Secret side of Cabo: Rest and relaxation

A journey in the mid-’80s down the long, thin strip of land called Baja to the dusty, fledging town of Cabo San Lucas found only a trickle of hardy vacationers willing to brave the bad roads and barely functioning infrastructure to fish, snorkel and lie on the white sand beaches.

That was then. Now, some 23 years later, Cabo San Lucas rivals any travel destination in this hemisphere with its top-shelf hotels, vacation villas, shopping centers and restaurants of every stripe. That explains why 1 million visitors a year go there, transforming the 18-mile corridor between the northern town of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas in the south into a nonstop parade of people on the go. Despite it’s well-earned reputation as a singles party town, it also attracts families with children, time-share owners, beach lovers, golfers and honeymooners.

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Larry Mayran / AJC Special

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Larry Mayran / AJC Special

Surrounded by majestic desert scenery, the Pacifica boasts two infinity-style pools and a wide swath of beach.

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Larry Mayran / AJC Special

A sheltered Jacuzzi beckons with its tranquil view of the Pacific Ocean.

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That’s what makes Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat & Resort so unique. Regally situated on a raised spit of sand facing the ocean, Pacifica is a wellness-oriented resort exclusively for adults.

The 154 rooms and suites are minimally dressed but could not be more comfortable and charming. Accents of pink onyx inlaid in entry doors allow sunlight to fill the room with warm, calming hues. Guest room amenities include daily aromatherapy themes expressed in refreshing cold towels, candles and teas infused with lavender and herbs. The Japanese art of origami is taken to a new level as chambermaids creatively fold towels, washcloths and bathmats into fans, palm trees and peacocks while bedspreads display swans, whales and sea gulls crafted from tiny seashells or sunflower seeds.

Two infinity-style swimming pools, one with a swim-up bar and grill, overlook the sea from manicured desert grounds that contain a meditation garden. And not to worry: the food isn’t your feeble, low-cal granola and gruel, but a south-of-the border epicurean adventure tossed creatively with European and Asian culinary influences.

But it is the spa, Armonia, where Pacifica’s charms prove most delightful. A couples Swedish massage is performed on a set of canopied beds directly on the beach. Less traditional options include a crystal reiki healing treatment, which balances the chakras, or Jantsu, an underwater meditative experience that simulates a “dolphin’s dance.”

In the evening, firepits are lit along the beachfront, beckoning guests to end their day with a fireside nightcap, the perfect end to a restorative day.

IF YOU GO

How to get there

Delta and AeroMexico fly nonstop from Atlanta. Flight time is about five hours. A passport is required for American citizens.

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat & Spa. Rates are $174-$605 per night. 1-800-990-8250, Pueblo Bonito.