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Las Ventanas al Paraíso Gets a Spa Upgrade

Soothing circle at Las Ventanas Al Paraíso

One of Mexico’s premier resorts gives its plush spa a makeover of its own.

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, in Los Cabos, Mexico, has completed a major enhancement of its spa. The spa has been reimagined as an indoor-outdoor experience in a tranquil setting. This was achieved by planting 45 areca and date palms and by using thatched palapas and latilla screens for shade with walls of vegetation for privacy.

The treatment cabanas boast an outdoor shower and a private terrace and garden, allowing guests to enjoy treatments indoors and/or outdoors. Four of the cabanas were newly added, while the four existing ones were completely redone. The two new cabanas for couples also feature an outdoor jetted tub for two, enabling couples to have an extended experience that combines treatments and relaxation.

The addition of new signature treatments is highlighted by Flor de Luna (Flower of the Moon). The menu introduces the spa’s Moonflower Body Scrub, made from dragon fruit and exclusively handcrafted for Las Ventanas by Escencia. Subtly infusing throughout the spa is a new signature custom scent—a blend evoking the indigenous natural flora of the area with a touch of citrus—that was created especially for Las Ventanas by Ajne, a California-based creator of organic scents.

Las Ventanas offers 71 suites and three signature dining choices.

Luxe Cabos

Mexico’s Baja Peninsula offers unabashed luxury in a setting of natural grandeur.

Jutting out into the aquamarine junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, the southern capes of the Baja Peninsula, or “Los Cabos,” have long served as the West Coast’s answer to the distant Caribbean and the even more remote Pacific islands. Since tourism began here in the late ‘70s, the scramble for the 20-mile corridor between the towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas inevitably spawned gimmicky hotels and tawdry motels. However, it also brought some of the most lavish, show-stopping resorts, aptly fit for their regular Hollywood A-list clientele and the global elite with a desert-meets-the-sea romantic vibe. Indeed, magnificent resorts like the One&Only Palmilla and Las Ventanas al Paraíso rank among the globe’s finest, earning Los Cabos a spot high atop the list of the world’s most luxurious locales.

Villa Cortez beachfront pool Casita Master Suite at One&Only Palmilla

One&Only Palmilla

Designed as an intimate beachfront hacienda for the mid-20th century’s rising rich and famous, One&Only Palmilla once attracted the likes of John Wayne, Lucille Ball, and Bing Crosby. Over time, improved infrastructure in the Baja Peninsula catalyzed expansions, but the resort’s original ethos—an unapologetic, decadent respite from reality—remains unchanged. Nowadays, the 250-acre One&Only Palmilla redefines the concept of barefoot luxury with sumptuous accommodations and exalted outlets at the tip of the Palmilla master-planned community.

An ambassador of South of the Border luxury, One&Only Palmilla exudes a true sense of place. The contemporary incarnations of the original accommodations take the form of 12 traditional casas boasting a total of 173 rooms and suites that range from large to palatial. All face the ocean, are outfitted with sprawling terraces and patios, and offer the brand’s signature butler service. Lively, eclectic Mexican design abounds, right down to the last detail, while massive wooden doors and room partitions, intricately studded and bursting with character, reflect the Colonial farm style typical of San Miguel de Allende. One-of-a-kind rustic floor tiles complement the understated tapestries, hand-embroidered cloths, and colorful linens.

One&Only Palmilla’s ample acreage separates the more family-centric north from the more adults-driven south. That’s not to say that these regions are mutually exclusive or that any age will forgo frivolity and fun on the hilltop; simply put, One&Only Palmilla champions the best of both worlds.

