Luxurious in Los Cabos: A keep at Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort

Editor’s observe: Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort supplied TPG with a complimentary three-night keep in order that we may get an inside take a look at the resort and its facilities. The opinions expressed beneath are totally these of the writer and weren’t topic to evaluate by the resort or any exterior entity.

The coast of Los Cabos on the southern finish of Baja California brims with luxurious resorts reminiscent of the brand new 4 Seasons Cabo San Lucas at Cabo del Sol and Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. That wasn’t at all times the case, although.

The cities and villages within the area have been typically overrun by caravaning surfers, sport fishers on the hunt for a document catch and spring breakers out to celebration. Again when it opened in 1997, Las Ventanas al Paraiso launched a brand new degree of luxurious for the once-sleepy space.

Set alongside a golden sand seashore with low-rise white stucco buildings, dramatically curving swimming pools and connoisseur eating places serving elevated Mexican delicacies, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort quickly grew to become the byword for luxurious in Los Cabos.

The primary time I stayed there was over a decade in the past, so I used to be wanting to expertise the resort once more after visiting most of the space’s newer resorts. I needed to see if it may nonetheless set the usual for a high-end keep in Cabo.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso location

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, is positioned alongside Los Cabos’ so-called Golden Hall — a stretch of freeway between the cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

From Los Cabos Worldwide Airport (SJD), it takes about half-hour and prices round $30 to $50, relying on whether or not you utilize a ride-hailing service or a taxi firm. The city of San Jose del Cabo is a couple of 20-minute, $20 experience away; Cabo San Lucas is 20 minutes and $20 within the different path.

Reserving Las Ventanas al Paraiso

For the most effective charges and limited-time packages, together with fourth-night-free reservations with free day by day breakfast (accessible at time of publication), e book instantly by Rosewood.

When you’ve got The Platinum Card® from American Specific or The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific, you may make a reserving by Amex Positive Lodges + Resorts on AmexTravel.com. You will obtain perks like availability-based upgrades, as much as a $100 credit score to make use of on-property throughout your keep for issues like drinks or meals, complimentary day by day breakfast for 2 and assured late checkout.

Sadly, the resort doesn’t take part in Chase’s The Edit or the Capital One Premier Assortment.

Charges presently begin at $1,327 per evening, together with charges. Beware that taxes and repair expenses can add an additional 35% to your invoice, bringing your complete a lot greater.

Standout options

• The spacious lodging supply conventional Mexican decor and ocean views that stretch for miles.
• There are glorious eating venues, together with Alebrije, for elegant, Baja-fresh fare.
• Though the seashore shouldn’t be swimmable, the plethora of swimming pools means you will discover a peaceable spot to bask at any time of day.
• Company can count on an extremely excessive degree of service not simply from private butlers but in addition employees all through the property.

Drawbacks

• Due to its location, it is hemmed in by different inns on both facet and would not really feel as sprawling as a few of the space’s different resorts.
• The resort is nearing 30 years outdated, so some room options (specifically, the electrical plugs) really feel old-fashioned.
• Excessive nightly room charges and costs for eating and the spa imply {that a} keep right here will price you a small fortune.

The vibe

First impressions are all the things, and Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort doesn’t disappoint. Arriving company veer off the freeway and previous imposing white partitions down a palm-lined drive. The shift of tone from hectic to halcyon is palpable.

As you pull as much as reception, your gaze may drift previous a cadre of smiling, waving employees – certainly one of whom may even current you with a frosty, foamy lemonade — to the sweeping views over the resort’s most important pool and the Sea of Cortez past.

Get to know the resort’s format extra intimately as your private butler offers you a guided tour, drifting alongside the succulent- and bougainvillea-bordered paths, previous the hushed spa and the full of life swimming pools. You will additionally go the sun-dappled Sea Grill, the place different (principally American … principally from California and Texas) company are seemingly lingering over a leisurely lunch of fresh-caught fish and wood-fired pizzas. You will discover the clientele ranges from romantic {couples} to multigenerational teams.

As soon as inside your villa or suite, you may by no means need to depart — particularly if yours has a non-public pool together with its personal patio or terrace. However it might be a disgrace to overlook out on the resort’s many facilities or the prospect to walk down the practically abandoned seashore.

Once you get again, you simply may discover a customized stitching equipment with thread colours chosen to match your trip wardrobe. That is one other of the numerous “only-here” touches at Las Ventanas al Paraiso.

