Las Ventanas al Paraiso

When Las Ventanas al Paraiso opened it doors to guests in the late 1990s, it joined the elite group of opulent hotels stretching across the tip of the Baja Peninsula. This deluxe inn is housed in a simple beige, flat-roofed building, which blends tastefully with the desert landscape, the starkness of which is relieved by majestic towering palm trees and a garden of cactus. A palapa-style thatched roof protects the lobby, which otherwise is open to the fresh sea breezes. The grounds are fabulous and highlighted by a stunning, lakelike swimming pool dropping gently from one terrace to the next in a series of waterfalls. At the bottom level there is an open-air grill by the swimming pool for casual dining. For dining in style, there is an elegant, formal dining room nearby. From the swimming pools and restaurants there is a splendid view of the deep-blue sea as the waves roll in to the creamy-sand beach. The richly appointed, lavishly decorated guestrooms, with their softly curved adobe walls, are a sensual delight. The suites overlooking the sea are spectacular, with marble bathrooms, the finest linens, sumptuous furniture, handsome fabrics, a fireplace tucked in the corner, a telescope for watching the whales go by, a little plunge pool, and a balcony that is so spacious and tastefully appointed that it seems like an outdoor living room.