LUXURY TRAVEL – COSTA PALMAS ESCAPE

It’s the antithesis of Cabo San Lucas. A pristine remote landscape on the edge of a halcyon sea. No high rises, no mega hotels, no cruise ships, no Cabo Wabo. Just mazes of dunes, dramatic mountain backdrops and ribbons of white sand gently lapped by turquoise warm water. Behold the Sea of Cortez, Jacques Cousteau’s “Aquarium of the World.” A wonderland of marine life and beauty.

HIDDEN PARADISE
Just north of the one-cantina town of La Ribera, hidden off a sandy road, you’ll find Costas Palmas, a 1000-acre beach community with a low-lying architecture that’s anchored by Four Season luxury. Tasteful modern guestrooms (141 total) reflect the sea, sand and sky with their monochromatic palettes, glass and stone and local artwork. Oceanfront dining at Estiatorio Milos (of Montreal, New York, and London fame) favors the finest seafood from dayboat fresh catch to Faroe Island salmon and high-quality meats accompanied by plucked-from-the-ground produce from the community’s 18 acres of organic gardens. Other culinary havens include a cevicheria beach shack, poolside brasserie and Limon for al fresco dining and craft cocktails in a seaside lemon tree grove.

NO SHORTAGE OF ACTIVITES
Golfers can tee off on the links-style course, designed by maestro Robert Trent Jones II, which meanders through the desertscape with plenty of ocean-views and challenging play, whether you opt for 18 or a shorter game on the specially designed 6-hole loop. An afternoon lazingat the sprawling spa might include breath work, yoga and a sunrise body treatment combining Thai stretching, body exfoliation, a Balinese massage and aromatic wrap with local herbs. Ready for a swim—you’ve got six unique pools for families, adults-only, lap swimmers and infinity-edge lovers, and two miles of swimmable beach. While ATVs are the preferred land rovers to explore the desert dunes, the resort’s private yacht awaits in the marina for sunset cruises and aquatic adventures. Or gather your squad for hyper trendy pickle ball, volleyball and basketball pick-up games at the sports complex.

If you can extract yourself from the warm clutch of this beachfront paradise, the East Cape sports adventures galore. You can hike to a hidden waterfall and plunge into a crystal pool, zipline in Sierra de la Laguna Mountains; mountain bike in El Trufino or cast a line off a sleek sportfishing yacht in hopes of landing a Dorado, marlin or tuna. Nearby Cabo Pulmo, a protected national marine park, offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. For the ultimate adventure, skip the backroad drive and reserve the 65-foot Hatteras yacht for a swanky, full-day excursion with gourmet meals and a private diving guide to this underwater paradise. Commune with the moray eels, friendly sea lions, swirling clouds of jack fish (schools of 2000+) sea turtles and manta rays, and then enjoy a champagne and caviar sunset cruise home. School bus-sized whalesharks frequent the Sea of Cortez and if you want to swim with gentle leviathans of the sea, it’s worth a trip up to La Paz where you are almost guaranteed to see one during the season (November to April).

SAFETY FIRST
For those feeling uncertain about flying commercial in this COVID-19 era, NetJets offers “peace of mind” flights for Costa Palmas guests to enjoy special access to private air travel into Los Cabos. And if you fall in love with this East Cape sanctuary, which undoubtedly you will, you can purchase a swanky, six-bedroom Four Seasons Beachfront Casita for $16 to $18 million or an architectural gem in the Aman Residences Community, Amanvari, opening in 2022.

For more information: costaspalmas.com

SOURCESteve Phillips
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