My room at Las Ventanas al Paraiso

The lodging at Las Ventanas al Paraiso vary from spacious (beginning at 960 sq. toes) Junior Suites to the palatial, 28,000-square-foot Ty Warner Mansion. Company of the mansion are served by a devoted chef and may even request personal fireworks shows.

My whitewashed one-bedroom oceanfront villa, which measured up at 3,900 sq. toes of indoor-outdoor house, was on the western fringe of the property; it had its personal set of steps right down to the seashore from the huge outside space. The outside house included a shaded sea-facing lounge space, an infinity-edge pool with a fireplace pit and desert landscaping, a small Jacuzzi, a sunbathing deck and even a moist bar of kinds if you happen to needed to entertain.

By way of the large sliding glass doorways, the inside house was embellished with a mixture of Mexican craft objects, reminiscent of huge ceramic vases, Tenango embroidery, work depicting native scenes and carved picket doorways and furnishings.

The huge lounge had limestone flooring and a timbered ceiling, plus a crescent-shaped sectional, a bit of work desk close to the entrance door and a flat-screen TV subsequent to the well-stocked minibar. I didn’t want any snacks, although, since each time I returned to the room, I discovered a contemporary batch of treats ready for me; I acquired snacks like home made chips with guacamole and ceviche in addition to quite a lot of handcrafted candies.

The villa additionally had its personal small personal kitchen for in-room catering (the place room service would drop off gadgets if I had my do-not-disturb signal on) and each coffee- and tea-making facilities.

The resort presents company with a bottle of bespoke Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Platino tequila to take pleasure in throughout their keep or take house.

The beautiful bed room adjoined the lounge by sliding carved picket doorways. It featured a showstopping pebble-tiled headboard and a blue-and-white Tenango runner accenting the white-linened mattress. (The mattress had a pillow monogrammed only for me). The resort gives company a sheet menu the place they will select from choices like Egyptian cotton, Italian linen and sateen.

To both facet of the mattress was an adobe-and-tile nightstand with wrought-metal sconce lights and energy plugs. (Convey your personal apparatuses to make use of USB-A and C-charged units.)

Throughout from the mattress was one other flat-screen TV, cabinets holding vases and artwork books and a fire. One other particular contact: There was a candle diffuser with a menu of mood-based scent choices that housekeeping would illuminate at turndown to fragrance the room.

Past the bed room, there was a big closet with loads of house to retailer suitcases and cling garments; there was additionally a hulking wardrobe with drawer house.

Stocked with a plethora of Bulgari The Vert merchandise, the Travertine-accented toilet had two painted tile sinks set right into a single counter with a big mirror. A separate water closet held the bathroom and bathing space, which featured a jetted tub with jars of scented bathtub salts and oils in addition to a walk-in bathe.

A door by the bathe led to an enclosed, tree-shaded patio with an out of doors bathe and a again door to the pool deck.

There was a lot to do (and eat) across the resort. Nonetheless, due to the dimensions and variety of facilities in my villa — to not point out the truth that my private butler Paulina may have summoned up something I requested — I nearly felt like I did not have to depart my room to have an exquisite, well-rounded expertise at Las Ventanas.

I actually had loads of time to spend there throughout an uncommon wet day. However as soon as the solar reappeared, I used to be prepared to go out and discover the remainder of the resort.

Eating places and bars at Las Ventanas al Paraiso

It is not an enormous resort, however there are a number of distinct eating places and bars sprinkled round Las Ventanas al Paraiso.

Alebrije

The resort’s all-day restaurant, Alebrije, has a convivial open-air bar in addition to each indoor and outside eating areas subsequent to the primary pool. It serves modern Oaxacan delicacies.

Breakfast is costly at $89 per particular person, nevertheless it’s included in most charges. It gives a panoply of plates, together with contemporary fruit platters and a basket of housemade pastries. Flavorful signature dishes included a heaping breakfast burrito with eggs, ham, Oaxacan cheese and Mexican crimson sauce in addition to rustic chilaquiles with crimson or inexperienced (or each) sauce and a alternative of eggs, rooster or beef.

Earlier than dinner right here, sink into one of many vignettes on the next-door cocktail bar and luxuriate in sips impressed by conventional flavors from throughout Mexico. As an example, the “Copal” has smoky mezcal, ardour fruit puree, pineapple juice and a hoop of grasshopper salt ($30).

