The thousands of gray whales and humpbacks migrating from frigid Arctic waters in the north Pacific can be spotted as early as Thanksgiving as guests sit down to a feast in their Elegant Mexico villa and marvel at the panorama, suddenly spotting the flume of a humpback in serious play amid the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez. The 6,000-mile migration happens every year at this time and becomes a stunning spectacle during the Christmas holidays when calving season is in full force and the pods of more than half a dozen species of whales can be watched by villa guests right from their patios overlooking the pool and the sea beyond.

In fact, whale watching has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Baja, extending up and down the coast and as far north as Loreto. The spectacle is one for kids and adults alike, and can be enhanced with some up close and personal whale adventures through InCabo. The Cabo adventure company specializes in private excursions and tailor-made day trips, and those extend whale chasing adventures.

For those who may take a more spontaneous approach to activities in Los Cabos, a sudden yen for whale watching in Cabo San Lucas may be serviced by visiting the marina in Cabo San Lucas where there may be all manner of kiosks and storefronts offering whale watching tours, among other activities, that can be accommodated right from the plaza. Tours of choice may mean an intimate tour with only a few friends and family onboard or it can mean a larger boat and a shared the experience with other travelers.

Whale watching in Los Cabos means immersing in a veritable aquarium of these majestic sea mammals. Expect to see blue, sperm, pilot, fin, humpback, and Bryde’s throughout the Sea of Cortez alone, but there are humpbacks and grays and orcas as well feeding on the abundant krill and sea life in an attempt to get plump and right for the laborious trip north in spring.

Many of these cetaceans are behemoth in size. For instance, blue whale species marks the largest animal in the world reaching up to 100 feet in length and weighing in at 190 tons. Fortunately for Cabo whale chasers, the currents swirling through the Sea of Cortez provide plenty of masses of krill, which happens to be the blue whale’s favorite meal. In fact, these creatures will easily eat four tons of krill per day in the sea’s calm waters., The Sea of Cortez is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as one of the most diverse seas on earth it is home to nearly 900 species of fish and the widest variety of whales and dolphins one could hope to see.

Other whales on the roster include gentle gray whales. The lumbering mammal is not the largest of the pack, nor the fastest, but may be the friendliest. On some tours, guests may be able to get so close to these mammals as they breed in the warm, shallow waters, that they can touch and pet them.

On the speedier side of the species are the Fin whales, which can dart through the depths at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. Sei Whales, too, are known for their speedy sprints that have earned them the moniker, cheetah of the sea. These animals are endangered, however, and with their dwindled numbers, sightings are not likely.

By contrast, however, humpback whales in Baja should be plentiful during whale season. Members of the North Eastern Pacific Population estimated numbers run as high as 18,000 whales and growing at a rate of between 6-7 percent. While common numbers, the humpback is a vulnerable species and threatened by all the intrusions of man – from sound, marine and environmental pollution to the nets and plastic that coat the oceans. The humpback is the singing whale and is considered to be the most energetic of the large whales with its spectacular shows of breaching and flipping and arching suddenly out of still waters.

It was the humpbacks that were most hunted when such practices were in full swing. Some 250,000 humpbacks were killed in those times, but the current concerns around climate change and pollution provide much greater threats.

Cabo whale enthusiasts may also see Bryde’s whales, which feed on sardines and herring in curious demonstrations of hunting techniques. Sperm whales, too, may be sighted, although they are known for hunting in the depths and only skim the surface to rest. Then there are the Minke whales that are petite creatures of up to 25-feet in length and one of the most commen whale species worldwide.

And, of course, there are Orcas – otherwise known as killer whales. However Orcas are technically a dolphin species and one of the most feared predators of the sea. Smart and striking in their black and while markings, they roam the seas seeking delectable sea lions, tasty turtles and nourishing squid for their rapacious feedings. They travel in small pods and can be seen arcing through the waters in groups. Late in the season toward summer the site of Orcas encountering migrating mobula rays in the Sea of Cortez is one of the rare and most riveting natural spectacles to behold in Baja.

For those who prefer to enjoy whale sightings from the comfort of their pool lounger or private bedroom patio, an Oceanview Villa through Elegant Mexico, such as Casa Fryzer, or an Elegant Mexico Beachfront Villa, such as Villa 322 or Villa 461 puts all the fun and awe at front and center stage, margarita in hand.

And for those who would rather swim with whale sharks rather than chase breaching whales, Elegant Mexico offers the ultimate Whale Shark Encounter through InCabo, allowing guests to swim and snorkel alongside these gentle giants. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, averaging 40 feet long and weighing 20 tons. They can be found in large numbers in certain parts of the Sea of Cortez from October to May.

Elegant Mexico offers guests the opportunity for close encounters with this protected endangered species led by a certified naturalist guide. This private excursion takes place in the protected area of El Mogote, La Paz – one of the world’s most biodiverse locations. Rates run $1,375 for two guests (additional guests at $150 each), plus tax. Book through Elegant Mexico reservations.

