Holistic Hideaway

The symbolism of the circle did not escape me upon my first encounter at Pueblo Bonito’s newest holistic hideaway, Pacifica, found on a wave-pounded beach north of Cabo San Lucas on the 1,000-mile-long tip of the southern Baja California peninsula.

Circles are ever present. Two circular pools gleam on the wide stone patio. A round reflecting pool bubbles quietly under a soaring domed ceiling in the cinnamon-scented lobby. Siempre restaurant in the center of the property is circular, as is the flaming fire pit on the beach. Even pebble inlays in the footpaths that wind throughout the property reflect the unifying circle.

Touted as Cabo’s first wellness retreat and spa, it’s only natural for Pacifica to choose the symbol of eternity and continuity as one of its defining themes.

“Pacifica is oriented along the lines of ‘chi’,” said chief concierge Victor Mendoza, while standing in the serene white lobby one June morning, the shining Pacific Ocean visible in the distance. “Feng shui consultants were brought in to keep open the flow of energy from the ocean to the desert.”

Pueblo Bonito already has three properties in the Los Cabos area, and Pacifica is its second on a huge swath of land north of the Cabo Pacific area (Sunset Beach is the first). Future plans include condominium timeshare properties on the hillside and two 18-hole golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Pacifica draws on a pantheon of world cultures to reflect harmony and a sense of balance. Mezo-American influences play out in the temazcal ceremony, where participants are led through various chants and songs in an igloo-like hut, in the center of which red-hot rocks are doused with liquid to create a revitalizing and cleansing steam. A Zen-inspired rock garden, said Mendoza, keeps positive and negative energies in balance. Eastern aesthetics find their way into daily yoga classes offered in an open-air area by the beach. And a miniature meditation labyrinth allows visitors a venue for peaceful contemplation.

We arrived in the evening just after the sun dipped below the horizon, sending a peachy glow over a distinctive Cabo landmark, the Arch. Pacifica is a 15-minute drive north from the shops, restaurants and clubs of bustling Cabo San Lucas.

Pacifica was awash with the soothing dance of candles and dim lighting. Our room, one of 154 (including 11 suites), all with views of the ocean, was a tranquil refuge of muted earth tones. On a feather-top bed covered with a brocade fabric duvet and traced with a pebble design inlay, a card outlined an extensive pillow menu designed for sweet dreaming. In the bathroom, a polished marble basin sat beside upscale Halo German bath products atop the wood counter, separated from the marble shower by a glass door. Ivory and white sliding window panels ensured we could adjust the amount of bright Cabo sunshine we wanted to awaken us. The view from our private balcony in the morning would show us a sparkling sea, minimalist cactus and palm gardens interspersed with winding pathways, all accentuated by the distant boom of waves crashing on the beach.

But first, we had a dinner date at Siempre, where we feasted on Chinese wonton dumpling soup, seared tuna encrusted with pesto and roasted baby red snapper with seafood paella and mustard-lime foam. A wholesome menu of wellness-oriented spa fare with organic produce and low-calorie dishes inspired from Mediterranean, Asian and Mexican cultures was in the works.

A trip to the Armonia Spa completed the Pacifica experience. I opted for a signature organic body wrap that incorporated the healing properties of Los Cabos’ desert plants in a soothing, polishing body mask, followed by a massage with nourishing hydrogel. It was completely relaxing the only downside being cold air conditioning that left me shivering. But once I stepped out into the liquid warmth of the Los Cabos sunshine, I returned to the surreal fantasy world of Pacifica’s desert oasis.