Spring 2007 | Spa Adventures: Los Cabos

LOS CABOS

Pristine desert meets turquoise sea at the southernmost tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The area boasts picturesque San José del Cabo, a shopping and business district that retains its Old Mexico charm, as well as raucous sister Cabo San Lucas, which offers most of the nightlife in the area. A 20-mile corridor of white-sand beaches and upscale resorts connects the towns.

THE ADVENTURE Feel the warm breeze on your face as you explore miles of desert in your choice of wheels: cute Mini Cooper S Convertibles, available in crayon colors ($200 per day), sporty two-seater Porsche Boxsters ($290 per day), or BMW Rockster motorcycles ($185 per day, $25 for a second rider--complete with leather riding suits and helmets). All can be booked through Las Ventanas (below).

THE SPALas Ventanas al Paraiso (888-ROSEWOOD, rooms from $450)--an ultra-exclusive discreet retreat and celebrity haven--hugs the beach. Within its walls, cactus-lined pathways wind past its whitewashed villas, open-air restaurant, tequila and seviche bar, and infinity pool. A tequila setup graces every room, telescopes are offered for stargazing or whale watching, and pool butlers clean sunglasses and proffer cooling Evian misters. Enjoy your spa treatment in a private cabana surrounded by fountains, blooming cacti, flowering plants and herbs in terra-cotta pots, and distinctive ironwork gates.

THE TREATMENT Pamper yourself in preparation for south-of-the-border sunshine with the "Welcome to the Sun" experience. Your therapist applies a sweet, velvety fruit gel to every inch of your body, followed by a seaweed cream and rich aromatic lotions that leave you feeling nourished and new (110 minutes for $250).

GET YOUR GAY ON Most of the partying takes place in mixed bars, such as Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo (011-52-624-143-1188). The only specifically gay venue is Marina Cabo Plaza's Rainbow Bar (011-52-624-143-1455), a dance club that gets going late and claims to have Mexico's hottest bartenders.