Vacationing families gravitate toward the resort’s central and northern reaches, where the rocky outcrops give way to placid beaches. Nestled in dense foliage and teeming with towering palm trees, this vast expanse includes half of the resort’s lavish casas, the principal pool and connecting children’s pool, the unique “Mexiterranean” Agua Restaurant & Bar, and an ESPA spa. Lining the southern rim of the property, 16 units with private oceanfront infinity pools and three dozen junior suites cater to couples seeking honeymoon-style romance. At the multi-tiered, adults-only Vista Pool & Bar, complimentary foot massages, ginger margaritas, homemade sorbets, and towel fluffing are all on the menu. Come nightfall, a mesmerizing fire pit illuminates and creates idyllic ambience for good conversation and stargazing. A stone’s throw away, Suviche Lounge buzzes with the sweet sounds of live music and the chatter of margarita-merry patrons, while the neighboring Market restaurant doles out Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s award-winning French-Asian cuisine, peppered with regional Mexican spices and ingredients.

Between January and March, mammoth gray whales arrive at this coastal refuge to give birth and rear their young. They are often visible with the naked eye, though in-room telescopes bring them up close and personal. One&Only Palmilla is a year-round habitat for relaxation and uninterrupted bliss for both the affluent family and the starry-eyed romantic.

Oceanview suite at Las Ventanas al Paraíso

Las Ventanas al Paraíso

There’s no case of getting lost in translation for Las Ventanas al Paraíso. These “windows to paradise” overlook a stunning panorama of desert and sea that embodies our contemporary definition of “paradise.” Comprising 11 whitewashed, low-rise buildings that are enveloped by diverse cacti and framed by the most brilliant blue skies, Las Ventanas imparts an ambience of far-and-away storybook romance.

The resort impresses from the onset, with an expansive alfresco lobby opposite the rising tides, hovering over an enclave of inspirational architecture. The artisan floors are composed of contrasting stones, beautifully arranged along the labyrinthine walkways, while the ceilings are bound by traditional dried latilla sticks. Bare branches from the Baja desert come to life with hand-blown red and pink glass ornaments, complementing the color-splashed desert foliage. Freestanding rectangular stairs intersect reflection ponds, leading toward sea-level amenities and outlets like the resort’s fine-dining restaurant or the more casual Mexican-inspired Sea Grill. Seven distinctive pools offer varying degrees of privacy, and a warm and smiling staff surprise at every turn, eager to deliver stellar service.

Las Ventanas’s 71 suites perfectly balance elements of luxury with regional authenticity. Its understated interiors pay homage to the flavors of Mexico’s 32 diverse states, cast ashore on a seaside desert. Even the recent spa expansion showcases a multi-faceted example of Mexican craftsmanship, with ornamental glasswork from Oaxaca embellishing an outdoor traditional Bajan palapa that serves as the spa’s relaxation area.

Due in part to its extensively manicured grounds, Las Ventanas exudes a constant spa-like placidity. Here, the few interruptions to guests’ R&R usually occur poolside or beachside with hourly offerings of homemade sorbets, water coolers, and other thirst-quenching delights. Perhaps you’ll wake up from a post-massage, sun-kissed snooze to a distant horn signaling the presence of whales in the area. Like One&Only Palmilla, Las Ventanas al Paraíso is a superb spot for witnessing the renowned gray whale migration, one of nature’s most majestic sights.

Highlights Los Cabos With all the shameless pampering you’re bound to experience at One&Only and Las Ventanas, heading off site can seem like a ridiculous idea. But if you can manage to break away, here are a few can’t-miss activities in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Art Walk Exposition On Thursday evenings, the wildly popular Art District in San Jose del Cabo comes to life as dozens of galleries offer patrons complimentary wine and insight into their fabulous displays and works by Mexican and international artists and artisans. Land’s End Think of Los Cabos and a vision of Land’s End quickly comes to mind. This impressive cluster of rock formations, including the famous Arch of Poseidon, appears on nearly every postcard of Los Cabos. During high tide, panga boats (dinghies), from either the Marina or from El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, offer rides to the Arch. Better yet, during low tide, intrepid travelers can get there by foot by way of Lover’s Beach. Whale Watching From January to March, gray whales rule the Cabo coastline. Around 6,000 whales come here annually to birth their young. While it’s exciting to view the whales from the coastline, the full gamut of boat tours—from zodiacs to sail boats—offer an even more exciting way to immerse yourself in their world.

