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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Puerto Peñasco hotels: Best condos and resorts at 'Arizona's beach'
Visiting "Arizona's beach" might mean lying on the sand, sipping cocktails and relaxing at a beachfront hotel or condo resort. Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, also known as Rocky Point, is the closest beach to Arizona. It's about 213 miles from metro Phoenix, a shorter distance than San Diego or Los Angeles. Hotels and condominium resorts are plentiful in Puerto Peñasco's tourist areas such as Sandy Beach, Playa Bonita and Playa Hermosa. Many of them are along the waterfront and offer views of the Sea of Cortez. Most lodging options in Puerto Peñasco are not standard hotels, but condo resorts, which have privately owned units with varying accommodations and decor. The house rules, fine print for booking and amenities vary by the resort. Here are some of the best hotels in Puerto Peñasco. Playa Bonita Resort This family-friendly hotel on Playa Bonita Beach has a wide range of rooms, from junior suites with a single bed to one- and two-bedroom family suites that can accommodate eight people. Some rooms offer views of the Sea of Cortez. Playa Bonita Resort has the Puesta del Sol restaurant, which serves local, regional and international cuisine; direct beach access; swimming pools overlooking the sea; a spa; a coffee bar in the lobby; and outdoor grills. Electric vehicle chargers are available in the parking lot. Details: Paseo Balboa 100, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 602-350-6638, Peñasco del Sol This hotel near Playa Hermosa and Playa Bonita has 208 rooms and suites, a casino, a restaurant called Fire Pit Meat & Grill, and the adults-only Azul Pool Bar. Rates start at $162 per night for a deluxe room with one king bed or queen beds. Details: Paseo Las Glorias No. 1, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 888-683-0067, Playa Inn A short drive north of Mirador Beach, the Playa Inn is a beach-inspired hotel designed for travelers looking for value. There are no restaurants or swim-up bars but there's a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Rooms range from standard one-king rooms to mini-suites with one king or two queen beds. Rates start around $85 per night. Details: Avenida Sinaloa 062 Benito Juarez, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 480-796-9466, The Cove at Whale Hill Like the Playa Inn, this hotel is also close to Mirador Beach and it's for adults only. The Cove has a restaurant and bar, massage services; and partnerships with local vendors offering activities such as whale watching tours and El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve tours. One- and two-bedroom villas are available starting at $99 per night. Rooms at The Cove do not have televisions so guests can "disconnect from devices." TVs are available in communal areas for sports and special events. Details: Calle Plan de Ayutla #92, Benito Juárez, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 480-306-9547, Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort This condominium resort on Sandy Beach includes accommodations across five buildings, plus a 72-par, 18-hole golf course and the fine dining restaurants La Maria Bistro and Citron. The pool area features a swim-up bar, lazy river and water slide. There's meeting and convention space for events such as weddings. Room service is available. Stays at Las Palomas, described on its website as "the jewel of Sandy Beach," start around $239 per night. Details: Blvd. Dr. Ernesto Guevara del Campo 600, Bella Vista, Ferrocarril Playas, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 888-642-3495, Encántame Towers Encántame Resorts is a condominium resort near Playa Encanto that's a favorite among Arizonans seeking a beach getaway. The property includes the condominium complexes Encántame Towers and Encántame Soleil, plus a subdivision of custom-built houses called Encántame Estates. Amenities include clubhouses, pools, hot tubs and restaurants such as Santo Coyote and Wingman. The resort recently opened a racquet club with 12 pickleball courts, two tennis courts, a basketball court and event space. Stays start at $139 per night for a one-bedroom condo. Details: 83550 Playa Encanto, Sonora. 800-292-9446, Grand Mayan and Mayan Palace at Vidanta Just east of Playa Miramar, Vidanta Puerto Peñasco is a beachfront resort that includes two hotels − the Grand Mayan and the Mayan Palace − and golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. Tripadvisor users rated the Grand Mayan at Vidanta as the No. 1 hotel in Puerto Peñasco. But it can be challenging − and expensive − to stay at Vidanta, a members-only resort. Most stays require a membership in Vida Vacations, a timeshare company. Nonmembers can stay if rooms are available, but they must book by calling 800-292-9446 no earlier than 20 days before their stay. Rates start at $980 per night at Mayan Palace and $1,260 per night at Grand Mayan. Details: Carretera Peñasco Km. 24, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 800-292-9446, Playa Azul Resort Like Encantame