Snorkeling was the main activity on our agenda when my husband Larry and I arrived at the Cabo San Lucas marina for a boat ride into the Sea of Cortez. But romance hung heavy in the air, especially when we boarded the 75-foot Turkish schooner named Tu Enamorado.
Owned jointly by charter company Barcos Que Cantan and the Marquis Los Cabos, Tu Enamorado is one of the newest offerings in grand, romantic experiences for guests vacationing on the tip of the Baja Peninsula. It’s the perfect setting for an introduction to the Sea of Cortez, once described by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as "the world’s aquarium."
The famous Los Cabos arch is best observed on the waters of the Sea of Cortez.
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Before we were even shouting distance from the dock, I already had a tequila sunrise in my hand, never mind that it wasn’t yet mid-morning. The chef promptly brought out a tray of appetizers — lobster frittatas and beef empanadas with chipotle pepper dressing. Repeated snacking meant I soon needed another drink. The English-speaking captain, two sailors and a chef were all eager to make this voyage the epitome of luxury.
Here, we willingly surrendered to our senses, a lesson guests quickly learn at the Marquis Los Cabos. This elegant, beachfront resort and spa consists of 237 suites, of which 28 are casitas with private pools. Since opening in 2003, it has garnered awards including designation as one of the world’s best hotels by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, as well as AAA Four-Diamond status, with five stars going to its elegant Canto del Mar Restaurant.
Beyond its superb location on the 18-mile coastal corridor between the port of Cabo San Lucas and the mission town of San Jose del Cabo, the resort attracts guests with a variety of special activities and packages.
It is no surprise that many couples choose this tropical paradise for destination weddings, working with the resort staff to plan all the details, which could include an overnight bridal party excursion or a sunset cruise on Tu Enamorado. Or, they can skip all the fuss and opt for an elopement package, with a bridal bouquet, a minister, a Mexican wedding dress and music. Newlyweds are also welcome for their honeymoon or an anniversary trip with plenty of pampering included in the Sense of Romance package.
If your clients need some adventure to stoke their senses, Marquis Los Cabos can also get them going. Land-lubbers can enjoy an adventure package featuring three different Hummer tours through the desert and canyon, plus a horseback-riding experience.
If your clients prefer adventure on the high seas, suggest the Sense of Adventure on Water package, which includes a sunset cruise on Novia Mia, another Marquis schooner, and three days of scuba-diving lessons. Or, clients can get a romantic boost, as we did, on a perfectly lovely half-day excursion with snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking — a great way to fall in love with beautiful ocean panoramas while engaging all your senses.
Other getaways include a slumber party for girlfriend groups and a male-bonding package that consists of surfing lessons, golf and poker. The resort’s year-round daytime activity program offers everything from whale watching and star-gazing on the beach to swimming with dolphins and eco tours in the Sierra Mountains.
If your client’s idea of adventure is a new spa treatment, he or she should try the Quetzalcoatl Oxygenating Experience, an ancient Mexican tradition designed to restore a sense of well-being.
During our stay, Larry and I savored myriad sensations as we relaxed during soothing massages, stretched in an open-air yoga class overlooking palm trees and flexed muscles in the fitness center while watching waves roll into the sapphire blue sea. We sipped margaritas by the pool and scrunched our toes in soft, white sand. For us, surrendering to our senses was an effortless indulgence.
www.marquisloscabos.com
The Details
Marquis Los Cabos
800-223-6800
www.marquisloscabos.com
For reservations, agents can also contact sales director Frederique Naffrichoux directly at [email protected].
Commission: Agents receive 10 percent on cruise bookings.
Tours: Tours leave from Cabo San Lucas Marina and are easily booked through the Marquis Los Cabos. Tuesday and Thursday tours include snorkeling for $120 per person, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a sunset cruise for $150 per person, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
For private, multi-day tours, agents should contact Roxana Silva de Fernandez at Barcos Que Cantan, at [email protected]. Tours that last up to 12 hours for 12 passengers are approximately $1,700 and a two-day, one-night tour is anywhere from $5,310 to $6,000. Tours of up to one week in length are also available. Tours include meals, drinks, blankets and towels, fishing and snorkeling equipment, kayaks and service.
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