Recommend November 2011 - (Page 68)

the three faces of BAJA SUR “Los Cabos is a great destination for vacationers because it has so much to offer. Sports aficionados are attracted by the world-class golf courses, watersports activities, ATV tours and fishing experiences. The destination is highlighted by its renowned spas, fine dining and natural beauty featuring tropical gardens next to desert cactus.” John Hanratty, Senior Vice President and CMO, Travel Impressions The CostaBaja Resort & Spa in La Paz overlooks the Sea of Cortez. century. With a lofty spa and pool in its sky deck and beautifully decorated rooms and suites with free Internet—deluxe and suite accommodations feature vintage copper tubs—this might well be the most luxurious hotel in Todos Santos. The hotel also has its own large palapa at Calla de Ulloa that is ideal for weddings and other events, with the roar of the ocean putting on a visual and acoustic show that’s hard to beat. Rates in November start at $280 per night. Should clients just want to spend the day, book the Todos Santos– Magic Town day tour through Transcabo, which starts at $69 pp. It includes a stop at several landmarks, plus time to have lunch and go shopping and exploring on their own. relaxed in la paz Vibe-wise, the capital of Baja California Sur is somewhere in between Los Cabos and Todos Santos; it’s not boisterous or glamorous, but there’s nothing sleepy about it, either. Its hotels are reasonable, its beaches are beautiful and there are plenty of great seafood restaurants waiting with the catch of the day and a cold cerveza. La Paz is just 2.5 hours away from Los Cabos, although clients can just fly into La Paz International Airport. Its long boardwalk stretches along the main beach and is an idyllic home base from which to spend a day enjoying the sea, shopping at nearby stores and admiring the beautiful bronze sculptures of whales, doves, dolphins and other denizens of the region. At any given time you’ll run into local artisans and farmers displaying their products at open-air markets and fairs. It’s important that clients set out to explore other area beaches, however, as they are spectacular. A popular one is Tecolote, which faces Espiritu Santo Island. In fact, La Paz is the jumping-off point to visit this island and Isla Partida, both famous for their rocky landscapes and rich marine life surrounding them. Another 68 november 2011 must-stop in the area is Puerto Balandra, a coastal area with several clear bays, a saltwater lagoon and, most impressively, a unique rock formation shaped like a giant mushroom. Lindblad Expeditions has an 8-day Journeys in the Sea of Cortez option that has clients hopping on the National Geographic Sea Bird in La Paz for eight days of eco discoveries. They’ll visit the different habitats of Isla San Jose, snorkel off the shores of Isla Ildefonso and Catalina and explore the secrets of Isla Espiritu Santo. What’s in store: blue-footed boobies, a variety of whales, kayaking past sea lions and wildflowers in bloom. The Sea Bird comes with a library and a generous fleet of kayaks and Zodiac boats. Rates start at $4,250 pp dbl. Clients also have their share of accommodation options in La Paz. There’s CostaBaja Resort & Spa, which offers clients access to the first Gary Player Signature golf course in Mexico; 14 of its holes have the Sea of Cortez as their backdrop. Golf widows can pass the time at the spa, treating themselves to choices such as a Desert Heat Body Wrap. Those with their own vessels can “slip” right into the resort’s state-of-the-art marina. A standard room at CostaBaja starts at $159 per night. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Baja Airventures (March 2011) contact information CostaBaja Resort & Spa: (877) 392-5525; costabajaresort.com Guaycura Boutique Hotel & Spa: (800) 468-6039; guaycura.com.mx Lindblad Expeditions: (800) 397-3348; expeditions.com TransCabo: (866) 403-5987; transcabo.com Travel Impressions: (800) 284-0044; travimp.com recommend.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.costabajaresort.com http://guaycura.com.mx http://www.expeditions.com http://www.transcabo.com http://www.travimp.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: RockResorts
Tour Talk: International Expeditions
River Cruise Product Expands Even More for 2012
Hot (or Cool) Toronto is Staid No More
Timeless Boston
South Africa Always Steals the Limelight
BVI: Beauty on the Water
Private Islands Sizzle
Barcelona Will Leave You Beaming
Unspoiled Myanmar is Open for Business
The Lowdown on South America's Capital Highs
Riviera Nayarit in the Pink
The Three Faces of Baja Sur

Recommend November 2011