Restorative Travel in Baja Peninsula, Mexico
On day one, I woke up before 6am, threw on a kaftan, and walked on the beach. The sun didn’t seem to rise so much as expand around me, enveloping the sky and the horizon in glorious goldenness. The water was piercing blue and cold, crashing against the rocks with pristine white spray drenching me. Everything by the hotel pool – the tables, deckchairs, umbrellas, and bougainvillaea – looked as if honey had been poured over it, and I could only think of the sweetness of the 10 days ahead.
Magical Moments in Baja
What a treat to wake up to this magic every day, experiencing Christmas and ushering in the New Year on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. The truth is, I didn’t see the sun rise again for the rest of our trip. We slept long and deeply, most nights in bed before 10pm, waking to a bright blue sky, with oversized doors open to the wind and beach – though we were too relaxed to venture out.
Exploration Beyond the Resort
On day three, we finally left the One&Only Palmilla to explore Todos Santos. A week in, we experienced a traditional Temazcal, deeply moving as our guide brought us to tears with her music and prayers while we sweated out toxins in a steam chamber filled with the aromatic scents of eucalyptus, cinnamon, and damiana. We even caught glimpses of migrating whales, a pod of a dozen or so making their journey from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico.
Delights of Baja Cuisine
Beyond that, the specifics of each day began to blur. Our culinary adventure featured a plethora of fish tacos, and soon, the excellent staff recognized my love for chopped habanero chilies to enhance their flavor. Most days, our primary choice was sunbathing on the lively Pelican Beach, in a private cabana, or by the pool. Days and nights melded into a blissful haze, with time fleeting by before we fell blissfully into bed each night, the sky alight with stars.
A New Perspective on Travel
I wished to stay under the cloudless, sun-kissed skies forever. This experience was novel for me. It’s not the sort of trip I typically undertake, and I have always been puzzled by the appeal of simply lounging at a destination. However, after a tumultuous year filled with novelty and restlessness, this retreat was the restorative nourishment I desperately needed. My hope for the upcoming year is to balance adventure with tranquility – and to find somewhere in London that sells fresh habaneros.
