Los Cabos is a magical place on the southernmost tip of the State of Baja California Sur where the desert meets the ocean. The Sierra de la Laguna mountains are the backdrop to the four main areas in Los Cabos including Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos and the East Cape. This amazing location makes Los Cabos the perfect place for a getaway!
In the 15th-16th centuries, this area was part of one of the world’s most lucrative trade routes, with explorers, merchants and pirates stopping here. More recently, celebrities and tourists have flocked here to retreat and get away from their stressful lives. Biologists come to study the rich marine life in the Sea of Cortez, “the aquarium of the world” a phrase coined by Jacques Cousteau.
It’s been over a year since Covid-19 hit, and we were ready to get out of our home, out of town and go on a vacation. Now that we’ve been vaccinated, we were ready for a vacation to soak in some sun and explore Los Cabos.
Sharing our recommendations on where to go, stay, dine & spa!
Good to note: The hotels and staff follow high standards for hygiene and safety protocols, as well as assist with the necessary forms and antigen covid tests required to return to the U.S.A.
Where to Stay & Dine in Los Cabos?
- Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is nestled in the sand dunes along Mexico’s dramatic coastline of San Jose del Cabo.
Opened in 2019, this unique desert resort comes with 87 guest rooms and 28 suites and 42 villas, a 27-hole golf course and a spa oasis. Its architectural features blend the indoors with nature, making it easy for guests to get outside and explore.
Our spacious Oceanview room included a large bedroom with a luxurious king-sized bed and fine linens, a spa-inspired bathroom with a deep soaking tub, an outdoor and indoor shower.
Our floor to ceiling sliding glass doors opened to a private terrace with lounge beds, chairs and a private plunge pool overlooking the resort and the Sea of Cortez.
We loved the art and textile collection in our room crafted by Mexican artisans. Our personal attendant was just a text message away to help us with any desired amenity or service during our stay.
Spa Alkemia was a highlight during our stay with a sauna, steam room, spa pool surrounded by palm trees.
Don’t Miss! Book the Zadun 60-minute Signature Massage. Zocalo is a shaded lounge area set within the garden spa where spa guests can sample refreshing snacks and fresh squeezed juices.
Pools & Beach: Spend time at these pools overlooking the beach and sea.
Restaurants: We dined at three of the dining options at the resort – El Barrio, a colorful open-air setting, for an authentic Mexican breakfast.
At the beach we had a light lunch at the Equis ceviche bar where we ordered Tuna Tutaki with Pineapple and Grapefruit Ceviche with shrimp, and a side of guacamole with chips, of course.
In the evening, a cocktail and mocktail at Candil, featuring more than 100 labels of tequila and mezcal. Be daring and ask mixologist Hector Ramirez for the Nauyaca, named after a viper from his hometown Guerrero.
Dinner at Humo, the signature restaurant, where Chef Lucas Acuna crafts a menu centered around Latin American grilling.
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas: Located on 2 miles of beach along the Sea of Cortez is the new Four Seasons resort. It’s the brand’s first marina resort, and is truly a showpiece of contemporary design with a separate pool area for families and another for adults.
Our suite was spacious and luxurious with views of the pools and beach.
We walked for miles along the beach, took a tennis lesson with the resident tennis professional, cycled the resort property and surrounding area, went for a swim, and checked into the spa for some hydrotherapy.
Be sure to dine at Estatorio Milos for a fine dining fresh seafood dinner with a Greek twist.
The Baja Peninsula’s East Cape is becoming one of Cabo’s gems and Four Seasons arrived here first, while Aman Resorts is starting to build their resort and residences next door.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos is on the beachfront of the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula. It features 200 guestrooms with a Japanese minimalism style. Our room was spacious and overlooked the infinity pools, private cabanas and long stretch of beach. There are a variety of dining options, including the legendary Nobu restaurant.
Its contemporary architecture, landscape and rock gardens are stunning. As we explored the property, every angle and viewpoint is dramatic and serene.
Nobu Spa: Check into the luxurious tranquil spa with Asian-inspired elements. The signature spa experience draws upon the best practices in wellness and relaxation and use only the finest products from Natura Bissé. The outdoor hydrotherapy garden features a water circuit, experiential shower, cabana jacuzzi, outdoor shower, steam and sauna areas, and a hydrotherapy pool.
Viceroy Los Cabos is an architectural dreamscape! Miguel Angel Aragonés designed this modern luxury hotel with 193 five-star hotel rooms, suites and villas.
The hotel’s white buildings are connected by elevated walkways, surrounded by water that look out to the sea and sky. It’s visually mesmerizing as the light changes from sunrise to sunset. There are 5 pools, a rooftop lounge and a nest-like restaurant.
Our minimally decorated King Room had its own private balcony with jacuzzi and a daybed that looks out to the waterways and sea. We spent most of our time relaxing on our terrace – the perfect retreat.
It was voted one of the Top 20 Resorts in Western Mexico and received the 2019 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award.
- The Cape, a Thompson Hotel: Only minutes from Cabo San Lucas, this upscale boutique hotel exudes glam with a laid-back party vibe. The design is a blend of modern meets 1960’s Southern California style. There are 161 luxury rooms (some with plunge pools) looking out to Monuments Beach.
Best place to people-watch and be seen? Head to the pools including an infinity pool, a duo of outdoor spa cabanas and a one of the only open-air rooftop lounges in the area.
