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 empty shoreline, over some mountains and down the highway from the well-known snorkeling and diving spot Cabo Pulmo, a protected nature reserve. The Costa Palmas excursions on supply are quite a few and various: on the water, beneath the water, and on land.
So whereas vacationers who thought they had been jetting off to a resort in Los Cabos could also be confused when their experience from the airport heads east as an alternative of south, those that checked out a map first will discover there’s a complete lot of nature round as an alternative of visitors. This can be a nice resort for exploring Baja Sur above and under the water.
We simply added a brand new first-person evaluation of this resort, linked to on the finish, however right here’s an excerpt from it on what you possibly can anticipate for getting out and about:
For those who do get an urge to depart 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 possibly can 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 can 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 had 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 previous.
Since 1995 it has been a protected nature reserve the place exterior boats aren’t allowed in. Nicely, except 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 in a position to experience down the Baja coast with my hosts. I relaxed on a cushty boat with some espresso, fruit, and banana bread and loved the seaside and mountain backdrop in opposition to the deep blue water.
This reserve, now a part of a broader UNESCO World Heritage web site, is likely one of the planet’s nice environmental success tales. After fishing was banned from the marine park, the underwater wildlife proliferated rapidly, with general fish species rising 460% inside a decade and predator species rising greater than 1,000%.
Now Cabo Pulmo is teeming with fish and the complete vary of biodiversity has returned to what it was earlier than there have been any individuals right here. Those that enterprise underwater right here usually see turtles, a number of sorts of sharks, and a number of 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, numerous puffers, Moorish idols, parrotfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, and lots of extra. Even in spots a mile aside, the sorts of coral and the vary of fish noticed would change.
The one disadvantage to snorkeling on this space is that you simply’ll have to 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 an excellent factor. Many coral reefs within the tropics are getting bleached out due to rising sea temperatures.
After the snorkeling was completed, 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. Once 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.
Climbing to a Baja Waterfall and Swimming Gap
The Baja Peninsula just isn’t the tropics, regardless of the compulsory palm bushes the resorts will plant by the swimming swimming pools. This can be 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 automobile on the resort and shortly be strolling to a waterfall with a spot to swim.
The Santiago Waterfall is flowing all yr, so it is a standard 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 individuals there swimming round.
The water is cool and refreshing, simply the fitting temperature to offset the daytime desert warmth. The stroll from the parking space just isn’t lengthy or particularly tough, but it surely’s sensible 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 way of small cities and down empty roads.
In case you are feeling extra adventurous, you will get to this space by ATV as an alternative, driving down the riverbed from close to the resort all the best way to the mountaineering space and again once more. You may cool off in between within the waterfall pool and quickly eliminate the mud in your head.
See extra on the Costa Palmas excursions supplied on the experiences web page on the official web site and see our detailed evaluation 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 protecting the area as a journey journalist because the 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.