Recently, Air Canada Vacations hosted 200 travel agents on their Mega Fam to Los Cabos out of Calgary. And as we were about to depart on our Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767, I overheard someone ask "So what's the difference between Cabos San Lucas, San José and Los Cabos anyway?" And the answer is that Cabos San Lucas and San José del Cabo are two different cities, but that both are IN Los Cabos.
Los Cabos (translation: The Capes), is the name of the region encompassing several cities and towns on the southern shores of Baja California Sur, the Mexican state on the lower half of the Baja California Peninsula. The municipality includes Cabos San Lucas and San José del Cabo, as well as a 32 kilometre stretch of resorts, known as the Los Cabos Corridor.
Unlike some other Mexican destinations, Los Cabos is located in the desert and therefore isn't particularly humid. It averages 350 days of sunshine each year with the average temperature during the winter months in the mid- to high-twenties Celsius. And because it's located further north, it can get a little chilly in the evenings so a light jacket or sweater is suggested.
One interesting aspect about Los Cabos is that although most resorts are located directly on a beach, very few of them are swimmable, due to strong undertows. But that's not to say that hotels don't still offer lounge chairs, cabanas and drink service on the beach. But those strong currents, undertows and waves also contribute to ideal surfing conditions all across Baja's southern coast.
Air Canada Vacations is offering service to Los Cabos from three gateways this season; Vancouver and Calgary, using Air Canada Mainline; and Toronto, on Air Canada Rouge.
- Vancouver service will operate weekly, on Saturdays, from November 4, 2017 to April 11, 2018 on Air Canada Mainline. However, for the period December 21, 2017 to April 2, 2018, Air Canada will beef up its flying, offering two additional frequencies each week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Calgary service will operate weekly, on Sundays, from October 29, 2017 to April 1, 2018 on Air Canada Mainline.
- Toronto will be operated twice weekly, Wednesday and Sundays, from November 5, 2017 to April 22, 2018 on Air Canada Rouge.
"We're very excited because in Calgary this winter season, we've deployed a wide body 767 Air Canada Rouge plane, which represents a 255 per cent increase from the Calgary gateway." said Marigold Frontuna, Air Canada Vacations' general manager, sales - western Canada, as the group prepared to board the specially chartered Rouge 767. Los Cabos service will be on board Air Canada Mainline, however, the aircraft was provided in order for agents to have the opportunity to experience the aircraft first hand.
"Although Los Cabos is one of the new destinations that we've introduced this winter, it will be operated on an Air Canada mainline aircraft." Frontuna continued. "However, Huatulco is another new destination that we've introduced and that's being operated on the Air Canada Rouge wide body."
The Rouge flight, at just over four and one half hours, carried a large group of travel agents, industry partners, and Air Canada Vacations staff, all of whom got to experience Air Canada Rouge's wide body Boeing 767 service, including a hot meal.
Upon arrival at Los Cabos International Airport and clearing Mexican Customs and Immigration, we were transported to our respective hotels to check in.
I was assigned the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, a short 20-minute drive from the airport. As the group checked in, dancers in traditional Mexican garb entertained in the lobby as we sipped our first drink. Ahhhhhhhh….
I checked into my room, a 54 square metre (584 square foot) Ocean View Master King, which overlooked the property and the Sea of Cortez, before heading back downstairs for the first of many site inspections. To start off, we were touring, where else? The Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.
Property Overviews: Click below to jump to the property overview.
- Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos
- Barceló Gran Faro Los Cabos
- Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa
- Solmar Resort *Air Canada Vacations Exclusive*
- Paradisus Los Cabos
- Secrets Puerto Los Cabos
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos is an all-ages, all-inclusive resort on the beach overlooking the Sea of Cortez in San José del Cabo, the eastern end of the Los Cabos region. Made up of three towers, building one is the main building, where the front desk and most of the facilities and restaurants reside; building two has two restaurants and the kid's club and pool, and building three, houses the property's swim up suites and adult pool.
The property features 591 rooms across eight room categories. The size and layout of most rooms, including Standard, Ziva Master and Club at 54 square metres (584 square feet), differ only in view and amenities. The property also offers swimup suites at 70 square metres (755 square feet), with direct pool access, 57 square metre (619 square foot) Ziva Suites with Juliet balconies and located near the Kid's club, and 105 square metre (1,130-square-foot) Premium one-bedroom suites.
