Gourmet getaway to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula refreshes mind, body, spirit

Guests are ushered into an open-air lobby that frames the Sea of Cortes 300 feet below, past another Bustamante piece, this one a whimsical chair that looks straight out of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Once settled onto a comfy chaise on the terrace, guests are offered a cooling scented cloth, refreshing drink and mini massage. Check-in and an overview of the resort are accompanied by views of shimmering infinity pools, one sliding seductively into another down toward a sandy beach lapped by aquamarine water.

Credit: Victor Elias/Grand Velas Los Cab

Credit: Victor Elias/Grand Velas Los Cab

The resort itself is a study of architectural design playing harmoniously within a dynamic topography of beach, boulders and blue sea. The hotel gently curves in a half moon so that each of its 304 gloriously large suites face the ocean full on. Every suite has a private terrace, created by divider walls whose shape mimics that of a ship’s sail — the word for “vela” in English. It is a come-hither idyll meant for sunrise breakfasts and lingering nightcaps.

Six of the rooms are Wellness Suites and have a split-level design with bed on one level and, on the other, fitness bike and juice bar offering a fresh selection of goal-oriented beverages — energy, digestive, anti-flu, antioxidant — whipped up daily by the spa concierge. The color palette is tranquil neutrals given soft pops of color from pillows and paintings. The bathroom is a lavish retreat with walk-in shower, jetted tub with TV and aromatherapy and spa amenities. A private plunge pool suggests moonlit dips.

Five uniquely designed and themed gourmet restaurants offer a new and inspired dining experience each evening. Cocina de Autor is a flavor explosion of small bites beautifully plated. Fine French cuisine is the specialty of Piaf, the resort’s adults-only restaurant that celebrates French cabaret singer Edith Piaf. Lucca is all about Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Frida recalls 1940s Mexico glam through its art deco motifs and serves authentic gourmet Mexican dishes. Steak and seafood are the headliners at Velas 10.

Several other restaurants are open all day: Azul serves international cuisine and local favorites; Cabrilla boasts a ceviche bar; and Amat Café pairs coffee and pastries. Watering holes are showy and inviting, from Miramar with its bonfires to Koi with its dance floor. No matter where you sip and sup, indoor and open-air seating abounds; stunning views mesmerize.

Integral to the resort’s restorative sensibility is its massive SE Spa by Grand Velas, a luxury, 2-level sanctuary encompassing 16 treatment rooms and hydrotherapy facility. Remedies include massages, facials and a full menu of therapies, many designed around the Blue Agave plant native to Mexico. Potions and lotions feature organic ingredients, treatments are innovative and rejuvenating, and aromatherapy techniques help release inner light and boost the immune system.

A special treat is the 7-step water journey, included with any treatment of 50 minutes or more. Slip into a eucalyptus-scented steam room with chromotherapy, polar pool, aromatherapy sensory shower, sauna, Jacuzzi and multi-sensory pool. At the central pool guests may avail themselves of hydro elements like massaging faucets for neck and back and bubble beds — carved-stone reclining chaises with jets.

Guiding guests along on the journey is a spa valet who helps personalize the experience to each individual. At journey’s end there are heated loungers with warm neck pillows, cool scented towels and cucumbers for the eyes. Mmm. It is an extravagantly indulgent way to extend your time at and enjoyment of the spa.

Every component at Grand Velas Los Cabos is designed to spoil and enchant. Best of all, this beachfront beauty is a mere 35 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport, so you can leave frigid temps in the morning and be wriggling your toes in warm sand later that day.

Five ways to wellness at Grand Velas Los Cabos:

— Belly up to the juice bar in your Wellness Suite and pour yourself a delicious concoction blended to increase your energy level or ward off the flu.

— Attend a Spa Atelier class and make a scrub designed specifically for your body type. The spa offers a series of purposefully designed educational workshops — skincare, nutrition, aromatherapy, water and tea rituals — inspired by local Mexican culture and based on the principles of ancient Ayurvedic medicine.

— Embark on a food adventure of gastronomic proportions at Cocina de Autor, featuring a tasting menu that changes with the creative whims of 2-star Michelin chef Sidney Schutte. Multi small-bite courses paired perfectly with a variety of wines are presented with an artistic aplomb that rivals the sublime exquisiteness of the cuisine.

— Stroll the grounds, inside and out, as the sun fades into the sea and enjoy the art and architectural beauty of the resort illuminated in the evening. Final stop? The marble bar at Koi, a sumptuous, shimmery space with a wall of windows overlooking the water.

— Sip margaritas and nibble on a gourmet lunch of grilled chicken Caesar salad, red-ripe tomatoes stuffed with seafood salad, fresh fruit and more while sailing the waters surrounding Los Cabos with Cabo Adventures, www.cabo-adventures.com/en. Captained by Hugo Espinoza aided by first mate Rafi Padilla, this yacht outing whisks guests past famous landmarks including the Arch en route to a sheltered cove with plenty of time for swimming and paddle boarding.

PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE

The AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Grand Velas Los Cabos opened in December of 2016. Services and amenities include 24-hour personalized butler concierge service; 24-hour in-suite service; gourmet-level dining; premium-brand domestic and international beverages; three pools, pool and beach concierges; Technogym Fitness Center with personal trainers, exercise programs, yoga, Pilates and meditation; recreational activities program; Wi-Fi; separate teens’ and kids’ club facilities and activities program; and taxes and tips.

For more information, visit https://loscabos.grandvelas.com or email reservationslc@velasresorts.com.