Anyone who visits Cabo beach will experience a bejeweled experience of scene and sun along the luscious Baja coastline. And Cabo Beach clubs at those locations will offer some added rare experiences of the Baja beyond the beach. Along with all the magnificent activities and joys to be found in the Baja, consider these seven “day” clubs on your next vacation in Los Cabos. The fun need not come out only at night!

Omnia Dayclub

Omnia Dayclub is surely one of the chicest beach clubs in Los Cabos. Find the sun-soaked venue and pool lounge at Vidanta Los Cabos, near San Jose del Cabo along the sublime Sea of Cortez. Escape the crowds. Choose a private cabana overlooking an infinity pool, beach beds, the sea beyond. OMNIA Dayclub adds DJ beats to the stunning shores for an ultimate daylife entertainment experience. New events, concerts and happenings are scheduled regularly with tickets available online. The pool party mixes like a Las Vegas resort extravaganza with exquisite food and drinks and trendy music.

Taboo Beach Club

Taboo Beach Club brings sprawling beach beds and lounge chairs for sumptuous sunning during the day, complimented by delicious Mediterranean inspired food, refreshing cocktails and music. The DJs come out at sunset, as the dayclub becomes a nightclub. It all overlooks Medano Beach Los Cabos and is within Los Cabos’s popular Hotel Zone, close to such important attractions as the Cabos San Lucas Marina, Marinas Sol Resort and Casa Dorada Los Cabos as well as the famed Arch of Los Cabos.

Breathless Cabo San Lucas

While Breathless is well known as an all-inclusive concept in hospitality and dining, Breathless in Cabo San Lucas goes even farther with crushing adults-only dayclub scene in Cabo San Lucas. Find it in the Breathless Resort along sweet Medano Beach by the Sea of Cortez. The entertainment moves all day and into the night with DJ pool parties, live music and performances, fashion shows and social sunset soirees on the rooftop.

Cachet Beach Club

Cachet Beach Club is another favorite located along swimmable Medano Beach. It brings views of the Sea of Cortez and makes an easy amble to the Cabos San Lucas Marina for afternoons of haute label shopping. At Cachet, guests will find beach lounge chairs, private cabanas, eclectic food and drink choices, and all in all have an enjoyable beach day with swimming and relaxing. Also find great views of the town and land’s end at the club’s rooftop beer garden.

El Ganzo

Beach Club El Ganzo at the boutique El Ganzo Hotel – a hip, old-time Mexico hang-out popular with bad boy celebrities like Sean Penn and Charlie Sheen, keeps a cool island-like beach club as its best kept secret. The location is in laid back San Jose del Cabo. It only takes a minute to ride the boat across the marina to El Ganzo’s private beach club — a secluded, swimmable beach that allows lingering until the sun sets while sampling fish tacos and sipping inspired margaritas. Watersports toys allow for moments of cooling distraction, one can simply enjoy the sweetness offruity popsicles while swinging on a hammock over the water.

Blue Marlin Ibiza Los Cabos

You don’t have to go to Spain to experience Ibiza. Find Euro-cool in Cabos at the Blue Marlin Ibiza Los Cabos. The club attracts a young and energetic international crowd given its name recognition and offers a perfect setting for those who love an endless party. A poolside bar offers generous cocktails to be sipped amid an abundant array of sunbeds surrounding two giant pool areas, and not forgetting the club’s telltale luxurious white teepee cabanas. The party spills out toward warm Medano Beach. Do note: Blue Marlin Ibiza does not allow children, so it is not an option for families. Rather, friends, solos, and couples are welcome to enjoy this sinfully decadent dayclub experience.

Mango Deck Beach Club

Mango Deck Beach Club is your classic beach club throwback that rocks in spring break style all year long. Located on Medano Beach at the tip of Baja and Cabo San Lucas with views of Lover’s Beach and the famous Arch of Los Cabos, where the Sea of Cortes and the Pacific Ocean meet, it’s the place for bikinis and see-through everything as Instagram references blow up daily. Expect lively music, beach games, and drinking contests. It is here where great memories are forgotten, bikinis get lost and what happens never happened. As long as you don’t post your mango pics to Instagram.

The scene starts early here and breakfasts and brunches are big, consisting of fat omelets, thick pancakes, packed burritos, fresh fruit plates and a variety of healthier lighter choices….

A non-stop stage show brings on the beer drinking bashes, dance contests and jello and tequila shots smack downs.  Don’t forget the sushi picks at Mango, especially their ”Forget Me Not Sashimi” plate and weekly all-you-can-eat Sunday buffets from 8 am until 1 pm.

Cabo Yacht World provides luxury Cabo Yacht Charters and nautical yacht services in the region with 70- to -65 foot yachts for tours, sailings and fishing charters. The luxury yacht fleet accommodates deluxe bedrooms, dining areas, lounge space, panoramic roof, classic interior, food catering onboard and other special features. These include Wave Runners, professional masseuses, Wedding officiates for ceremonies front of the Los Cabos Arches, Whale Shark Snorkeling tours, etc.).

