Irene Bustos

First steps in Los Cabos

I began visiting Los Cabos sporadically in 2004, while working in the United States for a company with an international presence. During that period, the company began to grow particularly in Los Cabos, which led me to collaborate on important projects such as El Dorado and Palmilla.

Establishment in San José del Cabo

In 2008, I made the decision to move to San José del Cabo to open an office on Valerio González Street. It was just at that moment when the economic crisis began. Faced with this challenge, I thought about how we could help and integrate ourselves into the community, with the goal of offering our services and keeping our team busy, avoiding layoffs.

Integration into the community and the Historic Center

During that time, through friends, I learned about the existence of the Historic Center committee. The project piqued my interest, so I offered to collaborate so that our team could actively participate and, at the same time, support the community. We had all decided to stay and live in San José del Cabo; we already felt part of this place.

I became fascinated by the history of San José del Cabo, which led me to do more research and meet with local people to talk and expand my knowledge. I discovered that the place has a very rich history and that there is valuable architectural information for the conservation of buildings. I ended up falling in love with San José del Cabo.

Participation in the Association and project development

I joined the Historic Center Association committee and moved to Morelos Street, where I opened an art gallery and set up my office on the upper floor. From there, I began to create sketches and ideas to improve the historic center, and I presented a proposal to the committee. Thanks to existing connections, the historic center remodeling project was scaled up.

It was an exciting experience to accompany the committee throughout the process. I remember the collaboration of Enrique Silva, Paulina Gutiérrez, Nathalie Buchler, Blanca Pedrin, and Gabriel Corral. The professional diversity enriched the project and strengthened us as a creative and proactive group, which became the pillar of ideas for the benefit of the center.

Development and consolidation of the Historic Center

Our work required frequent trips to La Paz to identify problems in the area and propose solutions, always with the goal of preserving the architectural identity of San José del Cabo. We began the permit process, and at the board meeting, we all shared the same feeling: it was the right time to turn our ideas into reality.

We succeeded in having the area designated and listed as a Historic Center. The Thursday Art Walk was promoted, areas of the center were demarcated, and renovations were carried out. Thursdays are not only for tourists but also for locals, becoming a meeting place with charming restaurants, galleries, shops, and hotels.

Despite budgetary challenges and maintenance demands, the result was positive. The main objective was to actively participate and contribute our efforts.

Vision and reflection on the future

Currently, I have several ideas in mind because I see a lot of potential, with more activities that could attract visitors. San José del Cabo has become an international destination, which gives it a unique multicultural richness.

It is essential to value history and remember that downtown San José del Cabo was not always like this; behind it lies hard work, effort, and compromise. In an association, it is necessary to listen to everyone and give in for the common good, because ideas arise and take shape when we walk together.