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Los Cabos, Mexico

Some of the most desirable real estate in the world is found at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, where the mountains meet the sea. By, Melissa C. Gillespie

Located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is a blue-water paradise where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. The warm desert climate blends with ocean breezes on an endless stretch of pristine coastline. It is comprised primarily of two towns: San José del Cabo to the east and Cabo San Lucas to the west. The two are linked by an 18-mile stretch of resorts, golf courses, and luxury residential developments.

Cabo San Lucas, noted for its nightlife, offers a variety of attractions, including The Marina, which features 380 slips accommodating vessels up to 200 feet.

A popular tourist destination, it is well known for El Arco, a natural rock formation in the shape of an arch, which lies adjacent to Playa Del Amor (Lovers Beach) and, of course, big-game fishing. But it’s also a hotbed for real estate investors and vacation homeowners. Most of the private residences are taking root in and around San José del Cabo; however, two of the top residential developments, both with some deep history in the area, are just steps from downtown Cabo San Lucas.

Located on the site of the former Hacienda Hotel, one of the first hotels in Cabo, Hacienda Beach Club & Residences is a private beach club and residential community offering resort-like amenities. Thirty years ago, developer Don Koll and his fishing pal John Wayne landed his Cessna on a dusty strip adjacent to the hotel (in what is now the world-class marina) for a weekend of deep-sea fishing. He kept his eye on the property, and when it became available, The Koll Co. purchased it from the Parr Family, its long-time owners.

Situated on 1,600 lineal feet of prime beachfront at Medano Beach, Hacienda today consists of 109 homes with three distinct styles: two-story detached beachfront villas, attached resort residences featuring views, and penthouses atop four- to six-story buildings available for vacation rentals and for purchase (starting around $650,000.)

The other, Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas, is a gated, amenity-rich community featuring beautifully crafted oceanfront and oceanview homes. More than three decades ago, Architect Don Manuel Díaz Rivera purchased 330 acres that would become the development Pedregal, one of Cabo’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Inside the gates, melding Old Mexico charm with modern luxury, are more than 340 homes built along cobblestone streets and the Capella Pedregal spa and resort.

Heading East

While some developers slowed or stopped work during the international recession, Los Cabos’ premier residential community, Del Mar Development, where prices range from $600,000 to $10 million, continues to build and set the standard for luxury living in San José del Cabo.

Nestled along the Baja California coast beside the legendary One&Only Palmilla Hotel, the development consists of four distinctive communities: Villas Del Mar, Espiritu Del Mar, Oasis Palmilla, and La Montaña, featuring a stunning collection of beachfront, oceanview, and mountainside residences. The Villas Del Mar community is one of the most prestigious developments in Mexico, and prominent leaders of the corporate and celebrity worlds are among the residents of this exclusive, classically elegant area of oceanfront and hillside estates. Looking to spread out? The Oasis Palmilla community is the first gated community in Los Cabos to offer one-acre home sites.

This privacy and exclusivity is packaged with top-notch service through a tailored management program. The company’s on-site 24/7 concierge team, including private butler and personal chef service, attends to residents’ every need. For those owners who travel, Del Mar can oversee all household matters – from resetting clocks and repairing broken appliances to regularly turning over car engines and paying local bills.

Love the real estate but not ready for ownership? Quintess destination club offers Cielos Palmillas, an enclave of villas within the Del Mar community, in which members can rent stays at one of the single-level four-bedroom residences. Every home has a large terrace with a pool, a built- in spa, and a designated host who is available most hours of the day. (For us, having a dedicated contact on speed dial to assist with the intricate details of the sound system and climate controls proved quite useful.) Another amenity guests should take care not to miss is the personal chef service—especially the fresh-made margaritas, salsa, and guacamole.

The Del Mar Development delivers a true luxury beach resort experience. Whether you are a part-time or full-time resident, you’ll have access to the One&Only Palmilla spa, the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, the development’s state-of-the-art fitness facility, Club Espiritu, and Club Ninety Six, known as one of Mexico’s finest private beach clubs. Most impressive to us is that each staff member recognizes guests and residents by name, whether they are full-time homeowners or once-a-year visitors.