Cabo Yachts offers vessels that run from 43 feet to 130 feet, many with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Customized adventures can be managed for small groups for meetings, socializing with friends, incentives and celebrations. Fishing charters can also be arranged with crew knowledgeable about the best spots for dropping a line. Service is complete and can include a chef on board, premium open bar, roundtrip transportation to villa, and water toys.

Cabo Sailing brings daily sailing adventures for small groups through a fleet of four top-shaped sailing vessels and four luxury Los Cabos yachts. Take half-day snorkeling tours or full day fishing charters or try morning and mid-day cruises with light lunch, free unlimited bar, snorkel equipment, towels and free wetsuits in winter and whale sightings when seasons permit. All can be customized for private parties with a trained and knowledgeable crew.

Cabo San Lucas boasts an amalgam of pristine beaches and smart ecosystems, all brimming with colorful flora and culture. For the vacation seeker, there is nothing like a beachfront villa or a villa right on the beach where you can fall asleep and wake up to the sounds of surf and even have your morning coffee in the sand as you watch the sun ascend over the Sea of Cortez. Elegant Mexico hasmany of these perfect settings within its robust inventory of vacation villas. More than two dozen of these coveted beachfront villas are available for parties as small as four and as large as eight. These villas on the beach open up to soft sand beaches that are clean and protected and, best of all, they lack crowds. Your beach can be as private as your villa affording quiet and meditative beach walks or undisturbed family gatherings.

Private Chef Included

Did you know villa rentals in Los Cabo through Elegant Mexico come with private chefs? If that does not raise the bar and separate the experience between villa stays and hotel bookings, we are simply not sure what does! Villas through Elegant Mexico get the advantage of not having to worry about where to eat, what to eat, when to eat and with whom. It’s all done for you and at your leisure. Want pancakes with your eggs? Done. Don’t feel like breakfast? Fine, have a fruit mix and croissant by the pool after your morning swim. Inviting guests for lunch? Ask you chef to prepare a large ceviche platter and perhaps some nopales tamales steamed to perfection. Don’t forget the watermelon margaritas.

Villa guests can work with the onsite concierge to stock any must have foods and spirits. Forgot some things? No problem. Ask and they are on their way.

Did We Mention Private Butler?

If you are looking for a villa in Los Cabos, don’t forget to inquire about dedicated butler service. Because a villa is a home stay not a room booking, there is often much to be handled – especially with sizable groups and families. A dedicated butler is a second (even primary!) pair of hands and knowledge who can not only assist with ensuring all systems are go and all parties are comfortable, but can help plan for any unplanned occasion. Sudden company? Restless kids? Best swimming spots? Massage options? Ask Jeeves. At Elegant Mexico, a dedicated butler is automatic with every rental – part of the pleasures that separate private rental choices from nights at a hotel.

Don’t Sacrifice Basic Amenities

Often, vacation homes forego the maid service or value of an onsite concierge. Not villas booked with Elegant Mexico. Daily maid service ensures clean linens and towels, organized and comfortable spaces and often, the necessary clean-up after a festive evening of vacation enjoyment. Need a massage? At Elegant Mexico, ask the butler or the concierge and in a blink, a massage therapist will be coming to your villa to administer soothing treatments in your bedroom, on your balcony or by the pool. Like golf? Play a challenging 27-hole game at the One&Only Palmilla next door – your golf cart waits in your garage. Feel like dining out? Take that two-minute tootle to the resort next door where, with Elegant Mexico, you will have signing privileges for casual brunch to fancy dinners.

Naturally, villa amenities also come with the requisite in-villa comforts that you would expect to get with any vacation booking: air-conditioning, formidable Wi-Fi, stunning views of the ocean, concierge assistance and security gates.

Privacy at a Premium

Perhaps one big element that separates the villas from the rooms and suites is the concept of privacy. With a villa stay, the only non-staff people you will see are the people you want to see. That is why villa bookings are often the vacation options of choice for celebrities and notables. All can be arranged – from your private jet to Cabo San Lucas, to your private chauffeur from the FBO or private jet airport, to your door with vehicles and drivers at the ready throughout your stay.

Privacy means villa get-togethers that are large enough to fit all your guests with surroundings that are bound to impress. It means your own infinity pool overlooking the sea, plenty of corners to be alone or in conversation, large spots for larger gatherings, an outside kitchen, bar and seating under the stars or in palapa-style shade, and comely fire pits with comfy chairs perfect for sharing stories into the midnight hours.

