The Resort at Pedregal
Photo Courtesy of The Resort at Pedregal
Located on the southernmost tip of the Baja peninsula, Los Cabos is a regular vacation spot for A-listers like Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney, who make the quick jaunt across the border to partake of the perennially sunny weather and white sand beaches surrounded by endless blue sea. With direct flights from 34 cities in the U.S. and Canada, this Mexican oasis is just waiting for you to come and enjoy it. Let Forbes Travel Guide nudge you into finalizing your plans with this detailed two-day itinerary.
Day One
There are four well-recognized luxury resorts in Cabo — Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort; One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Resort; Esperanza, An Auberge Resort; and The Resort at Pedregal — each of them renewed and reinvigorated following extended months of renovation after September 2014’s Hurricane Odile. You could easily spend two whole days on property at any of these resorts, but if you’re in the mood for a more adventurous stay, we recommend The Resort at Pedregal, which is nestled in the heart of Cabo San Lucas itself.
Your arrival at the luxury hotel begins via passage through the Dos Mares (“two seas”) Tunnel, so named because the 984-foot path leads to the private beach where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet. Emerging from the tunnel, you’ll be greeted at the curb by smiling staff proffering refreshments, cool towels and baggage service before you’re led to the picturesque outdoor lobby for check-in.
A personal assistant then escorts you to one of the 110 spacious ocean-view rooms or suites on property (two-, three- and four-bedroom casitas are also available), each with its own private plunge pool, indoor fireplace, rainfall shower and sunken bathtub. Tastefully appointed Mexican furnishings, which include hand-carved doors, local Mexican tile and wall art, set the tone perfectly for your seaside getaway.
Luna Y Mar Spa, Photo Courtesy of The Resort at Pedregal
Take a moment to freshen up and absorb the splendor of the surroundings from your balcony before heading down for some well-deserved rest and relaxation at the resort’s main infinity pool. While you’re working on your tan, let the rhythmic sound of the ocean do its magic. The poolside service is known for having a few tricks as well — staff comes around with complimentary popsicles and cold towels. Make sure to swim up to the edge of the infinity pool so you can look at how the sapphire-colored waters glisten in the sunlight. If you’re thirsty, order a cocktail at the swim-up bar or, for light meal, pull up a chair at the poolside Crudo Bar for ceviche prepared right in front of you.
You could probably laze around all day by the water, but you’re not going to. Instead, don a change of clothing and grab your sunglasses and a hat, because it’s the perfect time to explore downtown Cabo San Lucas. An easy five-minute walk will take you to the front of marina and, from there, you can wander the through the town for souvenirs. Pick up some local silver jewelry, Talavera-style pottery and Mexican handicrafts as they catch your fancy. Though it’s certainly more lively at night, this would also be a good time to visit Sammy Hagar’s famous Cabo Wabo Cantina for a well-crafted margarita.
Shopping done, it’s time to return to the resort so you can indulge in one of its best perks: the Luna Y Mar Spa. From the minute you step into the 12,000-square-foot oasis, you’ll be enveloped by a sea of calm. Your massage will take place in one of the eight outdoor pods that surround the waterfall pool. Opt to have your service performed while the doors are open; doing so will not only let in the cool ocean breeze, but it will also permit sounds of the cascading waterfall to lull you into a dreamlike state. Just make sure to save a bit of energy for the spa’s fantastic water circuit after your treatment, which includes a steam room, a Jacuzzi, and an ice exfoliation ritual that stimulates your senses and leaves your skin radiant.
Tonight is the night to make the most of Cabo, so dress up and then take the 20-minute cab ride to Sunset da Mona Lisa, famous for its unobstructed views of famed landmark the Arch. When you arrive, head to the buzzy terrace and champagne bar and order a glass of Veuve Clicquot as the sun’s last rays (around 5:45 p.m.) set on the west, right behind the impressive rock formation.
The night is young, and dinner is just a five-minute cab ride away at the chic Toro Latin Kitchen & Bar by celebrity Latin American chef Richard Sandoval. Newly opened in fall of 2015, Toro features a sunken square bar just inside the entrance where you’ll start your culinary journey with a signature cocktail (the Prickly Pear Chilcano). Spare a few moments to admire the attractively lit fountain before taking your seat to enjoy a Latin American feast. We suggest ordering family style, starting with a Peruvian-style tiradito of fresh tuna slices topped with ponzu and avocado. Follow that with grilled beef anticucho heart skewers or a sampling of Korean barbecue, crispy Baja fish and pork belly tacos before digging into an entree such as the miso barbecue escolar fish.
There’s still plenty of time to check out downtown Cabo’s nightlife after dinner. Just take your pick from the prominent collection of bars and clubs: Cabo Wabo, El Squid Roe, Passion Club and Pink Kitty are a few solid choices. Of course, a quieter, more relaxing option is to return to your hotel, turn off the lights, open the balcony door and light the fire, before enjoying a nighttime dip in your personal plunge pool.
Day Two
If you can get yourself to rise early enough, start your day off right with an energizing pre-dawn jog or walk along the beach. Just before 7 a.m., pause to let the ocean waves lap at your feet as you marvel at the orange-pink-purple hues of the sunrise illuminating the sky.
You’ve probably worked up an appetite from your morning exercise, so reward yourself by nabbing a patio seat at Don Manuel’s for a hearty breakfast filled with cold-pressed juices, organic Mexican fruits, a selection of pastries and kitchen offerings such as the incredibly delicious huevos en cazuela (Mexican baked eggs).
Don Manuel’s, Photo Courtesy of The Resort at Pedregal
It is excursion day, so you’ll want to be ready to go off property for your choice of activities by 8 a.m. For fun frolicking in the sun, an unexpected delight is Cabo Adventures’ Camel Safari, a three-hour outing that includes a beach-front camel ride, cactus exploration and traditional Mexican lunch.
For water-based activities, consider either a whale watching trip during whale season (December through March), sailing or snorkeling. If golfing is your passion, there are a number of famous courses in the area, such as the nearby Cabo Del Sol, Palmilla or the stunning new private club at Quivira Los Cabos, which The Resort at Pedregal concierge can help you book.
With your excursion out of the way, you’ll be in need of downtime before one final dinner. Now would be a good time to check out the vistas from the property’s second infinity pool, which just happens to be located next to the Beach Club restaurant, in case you get hungry for burgers and other simple American fare.
For your last night in Cabo, you won’t have to go very far, because one of the region’s finest dining destinations just happens to be onsite at the outdoor cliffside restaurant, El Farrallon. A 5:30 p.m. reservation ensures that you’ll have time for a glass of Krug at the Champagne Bar when you take in the spectacular sight before you: a sweeping 180-degree panorama that encompasses the town, beach and the smooth large rock formations of Pedregal being pelted by forceful ripples of the surrounding waters.
El Farrallon, overseen by The French Laundry alum and resort executive chef Yvan Mucharraz, is fashioned like a fish market. You get to see and select your seafood from a cold counter before you sit down on a terrace situated so close to the ocean — wood beams make for the only separation — that occasional splashes have been known to douse patrons as they dine.
The menu is prix fixe and includes a daily soup (mushroom miso or green gazpacho with crab is wonderful); a selection of appetizers, which may include fried calamari, local ceviche and organic salads; a grilled entrée; and a dessert. Live acoustic music heightens the experience as you dine underneath the stars.
And what better way to end the night than in the same way that the day began? A romantic, moonlit walk on the resort’s secluded private beach, just steps away from the restaurant, is the perfect conclusion to your idyllic, two-day sojourn in the luxurious Baja.