San Jose del Cabo, with its pastel cottages and narrow streets lined with flowering trees, retains the air of a provincial Mexican town. Founded in 1730 by Jesuit missionaries, it remains the seat of the Los Cabos government and the center of its business community. The main square, adorned with a wrought-iron bandstand and shaded benches, faces the cathedral, which was built on the site of an early mission.San José is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with a collection of noteworthy cafes, art galleries, interesting shops, and intriguing small inns adding a newly refined flavor to the central downtown area.