Putting a Price on Villa Value

So, you ask, what price privacy and freedom? Consider the all the battles you won’t have to fight, the considerations you won’t have to make, the charges you won’t have to count, the planning you won’t have to do. That is the value of choosing a villa. Can you party in your suite at your hotel without worry for noise and making a scene? Can you enjoy an afternoon of fresh cocktails by the pool without summing up the $25 per glass costs in your head, plus the per service tips to the staff? Can you manage an impromptu visit by friends and relatives with a customized feast in your hotel suite? Can you disappear from the world when you do not want to have contact and reappear when you are ready and able without offending your friends?

Whether for the sumptuous sea views, the sounds of surf to lull you to sleep, and stunning desert beauty of all that surrounds you in Los Cabos, these things can be managed by choosing the right hotel or resort and managing to wrangle the right room and location. But choose a vacation villa instead and your choices are assured, creating an exponential multiplier on enjoyment with stress-free built-ins that come with each property. No need to think. With a Los Cabos villa through Elegant Mexico it is all done for you, and before you know you want it.

Los Cabos is turning into a foodie destination, with a burst of new restaurants that can be Michelin- star fancy to on-the-beach casual.  The Mexico resort destination has everything it takes to be a sought-after destination for travelers all over the world. There are magical beaches, year-round sunshine, water-based activities, a fun nightlife, an abundance of fancy hotels. Adding to that list are Los Cabos restaurants with phenomenal food!

So, whether you’re a curious rambler or an enthusiastic connoisseur seeking new dining experiences in Los Cabos, we’ve got you covered with these six must-try Los Cabos restaurants.

Los Tres Gallos

There’s no way you can be in Los Cabos without stopping by one of the top traditional Mexican restaurants in the area! This charming restaurant is a destination for anyone searching for authentic Mexican flavors and aromas — from sopa de tortilla to quesadillas to every other fantastic Mexican dish you can imagine!

Michel Zermeño (the co-owner, along with his wife) likes to bring his mother to the kitchen every once in a while to make sure the food is being made with love and to maintain that authentic touch.

If the extensive Mexican menu isn’t satisfying enough – although that’s near impossible – Los Tres Gallos gives you a mesmerizing open-air experience: a brick-walled courtyard decorated with string lights, mariachis, and fruit trees.  The final tip is to try their mole dishes (a popular Mexican sauce); those will leave you hooked!

Location: Leona Vicario Esquina 20 de Noviembre, Cabo San Lucas. 1.4 miles  from El Arco

The Office on the Beach

Enjoying the freshest seafood with the golden sand of Medano Beach between your toes, what else could someone wish for?

The Office On The Beach came into being the ‘70s when few visitors went to the then-isolated, remote peninsula. With a wide array of mouthwatering goodies on their menu, this small kitchen quickly became a firm favorite for locals.

Their dishes are primarily simple and delicious: beef burritos, coconut prawns, and plenty of cuba libres and margaritas. And, what’s more: incredible live musical performances happen on the beach in front of you. Put this on your map for repeat visits. It may become your favorite hangout in Los Cabos.

Location: Playa El Medano S/N, El Medano Ejidal, El Medano, Cabo San Lucas

Los Tamarindos

When it comes to fresh food, Los Tamarindos reigns supreme. Located in a farmhouse that dates back to the 19th Century, this farm-to-table restaurant constantly changes the menu according to the seasonal crops they grow in the surrounding fields.

The food there is as fresh as it can be — locally produced chickens from the restaurant’s own flock of Cornish hens, freshly caught fish by a local fisherman, freshly-cut seasonal crops, and a drinks menu derived from fresh local ingredients. And, since tequila is the star spirit in these parts, you’ll find plenty of it at Los Tamarindos.

If a Mexican menu made with love isn’t yet enough for you, Los Tamarindos offers you a hands-on experience with their cooking classes, which are held in their adjoining kitchen terrace.

Location: C. de Las Animas s/n, Animas Bajas, 23407 San José del Cabo

Nick-San

Sushi fanatics, this is your chance to experience the heavenly fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine with unique Mexican ingredients. Though the idea of cuisine fusion is quite common nowadays, the award-winning restaurant, led by Chef Angel Carbajal, has been among the top restaurants in Los Cabos for more than 26 years.

Find a wide variety of rolls to taste on from their menu — tuna tostada (featuring a Pacific Ocean yellowfin tuna belly on a rice cracker tostada, served with habanero, infused red onion, sliced avocado, and sesame seeds), Home-Made Gyozas (stuffed with shrimp and scallops and finished with serranito soy sauce), and many other mouth-watering options are available.

Plus, there are options for lobster lovers. Sample the fried lobster curry, the clear lobster rolls, and the lobster sambal.

If you want to further your Nick-San experience, they have their own apparel line – Wasabi — with shirts and many other branded clothing options at Nick-San’s two locations.

Locations: The Shoppes at Palmilla, Local 116, Corredor Turístico in San José del Cabo; and Plaza de la Danza, Blvd. Paseo de la Marina, Centro, Cabo San Lucas

Cocina de Autor

Among all restaurants in Los Cabos, only a few are led by a Michelin-star chef. If you want to know what it feels like to have your dinner prepared by two-star Michelin chef Sidney Schutte, Cocina de Autor is precisely where you should head.

