As I tilted my face towards the beaming sun, and crossed my fingers behind my head, I took a deep inhale and closed my eyes. I had the pool all to myself (well, almost – a few people napped quietly on the outskirts of the infinity pool, just beyond the horizon. I knew they were there, yet I felt as though this little piece of paradise was all mine).
This was my last day in Los Cabos, Mexico, and all I wanted to do was soak up every last moment of sunshine, and reflect on the past few days that I had experienced in this beautiful destination before I headed back home.
Have you ever seen a scene so serene?
The week leading up to my stay at Hilton Los Cabos had been a crazy one. With 3 kids and 3 jobs, I suppose every week is hectic, but after the post-Christmas chaos, and an abnormally long span of stormy weather at home, I needed to get away – to breathe and reset, and this trip had been exactly what I had needed.
While my visit to Los Cabos was technically a “work” trip, it ended up being so much more for me on a personal level. I had expected Cabo to be filled with loud-partying, twenty-somethings, dancing topless and downing drinks from dawn ’til dusk (and dusk ’til dawn!). I was of course pleasantly surprised to discover the serene side of Los Cabos, which was anything but a cesspool for spring break shenanigans.
The Hilton Los Cabos offers some unique, culturally-immersive guest programming that not only enhanced my on-site experience, but allowed me to connect on a personal level with the magical Mexican culture. Our group participated in a pinata-making class, where we learned about the origin of the age-old party trend. We had a spiritually-awakening session with a shaman, where we dug deep and learned how to release our negative energy and embrace the positive, and I enjoyed the most relaxing 80-minute all-senses massage at the Eforea Spa that had me feeling like I was floating on a cloud for the rest of the day.
We did a flower arrangement class using the most beautiful assortment of florals, and we enjoyed an on-site art class, where we painted some memorable Los Cabos scenery with the beautiful beach as our backdrop. Plus, I tried my very first Zumba class! Talk about stepping outside of my comfort zone (thankfully, there’s no photographic evidence of this).
Our adventures weren’t limited to the property though, we also enjoyed a stroll through the San Jose del Cabo Art Walk, a visit to a local farmer’s market, and an adventurous whale-watching tour, where we gazed at The Arch of Cabo San Lucas (El Arco) – a world-famous rock formation that sits in the sea at the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula. We laughed at the heaps of sea lions sunbathing on the rocks, and later, we visited a soon-to-be mother camel (yep, there are camels in Cabo!). We strolled along the harbour of the buzzing Cabo shores, and adventured through hidden fields decorated with large stone sculptures. We even visited a cactus museum!
And then there was the food. With Executive Chef Mauricio Lopez at the helm of the talented culinary team at the Hilton Los Cabos, our taste buds were treated to the most decadent, artful, and drool-worthy dishes during our stay. We enjoyed a cooking class with the chef, where we learned how to make authentic Mexican tamales and churros (which were delicious), and we were treated to some authentic Mexican cuisine, prepared by hand using traditional Mexican cooking methods. But it was the special event catering creations that resonated with me most (and my food-loving palate).
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever eaten such beautiful food! The dessert table (above) was set up for our group on our last night, and the attention to detail on each of the desserts truly represented the passion, creativity, and talent behind the culinary team. They truly went over and above – such a gifted group of culinary artists!
Where is Los Cabos?
Like many, I had thought that “Cabo San Lucas” and “Los Cabos” were synonymous place names that referred to the same geographic region, but Los Cabos is actually the greater region, encompassing other cities as well, including the very family-friendly San Jose del Cabo area that has so much to offer travellers visiting with kids.
While it’s part of the state of Baja California Sur, and includes a city with San Jose in its name, Los Cabos is a municipality in Mexico. Confusing, I know!
I’ve written about the kid-friendly side of Cabo for WestCoast Families Magazine, and will be sharing more about my adventures for Canadian Geographic soon (I’ll post the link once it’s live). In the meantime, I’ll continue to reminisce, flip through photos, and dream of one day returning to this most majestic Mexican paradise.
Disclaimer: I was invited to visit the Hilton Los Cabos as a travel journalist on assignment. While my stay was hosted, the opinions shared in this post are completely my own.
