Baja Bliss: Best Places To Live 2017

It’s easy to see why so many visitors flock to the sunny strip of Baja California, with its mild temperatures, laidback living and outdoor lifestyle. But these four private communities are showing why it pays to stay—for good.

 

CASUAL COMFORT: CHILENO BAY GOLF & BEACH CLUB

From the same firm that developed El Dorado Golf & Beach Club comes another dazzling private community a short drive up the coast. Located along the Golden Corridor and home to Los Cabos’ only coral reef is the new Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club, a private community replete with upscale residences, world-class golf, seemingly limitless activities and the latest debut from Auberge Resorts, Chileno Bay Resort & Residences.

Developed by Discovery Land Company and stretching over 1,200 acres with two miles of Cabo coastline to boot, Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club will include approximately 400 residences in a prime desert mountain setting, nestled closely to the beachfront, offering either ocean frontage or ocean views. Custom homes and beachfront home sites will be available up to
a spacious 19,900 square feet while ocean-view villas, casitas and haciendas will be available in sizes ranging from 1,200 to 7,000-plus square feet.

Along with its stellar location and irresistible surroundings,
the luxe community will feature all the best amenities of outdoor living including a beach club, a park, a golf course, a fitness center and more. The beach club will feature a waterfront walkway, pier and terrace along with an array of amenities like multiple dining options ranging from casual to fine, a rooftop bar and tequila and wine room. Three resort-style pools, beach cabanas, full-service spa facilities and a fitness center along with locker rooms and a movie theater will also be available. Extra amenities include valet parking and the Outdoor Pursuits outfitter where members can seek assistance with a variety of exploratory activities and find all types of equipment available for use.

The community also gives members an attractive course to tee up at with the 18-hole championship-caliber golf course designed by Tom Fazio with a practice facility and an expansive short-game area along with a clubhouse and comfort station. For those looking to stay in shape, Chileno Bay will include a fitness center with the latest equipment, free weights, Pilates and movement studio and lap pool. Separate men’s and women’s areas with cold plunge pools, a steam room, a dry sauna and a private massage room will be available for use and members will be able to arrange for private yoga, training or spinning classes.

For an active day outdoors, the community’s park will feature
a kids’ club, a water park and pool, multi-purpose sports field, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a bocce court, trailheads,
a comfort station, an arts and crafts room and a tennis center. Adjacent to the park will be the club’s organic farm that will provide for the farm-to-table restaurant and mercado. Members will
also have access to water activities like deep-sea fishing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, stand-up paddleboard, sailing, sea kayaking, and surfing.

Chileno Living

Hacienda Villas: Three-, four- and five-bedroom ocean- view villas featuring colonial Mexican architecture and contemporary features.

Point Villas: A selection of 10 homesites with oceanfront views and access to two private beach enclaves.

Chileno Point: Located on the site of the original location of the Hotel Cabo San Lucas, these 16 homesites are the most exclusive collection of custom sites in Los Cabos.

 

LUSTROUS LIVING: EL DORADO GOLF & BEACH CLUB

Like a piece of 14-karat gold jewelry, El Dorado Golf & Beach Club is draped across more than one mile of the gleaming Golden Corridor, adding an undeniable touch to the sandy coast. With luxurious amenities and a casual vibe, El Dorado remains a favorite residential community of big spenders looking for a private and sunny piece of real estate.

Perfectly positioned in between two of Cabo’s
most luxurious five-star resorts, One & Only Palmilla and Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, El Dorado Golf & Beach Club spans 520 acres. Developed by Discovery Land Company, the exclusive community features 76 custom homesites ranging from one-third to more than one acre in size, along with up to 162 oceanfront and ocean-view bungalow-style casitas and villas. Casitas are offered in two-, four- and six-bedroom options, and villas are offered in three-, four- and five-bedroom options with both styles ranging in size from 2,500 to 7,200 square feet.

Like any proper Cabo home community, El Dorado features a stunning golf course that rolls through desert dunes and mountain landscapes, showcasing expansive ocean views. The 7,322-yard, 18- hole Jack Nicklaus-designed signature course has consistently been ranked among the top world courses and is private to club members only. Even those not keen on golf can enjoy a day at the course at
its multiple, over-the-top comfort stations scattered throughout that are brimming with enticing treats like a Casamigos frozen margarita machine, a Bloody Mary bar, sandwiches, ice cream, granola bars and more. Private bathrooms are also found inside and stocked with all the essentials like toothbrushes, perfume, lotions and more.

For a more leisurely day, residents can wander down to the centrally located beach club and take advantage of the world-class spa or state-of-the-art fitness center offering classes like yoga, barre and beach training. Championship-style tennis courts, resort-style pools, a kids’ club and a private movie theater are also available. Multiple dining options will please any palate, from regional gourmet favorites to custom meal plans and exclusive club classics. Dine indoors or take in the beach air under the outdoor palapa
or at the large alfresco bar overlooking the ocean. A sprawling community park, a shopping boutique and mercado round out the amenities.

El Dorado also offers Outdoor Pursuits, Discovery Land’s signature program that assists members in conquering the scenic outdoors through different activities unique to each community’s location. The lifestyle program is led by a recreation concierge team that helps members plan their journey through building itineraries, making arrangements and even accompanying along as a personal guide. Members of El Dorado can enjoy a variety of land- and sea-based activities both inside and outside the community and even the adventurous youngsters can partake with the Junior Outdoor Pursuits program.