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos offers five fine dining restaurants (dress code in effect) and two buffets;
- Bon Vivant is the hotel's adults-only restaurant, serving French cuisine
- Dozo - essentially three Asian restaurants in one, with teppanyaki grills, sushi bar and traditional seating in one place
- Zaffiro - trattoria-style Italian restaurant and bar located directly on the beach, featuring rustic Italian food including Napoletana and deep dish pizzas from a wood-fired oven
- El Cortijo - Spanish cuisine including tapas and cuisine from all the regions of Spain
- La Hacienda Beach Grill - grilled steak, chicken, sausage and other meats cooked on the parrilla, a grill that cooks with red hot embers, not flames
- La Plaza and El Molino are the two buffet restaurants
And don't forget to report your bookings, including your Air Canada Vacations bookings through Playa Resorts' Agent Rewards. Your clients will receive a gift in their room and you'll receive a cheque!
The next day was a full day of hotel visits, starting out at Barceló Gran Faro Los Cabos, located on the same beach as the Hyatt Ziva.
Barceló Gran Faro Los Cabos is also an all-ages resort, offering 350 rooms and suites in three buildings - Luna, Estrella and Torres Sol - across eight room categories.
Superior and Superior Sea View are 46 square metres (495 square feet), and Deluxe and Superior Beach Front, which are Premium level rooms, are 56 square metres and 53 square metres respectively, and can accommodate up to four people, with a maximum of three adults.
Junior Suite Beach Front rooms, which feature a hot tub and large terrace, are 68 square metres (732 square feet) are also Premium level and can accommodate two adults.
And the largest suite-level rooms, Suite Ocean Front at 118 Square metres (1,270 square feet) and Beach Front Suite at 121 square metres (1,302 square feet) both have large master bedrooms and Premium level services and amenities. Lastly, the Presidential Suite, at 118 square metres (2,023 square feet), has the largest balcony of all rooms, with a hot tub.
The property features four swimming pools, including an infinity pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez, and an adults-only pool.
Barceló Gran Faro Los Cabos also has five restaurants and three bars;
- Las Jicamas Mexican Bar and Restaurant, located near the main lobby, serves Mexican fusion cuisine and offers a large selection of Margaritas
- La Gondola Italian Restaurant is also located near the lobby
- El Faro Sushi Bar serves - you guessed it - sushi - and is located on the top floor of the El Faro building with views of the sea
- La Isla Bar & Snack Bar offers everything from grilled hamburgers to nachos or fish ceviche
- The first of two buffets, Las Olas Restaurant is located opposite the beach, by the pool, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- The second buffet is Albatross international Restaurant, which offers international specialties, with themed dinners each night
Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa is located about halfway between Cabos San Lucas and San José del Cabo, in the stretch of resorts known as the Los Cabos Corridor.
The resort has 230 completely renovated suites, each with a private balcony with ocean views. Rooms are offered in eight room categories, in either standard or the resort's Preferred Club, which provides access to a private lounge, special concierge service and other enhanced amenities.
At 60 square metres (650 square feet), the Junior Suite Ocean View comes with a king or two double beds. The Family Junior Suite Ocean View is larger, at 100 square metres (1,080 square feet) and comes with a dining area, larger balcony, and two bathrooms. And while the One Bedroom Suite Ocean View is the same physical size as the Family Junior Suite at 100 square metres (1,080 square feet), it comes equipped with a walk in closet in place of a second bathroom.
The Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View, Preferred Club Luxury One Bedroom, and the Preferred Club One-Bedroom Suite Ocean View are also available in the same size and layouts as their standard counterparts. Both the standard and Preferred Club rooms can accommodate up to four guests, to a maximum of three adults, with the exception of the One Bedroom Suite Ocean View, which can accommodate up to three adults only.
Two larger room types, at 143 square metres (1,540 square feet), are also available in Preferred Club - the Preferred Club Family Master Two Bedroom Suite Ocean Front, featuring one bedroom with a King bed and one with two double bed, and the Preferred Club Presidential Suite Ocean Front a one bedroom suite with a King bed in the bedroom, with a connecting Junior Suite with one king-size bed or two double beds. Both of these larger room types can accommodate up to 6 travellers, to a maximum of 5 adults.
The resort offers four à la carte restaurants, one buffet, a casual grill and a café.
Bordeaux is a formal, adults-only French restaurant, offering French specialities like escargots and Boeuf Bourguignon, with an extensive wine cellar. A more formal dress code is in effect.
Oceana offers seafood dishes including scallop and shrimp ceviche, stuffed grouper, and a casserole of Clams, Mussels and Shrimp.
Portofino is Dreams' Italian restaurant, serving traditional fare, including pasta and pizza.
Seaside Grill is a more casual grill-style restaurant, serving imported prime steaks, chicken and ribs.
