these days) your cigars will be confiscated. Some people remove the Cuban cigar bands and bring them through separately. Your call. You still run the risk of confiscation.

Just a side note, Gil had an expensive butane lighter in his carry on bag. It was confiscated. We were told by a customs person that if he had carried it in his pocket, it probably would not have been taken from him. Nor would they have taken a disposable lighter. If you can find some logic in any of that, you are doing better that me. The best idea is not to carry a lighter with you on the plane.

Hope this information helps if you are planning a trip South of the border.

Nothing beats smoking a nice Cuban and sipping on your favorite libation while the warm evening breezes flow over you, through the palm trees and out over the ocean just beyond your deck.

Adios! See you in Cabo!

Claudia Ellis