For dinner, the menu consists of starters like ultra-fresh kampachi ceviche with roasted bell peppers, watermelon radish and Granny Smith apples ($37) in addition to soft-shell crab with charred eggplant, citrus, candy adobo sauce and tart tomatillo chutney ($38).

There are a number of substantial vegetarian mains like cactus paddle tlayudas ($33.50) and roasted cauliflower with macha sauce and inexperienced pipian ($35). Distinctive delicacies embody suckling pig tamals with queso fresco and domestically grown beets ($35), and massive prawns from Magdalena Bay with nori rice crackers, milpa salad and lemon French dressing ($113). The caramelized banana dessert with chocolate truffle and nut brittle with banana ice cream ($23) is to not be missed.

Company can e book out the La Cava wine room for particular events surrounded by the resort’s spectacular assortment of wines. Alternatively, you may reserve one of many tables underneath artist David Luna’s “Tree of Love” sculpture adorned by 100 glass-blown hearts. Its illumination is mirrored within the Seashore Pool simply steps away, and it should be one of the crucial romantic settings in all of Cabo.

Sea Grill

Subsequent to the Seashore Pool and overlooking the seashore, the aptly named Sea Grill is principally a vivid, breezy, shaded patio with a Mediterranean atmosphere because of the wood-fired oven and cheerful decor.

It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu (additionally $89 per particular person) comprises a lot of wholesome selections like avocado toast, plant-based specialties like amaranth pancakes and quite a lot of smoothies. For lunch, there’s contemporary fish and seafood in addition to made-to-order pizzas.

Sadly, it was closed for dinner the evening I used to be imagined to dine there attributable to inclement climate, however I nonetheless managed to strive a few of the dishes from its menu in a special setting. I loved a hearty crabcake with inexperienced apple, radish and herb salad ($40.50) and squid ink pappardelle with native lobster, octopus and shrimp in a creamy saffron-garlic sauce ($99).

On typical nights, the restaurant additionally serves numerous salads; enjoyable dishes like oven-cooked nachos with chorizo, cheese and mushrooms; numerous contemporary fish and cuts of steak grilled over mesquite; and create-your-own flatbreads.

Arbol

Adjoining to the Oasis Pool and solely open for dinner, Arbol is the resort’s most distinctive restaurant because of the pueblo-inspired whitewashed decor colorfully illuminated by dramatic lighting fixtures. It has artistically organized tree-like sculptures, a trippy wine cellar and enormous cubicles sunken into its reflecting pool (which company can reserve for plenty of special-occasion packages together with add-ons like a fireworks show).

The menu creatively fuses conventional Indian tandoor and Asian wok strategies with Mexican components. There’s loads of crudo and sushi thrown in, too.

Among the many showstoppers are a wealthy Kerala lobster curry with tamarind, coconut gravy and Jeera rice ($104); yellowfin tuna sushi with Tampico and jalapeno ($37); and stir-fried wagyu beef with lemongrass, oyster sauce and black pepper ($113).

To complete, strive revolutionary desserts like a luscious “Bananand” with hazelnut crunch, bananas, raspberries and passionfruit ($23) or the ultra-sweet Kerala crunch with deep-fried jalebi, sticky saffron syrup, tangy yogurt ice cream and a sprinkle of crushed pistachios ($23).

Tequila and Ceviche Bar

Perched towards the highest of the resort between reception and the spa, the Tequila and Ceviche bar serves … just about what you may guess. The choice of sips does prolong to different agave-based spirits like raicilla and mezcal plus engaging cocktails like refreshing Matias Romero with rosemary-infused anejo tequila, St. Germain, grapefruit juice and lime. The meals menu consists of numerous sushi and nigiri mixtures along with poke bowls, tiraditos and tostadas.

In case you are interested by studying about tequila, you may e book the Tequila Signal expertise. The resort’s tequila masters will show you how to decide the number of spirits that greatest fit your style and character by blind tastings.

La Botica

Though its entrance is not precisely hidden, you may nonetheless have hassle discovering your manner into the resort’s speak-easy and jazz bar, La Botica … except the suitable code to punch into the typewriter by the entrance door, that’s.

In case you’re within the know, the doorways will open. Behind the counter, cabinets stocked with apothecary jars will slide open to disclose bottles of booze as an alternative.

This place actually will get hopping late at evening when the artist in residence, Rosalia de Cuba, and her band (plus backup dancers) put their spin on traditional Latin tunes. Company can sway and sip on botanical-inspired cocktails just like the No. 3 La Botiki with Monkey 47 gin, cinnamon syrup, pineapple and keenness fruit ($41).

