Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort Los Cabos Is Open

Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos is opening September 1st, occupying a coveted 34 acres overlooking the Sea of Cortez, midway between the bustling vacation city of Cabo San Lucas and the quaint historic town of San Jose del Cabo. This will be the first hotel in Baja California Sur for The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts brand.

From its inception, the 128-room luxury resort was meant to pay tribute to Baja California, both in its design and guest experience, as it celebrates the magnificent landscape and exquisite cultural marvels endemic to the region. The team collaborated with the very best Mexican talent – from artists and architects to chefs, to ensure a truly authentic experience. Some standout features include:

• Accommodations – Sophisticated and modern, each masterfully designed guest room and suite at Solaz Resort feature a private entrance and patio, contemporary furnishings, original art and Bluetooth technology that will set the room ambience, with touch screen remote control access to the curtains, lighting and music. Floor plans blur the lines between indoor and outdoor space, as private terraces provide unobstructed views of the sea. The resort’s location, nestled between two natural rockbeds, offers guests one of the only swimmable beaches in the area.

• Art & Design – Designed by renowned Mexican architectural firm Sordo Madaleno, the resort's cascading terraces blend desert vegetation with quarry stone, granite, marble and wood to create a literal architectural work of art. Celebrating the distinctive endemic landscape of Baja, the property features a sustainable lush “dry jungle” featuring only endemic species and flora. This unique design puts Solaz Resort in a class of its own; however, it’s not just the creative landscaping and architectural beauty that set the resort apart from other luxury locations. Celebrating art at every turn, Solaz Resort features original works throughout the property — all masterfully created by famed Mexican artist César López Negrete, who travelled throughout Baja for years studying the region’s land, water, history and folklore. Negrete’s research inspired him to create thoughtful sculptures and specialty crafted furnishings, fostering a transformative experience for visitors. El Gabinete “Del Barco” is the resort’s indigenous gallery, showcasing regional artifacts such as a 43-foot-long whale skeleton and a historical map collection.

• Experiences – While other hotels may claim that they are inspired by the surrounding area, Solaz Resort has truly captured the region’s authenticity and incorporated this into every aspect of the resort, including its guest programming. The property has a large selection of tailor-made, exclusive experiences that are sure to touch the soul of each guest. From private helicopter trips to explore the rare Cave Paintings of Baja and swimming with whale sharks, to Baja-inspired culinary classes and enjoying a heartrending night under the desert stars, visitors can be immersed in a destination unlike any other with these locally inspired, luxury expeditions. Each room will have a dedicated Artisan butler who will help create these one-of-a-kind, tailor-made experiences.

• Gastronomy – Culinary offerings at Solaz Resort are as authentically inspired as the property itself, with four unique restaurants and lounges designed for visitors with discerning palates. Mako, one of the resort’s restaurants, will offer a trendy al fresco dining experience during the day, featuring clean food options such as salads from local biodynamic farms and artisanal wood-fired flatbreads, and at night the Mako Dinner Grill menu will include dry aged steak, local live lobsters and the sea’s freshest fish prepared in house by Executive Chef Pedro Joaquin Arceyut and his team. All of the resort’s restaurant menus have been developed to incorporate the captivating stories of local farmers that grow organic produce, fishermen that supply fresh and sustainable seafood, and the local artisanal craftsmen who specialize in traditional cheeses. Those looking for lively libations can enjoy the property’s impressive wine cellar at La Cava, offering a selection of more than 2,500 vintages, many of which are local to the region. The resort is also home to Xocolatl, a modern chocolate shop and ice cream boutique that sells organic and indigenous chocolate from Mexico’s diverse region.

• Meetings – Solaz Resort offers the largest meeting space at any luxury hotel in Los Cabos, with 20,000 sq. feet of meeting, wedding and event space that can accommodate more than 1,000 guests and includes a 3,500 sq. ft. ballroom and 11,000 sq. ft. outdoor deck. A team of expert event planners ensures attention to every detail for intimate or grand-scale event.