Towers, Playa Azul Resort is on Playa Encanto. The resort offers condos as small as studios and as large as six-bedroom units. Amenities include a pool area with triple-sectioned water slides, a swim-up bar and hot tub, a game room with pool and air hockey tables, and dining options including the Azul Restaurant, a sports bar and a coffee shop. Rates start at $90 for studios. Details: Paseo de la Rivera Playa, Norte Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 800-738-7143, Sonoran Resorts Sonoran Resorts operates four beachfront condominium resorts in Puerto Peñasco: Sonoran Sky, Sonoran Sun, Sonoran Sea and Sonoran Spa. A fifth resort, Sonoran Star, is in development. Collectively, the resorts' amenities include restaurants, pools and fitness centers. True to its name, Sonoran Spa includes a spa and Sonoran Sun's units have direct beach access. Details: 602-476-7511, Get weekend plans. Sign up for our Things to Do newsletter. Laguna Shores Resort This 744-acre resort about 13 miles north of the Puerto Peñasco city center advertises views of the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Laguna Shores boasts 60 miles of "peaceful, unpopulated beaches ... surrounded by natural estuaries, birdlife and sea life." Villas, condos and beachfront houses are available; rates start around $80 per night. Amenities include an beachfront pool with a bar; the Infusión del Golfo restaurant, which specializes in local and international cuisine; a spa; and activities including kayaking, paddleboarding, biking, volleyball and pickleball. Details: Carretera Puerto Peñasco al Golfo de Santa Clara Km 4, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 800-513-1426, Bella Sirena Resort Located on Sandy Beach, Bella Sirena Resort has a mix of condos, villas and beach homes with one to three bedrooms. Its design takes influence from the Old World architecture of Mexican and Tuscan villas. Guests can enjoy a soak in the resort's Grand Central Pool, where the restaurant and bar serves food and cocktails poolside. There's also a spa, fitness center and outdoor activities. Rates start around $110 per night. Details: Blvd. Paseo de la Duna #6B-7, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 480-993-0333, Las Palmas Beach Resort Not to be confused with Las Palomas, this resort with four condominium towers and 20 villas in Sandy Beach boasts comfort and convenience and rooms with views of the beach. The resort lists a wide range of amenities including a clubhouse pool with water slides and a swim-up bar, hot tubs, restaurants, kayak rentals, charcoal grilling areas, spas and poolside or beachfront massages. A minimum stay of two nights is required; two-night stays start around $445, inclusive of taxes and fees. Details: Avenida Las Palmas, Colonia Costa Diamante, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. 800-671-2799, Is it safe to visit Mexico? What a new State Department advisory says Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Puerto Penasco hotels: Best places to stay in Rocky Point Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Relish The Heritage Culinary Festival Celebrates A Decade In Los Cabos
Baja California Sur continues developing into an innovative and exciting culinary destination, as demonstrated by the many gastronomic festivals that are held around the area throughout the year. One of the longest running is the annual Relish the Heritage festival, which will celebrate a decade of deliciousness in 2026. Nestled between the desert, the Sea of Cortez, and the Pacific Ocean, the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa is home to the event, founded by the property's owner in collaboration with chef Thierry Blouet, owner of Café des Artistes Los Cabos. The festival showcases Mexican gastronomy, mixology, wine, and music, honoring a different culinary region of Mexico each year and fusing it with the coastal essence of its home in Baja California Sur. In 2025, the ninth festival edition celebrated the cosmopolitan spirit of Mexico City with an exceptional lineup of chefs joining the resort's host chefs, Pablo Hildebrando and Mario Rodríguez. In 2024 Michoacán was in the spotlight, while 2023 highlighted Puebla. Earlier editions have celebrated the culinary richness of Oaxaca, Yucatán, Jalisco and Veracruz, consolidating the festival as a showcase of the diversity and sophistication of contemporary Mexican cuisine. 'Relish the Heritage is an exclusive gastronomic festival,' says Hildebrando, executive chef of JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa. 