 

 

SECLUDED SANCTUARY: FOUR SEASONS RESORT AND RESIDENCES LOS CABOS

Those craving an off-the-grid type of life can get lost in the latest residential offerings from one of the most prestigious resort brands, Four Seasons. Set in the East Cape, a quieter, lesser-known stretch of the Baja, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos is offering prospective home buyers a sophisticated yet laidback way of life in a new up-and-coming area that embraces the spirit of its coastal-desert environment.

Set for a 2018 opening, the new Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos will
be located in the 1,000-acre private beachfront resort community of Costa Palmas and will not only feature 145 guest rooms, but also whole-ownership opportunities ranging from oceanfront to marina- and golf-view residences. Adding to the choices, prospective buyers will also have the option to choose from a collection of custom, single-family oceanfront Four Seasons Private Residence Villas.

The residences will mirror the resort’s low-density layout, blending in with the surrounding Cabo environment. Amenities include shaded outdoor living spaces, built-in day beds, fireplaces, outdoor showers and contemporary furnishings. Views of the Sea of Cortez and the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains will be in full view and the grounds of the resort will be connected to the deep-water marina of the Costa Palmas community that will also feature a marina village, outfitted with boutique shops, dining options and locally curated music and art. Homeowners will also be able to take full advantage of the resort’s amenities including multiple pools, five dining venues, a full-service spa and fitness facilities.

Located in the East Cape, the residences provide one of the best locations for those looking to enjoy a life outdoors. Extensive activities will be available, like hiking, biking and horseback riding, and the swimmable beach allows for snorkeling, diving, wind- surfing, kite boarding, sport fishing and more. An 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course and the 250-slip Costa Palmas Marina and Beach & Yacht Club give residents even more adventurous ways to spend the day outdoors.

 

 

FINDING GREEN PEACE IN LOS CABOS: TWIN DOLPHIN

One of the first luxury hotels to grace the shores of Los Cabos was Hotel Twin Dolphin that opened its doors to visitors in the late 70’s. Today, an opulent community is taking root on the same land where the hotel once stood and is again offering an ultra- luxurious resort and residential destination for those seeking a dose of the Cabo way of life.

Developed by Ohana Real Estate Investors, the 1,400- acre master-planned community will include Montage Los Cabos Resort and Montage Residences Los Cabos along with the currently operating Maravilla Los Cabos, a private residential community. Spanning both sides of the Transpeninsular Highway, Twin Dolphin encompasses two of only a few year-round swimmable beaches in Los Cabos. In fact, Santa Maria Bay Beach was awarded the international Blue Flag Certification designation for meeting strict water quality criteria along with environmental management and education, and safety and services.

In keeping with the high-quality level of the surrounding environment, the community features a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis desalination plant and a building design that conserves energy along with native landscaping, including saving and replanting more than 40,000 plants. Plans also include an eco-friendly 18-hole Fred Couples Signature Golf Course that will feature views of the Sea of Cortez.

Montage Los Cabos

Set to open in early 2018, the Montage Los Cabos resort will debut 122 guest rooms at the brand’s first international location. Dining options will include a poolside bar and grill, a casual café and a restaurant. Guests can relax at one of two pools, including a 20,000-sq.-ft. oasis, or along the swimmable beach, or keep busy at the fitness center, tennis courts, full-service Spa Montage, and Paintbox, Montage’s signature children’s program.

Montage Residences Los Cabos

Montage Residences Los Cabos will feature 52 turnkey, whole-ownership residences throughout eight different buildings. Buyers can choose between two- and three-bedroom options where residents can enjoy an open floor plan with gourmet kitchen, en-suite bathrooms, lock-off bedrooms for each residence and a private garage. Soak up the best of the breezy outdoors with indoor-outdoor living complete with terraces, fire pits and private plunge pools in ground-floor residences. Besides easy access to the beach, Montage residents can take advantage of a private residential pool, active amenities and full access to Montage Los Cabos’ resort amenities. Owners also have access to dedicated property management and concierge services, and can participate in the optional rental and owner benefits programs.

Montage Los Cabos and Montage Residences Los Cabos are set to open in early 2018.

Maravilla Los Cabos

Situated on 260 oceanfront acres, Maravilla Los Cabos stretches from Las Viudas Beach to Santa Maria Bay and has something for everyone. From villas and townhomes to custom homes and homesites, the gated community is decked out in a contemporary coastal style and is highlighted by the 60,000-sq.-ft. Club at Maravilla, where refreshing features like a three-level infinity-edged pool with slide, lap pool, hot and cold plunge pools and Jacuzzi await. Afterwards, nosh on good eats at one of two restaurants, kick back at the bar, sprawl out in a cabana, cruise the many miles of desert trails with one of the bicycles from the on-site bike shop or tee up at the soon-to-debut 18-hole Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.

Other amenities include a full-service spa, a fitness center, an outdoor fitness palapa, bluff-top sand dining, the Mercado café and juice bar, an 18-hole putting course, a two-story climbing wall, lawn sports courts,
sand volleyball courts, water activities, an outdoor amphitheater and an indoor theater. Kids can keep busy at the activity center that features an indoor-outdoor games area or at the community park complete with a kid’s playground, a splash pad, a basketball court and a sports field.

Take Your Pick at Maravilla

Las Playas: Centrally located villas flushed with natural light and designed to maximize ocean views with open floor plans, breezeways and vanishing walls. Available furnished or unfurnished.

Las Colinas: Overlooking the 18-hole putting green, these villas hover above the waves and feature sea views, indoor-outdoor floor plans, wraparound terraces and contemporary finishes.

Las Vistas: Traditional Mexican indoor-outdoor living is found in these two-story townhomes with a large open- air courtyard, breezeways and contemporary design.

Custom Homesites: Approximately half-acre sites are available for those who wish to build their dream home.

 

As featured in InMexico magazine 2017.