There’s always room for improvement, even in a natural paradise like Los Cabos.
So as the New Year approaches, we 
thought we’d share some of the things we’re most excited about for 2018, from brand spanking new businesses to our better than ever beaches.
New Restaurants and Spas
Although luxury villa rentals (click here to see some of our current favorites) remain the best accommodation option for upscale travelers to Los Cabos, we do recommend a visit to some of the area’s premier resorts, if only to take advantage of the first-class restaurants and spas.
The list of available dining and reclining (on a massage table, that is) choices grows significantly larger this year as the recent building boom translates into anticipated hotel openings from brands like Nobu, Hard Rock, Le Blanc, Garza Blanca, Solaz, Montage, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Nobu, the hospitality brand birthed from the culinary fusions of celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa, is the most eagerly awaited property among local foodies. That resort and a Hard Rock hotel – think live music and nightlife after dinner at Nobu – are both slated to open this year at Diamante, an upscale coastal development north of Cabo San Lucas.
Mexican brand Garza Blanca, meanwhile, is promising what may be the best new spa, complete with an expansive hydrotherapy lounge featuring a 10-station vitality pool. Custom therapy suites, a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and hot and cold plunge pools headline the soothing facilities at this tourist corridor based resort.
New Golf Courses
Los Cabos is already one of the most remarkable golfing regions on earth, going from zero courses to having three of its 16 layouts ranked in the world’s top 100 in the span of just 30 years. The good news for local and destination golfers is that even more championship-level courses are in the works, and are expected to open in 2018.
Australian links legend Greg Norman, known locally for his collaboration with Jack Nicklaus at Puerto Los Cabos, is currently putting the finishing touches on Rancho San Lucas, a challenging 18-hole layout highlighted by a unique island green that will accompany the new Grand Solmar resort on the Pacific coast north of Cabo San Lucas. Norman’s newest is expected to be open this Spring. Another major champion, Fred Couples, is aiming to have his Twin Dolphin Golf Club open for play by late 2018 in the tourist corridor which connects the cape cities. It’ll be set on the scenic coast overlooking Santa Maria Bay.
Robert Trent Jones II isn’t a major champion, but he does qualify as golf royalty. His father was a noted golf course architect who designed over 500 courses around the world, and his brother Rees is a famed designer in his own right, with a portfolio that includes a recently opened Baja gem, Danzante Bay at the Islands of Loreto. But Robert Trent Jones II doesn’t take a back seat to either family member when it comes to golf course design. He’s been sculpting courses for over 50 years, and will add to his Los Cabos resume (Cabo Real, 1996) with an 18-hole layout to accompany the new Four Seasons Costa Palmas Resort, also set to open in 2018. That’s at La Ribera, on the municipality’s East Cape.
New Blue Flag Beaches
Los Cabos has worked hard over the past few years to bring its already beautiful beaches up to the very high standards for quality, service, safety and sustainability required by the Foundation for Environmental Education’s prestigious Blue Flag Program. This year, four new stretches of gorgeous golden sand (Acapulquito; Las Viudas; Playa Hacienda, a select portion of the larger Medano Beach; and El Corsario, better known to locals as Cannery Beach) earned their coveted blue flag from FEE, joining already certified beaches Chileno, Palmilla and Santa Maria.
That brings the total for Los Cabos to seven, or 20% of the 35 beaches who’ve met the stringent standards across all of Mexico. And that percentage could shoot even higher. Los Cabos officials have petitioned to have 11 more of the municipality’s beaches certified, and are expecting a final verdict in February 2018. Even if only a few of those 11 beaches get their blue flag, Los Cabos would shoot past Cancun as the country’s unquestioned leader in pristine and picturesque playas.
Sounds like 2018 is going to be another banner year!
For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo of Playa Acapulquito courtesy of Cabo Surf Hotel.
Upcoming Event Calendar
December
San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June
Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March
Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28
5k Run/Walk in Todos Santos – Dec. 30
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve with DJ Paul Oakenfold at Blue Marlin Ibiza/ME Cabo Hotel – Dec. 31
Gatsby Theme New Year’s Eve Party at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa – Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve Party with Major Lazer at The Cape: A Thompson Hotel – Dec. 31
January
Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6
International Festival of Yoga in Todos Santos – Jan. 5 – 7
Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21
Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19
Los Cabos Mountain Marathon – Jan. 20
La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21
Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3
February
Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour – Feb. 10 – 11
Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 8 – 13
Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – Feb. 14
Baja Hog Motorcycle Rally – Feb. 21 – 25
Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced
March
Todos Santos Film Festival – March 7 – 11
Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17
El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
East Cape Arts Festival – March 18
Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 14 – 19
Semana Santa – March 25 – 31
Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – March 28 – April 1
Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced
April
Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – Dates Not Yet Announced
NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26
Koral Pets Race – Dates Not Yet Announced
May
482nd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3
Cinco de Mayo – May 5
El Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10
Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20
White Party at Blue Marlin Ibiza – Dates Not Yet Announced
June
Cabo Comedy Festival – Dates Note Yet Announced
Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced
Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Sport Fishing – Dates Not Yet Announced
Grand Velas Los Cabos Grand Chefs Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
Fiesta de la Musica – June 21
Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1
Please let me know what you think about this!