'Its purpose is to celebrate the richness of Mexican gastronomy and viticulture in one of the most spectacular natural settings in Baja California Sur. Hildebrando adds that what sets Relish the Heritage apart from other food festivals organized by hotels is its intimate and exclusive nature. "It is not open to the public, and access is only possible by invitation or through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. This exclusivity not only guarantees a personalized and high-level experience but also reinforces Marriott Bonvoy's commitment to creating memorable moments for its most distinguished members." The 2025 festival started with an event celebrating Mexico City's famed street flavors, with various booths serving traditional dishes like tacos al pastor and featuring mixology by Rayo Cocktail Bar, No.5 in North America's 50 Best Bars 2024. The following evening, a special dinner at MarHumo, the resort's newly opened restaurant by Baja California's award-winning chef Javier Plascencia, honored the restaurant's name with flavors from the sea, cooked with fire and smoke, and served family-style. On Saturday afternoon, guests traveled to a nearby organic garden where chef Blouet and his daughter, chef Vanessa Blouet, harvested fresh ingredients to prepare a stunning al fresco gourmet lunch. Later in the evening, a Mexican wine tasting featured Cuban music and wines from RGMX in Coahuila and Adobe Guadalupe in the renowned Valle de Guadalupe, accompanied by tapas from Café des Artistes Los Cabos and Mexico City's award-winning Cana restaurant. To close the festival, guests were treated to an exceptional wine pairing dinner at Café des Artistes, in which chef Blouet and his team cooked alongside guest chefs, including three talented women: Fabiola Escobosa of Cana, known for a cuisine that combines freshness and urban flair; Fernanda Prado, a standout pastry chef who blends traditions with innovation; and Vanessa Blouet, who offers a modern, creative approach through her French and Mexican heritage. 'Looking ahead to the future, and especially to the celebration of its tenth anniversary, the festival is preparing for significant evolution,' says Hildebrando. "The goal is to renew its proposal with a more innovative and a multi-sensory approach, integrating new regions, emerging talents, and immersive experiences that continue to position Relish the Heritage as a benchmark of excellence in hospitality and gastronomy in Mexico.'
Travel Weekly
08-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Marriott debuts its first all-inclusive resort in Los Cabos
Marriott has launched its first all-inclusive resort in Los Cabos with the reimagined Hacienda Del Mar Los Cabos, now operating under the Autograph Collection brand. Set along the Sea of Cortez, the resort blends a historical architecture aesthetic and lush gardens with a fully upgraded all-inclusive format. The resort has 270 rooms and suites as well as eight restaurants and bars. Options include Mexican fine dining at Pitahayas, a beachfront cevicheria, Italian cuisine and a wine cellar experience. Additional amenities include five pools, a dedicated kids' club, an adults-only area and the Cactus Spa. Daily programming includes yoga, cooking classes, Frida Kahlo-themed art sessions and live music. The property also has more than 31,000 feet of event space across eight venues.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Loreto, Mexico's Mailena Set To Redefine Baja Wellness Scene In 2026
In an ambitious move set to elevate Baja California's already-impressive luxury hospitality scene, the master-planned resort community of Danzante Bay has announced its latest development: Mailena, Loreto's first luxury wellness resort, an adults-only property scheduled to open in late summer 2026. Rendering of a yoga suite at Loreto's forthcoming Mailena Luxury Wellness Resort. Mailena Situated along the typically calm shores of the Sea of Cortez with the rocky Sierra de la Giganta mountains in view, Mailena promises more than just indulgent beachfront relaxation. The property will introduce a new level of integrative wellbeing with an emphasis on longevity, in the context of design with an eye toward immersive experiences. The team behind Danzante Bay, including developer Luz Maria Torres, Mailena is positioned as the resort's next evolutionary leap. Torres describes the vision as 'a holistic sanctuary where guests can prioritize their wellbeing while connecting with the area's magical qualities.' In fact, Loreto is government-designated Pueblo Mágico, which denote s a Mexican towns rich in cultural heritage and charm, with an international airport. Views of the rugged Sierra de la Giganta mountains from Loreto's Mailena Luxury Wellness Resort. Mailena With just 96 guestrooms, the boutique resort is deliberately intimate, comprising a mix of suites, casitas and one-bedroom penthouses, each designed to privilege a connection with nature. All rooms offer proximity to the ocean and panoramic views that emphasize the region's grandiose beauty. Mailena's architectural story starts with Mexico-based firm Broissin, known for its contextual and sustainable design ethos, drew inspiration from the surrounding desert-sea landscape. The resort's three-zone layout is defined by bold focal points: a living olive tree in the lobby representing resilience, a cenote-inspired wellness hub for introspection, and a signature restaurant that blends indoor and outdoor dining with a seamless pool-to-sea transition. Broissin partner and architect David Suárez says, 'Mailena is a tribute to Loreto's mystical energy and topography, designed to deliver a deeply sensory and soulful guest experience.' The Future of Travel: Science-Backed Serenity At the heart of the property will be the Wellness