A PARADISE AT THE END OF THE WORLD
In north-western Mexico, in the province of Baja California Sur, Los Cabos is the promise of an incredible journey, between the magic of the desert as far as the eye can see, the beauty of wild beaches and the charm of traditional villages. With 360 days of sunshine a year.
It couldn't be more isolated. Los Cabos is the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. The tip of the tip of a 1,700-kilometer-long peninsula, bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean, on the other by the Sea of Cortes and the Gulf of California. In the middle, an arid land, crushed by the sun, dotted with cacti and criss-crossed by spectacular sierras, with high mountains and waterfalls tumbling into crystal-clear pools.
More than half of the territory is protected. The El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is its treasure. Every year, from November to March, whales come to breed and give birth in its lagoons. The spectacle is also underwater, in this Sea of Cortes that Commander Cousteau himself called "the world's aquarium", when divers, even equipped with just fins, mask and snorkel, swim among multicolored fish, dolphins and sea turtles, and have fun with the mischievous sea lions.
If Cabo San Lucas, the gateway to Los Cabos, is an American-style seaside resort, other small coastal towns have managed to retain their Mexican soul: La Paz with its endless malecon on the waterfront, San José del Cabo with its colonial heritage and numerous art galleries, or Todos Santos, renowned for its cultural scene and waves perfect for surfing. Against the tide of behemoths with hundreds of rooms, several more confidential boutique hotels have recently opened, with the mission of preserving the authenticity of Los Cabos, preserving the environment and all that makes it rich, and promoting the well-being and disconnection of their guests. They are the new protagonists of a reasoned tourism in search of meaning.
AMET - THE MOST SECRET
You're sure to fall in love with this contemporary lodge near the village of Santiago, designed as a secluded retreat in the middle of a palm-fringed oasis. Here, guests can choose between three suites with lagoon-view terraces and open-air showers, and three tents, one of which is elevated and overlooks the mangroves. A large thatched pavilion covers the lounge sofas in front of the infinity pool and the tables in the restaurant, which alone justifies a reservation. Amet also offers a range of tailor-made experiences: a kayak-meditation combo, a walk in the sierra with a dip in natural pools...
AMETBAJA.COM
DRIFT SAN JOSE DEL CABO - THE MOST FESTIVE
After Santa Barbara, Palm Springs and Nashville, the Drift collection has left the United States to duplicate its model of chic and cool boutique hotel in Los Cabos, more precisely in the historic center of San José del Cabo. An ideal location for this member of Design Hotels, whose pared-down interiors are inspired by the raw landscapes of the desert. Polished concrete and white plaster walls give way to furniture and handicrafts made in the region. The restaurant, specializing in tacos and burritos, and the bar with its impressive mezcal list (over 80 references) appeal to locals and tourists alike. On certain evenings, the DJ is on hand to set the mood.
DRIFTHOTELS.CO/SANJOSE
ACRE - THE MOST LUXURIOUS
Nestled in a 25-hectare palm grove on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, Acre started out as a farm-to-table restaurant that has just been awarded a Michelin green star - and with good reason: its cuisine is essentially fed by its on-site organic vegetable garden. Then it became a resort, with treehouses for sleeping in the trees, XXL villas and haciendas for stays with family or friends, and a host of facilities: several pools, a spa, a ranch for equestrian activities, a mini-animal reserve... A destination in itself.
ACRERESORT.COM
THE WHITE LODGE - THE MOST SECLUDED
East Cape Beach and Cabo Pulmo National Park are linked by a rugged, sandy track that offers breathtaking panoramas of the Sea of Cortes and its wild shores. It's here that this 10-suite lodge has been established, housed in hillside cottages. The walls are made of straw and stone, the beds are on wooden logs, the furniture is custom-made by local craftsmen and the energy is 100% solar-powered. A small, minimalist Zen paradise, with a locavore restaurant, swimming pool, spa, yoga area and temazcal, an earthen hut, the equivalent of a Mexican sauna, where you can cleanse your aura and chakras in a shamanic ritual.
WHITELODGEBAJA.COM