What to expect: A sensational, creative, and playful dining experience that can start with a cocktail tour held by the mixologists at the restaurant’s bar. Then, you’re led to your table to sit and enjoy an innovative 8-10 course tasting menu featuring the freshest, finest, locally-produced meats and seafood. To make things even better, the restaurant was designed to be an ode to sophistication, where the exteriors and interiors feature stunning views of the lily pond and gardens.

Location: Grand Velas Los Cabos, Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 17, San José del Cabo, Corredor Turístico

Comal

There are tons of reasons to give Comal a shot, especially with your romantic partner, and at the top of those reasons is enjoying the picturesque views of the Sea of Cortes. This ocean-front restaurant at the Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, is currently one of the hottest restaurants in Los Cabos. The decor is designed by a high-profile designer with a beautiful perch over the sea and mood lighting from a wall lined with flickering candles.

Dishes here are prepared with an taste for the traditional and authentic, but injected with an innovative, adventurous accents. In addition to their tasty traditional dishes, you can find some intriguing fine-dining options on their menu, such as wagyu barbacoa and duck carnitas. Kumamoto Oysters with Aji Amarillo, Chives and Shallot are a straight shot for appetizers.

Location: Carretera Transpeninsular San Jose-San Lucas Km. 15, Playa Chileno Bay, Cabo San Lucas

Los Cabos Restaurants: Foodie Takeaways

Our list of six must-try foodie experiences in Los Cabos barely scratches the surface. You can really have it all in Los Cabos; each place has its own special charm and its own unique dining experience.  Whether traditional Mexican cuisine, sushi, fine dining with a deluge of romance, oeuvres by top chefs, farm-to-table sensations, or a relaxing shorefront experience … take your pick. All options are on the table.

The Los Cabos official website, Visitloscabos.com, lists a few of these. Price per person can be as low as $60 and as high as $260 depending on what’s included in the adventure. For instance, Cabo-Adventures offers an eight-hour day with these lumbering marvels that includes snorkel equipment, wetsuit and towels, bottled water, a light breakfast and full “Baja style” lunch, fresh juices and flavored waters, professional bilingual guides and round trip transportation in an air-conditioned van from Los Cabos to La Paz. Currently, the rate is currently discounted to $174 per person. Private tours are also available.

Amstar offers these tours for $80 person using a catamaran on the sea of Cortez with drinks and music onboard. Wetsuits and snorkel gear are supplied and guests can jump in the water once the whale-sized fish are spotted. The trip includes transportation from Los Cabos to La Paz with a stop in the art town of Todos Santos for breakfast and a stop for independent lunch explorations and shopping in La Paz, plus water, sodas and the help of certified guides.

Once you swim with a whale shark you’ll want to help ensure their survival. The Whale Shark Project in Los Cabos is your answer to that as scientists working to track whale sharks with satellite tags and monitor their safety and protect their habitat.

The U.S. State Department, which recently aligned policy with guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control, currently places Mexico at a Level 3 threat – actually a safer bet against the dozens of countries at the CDC’s level 4 threat that include many European destinations recently re-opened to Americans. And for the Baja, where Los Cabos can be found, the numbers are even better as the resort destination counts the fewest recent Covid cases in Mexico currently, according to a daily update provided by the New York Times.

No matter what the numbers, however, American vacationers remain undaunted. More than 2 million Americans visited Mexico in the first four months of this year and, according to Mexican government statistics, these were only 76 percent of all international visitors – tallied via arrivals by air. Furthermore, data reports show travel to Mexico from the US is up nearly 32 percent in this third quarter of 2021 alone, viewed against the same period in 2019.

While there remains much danger in exposure as Americans head south of the border for end of summer fiestas, and the Delta variant is only adding to this clear and present threat, many of those looking to party safely are bringing their party pods with them and choosing the safety and privacy of a villa vacation as the way to go.

In March, Los Cabos was named the world’s first VERIFIED travel destination through the independent health validation firm Sharecare. To manage this, the region’s hotels had to complete and maintain verification on some 360 global health security standards, including cleaning products and procedures, ventilation, hygiene protocols, and health/safety communication.

Demand for private homes and villas as vacation choices have been ticking up since the lockdown last year. Homes & Villas by Marriott International (HVMI), in fact, saw a 720% increase in just the first quarter of this year. As consumers return to their now normal in germ-ridden offices and contact with unvaccinated co-workers, many are opting for a safer escape option for those things they can control, such as planning a vacation.

A villa vacation in Los Cabos is likely the best solution. Properties in Villas del Mar by the waters of the Sea of Cortez can sleep as many as 20 guests in comfort in large rooms with private terraces, palatial bathrooms and stunning views of the sea. Broken down by guest numbers, nightly rates at Elegant Mexico often come out way ahead of resort costs and with many more amenities thrown in.

