Whereas the 4 Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas has the identify of the well-known resort space to the south in its identify, it’s actually in an space that was once empty shoreline, over some mountains and down the street from the well-known snorkeling and diving spot Cabo Pulmo, a protected nature reserve. The Costa Palmas excursions on provide are quite a few and diverse: on the water, below the water, and on land.
So whereas vacationers who thought they have been jetting off to a resort in Los Cabos could also be confused when their trip from the airport heads east as a substitute of south, those that checked out a map first will discover there’s a entire lot of nature round as a substitute of visitors. It is a nice resort for exploring Baja Sur above and under the water.
We simply added a brand new first-person evaluate of this resort, linked to on the finish, however right here’s an excerpt from it on what you may count on for getting out and about:
Should you do get an urge to go away the grounds, the 4 Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas has a menu of excursions that go from calm to adrenaline-pumping. They provide journeys to Los Cabos correct in a single course or swimming with whale sharks in Laz Paz within the different. Nearer to the resort, you may make the most of a sundown cruise, fishing tour, browsing lesson, or ATV journey.
I went on two signature excursions whereas I used to be there which might be included on this video tour of the 4 Seasons at Costa Palmas, towards the top of it, however learn on for extra on what they have been like.
Boat Journey to Snorkel at Cabo Pulmo
Though I’ve been to Baja Sur six or eight instances now, I had by no means made it to Cabo Pulmo. This spot is legendary with scuba divers because it has lengthy been the northernmost coral reef within the Americas. Nationwide Geographic reported that the reef is 20,000 years outdated.
Since 1995 it has been a protected nature reserve the place outdoors boats aren’t allowed in. Effectively, until you’re the 4 Seasons that’s. They’ll nonetheless hand you off to an area boat for the precise snorkeling or diving spots, however I used to be capable of trip down the Baja coast with my hosts. I relaxed on a snug boat with some espresso, fruit, and banana bread and loved the seashore and mountain backdrop in opposition to the deep blue water.
This reserve, now a part of a broader UNESCO World Heritage web site, is among the planet’s nice environmental success tales. After fishing was banned from the marine park, the underwater wildlife proliferated rapidly, with general fish species growing 460% inside a decade and predator species growing greater than 1,000%.
Now Cabo Pulmo is teeming with fish and the total vary of biodiversity has returned to what it was earlier than there have been any folks right here. Those that enterprise underwater right here typically see turtles, a number of forms of sharks, and several other species of rays. On the proper time of yr, humpback whales and whale sharks too.
We stopped at three completely different snorkeling spots and noticed all kinds of fish like grouper, butterfly fish, varied puffers, Moorish idols, parrotfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, and lots of extra. Even in spots a mile aside, the forms of coral and the vary of fish noticed would change.
The one disadvantage to snorkeling on this space is that you just’ll must put on a equipped wetsuit many of the yr. The deep water of this space, so near the Pacific, implies that the water stays comparatively chilly. On this age of world warming although, that’s most likely a great factor. Many coral reefs within the tropics are getting bleached out due to rising sea temperatures.
After the snorkeling was accomplished, we pulled up subsequent to the boat I got here there on and we headed again up the coast in consolation. There have been drinks within the cooler out there. After we returned to the 4 Seasons resort, our boat pulled as much as the Costa Palmas marina and it was a brief stroll to the eating places or my room.
Mountain climbing to a Baja Waterfall and Swimming Gap
The Baja Peninsula will not be the tropics, regardless of the compulsory palm timber the resorts will plant by the swimming swimming pools. It is a dry space dominated by cacti and brown mountains, “the place the desert meets the ocean.” So it was a particular thrill to get right into a car on the resort and shortly be strolling to a waterfall with a spot to swim.
The Santiago Waterfall is flowing all yr, so this can be a in style place with locals within the know. It’s finest to plan this for a weekday if you wish to come when it’s not crowded. That’s what I did and there have been solely about 10 different folks there swimming round.
The water is cool and refreshing, simply the precise temperature to offset the daytime desert warmth. The stroll from the parking space will not be lengthy or particularly tough, however it’s clever to put on closed-toed sneakers with good tread for the descent. You’re free to scamper across the rocks or climb to a distinct space for an alternate view.
After we completed swimming and hiked again as much as the doorway space, we had a cool drink on the restaurant there after which headed again to the resort, rolling by means of small cities and down empty roads.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you will get to this space by ATV as a substitute, driving down the riverbed from close to the resort all the way in which to the climbing space and again once more. You may cool off in between within the waterfall pool and briefly do away with the mud in your head.
See extra on the Costa Palmas excursions provided on the experiences web page on the official web site and see our detailed evaluate of 4 Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas within the East Cape of Baja Sur.
Article by Timothy
Timothy Scott is the founder and editor of Luxurious Latin America and has been overlaying the area as a journey journalist for the reason that mid-2000s. He has visited every nation we cowl a number of instances and is predicated in a UNESCO World Heritage metropolis in central Mexico, the place he owns a house. See contact info right here.