and Longevity Center , a destination unto itself. Guests will have access to personalized, science-based wellness programs, sensory deprivation tanks, hydrothermal experiences including snow rooms and saunas, and advanced biohacking suites. From contrast therapy to shiatsu massages in water, the resort promises a 360-degree reset for mind and body. The architecturally dramatic Wellness Spa at Mailena. Mailena Complementing the wellness programming is a culinary focus on vitality. The property will offer holistic dining grounded in local ingredients, functional nutrition, and Mediterranean inspiration. Several dining concepts — each designed to nourish rather than restrict — will cater to travelers seeking both indulgence and intentional living. A Sense of Place, A Sense of Purpose Mailena's geographical location is as much a draw as its cutting-edge programs. On a protected stretch of shoreline within the Loreto Bay National Marine Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site — the resort serves as a gateway to 'the Aquarium of the World,' referred to as such for its marine biodiversity and pristine waters. Guests can snorkel, paddleboard, hike through canyons, or embark on cultural tours into Loreto's historic heart, a former Jesuit capital dating back to 1697. A Broader Vision for Danzante Bay Mailena isn't emerging in isolation. It joins a growing constellation of upscale offerings at Danzante Bay, including the established Villa del Palmar Resort and Mantarraya , a new collection of 43 luxury residences. Mantarraya homeowners will have exclusive access to Mailena's wellness center and amenities, signaling a new level of integrated resort-residential living. Rendering of guest studios at Mailena Luxury Wellness Resort, coming to Loreto, Mexico in 2026. Mailena Loreto: The Next Baja Star? While names like Cabo and Tulum dominate tourist itineraries in Mexico, Loreto is quietly making its mark. Direct flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tijuana, Phoenix, Dallas and Calgary make it a compelling, under-the-radar destination for North American travelers looking to explore a new place. Mailena is slated to begin accepting reservations in March 2026, with opening projected for late summer. For more information, visit
National Post
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
What it's really like staying at Bravo's famous 'Love Hotel'
Article content When Bravo's Love Hotel contestants arrived at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos in the fall of 2024, they brought cameras, calculated drama and the kind of visibility that can either enhance or overshadow an upscale property. For four weeks, Real Housewives stars Shannon Storms Beador, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby and Luann de Lesseps navigated romantic connections against the backdrop of infinity pools and panoramic Sea of Cortez views. Now, with their televised relationships reaching millions of viewers, the question remains: is Grand Velas Boutique merely a beautiful backdrop, or does this newcomer to Baja's luxury landscape offer substance beyond its moment in the television spotlight? Article content Article content Article content Article content From the moment you arrive, its austere architecture, which complements the stark beauty of Baja California, captures your attention. Designed by Ricardo Elias, sweeping curves and tiered terraces cascade toward the Sea of Cortez, offering ocean views from nearly every angle. It's bold but not overbearing—this is refinement that respects its surroundings. Article content The Baja Peninsula's unique geography—where desert meets ocean—further amplifies a stark visual contrast that inspired Grand Velas Boutique's design ethos. The property deliberately incorporates native desert plantings requiring minimal irrigation, acknowledging water's precious status in this arid environment. 'The property integrates natural and cultural elements into its design and offerings, allowing visitors to experience the region's authenticity,' notes Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. 'This evolution reflects Los Cabos' commitment to high-quality tourism that values excellence and local identity.' Article content Article content Article content Grand Velas Boutique's signature touch is the bougainvillea, which spills from rooftops and terraces in fuchsia blooms. It's a deliberate esthetic choice that adds colour and connects it to the history of Velas Resorts, where these resilient flowers have been cultivated since the Mexican brand's first property opened in Puerto Vallarta. Here, they have taken over the landscape, adding organic beauty to its already impressive surroundings. Article content Accommodations balance comfort and elegance without excess. At over 900 square feet, Ambassador Suites offer private terraces with plunge pools overlooking the Sea of Cortez, where pelicans dive for fish throughout the day. Interiors feature muted colour palettes and comfortable furniture that invites real use, bathrooms with proper lighting and generous counter space, and amenities like Dyson hair tools that blend premium with practicality. Article content