The villas here are a short distance (perhaps a 20 minute drive) from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), often managed with luxury chauffeur services on request. Private flyers head down to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the peninsula.

Each villa is its own design and purpose, whether a mere three-bedroom manse or a ten-bedroom palace, and each is rife with perfect places to socialize, read, think, work, meditate, watch a movie, party, sip, sun, swim and dine. Imagine waking up to a honey stream of sunlight on your bed, calling your butler for coffee, savoring that coffee in quiet on your patio overlooking the sea and then wandering out to the kitchen later to have a veritable breakfast feast prepared for you by the villa’s private chef.

You head out to your private and meandering pool area later to take a dip in the flowing waters and perhaps take in some morning sun reading the New York Times on your iPad. You plan your day with suggestions from the butler and then have the villa concierge put those plans into motion.

You take a morning bath in the soaking tub in your bedroom, decorated with colorful Talevera tiles and flanked with an open wall allowing in wide views of the sea and sky. You enjoy a cocktail and plate of custom enchiladas for lunch, prepared on request by the villa chef, and then you make your way out for a challenging golf game at the One&Only Palmilla next door, or shopping for artsy notions in nearby San Jose del Cabo. By evening, it’s time to party with your pod over pizza and beer in the outside kitchen and patio, followed by a soak in the Jacuzzi and stories told around the fire pit.

These choices, although they sound expensive, often pencil out to much less when considering the size of your party pod, the fact that you are not paying for libations by the cocktail or meals by the plate. Plus, you are getting dedicated service for whatever your needs are. And such considerations do not even touch the safety factor – that you are in private quarters and not interfacing continuously with people you do not know.

The simple pleasures of a villa vacation in Los Cabos are a hidden treasure of the travel field, often offered up by travel agents who have a true knowledge of the landscape, prices and benefits. While villa vacations have been the tried and true playground for top tiers of the once percent crowd, the playing field is ever more democratic with ever burgeoning choices. Elegant Mexico knows this, and knows the way in to this precious secret. Villa vacations in Los Cabos have never been so accessible … until now. Contact us today to learn more or click here to check out some of our favorite rentals – our Del Mar Cabo San Lucas Mansion Rentals!

There’s a good reason why so many famous Hollywood celebrities can be seen in Los Cabos. With high-end shopping, gorgeous views of nature, and plenty of activities on land and sea, you can often spot celebrities in Los Cabos. You can not only feel like you’re among the stars with a trip to Los Cabos, you can live like one, too, if you book your stay in a private villa!

Where Hollywood Celebrities Go

George Clooney

Famous Hollywood celebrity George Clooney has been a visitor of Los Cabos for more than 30 years. In 2009, Clooney and his friends Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber built two beachfront homes right next to each other and named the compound Casamigos, which means House of Friends. Clooney and Gerber also developed their own brand of tequila, also called Casamigos, while spending time in Mexico.

Jennifer Lopez

J-Lo has spent lots of time in Los Cabos, often having her birthday bashes south of the border. The spa at Las Ventanas is her go-to spa and other celebrities, such as Madonna and Cameron Diaz, are also frequent visitors of this luxurious spa. Known for its innovative Four Elements spa menu, inspired by ancient Aztec healers, it taps the powers of earth, air, fire, and water for ultimate rejuvenation. Recommended: “Spiritual Chilam,” a 90-minute holistic ‘ritual’ that fuses a stone massage with meditation.

Justin and Hailey Bieber

Instagram tells all. Hollywood celebrities like singer Justin Bieber and his wife, model Hailey Bieber, recently posted photos of themselves vacationing in Los Cabos this summer. They were seen boarding a yacht on the bay of Cape San Lucas, taking a tour of the gorgeous waters. This is not the first time the pop star has been spotted vacationing in luxury in Los Cabos. He celebrated his birthday there in 2016! Hailey was also in Los Cabos back in June with supermodel pal Kendall Jenner for a girl’s weekend.

Jennifer Aniston

Count Jennifer Aniston into the Cabo scene for Hollywood celebrities. It is said that she visits so often locals call her the “Queen of Cabo”. Aniston often brings her famous pals including fellow Friends actress Courtney Cox, actors Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Her favorite place to stay in Los Cabos is San Jose Del Cabo.

The Kardashians

Over the years this famous family has traveled there for vacations, birthdays, romantic surprises, and photoshoots. In early 2020, self-styled Hollywood celebrity phenom Kim Kardashian did a photoshoot for her popular makeup and beauty brand KKW Beauty in Cabo San Lucas. Kourtney Kardashian along with her three children spent quality family time surfing and relaxing by the pool back in 2016.

Best in Los Cabos to See Hollywood Celebrities

Medano Beach

If you ever visit this beautiful beach, there’s no doubt you’ll see a celebrity or two. A diverse group of celebrities has been spotted here: from Paris Hilton to Tommy Lee to Lil Jon. Considered one of the most popular beaches in the area there’s plenty to do with bars and yachts all around and activities like snorkeling and jet-skiing.

