It dawned on me that I hadn't taken a deep breath in a while. I exhaled, lowered my shoulders to ease the tightness, and gazed out at the open ocean ahead of me, all while submerged in my private plunge pool at Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
– a beachfront resort located in San José del Cabo, Mexico.
Frankly speaking, the moment felt like a simulation, as I had never experienced something so simple, yet luxurious before. It was only after I returned from this trip that I realized how much my nervous system had needed a reset.
As I boarded my flight to Mexico last month, nervous with anticipation about my first solo international trip, I tried to remind myself just how incredible this stay would be. Sure enough, once the brilliant blue Sea of Cortez many miles down below me started to come into view through the airplane window, I immediately felt at ease as we touched down in the desert oasis.
The Los Cabos Tourism Board hosted me on this trip to Los Cabos, in which an intimate group stayed at two different properties, tried out a variety of food experiences and enjoyed several wellness-focused activities. This trip was my very first time visiting this region of Mexico, so I went into the stay with no expectations, and left feeling inspired, renewed, and well-rested.
About Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
What I Liked About Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Upon arrival at Zadún Los Cabos, I was greeted by the property staff at the resort entrance with an assembly line of welcome drinks, gifts, and a complimentary welcome mezcal margarita. I was soon whisked away via a golf cart driven by Miguel, my personal attendant, or "tosaoni," a word derived from the indigenous Nahuatl language that translates to "dream watcher."
Property Views
Miguel talked through the amenities as we zipped along the winding pathways of the property, transporting me to a true state of zen. After a tour of the room, which includes breathtaking ocean views, a dreamy outdoor shower, and a personal plunge pool, I couldn't throw a bathing suit on fast enough as the feel-like temperature outside climbed to a steamy 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
Private Plunge Pool
This was my first time experiencing a private plunge pool right outside my hotel room, and let me tell you, my hotel expectations are now incredibly high! It was quite magical to take a dip at my leisure: in the morning after (literally) rolling right out of bed, midday when the sun was at its highest (and hottest) point, and to close out the evening after still buzzing from dinner and drinks. The evening may have been my favorite time to take a plunge, as the sound of ocean waves breaking onto the beach in the distance lulled me into a meditative state before bed.
Sensei Spa and Lunch at Equis
Our itinerary at Zadún Los Cabos included an array of activities meant to focus on wellness including a sound journey, a hydrotherapy session and a daily warm up at Sensei, the incredibly tranquil spa at Zadún.
There were also multiple on-property meal experiences including breakfast at El Barrio, a stunning dinner at Humo, a cinematic dinner under the stars at El Mirador, and an informative lunch at Equis, during which we ate and spoke with executive chef Victor Garrido, who was responsible for curating the meal, overseeing the sourcing of ingredients, and working alongside the incredibly seasoned and dedicated team that showed nothing but care and hospitality toward us for the entirety of our stay. My lunch highlights were the fried tuna and tacos al pastor.
Dinner at Humo
One of my favorite culinary experiences was at Humo, an on-property contemporary grill where the "elemental flavors of fire, sea, and soil come together to celebrate the essence of Baja." The moody interior combined with the smell of the local mesquite wood burning in the open kitchen made for a memorable evening and meal presentation, all thanks to Karla Najera, the restaurant's chef de partie.
Menu highlights included charred local watermelon with cashew cream, pickled seaweed salad, ancho chili oil, yuca charcoals (i.e. fried yuca, squid ink, salsa brava, and leek ash), and the A-maiz-ing Cocktail, which consisted of a corn-based Oaxaca spirit and passion fruit, making for a tropical twist on a traditional piña colada.
As the sun rose on our last day at Zadún, I was sad to be checking out, but also excited at what still lay ahead of us, as our trip was only halfway through. Before arriving at our final destination, we made a pitstop at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt, a luxury boutique hotel nestled along the shores of Cabo San Lucas that features stunning views of El Arco, a famous rock formation, and a saltwater pool carved into the rocks adjacent to the property.
