Los Cabos Travel Guide: 20 Things to Do in This Luxury-Focused Resort Town

There's a reason Los Cabos, on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, has become a celebrity magnet for the likes of Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Oprah and the Bieb. Its proximity to Los Angeles for one, at only a 2-hour plane ride away. But add in internationally renowned restaurants featuring everything from farm to table fare at Tamarindos to the kind of elevated cuisine at Gastro Bar you'd find in New York or Paris, gorgeous beaches and a chill-but-sophisticated vibe, and you have the makings for not just a movie star paradise, but anyone's vacation dreams.

Where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean on the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is lined with gated resorts, each more beautiful than the next. But there is something special about JW Marriott Los Cabos which manages to balance intimacy and glamor with its iconic design by Jim Olson from Olson Kundig in collaboration with Mexico City-based design firm IDEA Asociados. Built to blur the line between inside and out especially in its striking open-air lobby and six swimming pools, and to embrace the local land, sky and incredible desert foliage of Los Cabos, the resort debuted in 2015 but feels timeless. The design of the 229 guest rooms and suites blends seamlessly with the landscape and features remarkable sight lines that often end in a striking piece of contemporary art. The international art collection incorporated into the design is a marvel of its own with painting and sculpture from artists in Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and Cuba mixed in with work by local artisans in the guest rooms. Rooms are spacious and contemporary in feel and integrate works by Mexican artisans. There is a beautiful spa on site that offers an ancient temazcal sweat-lodge experience as well as award-winning Chef Thierry Blouet's renowned Café des Artistes though for my money, the incredible breakfast buffet featuring both Mexican treats (like fresh guacamole and made-to-order quesadillas with an array of local fillings) and European pastries was worth the stay alone.

A striking feature of the JW Marriott Los Cabos is its striking architecture combined with incredible contemporary artwork. The international art collection incorporated into the design is a marvel of its own with painting and sculpture from artists in Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and Cuba mixed in with work by local artisans in the guest rooms. Shown here, Spanish artist Jaume Plensa's "Soul XII," which beckons guests with its dramatic, sea-facing placement.

A jewel box located within the Paradisus resort, Gastro Bar is definitely worth a trip whether you are staying at the resort or simply looking for an unforgettable dining experience. The (recommended) tasting menu melds European haute cuisine with the flavors of Mexico. The restaurant embraces its surroundings and offers an incredible array of wonderful Mexican wines that you aren't likely to find outside of Mexico including a delicious chardonnay and shiraz along with French and Italian picks. Settle in for a long, enjoyable evening of surprises, because the skilled chefs and wait staff take their time, allowing guests to indulge in that rarest of things in the modern world: a slow, contemplative, thrilling appreciation of ingredients, technique and presentation. The menu features a surprising array of tastes and textures, including an egg with a liquid herb salad that is a characteristically surprising combination of savory, herbacious flavor and silky texture. Nothing is expected, from the lobster ravioli with coffee foam to the jalapeno foam, black garlic ice cream, cucumber mayonnaise and cod fritter that our waiter offers careful instructions on how to taste and experience. What might feel stuffy in another high-end restaurant feels like an communal adventure at Gastro Bar, informed by the gentle guidance offered by the enthusiastic, attentive sommelier and wait staff. In other words, don't miss it.