Agua

This high-end Mexican-Mediterranean restaurant has served such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey, Adam Sandler, Eva Longoria, and Miles Teller. When dining here, not only do you get a chance to wine and dine alongside Hollywood glitteratti, but you can also enjoy a fantastic view of the Sea of Cortez. This restaurant is dedicated to serving the freshest possible produce, meaning each season the menu changes.

Cabo Wabo Cantina

Started by former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, this nightclub and restaurant feature fantastic food, cool drinks, and the best music around. Considered THE nightlife hotspot in Cabo San Lucas, musicians like Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney can be seen rocking out to the live music and drinking their famous margaritas.

Playa del Amor – Lover’s Beach

This beautiful beach can only be reached by boat, stretching across the Land’s End peninsula from the Sea of Cortes to the Pacific Ocean. The secluded location is the perfect romantic destination for a day by the sea. Spend the day with your partner and admire Mexico’s lush and uninhabited Marieta Islands. This hidden gem has become a famous secret romantic spot ever since actor Eddie Cibrian famously surprised singer LeAnn Rimes with a romantic yachting excursion to this exclusive beach on the couple’s honeymoon.

Palomar Restaurant and Bar

Palomar has drawn in celebrities since the Hollywood golden years of Bing Crosby and John Wayne. When dining here be sure to strike up a conversation with one of the employees to hear everything about the celebrities of yore who have visited this popular Cabo restaurant and bar over the years. Don’t forget to enjoy Mexican specialties like garlic octopus, chile rellenos, chicken tostadas, and plenty more.

Nobu Los Cabos

Robert De Niro in Los Cabos at the opening of Nobu

Nobu opened in Los Cabos in 2019, and more than a few notables came to check out the beaches and enjoy quantities of creative sushi combos dreamed up and fashioned by Nobu Matsuhisa. The new Nobu-branded hotel is co-owned by Robert De Niro, who joined the festivities that were also attended by Leo DiCaprio and actress Allison Janney, among others. The 200-room luxury property also offers another hometown fave as a healthy dining alternative to taco chips and Coronas — Malibu Farm. And no doubt you will feel like you are in your own movie as you wander the stark white hotel corridors that pour onto beaches you will have all to yourself.

Allison Janney explores the beaches of Los Cabos with friends

Whether you’re craving seafood, fresh produce, or artisanal plates, San Jose del Cabo and the East Cape have plenty of options to keep you satisfied. Check out La Lupita if you’re into traditional tacos and an eccentric bar scene. Another great find is Mi Cocina, which features a French-Mexican-Asian menu, located inside of Casa Natalie, a gorgeous boutique hotel. Outside of this historic town is Flora Farms, a 25-acre organic working farm in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, their menu is seasonal and field to table. Cooking classes are also offered, and the grocery store has plenty produce you’ll want to bring back to your villa so you can show off all you’ve learned.

Sea Turtle Release

Only in Los Cabos will you get to witness the miracle of life up close with CaboTrek! Thousands of Olive Ridley and Black Turtles come to shore to lay their load of eggs deep in the sand before returning to the sea. Help raise the survival rate of these baby sea turtles by helping and protecting them on their journey to the sea. Tours run from September 1^st till December 15^th, being closer to wintertime also means a chance to see the Humpback Whales traveling south!

San Jose Estuary

This lagoon is the only freshwater coastal lagoon in Mexico.  Walk or bike the paved path that runs along a portion of this lush, green oasis and enjoy the many exotic plants and animals. Other relaxing activities include kayaking and hiking, specialists are trained for this terrain and offer these activities daily. Bring your camera to take advantage of the incredible photo opportunities. Located at the southern tip of Baja California, it’s a quick trip from Los Cabos, perfect for a day trip!

Tamales Doña Nina and Churromania

One of the best-hidden food gems in all of Los Cabos! Tamales Doña Nina is run by women who know a thing or two about making a perfect tamale, offering an array of meat fillings, vegetarian options, and even sweet fillings. As of 2019, the stand can be found on the north side of Plaza Mijares. Finish off your feast with a freshly made churro or two from Churromania, located right next door!

Chileno Beach

If you’re looking for a beach that the locals love and is free from crowds, Chileno Beach is the perfect spot. This beach has the highly coveted Blue Flag award, which translates to clean water and sand, accessible areas on the beach for the mobility impaired, and spotless bathrooms and changing facilities. Swimming is great all year round as the current and surf are mild.

Underwater Sand Falls

This phenomenon is found in very few locations yet can be found in Los Cabos near El Arco, in the Sea of Cortez. Underwater sand falls are formed by the friction between the tectonic plates of North America and the Pacific, combined with the union of the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. They were first discovered by the famous underwater explorer, Jacques Cousteau and cascade down a vertical wall under the sea. To see the sand cascade, you must dive to a depth of over 30 meters, so be sure to invest in a diver’s certificate before going! Once you’re down there, you’ll be surrounded by impressive marine biodiversity, including fish of all shapes and colors and black corals.

