Admittedly, the only thing I knew about Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, before a recent visit, was the destination’s Spring Break reputation and that Sammy Hagar had opened a bar there many years ago that gained instant popularity. Other than that, I was as pretty much oblivious.
I quickly found, however, that the vibe in Los Cabos is totally chill: everyone’s there for the same reasons – to relax, soak in the sun and have a good time. I did all that in the few days I spent on a Cabos girlfriend getaway.
I’m on a Boat!
Our visit to Los Cabos started with a boat ride along the coastline, offering the perfect vantage point to get the lay of the land. The crew aboard Pices Luxury Yachts’ “It’s All Good” (and indeed it was!) was incredibly welcoming, and made the sail so much fun. We enjoyed a light breakfast as we passed some of the area’s famous natural landmarks, including Land’s End. I don’t know about you, but I just love being on a boat!
Spa Crawling in Cabos
One thing Los Cabos knows how to do is spa, and there are loads to choose from. On our visit, we went to the best of the best.
At One&Only Palmilla (favored by George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox, to name just a few of the resort’s celebrity guests) a handful of treatment rooms feature a private sitting area and plunge pool. I chose a traditional Swedish massage and left feeling even more relaxed than I thought could be possible!
The four signature treatments at Capella Pedregal’s Auriga Spa are unique in that they change with the moon’s cycle to align guests with the rhythms of nature an enhanced wellbeing: new moon – time for renewal and introspection; waxing moon – period to refocus energy and embody visions; full moon – full potential is achieved; waning moon – perfect time for cleansing. When I visited, the moon was waning, so I chose the Detox Treatment to try and rid my body of both mental and physical toxins, some of which I’d collected whilst enjoying several tasty margaritas!
I was a bit apprehensive when I heard about it, but in the end was most moved by the Temazcal experience we had at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa. A Temazcal is a traditional Mexican sweat bath that originated as far back as the Aztecs, and our group was led by Shaman Jose Alberto Miranda Morales, and the experience was intense.
After a welcoming hot tea made simply with hot water and cinnamon, and covering ourselves in fresh aloe, we entered the “house of heat” and each took a seat, cross-legged on the floor. Alberto placed lava rocks heated over a flame outside in the center of the room, and added water to create an intense steam which would be scented with fresh basil and rosemary. Over the next hour and a half, he led us through sounds and songs to help unblock our natural creativity within and be in direct contact with nature. The result? An emotional, spiritual and renewing sense of calm. We were all stunned by how good we felt when it was all said and done, especially since one in our group had last just 10 minutes the other time she tried a Temazcal.
Buenos Noches and Blissful Dreams at the Grand Solmar Resort
All that spa-ing can be quite tiring, and it’s fortunate we had such spacious suites at
Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa, just steps from the famous landmark. My one-bedroom suite had a full kitchen (not that I used it!) and living room, in addition to a comfortable bedroom. I overlooked the adults-only pool and sweeping Pacific Ocean – it doesn’t get better than that!
For our next visit, though, we decided we should book the four-bedroom penthouse and really spread out in its 6,500 square feet. With 24-hour room service, a private pool and stunning views of Land’s End and the Pacific, we may not leave.
A girl can dream, can’t she?
Many thanks to each of the resorts and to the Los Cabos Tourism Board for hosting me and making me feel more than welcome – and totally relaxed! – during my stay.
Susan B. Barnes is a travel writer and photographer. A proud Army brat, she was born on a military base in Belgium and has been on the go ever since. While Susan has traveled across the United States and into Canada, she has also managed to visit such European cultural hot spots as Paris, London, Ireland, Athens and Rome, and has even explored the second largest reef in the world off the coast of Belize and the cloud forest of Venezuela, among many other exotic locales. Having learned to rock climb in Yosemite National Park, surf in La Jolla and swim with whale sharks in Mexico, she’s always looking forward to her next adventure. Be sure to follow Susan on Twitter to keep up with her latest adventures @travlin_girl.