Lunch with a friend recently revealed that he had never been outside the United States and had little desire to travel. “How different people are,” I thought, as I love to travel and have always made an effort to find my way to an airport. Indeed, travel is not always easy—checking in, missed flights, security checks, luggage, seating arrangements, snacks at a cost—it takes effort. But the landing and the arrival are, more often than not, worth it.

An email arrived announcing a press junket to Cabo. A term not heard much anymore, “press junket” once referred to an opportunity for journalists to interview celebrities for an upcoming film. It could also mean an invitation to visit a particular hotel, property, or event. For the record, I have been on many junkets, most notably to Egypt and the Maldives. This particular press trip was to a resort located at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula—Cabo San Lucas. From Los Angeles, it is a flight of less than three hours.

Cabo is known for a few things: a vibrant nightlife, the Arch of Cabo San Lucas (the iconic arch-shaped rock formation at Land’s End), and as a port of call for large cruise ships. It is a tourist destination, as are Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Tulum, and, more recently, Holbox to the north.

From the Cabo airport, shuttles run frequently, and it is less than a half-hour drive to the heart of Cabo. The veil lifts as Highway 1 comes into view—here, the Gulf of California meets the Pacific. Connecting San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is the Tourist Corridor, a 33-kilometer (20-mile) four-lane highway surrounded by stunning views of both desert and the coastline of the Sea of Cortez. Along this corridor, we find Mar del Cabo by Velas Resorts, one of three Velas properties situated next to one another. To the right is the Grand Velas Hotel, a luxury all-inclusive resort. A short walk to the left is the Grand Velas Boutique Hotel in Los Cabos.

Our stay is at Mar del Cabo, a boutique hotel catering to adults, with a pet-friendly policy. All three resorts were designed by Ricardo Elias, principal of Elias and Elias Architects in Guadalajara. The three hotels could not be more different—Mar del Cabo exudes old-world charm with lush entryways and a sloping sidewalk to the sea. The Grand Velas Los Cabos is dramatic, stylized, and cinematic in its entrance. 

For this junket, we are joined by fellow travel writers—a good group: diverse, informative, and friendly. Mar del Cabo feels intimate and organic to the region. The hotel is a stylish adaptation of a classic boutique property, designed to captivate and comfort with unassuming, pleasing minimalism. It features 46 one- and two-bedroom suites, two penthouses with either king or two queen-size beds, kitchenettes with coffee makers and microwaves, terraces with sitting areas, separate living areas with sofas, bathroom-width step-in rain showers, and daily turndown service. The restaurant, Encanto Farm & Sea, showcases the local, fresh flavors of Baja California in a chic seaside ambiance less than 50 yards from the ocean. Two bars, spa services, a sleek and sensual oceanfront pool, and outdoor spaces for private events complete the experience at Mar del Cabo.

On our first day, we headed to Todos Santos with our loquacious driver, Marcello, a 47-minute drive north on Highway 19. Marcello told us about the Hotel California—the hotel behind the famous Eagles’ song—and alluded to “colitas,” the flowering buds of the cannabis plant, as evidence of the song’s supposed Mexican connection.

All of which is conjecture—there is no proof the Eagles ever stayed at this particular hotel, but it makes for a fun story. Todos Santos is a magical, mysterious place. There is a large bazaar owned by designer Rouss Ramírez, where you can discover objects she has collected during her travels through Mexico and around the world.

From there, we headed south toward Cabo and stopped at Magical Todos Santos & Camel Ranch. Here, we were treated to a scene straight out of Lawrence of Arabia—groups of people riding dromedaries while wearing shemaghs (headscarves). We learned that a single-humped camel is called a dromedary, while a two-humped camel is a Bactrian.

Lunch was enjoyed outdoors as whales played in the Pacific in the distance. Later that night, the entire press group dined at Encanto. It was Valentine’s Day, and the atmosphere was festive. Near the sea, with a small stage, a performer sang love songs in English. It was our last night—the days had flown by. Tomorrow, we would take the short flight back to Los Angeles.

I thought of my friend and what he misses by not venturing beyond. I have been visiting Baja since I was a child. As a young teen, I went to bullfights and dog races in Tijuana. I slept on the beaches below Rosarito, got astonishingly drunk at Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada, ate lobster in Puerto Nuevo, and only recently, briefly, came to Cabo on a “tender boat” from a cruise ship and swam in the moody waters. For Californians, Mexico—and Baja in particular—holds a certain allure: proximity, cost, food, people, weather, and a coastline that rivals Italy. It is part desert, mountainous, and almost always close to the ocean—a striking combination of cactus and palm trees that invites travelers to experience Baja California in all its beauty.