Travel Here Now: All-Inclusive Fun In Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos, Mexico was hit pretty hard during category 3 Hurricane Odile on September 15, 2014. It packed winds up to 125 mph and caused damage to houses and hotels in the area, some of which have yet to reopen. But Cabo is back in business and ready to wow visitors with culinary delights, breathtaking scenery, and tranquil beaches.

Using the Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa as my home base in Los Cabos, I began a journey of exploration into the wonders of nature and gourmet Mexican cuisine.

Every tourist needs to visit El Arco (The Arch), the rock formation that dominates the landscape from the ocean at the tip of the Baja Peninsula. Most people know this landmark by the name Land's End. Story has it that if you draw a line from there as the crow flies, you won't touch land again until you hit the South Pole. Keep an eye out for Pancho, the fish-stealing sea lion who piggybacks on the fishing boats to wait for an opportunity to make off with your catch. He recently achieved international fame with this video.

There are all kinds of tour operators who will take you to catch a peek of the whales that surface just past Land's End and Lover's Beach. My favorite tour was with Cabo Adventures, where my guide took an ethical approach to following the whales. He made sure to stay close enough for me to get some fantastic shots of the whales breaching, but not too close that they felt threatened. We also learned why the whales were "showing off" — and it wasn't for us! The males, my guide explained, were trying to impress the nearby female and by performing a West Side Story-style rumble. Their magnificent breaching — during which they come completely out of the water —is intended to lay claim to the female with a show of force. I don't know if she found him attractive, but I was certainly enamored!

Downtown Cabo's live jazz clubs and martini bars give it an upscale vibe; however, it's also well known for  infamous party bars like El Squid Roe and Cabo Wabo. The mostly pedestrian marina area heats up at night with folks of all ages looking to throw back some shots of tequila and experience spring break any time of year.

Chic boutiques are represented in downtown Cabo at the Luxury Avenue building. Here you will find international shopping at Fendi, Cartier, Ferragamo, and Malìparmi. For a local flair, try Mi Mexico, which sells handcrafted jewelry and distinctive art and pottery.

Dining in Los Cabos' Golden Zone provides selections for every type of diner. Staying at Hacienda Encantada, with its all-inclusive option, offered me the choice to dine out at one of five great restaurants associated with the hotel meal plan. Time to pick between sashimi at Imomo Sushi House, pasta at Presto, seafood at Baja Lobster Co., Mexican appetizers at La Cantina, and a rib-eye steak at Jack's Bar & Grill.

Located in the heart of the prime beachfront real estate, La Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa surprised me at every turn. Each hacienda is meticulously decorated with style and taste. I also loved the fact that they offer unique experiences for guests that aren't listed on the website.

La Hacienda Encantada invites its guests to a typical Mexican fiesta, but sampling homemade flavored tequilas was an unforeseen pleasure. Off to the side of the party was a fire pit where parents and kids roasted marshmallows on sticks the old-fashioned way. Then, a startling boom, followed by a flash, lit up the night sky with a lovely fireworks display to end the evening with a bang

Another experience I enjoyed was the cooking class. I finally learned how to make my own crispy tortilla chips, zesty pico de gallo, and tasty guacamole. I also learned how to present a simple salad to make it look oh-so time-consuming and special. Shh, don't tell my next dinner guests that the fancy cucumber wrap took two seconds to fashion.

It's the little details that I can't stop thinking about. Things like the backlit menus at Los Riscos restaurant. For once I did not have to dig through my purse for a pair of reading glasses — why doesn't every restaurant do this? How about a chef showing up at my unit after check-in to make guacamole to go along with fresh chips and a cold brew? Now that's an amenity I was not expecting.

Another thoughtful detail that made me smile was the kiddie pool area's miniature loungers and umbrellas, perfect for the little tykes. It made me miss having babies, but it also made me appreciate that the noise was contained away from adult areas. But the coolest surprise was after my extraordinary last dinner. The waiter brought out a sky lantern for me to write my hopes and dreams on before lighting it and sending it off into the night. The lanterns are 100 percent biodegradable and a personal priceless treat!

I know that the goal of most all-inclusive resorts is to keep you corralled within the confines of the property, blissfully charging add-ons to to offset the "freebies," but Hacienda Encantada made me feel just the opposite. A family-run business, they proved that their number one goal is true Mexican hospitality: guests are encouraged to experience luxury in the tranquil setting, but also take advantage of the vibrant city. They even provide a free shuttle to and from Los Cabos: a nice touch.

There are five restaurants on the property at Hacienda Encantada, so you can choose from everything between authentic Mexican cuisine on an outdoor terrace under the stars and a sunny swim-up pool bar with sushi. My stay included food and adult beverages, but, if you want to cook in your unit, the resort also boasts a convenience store stocked with all the necessary accoutrements.

One morning, I dragged myself out of the comfy bed to photograph the sunrise. It was as glorious a sunrise as I have ever seen. I would have been suspicious that the owners ordered it especially for me as a bribe to write a favorable review, but several other guests joined me by the infinity pool. We all snapped away and sipped our coffee until the show was over, sharing how lucky we felt to be at an all-inclusive resort that delivered on its promises — and then some.

For more information, click on this link: Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa