Recommend January 2013 - (Page 70)

Los Cabos The long list of visitor-directed pleasures available in Los Cabos, coupled with the region’s raw beauty, have made famous a once little-known stretch of desert at the end of the Baja Peninsula. Modern marinas and vessels of all sizes allow visitors to explore the Sea of Cortez and take advantage of its bountiful waters, famous for their abundance of marlin, yellowtail, mahi mahi, roosterﬁsh and more. Deep-sea ﬁshing is a must-try here, as is a round of golf at one of many award-winning courses dotting the landscape of the Transpeninsular Highway, which connects San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Golf enthusiasts will ﬁnd championship greens designed by greats such as Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. Those who’d rather get more close to nature have plenty of other options: ziplining across canyons, ATV runs along mountain trails, surﬁng lessons with pros. Most impressive of all is the annual welcome of whales, coming in from Arctic waters and ready for their close-up during the winter. Los Cabos also provides an exceptional dining experience in international and Mexican cuisine, both casual and upscale; nightlife options, meanwhile, run from sophisticated wine bars to the more boisterous El Squid Roe and The Giggling Marlin. Places such as Luxury Avenue, as well as smaller stores offering fancy Mexican-made mementos, allow for plenty of shopping choices—and if art is what beckons, the dozens of galleries in San Jose will be a must stop. And then there are the destination’s spas—world-class pampering spots that offer everything from wine-based scrubs to sea-salt rubs. Most are found within the posh hotels and resorts of Los Cabos. Besides existing standards such as Hola Grand Faro Los Cabos, future brands such as a Delano and a Ritz-Carlton Reserve will add even more spark to the hotel landscape. MEXICO Lover’s Beach at Land’s End Mazatlan Miles of Paciﬁc beaches and a world-famous Carnival (this year’s takes place Feb. 7-12) are not the only claims to fame of this romantic Paciﬁc city. Located at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Mazatlan mixes up history and culture as one of the oldest ports in the Americas. Whether it’s admiring the cliff divers jumping into tide pools from El Mirador, visiting the second highest lighthouse in the world or enjoying a stroll or bike ride along the city’s beautiful seaside boardwalk, visitors are easily charmed by the colonial-chic aspect of the “Pearl of the Paciﬁc.” In its historic center, a colorful heritage is revealed in close to 500 national landmarks, including the Angela Peralta Theater; Plazuela Machado, which hosts cultural activities throughout the year; and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the only Roman Catholic church with the Star of David displayed in each of its stained glass windows. Most fun for visitors is to explore the city via the local pulmonias, open-air vehicles that allow for better sightseeing. The city’s most popular dish? Shrimp prepared in a variety of ways and sold each morning in outdoor markets. Hundreds of hotels and resorts throughout the city cater to every taste. Some of its most recent ones, including the new and modern Crowne Plaza Mazatlan, are located in New Mazatlan, about a 25-minute drive from the city-center. Mazatlan is one of Mexico’s most famous sportﬁshing destinations, yet those who would rather enjoy the beach have choices such as Playa Sabalo, Playa Los Cerritos and Las Gaviotas. For surﬁng, there’s the popular Playa Bruja. Onshore, it’s all about golf, with a number of championship courses available. There are also cultural excursions available to nearby villages such as El Quelite and Copala and eco-adventure locations. Cliff diver 46

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2013

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: The Westlake Village Inn
Tour Talk: Brendan Vacations' Boutique Journeys
Four Cheers for River Crusing
A-ROSA Silva
Delta Air Lines' 2013 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
China Remains a Time-Tested Destination
What's Hot in Vegas for 2013
Back to the Gulf
Authentic Morocco in An (Argan) Nutshell
Festive Europe

Recommend January 2013