Thursday Art Walk Around San Jose Del Cabo

This historic center is a colorful place that is packed with character and culture galore. This is due to the many local artisans and art galleries that fill the streets, making them alive with color. Every Thursday night, between November and June, galleries and shops stay open late while local artisans show off their craft in Plaza Mijares. At the Cabo Art Walk, you can view everything from hand-painted pottery, Shona African sculptures, blown glass, contemporary oil paintings, and handmade  jewelry. There is often live music and plenty to eat and drink, this is the perfect time to befriend the locals!

El Merkado

Can’t pick between one restaurant? El Merkado is the best place for an array of different cuisines. Featuring the best chefs in all of Los Cabos, located in Koral Center between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. This food hall features over 20 vendors whose menus feature everything from traditional Oaxacan tlayudas to Neapolitan wood-fired pizza.

But during your stay you are going to want to contemplate exactly what is the perfect margarita. We have some treasured best margarita recipes to bring to your butler/bartender to make your villa stay just a touch more remarkable. Salud!

Traditional Margarita

Grab some crisp tequila blanco that is 100 percent agave—not cut with corn syrup or sugar; and Cointreau. Then, coat rim of glass with lime wedge then dip in kosher or lavender salt. Next, grab a shaker or a jar, fill with ice, add 1 1⁄2 ounces tequila blanco and 1 ounce Cointreau. (that’s about 2 tablespoons per ounce.) Add 1⁄2 ounce fresh lime juice and shake like crazy for 20 seconds. Strain and pour

Platinum Margarita 

Combine 3 ounces of Grand Marnier, Marva Flower Tequila 8 ounces, 4 ounces Fresh Lime Juice, 3-4 Tbsp Sugar, 2 ounces of Liquid Egg White, 12 Ice cubes into an ice-filled shaker. Shake, pour and then decorate with Malva petals and pink salt trim. 4 servings

Mezcal-Tequila Margarita

Prepare to salt glasses in a shallow plate layered of the sal de gusano (worm salt). First, run a lime wedge along the rim then dip the rim into the salt mixture. In a shaker, combine ¾ ounce reposado tequila, ¾ ounce mezcal, ¾ ounce orange liqueur (consider Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, Cointreau or triple sec), ¾ ounce fresh lime juice, ¼ ounce simple syrup all poured over the container filled with ice. Then, shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. Next, add ice to the glass and then strain the margarita mixture into the glass. Add the lime wedge and start the next glass. 1 serving

Hacienda de Lavender

First, mix 2 oz. Tequila Herradura reposado, 1 oz. lime juice, 1 oz. lavender syrup, ¼ oz. orange juice, and a pinch of salt in a shaker. Then, add plenty of ice, shake, and strain over ice into a rocks glass. Finally, garnish with a sprig or two of lavender. 1 serving. 

Sparkling Orange Margarita

You will want to combine 2 ounces of El Tesoro blanco with ¾ ounce fresh-squeezed blood orange juice, ½ ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice, a ½ ounce of Ferrand Dry Curaçao, and a ½ ounce of rosemary simple syrup (this is made by adding 4 to 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary to a cup water that is brought to a boil and then simmered over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Then liquid is cooled and a cup sugar is added when the liquid is at room temperature. Stir until dissolved). Next, pour ingredients into ice-filled shaker, shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Top it out with Topo Chico or any other brand of sparkling water and garnish with a blood orange round and fresh rosemary sprig.

Jalapeno, Cilantro and Lime Margarita

Start by muddling 3 sprigs of cilantro and 2 small slices of jalapeño and placing in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice then pour in 1½ ounces blanco tequila, ¾ ounce triple sec, ½ ounce lime juice, and 1 teaspoon simple syrup. Shake energetically and pour into a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with lime and another sprig of cilantro. 1 serving. 

Watermelon Margarita, Frozen

Puree 1 cup frozen watermelon, 1 ounce triple sec, 2 ounces blanco tequila, and ½ ounce lime juice in a blender until smooth. Pour into a margarita glass salted at the rim with kosher salt and cayenne. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Makes 1 serving. Note: you can use fresh watermelon juice for this as well, after pureeing and straining. 

Casamigos Tequila Margarita

Combine 2 ounces of Casamigos Blanco Tequila with 1 ounce of Fresh Lime Juice, a splash of Fresh Orange Juice, an ounce of Agave Nectar and an ounce of Orange Liqueur. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake like crazy for 15-20 seconds, and strain into a glass rimmed with salt, sugar and orange zest. Add fresh ice and garnish with lime cut. 

Azalea Margarita

Combine 1.5 oz  Patrón Silver with a half-ounce of Patrón Citrónge Orange, an ounce of pineapple juice, a half-ounce of lime juice and a half ounce of grenadine in an ice-filled cocktail shake. Shake away to chill and then strain into a rocks glass.