Source: https://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/solaz-a-luxury-collection-resort-los-cabos-to-open-september-1st 

The Ultimate Guide To Whale Watching In Los Cabos

Each year in early winter, one of nature's most delightful signs of seasonal change occurs - the migration of hundreds of whales from the frigid waters of the arctic to the warm, calm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula.

In recent years, whale watching has become a growing tourism trend and Los Cabos is no stranger to receiving visitors looking for up-close encounters with the ocean's largest mammals. To provide guests with a seamless experience, many hotels in the area partner with local tour providers to offer whale watching packages lasting through the end of the season, which begins in December and ends in March.

Of the 11 whale species found worldwide, eight venture to the waters surrounding Los Cabos each year, including minke, bryde, fin, sei, humpback, gray and blue. The whales make their way south at an average speed of four miles per hour and complete the 12,000-mile migration by mid-December, staying until late March when they repeat their journey. This six-month, round-trip sojourn is the longest trip made by any animal in the world.

There are many ways to observe these magnificent cetaceans in their natural habitat. During this time of year, several hotels offer special packages to cater to guests looking to maximize their whale watching experience, complete with top-notch accommodations and, in some cases, even additional perks.

• Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort offers a one-of-a-kind Whale Safari Experience where guests embark on a journey to discover the magnificent whale species that migrate to Los Cabos. Guests are first transported by private jet to Loreto and then enjoy a helicopter ride to San Ignacio taking in the awe-inspiring views of Sierra de la Giganta. After a day of whale watching, guests finish their excursion with a romantic picnic set up on Honeymoon Cove prior to jetting back to Las Ventanas. The next morning guests continue the journey in search of the playful humpback whales. Prices (inclusive of taxes and service charge) start at $21,500 for a maximum of four guests. The package's booking window extends from December to February 29, 2016 with travel dates from February 1-29, 2016.

• Esperanza, An Auberge Resort has a special Whale's Journey package including, three night/four day accommodations in an ocean view garden casita, private roundtrip airport transfers, marina transfers and a two-hour Zodiac whale watching excursion. Active guests will be in for a treat with daily complimentary yoga and fitness classes. The package's booking window and travel dates extend from January 3 to March 31, 2016.

• Hotel El Ganzo offers the Ganzo Getaway Whale Watching Package, a two, three or four night stay in a deluxe room complete with arrangements for an educational encounter with whales. The package's booking window extends from December through April 15, 2016.

• The Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort offers a whale watching package with rates starting at $377 per night for a minimum of three nights which can be retrieved with the booking code P8. The rate includes a daily breakfast buffet per paying adult and a whale watching tour per paying adult. The two-and-a-half-hour tour is provided by Cabo Adventures, one of Cabo's leading tour and activities operator. The deal's booking window is open from December 7, 2015, through March 15, 2016 with travel dates from December 7, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Applicable blackout dates include January 21-23, 2016.

• Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa, Playa Grande and Solmar Resort from the Solmar Hotels & Resortscollection are also offering whale watching packages with promotional rates ranging from $213 to $237 for a four night, five day stay. Booking window is open from December 15, 2015, through April 15, 2016 with travel dates from December 15, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Guests will receive a two-hour whale watching tour led by talented marine mammal behavior experts.

For additional whale watching promotions, check with your preferred hotel or service provider.

Los Cabos, located at the tip of the 1,000-mile long Baja Peninsula, is one of the world's most diverse tourism destinations. Boasting a dramatic desert backdrop nestled by coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is home to award-winning resorts and culinary offerings considered some of the finest available anywhere. A growing list of championship golf courses, rejuvenating spas, world-renowned sport fishing tournaments, and state of the art convention facilities add to the destination's unmatched appeal. For more information, images and videos from Los Cabos, please visit www.visitloscabos.travel.

Source: www.luxurytravelmagazine.com