Just a short distance from the Del Mar communities is Querencia. Set atop a cliff with spectacular ocean views, the 1,800-acre vacation home community offers an array of real estate options providing the ideal community for golf lovers. Full-ownership real estate options, including home sites, villas, condominiums, and custom homes, range from $550,000 to $14 million.

Current amenities at Querencia include a 58,000-square-foot clubhouse that offers multiple dining venues, as well as a yoga pavilion, a Kids’ Club, and a concierge team. Looking to improve your drive? We recommend Querencia’s Yoga for Golfers, which incorporates a series of exercises that move the body toward greater strength and flexibility.

Future property enhancements include the development of a second golf course designed by Gil Hanse, a Surf Club located inside a secluded natural cove in the Los Cabos corridor that will offer a casual outdoor bar and dining area, pool, spa, fire pit, and private beach cabanas; and new oceanview residential offerings, including a new release of waterview lots, club villas and condominiums.

Another development making waves in the Los Cabos area is Puerto Los Cabos, which offers a true marina lifestyle. We love how this master-planned development incorporates so many personal touches throughout the property, including art collections handpicked by the developer and thoughtfully displayed around the boardwalk at the Marina at Puerto Los Cabos. Only the second in Los Cabos, the Marina is becoming a favored port to enjoy the region’s exceptional sport fishing, whale watching, and sailing adventures. The area around the Marina is still under development, but plans are in the works for a hotel, restaurants, and shops.

Sprawling across 2,000 acres of seaside hills, over half of Puerto Los Cabos is reserved as a private residential community. Already established within Puerto Los Cabos is its beach club, the Front Nine of the Greg Norman Signature course, the Back Nine of the Jack Nicklaus Signature course, and several exquisite estates. Perhaps its most inviting opportunities are its custom home sites with views of the golf course and/or ocean. These are clustered in five distinct neighborhoods, each with its own charm. Within each enclave are myriad designs allowing for the personal taste of the owners; home sites start at $195,000.

Whether your preference is a harbor, golf, or beach resort lifestyle, you’ll find it here in the Baja Peninsula. From the traditional charm of Colonial Mexico to the vivacious growth of a luxury lifestyle, Los Cabos is truly paradise found.

Getting There

Los Cabos is only a 2.5-hour flight from major Southern and Western U.S. airports. Flights leave daily from most U.S. and Canadian cities. The Los Cabos airport features a modern private jet terminal. Cruises arrive and depart daily from the international port. Climate: the sun shines 350 days a year; average temperature is 78 degrees; only 10 inches of rain per year.

Where To Stay

With more than 30 miles of beach, world-class hotels and spas, and some of the best golf courses in North America, Los Cabos is a tough-to-top vacation destination.

Hacienda Beach Club & Residences Just steps from the Marina and on beautiful Medano Beach, vacation rentals at Hacienda Beach Club & Residences range from one- and two-bedroom resort residences to three-bedroom homes with dens featuring breathtaking vistas to spacious four-bedroom beach villas with their own private pool, spa, and built-in barbeque. Vacation rental rates range from $550 to $3,250 per night. 866-300-0084, haciendacabosanlucas.com.

Westin Resort & Spa The 243-room, AAA Four Diamond Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos has earned its spot among the world’s best resorts with its dramatic architecture, elegant guestrooms, luxurious services, and abundant amenities, including private whirlpool baths and terraces with siesta beds. Rates start at $233 during high season and $160 during low season. 011-52-624-142-9000, westin.com/loscabos.

One & Only, Palmilla All 173 rooms, suites, and villas at One&Only Palmilla offer 24-hour butler service and a patio or balcony facing the sea, allowing optimum privacy and unobstructed scenic views. Low season rates start at $525. Call for high season pricing. 011-52-624-146-7000, palmilla.oneandonly.com.

Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort Perched on 28 acres overlooking the Sea of Cortez, the 270-room Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort anchors the 1,800-acre Cabo del Sol resort development, which includes two of the region’s finest golf courses, four pools, luxurious Jacuzzis, and a beach. Rates start at $169 during high season and $129 during low season. 011-52-624-145-8002, sheratonloscabos.com.

For more ideas and options, including all-inclusive options, visit the los cabos visitors bureau website at visitloscabos.travel.

The Details: Real Estate

El Encanto, elencantoloscabos.net; Villas Del Mar, villasdelmar.com; Espiritu Del Mar, espiritudelmar.com; Pedregal de Cabo San Lucas, pedregal.com; Hacienda, haciendacabosanlucas.com; Oasis Palmilla, oasispalmilla.com; Querencia, loscabosquerencia.com; Puerto Los Cabos, puertoloscabos.com.

La Paz, Baja California Sur

Baja’s capital is a luxury-loaded adventure destination. By, Melissa C. Gillespie

Just under two hours north of Los Cabos by car, La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, the state boasting the greatest length of Mexico coastline. La Paz, Spanish for “peace,” has a rich history, delightful people, delicious food, and an easy-going lifestyle.

Thousands of people sail to La Paz every year, enticed by the calm, warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, which is home to reefs, underwater caves, and exotic sea life. It is considered one of the premier diving, snorkeling, and sport-fishing locations in the world. Nearby Isla Espiritu Santo, an oasis of secluded coves and dramatic sandstone cliffs, has been protected as a biosphere national reserve and is well-populated with friendly sea lions.

La Paz, although quaint and quiet, has the services and amenities for a comfortable and relaxing visit, from elegant dining and a full-service spa to the direct flights from several cities.

Long known for its exquisite coastline and abundant fishing, La Paz is also making a new name for itself as a second-home destination for mainland North Americans.

Most recently, the destination welcomed the CostaBaja Resort & Spa, home to Gary Player’s first golf course in Mexico; several oceanfront and oceanview condominiums, villas, and custom home lots; and a full-service hotel. The resort is a town within itself, offering exquisite dining in the marina at Azul Marino and La Barcaccia and oceanfront relaxation and activities at its beach club. La Paz is also home to Paraiso del Mar, a 1,700-acre resort community with an island lifestyle and an award-winning Arthur Hills championship golf course. Development plans over the next year include the completion of an additional 102 beachfront condominiums.

High tourist season in La Paz is from mid-November through May. However, there are several sporting events year round and in the off-season, most notably the Fishing Tournament Dorado La Paz, attracting fishermen from around to world in June.

The Essentials La Paz

1 Where to Stay The condos at Hotel La Concha Beach Resort & Condominiums range from one to three bedrooms. Children under 12 are not allowed. laconcha.com, 612-121-6161 (USA), 01-800-716-8603 (Mexico). CostaBaja Resort & Spa is the first five-star property in La Paz, featuring a signature restaurant, a 250-slip marina, a beach club, a golf course, and a spa. Rates are dependent on season, view, and size. costabaja.com, 866-409-9940 (USA); 01-800-267-8222 (Mexico).

2 Where to Eat Enjoy the casual patio seating at Lumière in the Plaza Real: try the Quatro Quesos (four cheeses) crepe for a satisfying mid-afternoon snack. For a more traditional La Paz dining experience, locals and tourists agree on Bismarck II for the fresh catch of the day. Las Tres Virgenes serves up “Baja High Cuisine,” featuring a diverse selection of international fare and an excellent wine selection as well.

3 What To Do If you’re not into sport fishing or snorkeling, two of the most popular activities here, stroll the historic malecón (seaside boulevard), relax at the beach, or let the professionals at Fun Baja take you on a whale-watching expedition. funbaja.com. La Paz is home to two 18-hole golf courses: one at Paraiso del Mar (paradiseofthesea.com) and the other at CostaBaja Resort & Spa.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The result of a collaboration between developers for upscale resorts in Los Cabos and a leader in real estate investments, Hacienda has quickly established itself as a waterfront oasis. Continue reading Cabo San Lucas, Mexico