Heading north on the stretch of desert highway from the Los Cabos airport toward the magical artist enclave of Todos Santos, time pauses as your eyes linger on the endless expanse of sand on one side and a gleaming ocean on the other. While wedged between the Pacific and the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, the faint hum of Hotel California may ring in your ears. After all, that infamous song kind of put Todos Santos on the map for a generation of listeners. It’s just a song – so you tell yourself. Then you suddenly turn left onto a bumpy dirt road. Now your mind wanders. ” Where are they taking me?”, you ask yourself. Slowly, you drive past acres of verdant farms and orchards. Your driver stops at a nondescript adobe wall with an oversized wooden door. You have arrived.
As you pass through the imposing wooden door, you are greeted with chants of “Welcome home.” As if in Garden of Babylon, you are immersed in Baja’s rich greenery in a succulent trellis of native trees and cacti, embellished by colorful ofrendas. Circular banquettes and plush lounge chairs blend seamlessly into the landscape. It’s not your typical hotel reception area, Kimpton Mas Olas is anything but typical.
As you exit the vine-draped arched passage and onto the golf cart to your suite or villa, you realize the farm is bigger than you imagined, nine inter-connected gardens to be exact, as you whisk along paved pathways of 27 adobe buildings. Some two or three-stories have rooftop decks, and some oceanfront villas are carefully built into the dunes and hidden by flowers and tall plants. As you enter your chosen room, you are rapidly left to take it all in – the beauty, serenity, and masterful design by architect Alejandra Templeton of the firm Indigo Añil. While the overall aesthetic is clean and contemporary, the craftsmanship is impeccably rooted in native arts. Ceramic, pottery, and textiles are imported from diverse regions of Mexico, highlighting intimacy with nature, yet never overwhelming the scenery. Pops of teal or copper punctuate neutral hues, while the recessed living area and oversized verandas blur the lines between indoors and out, allowing the ocean and desert to illuminate your space. You may then notice the absence of a television or electric coffee or beverage machine. A finely crafted kettle and French press replace the fancy beverage machines, while your imagination replaces the need for Netflix. There are plenty of outlets, so go ahead and plug in, if you must.
Nights at Mas Olas are lit by the light of the moon and the twinkling lights of their beachfront restaurant Kahal. Conceived, designed, and constructed as a sustainable and eco-conscious endeavor, which includes dark sky lighting, an on-site water recycling and desalination plant, zero use of plastics, and a composting program. Wellness and a connection to nature and the people around us are at the heart and soul of the Mas Olas experience. And that begins with a decadent farm-to-table culinary program.
An immersive epicurean destination with an array of dining options driven by on-site and locally grown ingredients masterfully crafted into works of culinary art by Chef Sando Falbo. Globally renowned with Michelin experience and training, Chef Falbo creates menus, rituals, and experiences that invite guests to connect via the shared pleasure of food.
Coalesced with the abundance of the property’s gardens, diners sojourn on an explosion of local and international flavors that include traditional, such as Chef Falbo’s family pasta recipes, to experiential global fusion. Chef Falbo’s extraordinary Eleven-Eleven tasting dinner at Kahal, or barbacoa slow-cooked in a traditional pibil pit are not to be missed.
“Food plays such an important role when creating community and we want our guests to feel like part of our community. To see the local farmers and fisherman keeping their traditions and self-sustaining communities alive is incredibly humbling and something we want guests of Mas Olas to feel like they’re a part of. I have worked in some of the world’s best kitchens, yet, nothing compares to the feeling of gathering ingredients with my own hands and building relationships that ensure quality and a strong connection between our guests and the source of their food. “ Chef Sandro Falbo
A stroll through the gardens will land you at Botanica Spa. The 25,000-square-foot sanctuary redefines wellness with an ethnobotanical philosophy that honors the intelligence of nature. Fully integrated with nature, the spa’s layout is that of a temple with a mythical cenote at its center. Illuminated by natural light to focus on its architectural structure and setting among the wild desert plants and flowers that source its treatment oils, Botanica Spa is drenched in sun-washed light and abundance from the earth. The sprawling relaxation pavilion, surrounded by lush greens and the hum of nature, is the focal point of this lush garden spa where the journey to wellness is more than just a luxurious escape—it’s a profound re-connection with the earth.
Botánica Spa’s wellness and fitness amenities include an apothecary rooted in the wisdom of native plants, 12 outdoor spa treatment nests, two yoga shalas, a hydrotherapy circuit with an ice fountain, an experience shower, a steam room, and a Himalayan salt sauna. An Olympic-sized lap pool, indoor/outdoor gym with TRX, ropes, sleds, reformer Pilates, and free weights. Guests may participate in several apothecary workshops using ingredients picked straight from the garden to create candles, soaps, and lotions.
When you consider a stay at Kimpton Mas Olas, remember this: You can check out any time you like – but you may not want to leave.
Learn more about Kimpton Mas Olas here.