Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Photo Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts LLC
In September 2014, Hurricane Odile slammed into the popular resort area of Los Cabos, at the very tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, causing more than $1 billion in damage and closing nearly all of its resorts, at least temporarily. While Cabo has technically been open for business since shortly after the storm, most of its best-known luxury resorts have remained shuttered. It’s only now, nearly nine months post-hurricane, that many of the celebrity favorites are reopening.
We have a sneak peek at what you can expect from the area’s hottest luxury hotels, now freshly ready for your summer vacation.
The Resort at Pedregal
This Cabo San Lucas resort was one of the first of the area’s luxury properties to reopen following the storm, launching in late January with more than just an updated look and fresh fitness programming — it got a new name, too. Formerly managed by luxury brand Capella, this address still features the longest privately owned (and candelabra-adorned) tunnel in the country and amenities like butler service and daily afternoon guacamole and Coronas, but it also has offerings such as a reimagined spa (six treatments now focus on indigenous ingredients and natural healing techniques) and the Champagne Terrace at El Farallon restaurant, the city’s best place for dramatic cliffside sunsets. We love Pedregal for its views, close-to-town location and the fact that there is a private plunge pool in each of the rooms.
One & Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Resort, Photo Courtesy of One & Only Resorts
One & Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Resort
Decorated in lush tropical foliage, guests here may feel as if they’re actually somewhere in the Caribbean. But this celebrity favorite (Jennifer Aniston is a frequent visitor), which reopened on April 20, also feels the newest of the resorts, thanks to a total renovation. The property received a full dining overhaul, including the addition of a new steakhouse, Seared by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; redesigned spaces for Suviche sushi and the popular Agua by Larbi; and updates to the bars and casual spaces. Guest rooms and suites have been thoughtfully updated with new furnishings, fabrics and décor. The fitness center and spa has been totally remodeled, too, and this includes the addition of a new salon catering to on-the-go touch-ups like blowouts, as well as dedicated areas for men’s treatments (Barber and Blade) and a Pedi:Mani:Cure by Bastien Gonzalez studio.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso
One of the region’s last luxury hotels to reopen, this Rosewood resort, which suffered more cosmetic damage than structural, will welcome back guests on June 4. Las Ventanas al Paraíso (“windows to paradise” in Spanish) will show off some subtle upgrades (improved wireless connectivity and new fitness equipment) as well as a few more substantial ones, including a new spa treatment that required massage therapists to train for more than 100 hours in an effort to master the service. Additional new guest programming will focus on once-in-a-lifetime experiences that touch on everything from culinary offerings to lavish day trips.
The Spa At Esperanza, Photo Courtesy of Auberge Resorts
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort
Primed for a grand reopening this summer — the resort has actually already started welcoming guests to its popular spa and Cocina del Mar cliffside restaurant — the 57-room property is undergoing a room revitalization to its palapa-roofed guest units that includes a muted color palette (faded blue and gray) and rustic chic décor (leather, handcrafted furniture), which was all overseen by HKS Architects interior designer Mary Alice Palmer. Additional enhancements to the resort involve a new ceviche bar within Cocina del Mar and a retail boutique near the check-in area. On the beachfront and by the pool, enjoy an added level of exclusivity, with new private cabanas available for rent, as well as in-water chaise lounges and beachside hammocks.
The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
Opening mid-June, Cabo will see its first-ever Thompson property with the launch of this 161-room treat. The brand’s first luxury resort in the country is designed with a 1960s Mexico-meets-SoCal aesthetic, and is perfectly positioned on Monuments Beach for surfing and other water sports. The property also offers unobstructed views of The Arch of Cabo San Lucas, one of the area’s most famous sites. For a truly luxe escape, book a bi-level suite (private balcony, freestanding copper-leaf tubs, craft cocktail bar), take a dip in one of the two exquisite pools (one is made from a natural rock formation, the other is an infinity) and, come October, have a sunset drink at aptly named The Roof Top.
