Tranquility, beauty, exquisite
cuisine, and an exhilarating nightlife…what more could you ask for in a
vacation destination? Los Cabos, located at the tip of the Baja
California Sur Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of
Cortez, consists of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
While
you’ll find several upscale peaceful resorts in Cabo San Lucas, San
Jose del Cabo tends to be a little more sophisticated, while those
looking for a bit of the party atmosphere would prefer Cabo San Lucas.
With
many gorgeous resorts to choose from, you really can’t go wrong.
The Sheraton Hacienda del Mar is located in the exclusive Cabo del Sol
Golf Complex, thirty five minutes from the airport, ten minutes from
the nightlife in downtown Cabo, and twenty minutes from San Jose del
Cabo. I loved the perfect blend of comfort, hospitality, and
fun. The Sheraton, like most of the resorts has the Sea of Cortez
as its backdrop and is surrounded by twenty eight oceanfront acres.
The
resort consists of 270 spacious guest rooms including 31 suites and the
ultra comfy Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, a Jacuzzi, large walk in
shower, and a private balcony or patio. The wonderful bed and
extra large shower made it very easy to relax and feel
rejuvenated.
Dinner the first night was at
the D’Cortez Grill, situated almost right on the beach. The mixed
seafood soup and grilled shrimps were muy delicioso. I couldn’t
have asked for a nicer ambiance than the sound of the huge waves
crashing against the shore in front of us. Their international
restaurant, Tomatoes, serves breakfast, lunch, and a different themed
dinner each night. They offer a choice of their breakfast menu or
an extensive buffet of fresh fruits, cereals, yogurt, a made to order
omelet station, and traditional Mexican dishes.
For golfing
enthusiasts, Ocean Course (The Pebble Beach of Baja) and the Desert
Course are world class. The extensive beachfront features four
swimming pool, Jacuzzis, and a swim up bar. The 11,000 foot
Cactus Spa, a member of the Starwood Spa Collection, features a fitness
center, beauty salon, 11 treatment rooms, and an outdoor lounge and
plunge pool. Speaking of spas, if you are visiting Cabo, you’d be
remiss not to pamper yourself with a spa treatment or two. In
2007, Travel and Leisure listed the top ten hotel spas in Mexico and
Central and South America, and four of the ten are located in Los
Cabos. I had a wonderful sixty minute massage at the Esperanza
Resort and Spa, which was rated number one. With celebrities
escaping to the exclusive property, it’s easy to see why. The spa
at Esperanza has a steam cave, plunge pools and a cooling waterfall to
enjoy before your treatment, as well as an outdoor shower in your own
private treatment area. If it’s a nice day, you can opt for
the sliding door to your room to stay open so you can enjoy the
peaceful sounds of the ocean around you. After you’re left
floating from your massage, relax in their lounge as long as you’d
like. The aguas frescas, made from indigenous Mexican fruits,
vegetables, and desert plants are made fresh for you before your spa
experience and are delicious and great for cleansing and
energy. Since the Esperanza Resort is carved into the
bluffs overlooking the Sea of Cortez, the restaurants offer an amazing
view and atmosphere. Be sure to try their cerviche!
The
Cuisine of Cabo is really phenomenal. The chefs are top notch
from all around the world. Many who are hired to a hotel end up
staying in Los Cabos to open their own restaurants. Casianos,
located in San Jose del Cabo, is a true dining experience. With
no set menu, you inform them of any foods you don’t eat, and Chef
Casiano Reyes takes it from there. He will surprise you with
delectable dishes, drinks, and desserts in a multi course dinner.
Everything was truly mouthwatering and satisfying. Another
unique dining experience can be found beachfront at the Fiesta
Americana. We sat around a large wooden table and listened to the
sounds of the guitarist and vocalist over the crashing waves of the Sea
of Cortez. Dinner was delicious and featured creative dishes for
the most discriminating palate.
The Villa
del Arco is a hotel and time share property and features the largest
gym in Los Cabos, a big pirate ship in the pool area, and delicious
cuisine at your choice of restaurants. The service was
impeccable. I was impressed by the attentiveness of the wait
staff and how they all worked in unison to serve us our meals.
Cabo
is so beautiful, and with such beaches as Medano and Lovers Beach,
you’ll definitely want to kayak or take a glass bottom boat out to the
famous arch and the surrounding areas. There are plenty of ways
to explore the various beaches with activities such as kayaking,
windsurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, or taking out a
wave runner. Baja Wild Outfitters is a tour and rental company
and offers everything from snorkeling and kayaking to ATV riding,
surfing lessons, hiking trips, jeep expeditions, and whale watching
during peak season. Sportfishing is also very popular in Cabo San
Lucas.
While in Cabo, you must go swimming with dolphins at
Cabo Dolphins. Maya was our dolphin and she had me smiling the
whole time we were with her. She let us feel her belly, gave us
each a kiss, jumped over a pole we held over the water, and for the big
finale, I took hold of her fin and rode her back across the
pool. There was a professional photographer taking pictures
throughout with an option to purchase them at the end.
After
relaxing all day, be sure to party all night in downtown Cabo San
Lucas. Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina is a favorite nightspot
for drinks and dancing. Inside the cantina is a 24 hour
internet radio station, Cabo Wabo Radio, which broadcasts rock and
classic hits. The DJ sits in the radio studio looking out into
the club, while fans can watch the live broadcast through the glass
windows. The downtown area is also a good spot for shopping and
bargaining with merchants for your favorite Cabo souvenir.
So
if you’re looking to get away for a long weekend or an extended
vacation to relax in gorgeous surroundings, enjoy delectable cuisine
and party the night away, head south of the border to Los Cabos,
Mexico! Have a shot of tequila for me!
Take a trip, change a
life...
