The Mexican Hideaway You Haven’t Discovered Yet

I only knew the touristy, wilder Cabo San Lucas until a recent Los Angeles escape to Los Cabos, the more relaxed side twenty minutes away. Located on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and a 30 minute drive from San Jose Del Cabo airport, Los Cabos’ laid back beach vibe is way more my speed.

After a two hour and twenty minute flight on American Airlines from LAX, I landed what felt like minutes after a nap and a magazine read to experience two newly built boutique hotels, Casa del Mar Cabo and Hotel El Ganzo. After a long weekend, I soon learned both hotels are perfect for different reasons, but both provide a quieter, more relaxing experience than staying in Cabo San Lucas.

Rejuvenate your body and spirit this winter by staying at one of these unique properties:

Casa del Mar Golf Resort and Spa

The moment you arrive to this 19^th century, hacienda-style Mexican oasis you feel like you have been whisked to a secluded sanctuary. This intimate, 50-room ocean view hotel greets you with rustic grand wooden doors, Mexican artwork, glittering fountains, lush plants, serene pools, and a calm swim up bar all with breathtaking vantage points of the Sea of Cortez. Any stress from city life is immediately uplifted as you gaze at the bright aqua sea in the distance with its roar of waves.

Hotel features that you’ll want to take notice of include oceanfront terrace room views for sunset, the property’s old world archways, tilework and elegant steps, the room’s stand-alone tub in the marble bathroom and the Suenos spa, which offers customized massage therapies and treatments. My Balinese massage included aromatherapy, stone massage and belly massage, all to help stimulate the lymphatic system, blood flow, and qi. The grand indoor spa jacuzzi stone tub is not to be missed before or after your luxurious treatment.

Any stress from city life is immediately uplifted as you gaze at the bright aqua sea in the distance with its roar of waves.

The beauty of this hotel is the sense of calm one feels as you lounge on chairs overlooking the expansive white sandy beach on the Sea of Cortez. The resort never felt noisy or crowded and as you walk along the coarse sandy beach, you’ll probably spot more wildlife than people. (However, remember the sea is too powerful and dangerous to risk swimming here.) For golf lovers, the resort also boasts three championship golf courses.

Indulge in fresh fish ceviche, tequila shrimps with Mexican truffle, flank steak or chicken nachos, even a mango margarita poolside; anything you desire can be delivered to the nearby beach club with fabric flowing beach beds. Nearby, you may wish to visit the Mexican town of San Jose del Cabo with its attractive plaza, church, art galleries, cozy restaurants, and artsy keepsake souvenir stores. If you want to dine outside the resort, try dinner at the farm to table restaurant Los Tamarindos located on an organic farm.

One word. Tranquility.

Hotel El Ganzo

Situated on Puerto Los Cabos Marina, you know you are somewhere special when you’re greeted by the artistic splashes, both on the exterior and all throughout the hotel, left by visiting artists. This visual feast is due to Hotel El Ganzo’s own Artists in Residence program that includes not only artists, but musicians, chefs, and writers who can enjoy the property in exchange for a piece of their artistry. Live musical performances occur nightly on the rooftop pool area and musicians can use the on-site recording studio underneath the lobby floor.

The resort’s 69 rooms feature one-of-a-kind artwork, custom-created wood furnishings, stand-alone tubs, and rain showers. You’ll appreciate the live Indie music video content playing from the TV in your hotel room (thanks to their series of visiting musicians). It creates an enjoyable mood when simply lounging in your room. Maroon 5’s Adam Levine even had his wedding ceremony here.

Savor fresh fish sushi in the swim-up infinity rooftop pool that hangs over the Sea of Cortez or sip cervezas in their rooftop fish bowl Jacuzzi. Although the hotel is situated on a small fisherman’s marina, not a beach, there is a small boat that takes you to their own beach club minutes away where you can swim (one of the only places in Cabo), stand up paddleboard, practice yoga, or just enjoy a fresh fish and guacamole lunch. At sunset, take one of the hotel’s bikes on the dirt path through the palm fronds to the impressive sculpture garden and glorious rock garden area.

Never will you stay anywhere that has a vibe quite like the hip, arts-inspired hideaway of Hotel El Ganzo.

One word. Energizing.

Have you been to Los Cabos?

Feature Image via Hotel El Ganzo