There’s a minimal $99 per-person consumption requirement, however the drinks are priced such that that is not a tough mark to hit.

Company who’re may also e book cocktail-making courses right here (an ideal rainy-day exercise throughout my keep). They will be taught firsthand from the pleasant mixologists in regards to the historical past of their favourite drinks and the way to combine up an skilled cocktail for themselves.

Out the again door of La Botica, in a “behind-the-scenes” space of the resort, there is a comparatively new outlet created from an outdated Volkswagen van. It is open for late-night tacos, sizzling canines, hamburgers and chilly drinks — simply in case you are not fairly prepared to finish your night.

Oasis

Open for lunch, the alfresco Oasis restaurant serves road food-inspired fare like tacos, quesadillas and guacamole with chips — poolside. The beachy bar is a good place to whereas away an hour or two on a sizzling afternoon between dips within the Oasis Pool.

Tacos — together with these with fillings like shrimp with chile guero sauce and fennel or spicy al pastor rooster with cilantro and spiced pineapple — go for $10 apiece. Save room for one of many sorts of “rolled” ice cream, just like the horchata-flavored one with Oreo crumble ($20).

Facilities at Las Ventanas al Paraiso

Due to its many facilities, it is best to have the ability to create the expertise you need at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, whether or not you come to Los Cabos for a romantic getaway, an brisk household trip, or a wellness-focused retreat.

The swimming pools and seashore

Las Ventanas al Paraiso should have one of many highest pool-per-capita ratios in Cabo, because of the plethora of watering holes dotted across the property, together with these connected to particular person lodging.

The resort has a number of public swimming pools, so you may hop from one to the opposite relying in your temper and the place the solar is. Or, you may merely choose the one which fits your vibe and spend the day there.

Across the nook from reception is the most recent pool: the Oasis Pool. It is nice for households, with loads of loungers and a lazy river that drifts by a grotto. There’s additionally a DJ enjoying music, so it has extra of a festive ambiance than the opposite swimming pools. The resort gives numerous seasonal actions for kids, so ask about what could be occurring forward of your keep if you happen to’re bringing the little ones alongside.

As you make your manner down towards the seashore, there is a small pool searching over the Cabo Actual golf course that tends to be quiet all through the day.

Snaking down from reception to the beachfront, the Seashore Pool is the resort’s most important and largest one. It additionally tends to get the busiest because of the massive variety of loungers organized round its edge in addition to on the adjoining garden. There is a swim-up bar right here, too, the place company can order drinks from Sea Grill.

Persevering with west alongside the shoreline, the Twin Swimming pools have infinity edges overlooking the ocean and are reserved for adults solely. They are typically quiet, however there may be typically music enjoying softly over units of audio system.

Regardless of which pool you select, attendants will arrange chairs for you with seat covers, pillows, umbrellas and buckets of ice stuffed with bottles of water. There’s additionally complimentary sunscreen accessible. Servers will periodically drop by for meal and drink orders in addition to free treats like popsicles.

There are a number of seashore cabanas arrange, which might be rented for full and half days. The resort says these are the one seashore cabanas in Mexico to characteristic their very own personal plunge swimming pools and Jacuzzis along with their lounging decks and shaded inside areas. A private butler is readily available to supply facilities like sunscreen and Evian spray in addition to full drinks and meal service.

Sadly, the seashore in entrance of the resort shouldn’t be swimmable attributable to robust currents and enormous waves. Nonetheless, it gives an excellent stretch of sand for walks, and you may at all times traipse subsequent door to the Hilton’s seashore for higher circumstances.

Recreation and health

Las Ventanas al Paraiso has a 2,900-square-foot health heart with Technogym cardio and weight gear, Peloton bikes and a stretching space.

Comply with the driveway from reception as much as the resort entrance, and you may come throughout the 2 tennis courts (certainly one of which doubles as a pickleball court docket). Company can reserve courts for themselves or for classes.

If, like many different guests, you come to Cabo to golf, the resort can arrange tee instances on the neighboring Cabo Actual’s Robert Trent II-designed course; Cabo del Sol’s Tom Weiskopf-designed Desert Course; the Palmilla Golf Membership’s Jack Nicklaus-designed course; and the Golf Membership at Puerto Los Cabos’ Nicklaus- and Greg Norman-designed programs.