Each room at The Cape opens up to the iconic views of El Arco and the Bahia Cabo San Lucas horizon. The clean, contemporary lines of Mexico City’s architect Javier Sanchez are seen throughout the hotel, and talented Marisabel Gomez Vazquez designed the interiors.
Don’t Miss! Dine at trendy Manta with floor-to-ceiling views of the Sea of Cortez and El Arco. New York trained and award winning chef Enrique Olvera combines traditional Mexican cuisine with Pan-Pacific influences.
One&Only Palmilla: This resort was built in 1956 as a 15-luxury room hideaway by the son of the President of Mexico, accessible only by yacht or private plane.
Since the Transpeninsular Highway was built in 1970, this resort has grown to 50 rooms and welcomes guests from around the world. We hope to stay here on our next trip!
Chileno Bay Resort: We haven’t stayed here yet, but hope to soon. We did dine at their restaurant COMAL – Our server told us it was “…named after a type of cast-iron cooking pan in use for centuries in Mexico, and often passed down through generations. COMAL is rooted in the authentic and traditional, but injected with its own modern, inventive spirit.” Some of the items we ordered were braised short rib with cacao broth, along with a selection of the freshest ceviche and crudo prepared in a live-action Raw Bar. COMAL is set against a contemporary indoor-outdoor space spread across three levels, with a dramatic Sea of Cortez backdrop.
Next Trip…we hope to stay and experience…Chileno Bay Resort, Montage, Le Blanc, Paradero, and Las Ventanas al Paraiso. Keep checking back since we will update this article after our next trip to Los Cabos.
What to Do?
There’s lots to explore and activities to do during your Los Cabos vacation– coral reef diving, shopping at artisan boutiques on historic colonial streets, art walks, surfing, horseback riding on the beach, golfing, bird watching, deep sea fishing and more.
Sharing some recommendations on what to do in the Los Cabos region. Check with your hotel concierge on their suggestions for excursion providers.
Cabo San Lucas: Called Cabo, this town is known for its entertainment, restaurants, bars and nightlife. Don’t Miss! Take a boat out to see where the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean meet at Land’s End. This is the location of the famous rock formations and Cabo Arch. Book a reservation at el Farallon where you can dine on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, enjoying the catch of the day while hearing the waves crash below you, at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal.
San Jose Del Cabo: Stroll through the historic town of San Jose and you’ll find colorful buildings and cobblestone streets leading to the zocalo, main plaza. Shop at artisan boutiques, visit the historic 17th century church, art galleries and dine at restaurants. Ride horses on the beach at sunset. Don’t Miss! The Thursday night art walk (from November-June).
- Flora Farms – visit this 25 acre organic working farm in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains – take a cooking class, tour the farm, shop at the boutiques, lunch at Flora Farms Restaurant or book a spa appointment.
Home to Flora’s Field Kitchen, The Farm Bar, Flora Farms Grocery and Flora Farms Celebrations. The farm is also home to the Shoppes at Flora Farms, the Culinary Cottages & The Haylofts, (hand-built, straw bale luxury homes for the culinary-inclined), as well as The Farm Spa, an intimate spa and wellness experience achieved through nature-based spa services, in a supremely peaceful setting. We had lunch at Flora’s Field Kitchen and savored the flavorful Flora’s Seasonal Salad, Beet Salad, Crispy Chicken Sandwich and shared a wood-fired pizza.
Todos Santos: Located on the Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula, this town is known for its art galleries and surfing locations nearby. Stay at the Hotel California or Guaycura Boutique Hotel Beach Club & Spa, and enjoy a cooler climate than the beach towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Or stay 10 mins outside of town and the stunning Hotel San Cristobal.
- East Cape: Known as “the old Cabo” with its small fishing towns and pristine beaches. The East Cape runs about 100 miles up the Sea of Cortez coast and offers a marine park with protected coral reef – excellent snorkeling and diving. It’s fast becoming the new area for resorts. Also a popular place for fishing, surfing and kite surfers.
Nightlife – many visitors go to Cabo San Lucas for the nightlife scene, while others stroll the beach at sunset, or relish in a romantic dinner at their hotel.
- Day Trips to La Paz: The Capital of the state of Baja California Sur and known for its beautiful beaches.
Many charters and whale watching tours depart from this small town. Sign up to snorkel with whale sharks with Fun Baja – ask for Alex to be your guide and Julien to be your Captain.
We sighted a dozen whale sharks and snorkeled side by side with them.
- Further Out…Loreto: If you really want an escape to authentic Mexico, visit Loreto with its historic buildings and marine preserves on its islands where you can see dolphins, seals, turtles and sea lions. There’s also hiking, biking and nature-tours.
How to Get Around?
Vivo Luxury Services offers luxury chauffeur and personalized services throughout Los Cabos. Whether you need an airport transfer, private tours or transport for special occasions, contact: info@vivolx.com
Founded by Jesus Padilla, a native from the Baja with 19 years of experience in the ultra-luxury business, Vivo Luxury Services has a team of experts in the region from master divers, biologists to oceanographic specialists.
Their chauffeurs were very professional and shared local insights during our airport transfer. Having a knowledgeable chauffeur eliminated the stress of navigating in a new town, parking, traffic, and we were able to look at the sights and relax. They cover all aspects of a trip and offer the most unique local experiences. We highly recommend them!
Acknowledgments
Global Adventuress thanks those mentioned in this article for hosting us during our stay. All opinions are our own.