World Café is the resort's buffet, available for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Solmar Resort **An Air Canada Vacations exclusive** is a smaller, what I would call quaint, resort in Cabos San Lucas, a short walking distance to town. The property features 50 studio suites and 50 Deluxe One Bedroom Suites, both featuring marble floors and full ensuite kitchenettes with granite countertops. Both European and all-inclusive plans are available, making this property ideal for travellers who want to do their own thing as well as those that want the convenience of an all-inclusive.
Built into a hillside, Solmar offers two pools, a quiet, adults-only pool retreat located at the top of the hill, and a larger all ages, family-friendly pool at the lower part of the property, closer to the beach.
Solmar is one of the older resorts in the area, and although built in 1977, a full 40 years ago, the property is remarkably well kept and made me feel like I was in a much more authentic setting than some of the newer resorts.
The property offers three restaurants offering steaks, nouvelle Mexican, traditional American favourites, and fresh seafood harvested from the sea.
El Trebol offers a mix of salads, delis sandwiches, and over ten main courses that include shrimp enchiladas, a surf and turf skewer, and chicken nachos. Tejaban features Mexican-style cuisine including Mexican breakfast dishes omelettes and Spanish torillas, to lunch favourites like fajitas, burritos, tacos and more. And Sushi Factory offers traditional sushi rolls, cones and sashimi made with fish from the nearby waters.
Solmar's spa, located completely outside, offer full spa services in private cabanas at the edge of the beach.
Our next stop was at Paradisus Los Cabos, formerly the Melia Cabo Real, located in the Los Cabos Corridor, approximately halfway between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The Melia closed in 2014 after experiencing significant damage from Hurricane Odile and the decision was made at that time to undertake a massive renovation and rebranding of the property. After a two year, $35 million US renovation, the resort looks brand new even though the original resort was built over 25 years ago.
With 350 rooms, the luxury resort offers 10 room categories, ranging from Junior Suite Garden View to the Royal Service Ocean Front Master Suite. Most of the categories - Paradisus Junior Suite Garden View, Paradisus Junior Suite Ocean View, Paradisus Junior Suite Ocean Front, Family Concierge Garden View Suite, Family Concierge Ocean Front Suite, Royal Service Ocean View Suite, Royal Service Ocean Front Suite, and Royal Service Swim up Suite - are 40 square metres (435 square feet) in size and come with two double beds or a king size bed, and sofa, and private terrace, and differ mainly in view and service level.
Royal Service is available to Paradisus clients, providing enhanced service in a Royal Service building, including upgraded amenities like turn down service, enhanced in-room service and amenities, access to the Royal Service lounge, and butler service.
In addition to the four pools, one dedicated to Royal Service guests only, the property is one of the few on our tour with a swimmable beach.
Paradisus Los Cabos has seven restaurants, just one of which is a buffet, known as Naos.
Naos is an international buffet open for breakfast only. The restaurant features a contemporary design and can accommodate up to 176 guests.
Bana is a contemporary Asian restaurant serving Japanese fusion cuisine in a resort casual setting, while Mole offers the flavours and layers of Mexican contemporary cuisine in a resort casual to formal setting.
Terraza & Market Grill specialised in salads, with a wide selection on the menu, as well as offering both rustic Italian cuisine like pasta and wood oven pizzas alongside an Argentinian grill.
Gabi Beach, meanwhile, is the property's poolside restaurant, where there is no dress code. The huge restaurant can serve 350 people on two levels, with the upper level serving adults only.
For a more formal and elevated adults-only experience, Paradisus offers Gastro Bar by Martin Berasategui. Berassategui is an eight Michelin star chef who brings his take on Basque cuisine (think north-central Spain and south-western France). Gastro Bar is the only restaurant with a stricter, formal dress code.
And lastly, La Palapa is an open-air restaurant overlooking the ocean and the Royal Service private pool, and is reserved exclusively for Royal Service guests. There is no focus on a particular region's food, but the restaurant offers traditional flavours using new culinary trends. We were served lunch in the restaurant and got to sample a range of the restaurants offering, with its unique and varied presentation.
In my opinion, one jewel in Paradisus' crown is the open-air Gabi Bar, which was in the final phases of renovation during our visit. However, we were still able to get a good feel for the place, which could only be described as 'sexy'. The open-air bar, with no walls on three sides, is elevated, with spectacular views of the property and beach. It would be the ideal place for a cocktail as you watch the sunset.
The last and final property on our tour was Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, which was also the location of our final night's dinner.
At just over two years old, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos is an adults-only resort located in the exclusive community of Puerto Los Cabos to the east of San José del Cabo.
The fourth of AMResorts' properties in Los Cabos, alongside Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, Zoetry Casa del Mar, and Secrets Marquis Los Cabos, the resort has 500 rooms in four sizes, across 13 categories, offering either standard or Preferred Club level.
With multiple categories within each room size, the differences with rooms would be in view, amenities and service level.
There are four rooms at 52 square metres (560 square feet); the Junior Suite Garden View, Junior Suite Ocean View, Junior Suite Swim-Out Garden View, Junior Suite Swim-Out Ocean View, each featuring one King or two double beds, a separate sitting area, and a private furnished terrace, some with swim-outs.
Secrets' Preferred Club rooms, Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean Front, Preferred Club Junior Suite Swim-Out Ocean View, and Preferred Club Junior Suite Swim-Out Ocean Front, are slightly larger at 54 square metres (581 square feet) and each feature Secrets' Preferred Club service, including access to the Preferred Club lounge, concierge service, dedicated check-in, an espresso machine in the room, and other amenities.
On the larger end of the room scale are the four Master Suite room categories, one bedroom suites at 108 square metres (1,163 square feet) in size; Master Suite Ocean View, Master Suite Swim-Out Ocean View, Master Suite Ocean Front, and Master Suite Swim-Out Ocean Front. Each has a separate bedroom with one King bed.
And lastly, the property offers two categories at 163 square metres (1,744 square feet); the Presidential Suite and Presidential Suite Swim-Out. These suites, roughly twice the size of a typical Toronto or Vancouver condo, offer a separate bedroom, living room, dining room and walk-in closet.
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos has 13 restaurants and bars, including five à la carte gourmet restaurants, a buffet, and a grill, with only the Hibachi table in the Asian restaurant requiring reservations. Not all restaurants are open every night, however and are dependent on how full the property is.
Two of the restaurants are casual dining; Barefoot Grill, located poolside, featuring grilled specialties for lunch and early dinner only, and Oceana, an open-air restaurant and bar featuring seafood.
There are also three à la carte restaurants with a dress code of Casual Elegance, meaning no shorts, flip flops or sleeveless shirts for men.They are El Patio, the resort's Mexican restaurant, featuring traditional Mexican dishes; Portofino, Italian cuisine; and Himitsu, which offers up three types of Asian cuisine - Chinese, Sushi and the Hibachi table.
A Chat with the Los Cabos Tourist Board
As the evening (and the trip) came to a close, I took the opportunity to speak briefly with Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board about the destination and attracting more Canadians.
"Los Cabos is a perfect market for Canada." Esponda said. "The product we have is truly unique and I think the type of product would really match the experiences that Canadians are looking for. We are a destination that is focused on outdoors. We have the mountains, the desert and the ocean and there's no other destination that has the three types of diversity and geography that you have here."
"In the desert, you can have 4x4 vehicles driving the dunes. In the mountains you can do hiking or rock climbing. And then in the ocean, you have the whales coming from Canada, three types of whale, the humpback, the grey whale and the Blue whale." said Esponda. [Editor's note: The Blue Whale is the world's largest mammal, weighing as much as 20 African Elephants]." Throughout other months, you see Manta Rays jumping out of the ocean, or there's a permanent colony of sea lions that come right up to you when you're snorkeling or scuba diving."
"And let's not forget that the origin of Los Cabos is sport fishing, and the biggest and most important sport fishing tournament in the world happens here. People come from all over the world to do sport fishing in a place where you have marlin, dorados, and tuna right here."
While there is a lot of wealth and upscale resorts in Los Cabos, that's not to say that it's only for the rich and famous. Although Los Cabos Airport is the second busiest in terms of private aviation in Mexico, and the region sees a lot of Hollywood celebrities and business people from Silicon Valley, there's something for every budget.
"It's a destination that offers an upscale experience." said Esponda. "But we definitely have 3-star hotels, very good ones. But imagine staying at a 3-star that has the service of a 5-star but with only 200 rooms? That's what we have. In other destinations you'd be staying at a 3-star property with 2,000 rooms and a 2-star type of service."
In 2016, 250,000 Canadians visited Los Cabos but Esponda believes that that number should be higher. "With so many Canadians that travel to Mexico and travel internationally, this is a product that offers the value for Canadians that many more should know about." But when he asked the group of agents how many had been to Los Cabos, probably 90 per cent of those said no.
"The combination and the variety of experiences - sport fishing, golf with 15 signature golf courses, a very good portfolio of properties, very attentive service that we offer, fantastic gastronomy with farm to table restaurants - and being very close to fly to with nonstop flights from 42 cities throughout North America, makes Los Cabos a destination that really offers a unique product and is perfect for the Canadian market." Esponda said in closing.
I tell you, having had just a taste of Los Cabos over two short days, it's definitely a destination I would love to return to.
Topics From This Article to Explore