About The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt
What I Liked About The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt
A Property Tour and Brunch at The Ledge
It was here where I first spotted the aforementioned iconic Los Cabos arch accompanied by an expansive view of turquoise ocean swells and brazen surfers catching the next best wave. This property offered us brunch at The Ledge where I ordered a Café D'Orange (iced espresso chocolate, orange and oat milk) and The Cape Toast (roasted banana, caramelized almonds, vanilla whipped cream, mint, piloncillo glaze, and raspberry atop french toast) — both of which were memorable enough for me to attempt recreating them at home just to reminisce.
About Montage Los Cabos
Our last and final stop of the trip was Montage Los Cabos, a 39-acre resort located on the Santa Maria Bay waterfront, with various offerings including snorkeling and scuba experiences on-property, several restaurants, four pools, and Spa Montage. We were again greeted with an assembly line of welcomes and smiles upon arrival at check-in. My room boasted another incredible view of the ocean, as well as another (dreamy!) outdoor shower.
What I Liked About Montage Los Cabos
Ocean Views and Turn-Down Treats
We were very well taken care of at Montage and quite literally felt full throughout most of our time at the property with the many culinary delights and experiences they had to offer us, including lunch at Marea, an agave experience and dinner that followed at Mezcal, not to mention a sweet treat (abuelita's hot chocolate!) and a gift left in our room during turn-down service each evening.
Lunch at Marea
As mentioned, the first meal at Montage Los Cabos was lunch at Marea, which offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes led by chef de cuisine Eric Arellano. The food, albeit delicious and fresh, wasn't the only thing that transported me to the Mediterranean as I stared out at the views. My favorite dishes were the Angus Iowa hanger steak and ceviche puttanesca, which included local kampachi, castelvetrano olives, sun–dried tomatoes, and calabrian chili.
Pool Cabana and Spa Day
A pool day (at one of the property's four pools) on our last full day was the perfect way to wind down and reflect back on our time in Los Cabos. I ordered a Cabo Sunset (passion fruit-coconut sorbet, lime sorbet, fresh pineapple and vanilla bean whipped cream) from the pool cabana menu before heading off to Spa Montage for an hour-long massage, which left me feeling light on my feet and without a care in the world, even if for just a moment.
Our evening concluded with an agave experience, followed by dinner at Mezcal, all led by executive chef Xavier Salomon, head sommelier Fabián Martínez, and chef de cuisine Alejandro Euroza. During the agave experience, I discovered that I actually prefer the taste of raicilla (vs. mezcal) on the tequila spectrum, which left me wanting to try out more raicilla-forward cocktails once back home, even as a historically self-proclaimed fan of mezcal.
Dinner Off-Property
Our second to last dinner took us off property to Cocina de Autor, a Michelin-starred restaurant located at Grand Velas, featuring a sensorial dining experience of fine gastronomy led by two-Michelin-Star head chef Sidney Schutte.
The theme of the meal was "memories," wherein the chef based each dish off a specific memory he had experienced throughout his life. As the swirl of dry ice billowed off The Big Apple (matcha latte, green apple, kaffir lime, coconut, and amaranth) and the crispy crunch of the red snapper katsuobushi (hoja santa, grapefruit, avocado, dashi) lingered on my taste buds, I tried to take in this moment as much as I could, appreciating how nice it was to not have anywhere to be other than right where I was, with who I was with.
Final Thoughts
I left Los Cabos feeling full (literally) and restored — creatively, mentally, physically, my camera roll looking like a sea of bright blue and beige. But the complete effect of the trip didn't fully hit me until I returned home, and I realized just how good I actually felt. Well-rested, my skin glowing, my shoulders not feeling as tight. I thought back to how I felt before I had gone on the trip – tense, exhausted, foggy.
While it's not everyday that someone gets to have an experience as luxurious as this one, I tried to take away the aspects that left me feeling more relaxed that I could recreate on my own: slow mornings, swimming, eating wholesomely, being present. As a meme that I saw recently said, "Maybe all we really need is just a fresh tomato and a morning swim." (In this case, fresh avocado.)
Emily Zirimis is the associate creative director at Popsugar. Before joining the PS team, she worked as Creative Design Director at Teen Vogue for nearly six years. She holds a BFA in Communications Design with a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute and has been working in the digital media space since 2014.