Lastly, the resort is comfortable to rearrange (payable) off-campus excursions like whale-watching, ATVing, browsing, sport fishing, scuba diving, personal yacht charters and sundown horseback rides alongside the seashore, amongst different choices.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso has additionally developed a well-earned popularity for the romantic experiences its concierges can arrange. A proposal on the plaza overlooking sundown surrounded by 500 candles and a walkway of rose petals? No downside. Sleeping underneath the celebs on the roof of your villa? Candy desires. Personal magic present at La Botica? Abracadabra!

Experiences like seashore cinema underneath the celebs and household barbecues on the seashore are additionally accessible. Relying in your trip needs, employees members are readily available to meet (practically) any request.

The Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso

Drawing on the therapeutic strategies of the Indigenous peoples of Baja — and centered across the 4 components of earth, air, fireplace and water — the intimate spa seems like a jungly little backyard within the coronary heart of the resort. You may begin your time there with a steam or sauna within the males’s or girls’s locker rooms earlier than taking a chilly plunge.

Later, make your strategy to the backyard lounge space for a cup of tea and a shamanic “limpia,” or cleaning, ritual. Wafts of sage smoke, the hum of crystal bowls and even an eagle feather will drive damaging power away and restore steadiness.

One signature therapy is the two-hour Milk & Honey physique scrub that includes Baja honey earlier than a moisturizing therapeutic massage ($470). One other, the Nopal Desert Detox, features a physique masks of vitamin C-rich cactus balm that’s lathered onto the physique to attract out impurities earlier than a vital oil therapeutic massage (two hours, $470). These seeking to return house refreshed and rejuvenated can partake in one of many Orveda skincare facials.

The spa additionally contains a small salon providing companies like manicures, pedicures, hair companies and make-up.

Service at Las Ventanas al Paraiso

The component that has at all times (and continues to) set Las Ventanas al Paraiso other than different inns in Cabo and different luxurious inns all through the world is the employees. The employees members’ heat, polish and real enthusiasm positively influence a keep right here. It was true throughout my first keep a decade in the past, and it was true throughout my most up-to-date go to.

My private butler (they’re accessible to each visitor), Paulina, was at all times a textual content away. She may assist with reservations and actions, escort me to dinner, and ensure each restaurant and bar on the property knew my preferences (or dietary restrictions). She even helped my associate shock me with a bottle of wine and a plate of connoisseur snacks for my birthday, which she had snuck into my room whereas I used to be out at an exercise.

Each particular person I interacted with — from the hostesses at breakfast to the pool attendants establishing my seats to the pleasant bartenders at La Botica who confirmed me the way to whip up the right Manhattan — needed to make my keep the most effective it could possibly be. Not in a cloying or fawning manner, both. It was like being on trip with good mates who simply occurred to be on employees. All through my keep, I heard different (admittedly demanding) company praising the service, and multiple talked about that it was why they returned to the resort 12 months after 12 months.

Out and about

Most folk who come to Las Ventanas al Paraiso have a tendency to stay across the resort, maybe solely venturing out for a spherical of golf, a snorkeling journey or a dinner at one other resort.

Nonetheless, if you happen to so select, you may attain the vacationer outlets, journey outfitters and thumping nightclubs of Cabo San Lucas in about 20 minutes with a $20 ride-hailing drive. San Jose del Cabo is about the identical value and distance away; it even hosts a weekly Thursday night artwork stroll so guests can stroll amongst its numerous galleries.

Accessibility

Las Ventanas al Paraiso is partially wheelchair-accessible thanks to softly sloping paths, ramps and flat surfaces main into the eating places and elevators in numerous public buildings. That stated, many rooms are both up or down units of stairs from the primary paths.

The resort’s ground-floor rooms are accessible by way of wheelchair, although there aren’t any different particular options inside them to accommodate wheelchair customers. Likewise, there aren’t any chairlifts for the varied swimming pools. Resort employees are prepared to help with requests to assist enter and exit the amenities, although.

Testing

Though Los Cabos is house to dozens of world-class luxurious resorts, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort nonetheless stands other than the pack as one of many originals.

After all, the palatial lodging, scenic beachfront setting, revolutionary eating places and singular spa all assist. However the true sprint of magic comes from the practically flawless hospitality and heat of the resort’s employees — lots of whom have labored there for effectively over a decade. They supply little further touches that set the tone for every visitor’s keep and make you’re feeling actually cared for throughout your time there.

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