Latitudes, by Jerry R. Landress

There are some new islands emerging, re-emerging, and gaining recognition in both the area of tourism and investment.  One of the areas receiving a lot of attention over the last decade has been the “Pacific Side”.  So for this island voyage, we will refer to this area as “Isla Pacifica”.  Officially part of Cabo San Lucas, this island is hidden from sight by the rock formation that forms the famous El Arco and a mountain of million dollar homes known as the Pedregal.  By literally cutting through the mountains, visitors to Isla Pacifica can access the Pacific side near the tip of the peninsula where they are greeted by a number of old and new resort, condo and timeshare properties.  The original Solmar hotel, one of the first full service hotels in Cabo San Lucas, has been joined by the Playa Grande Resort Hotel and the newest of the group; the Solmar Grand.  The Slomar Grand is a real jewel that has been built into the mountain and offers luxurious views of Land’s End and the vast Pacific uninterrupted from Costa Rica to the south and Hawaii to the west.

When I said “through the mountain” it was not just an expression.  To access another one-of-a-kind hideaway, the Capella Pedregal Resort, has tunneled over 100 meters through solid rock to reach its new home on the “Isla Pacifica”.  Guests emerge from the darkness and are greeted by one of the most spectacular vistas ever imagined.  Recognized as the most luxurious resort in this part of Los Cabos, it offers unmatched accommodations, fabulous spa and fine dining experiences.

The next access to the Isla Pacifica is to circumvent the mountains by going directly through Cabo San Lucas and entering an area that was first home to the Pueblo Bonito Sunset beach and shortly thereafter the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa.  These two unique properties are prime examples of what makes Isla Pacifica so special.  However, the best is yet to come!  The newest of the many mastered planned communities in the Pacifica zone is Copala at Quivera Los Cabos.  Nothing has been left to chance.  Complete with a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, exclusive residences, custom home sites, condominiums, luxury hotels, yacht club and more, Copala at Quivera Los Cabos has to be seen to believe.

Isla Pacifica is also home to another master-planned community, Diamantes Cabo San Lucas.  Nestled on 1,500 acres of stunning coastline and magnificent dunes along 1.5 miles of Pacific coastline, Diamante is a paradise of beauty, privacy, luxury and world-class service. Just six short miles from downtown Cabo San Lucas, the first phase of this master-planned luxury community holds Sunset Hill home sites, Beach Estate home sites, Golf Villas and the Dunes Clubhouse and Residence Club — all integrated into the dramatic Baja landscape and the Davis Love III-designed Dunes Course. Construction has begun on the second golf course (El Cardonal, designed by Tiger Woods and his company Tiger Woods Design), a world-class spa, and a 10-acre lagoon for water sports, a beach club, tennis complex, equestrian center and kid’s camp.

The last island group we will explore in this series is the “Islands of the East Cape”.  The term “East Cape” refers to the beautiful and largely unspoiled region beginning just east of San Jose del Cabo and running northward along the Sea of Cortez about 100 miles to Bahia de Los Frailles.  Some say the East Cape hubs of Cabo Pulmo, Buena Vista and Los Barriles, magnificently situated on Bahia Las Palmas, are the Los Cabos of twenty years ago.  Once the secret hideaway for Hollywood elites and even President’s the Islands of the East Cape now offer visitors more than just a fishing adventure.  

The best example of the direction the region is headed is the development of the Cabo Riviera, master-planned community and marina.  This is just one more example of how vibrant the entire region surrounding Los Cabos has become. The Cabo Riviera development, which is under construction on the East Cape, celebrates much of what makes the region great. Not only will it boast a championship golf course but it will also feature a full-service marina with 285 boat slips. For those who wish to keep a closer eye on their boats, developers have planned lots on manmade islands that will allow property owners to dock their yacht in their front yard. Cabo Riviera is located on more than 900 acres in the town of La Ribera, only 38 miles east of Los Cabos International Airport. Once complete, the resort will also include a tennis club, artist’s village, beach club, spas, art galleries, and at least one luxury hotel.

This concludes our tour of the “Islands of Los Cabos”.  I hope you found it helpful as a guide to the different areas that make up this incredible tourism success story.