Summer is in full gear and as part of our green living vacation series, we decided to select some leading green resorts that are a short flight destination for San Francisco Bay Area residents.
We heard so much about Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort and Spa with its green approach as a resort and jaw-dropping location, that curiosity took the best of us and headed to Cabo. Set along the private white sand beaches of Playa Solmar at the very southernmost tip, Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa is uniquely situated.
From the moment we arrived at Grand Solmar and the jovial Felix Ojeda took us on a cart ride to our room, we felt a connection to this special place.
It was obvious for the beginning, that this was not an ordinary resort by the way everyone from receptionist, bellboys and staff kept smiling at us and welcoming us in the gentlest way. We were given a royal welcome presented with a beautiful assortment of organic white chocolates and cookies courtesy of new rising star Chef Hector Lucas and were taken to the ninth floor to our stunning three bedroom penthouse overlooking the ocean. The interiors mirrored the beauty of the outside, the color palette and finishes adorning the rooms were a feast for the eyes.
Laying ahead of us, the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean with nothing obstructing the view. Apart from the sound of the sloshing waves hitting the beach, there was absolute silence and serenity. We settled in our rooms and headed downstairs excited to see the rest of Grand Solmar.
General Manager Jean Louis Magron (whose mentor is the renown Jean Berthelot) is the passionate force behind Grand Solmar and brings unparallaled experience and management skills. A Cornell University graduate, he also attended Ithaca, New York and the School of Gastronomy, St. Moritz, and School of Hotel Management, Zurich, Switzerland where he learned it all.
Magron lead us on our beautiful discovery. The tour of the amenities in this exciting new property left us speechless. The no man’s land, impossible location where the rock meets the sea is a site one can never tire of.
Every detail was well thought of. The intricate sustainable designs in the walkways, stone entries, lobby wood décor with window to the sea archway, elegant simplicity of the rooms and the infiniti edge pools contouring the resort like a lover’s arms hugging the shores, have raised the bars of peaceful luxury.
We sat with the general manager and our interview began.
Q: What should we expect when coming to the Grand Solmar? Can you describe the room amenities?
A: Phase 1 of the resort includes 119 suites with 6 different types of suites, from studios to four-bedroom penthouses. All suites offers unique amenities such as fully equipped kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances, in-villa dining and spa experience, private terraces, flat-screen TVs and luxurious bathrooms with steam showers. We provide daily maid service and night turn-down service.
Q: What sets the Grand Solmar apart?
A: Guests will be able to experience Playa Grande’s premiere Thalassotherapy center and Grand Solmar’s beachside cabana spa. They will also enjoy a selection of two gourmet restaurants and three poolside bars, four infinity-edge heated pools, many activities including fishing and breathtaking sunsets. With our own fleet of customized boats, Solmar Hotels & Resorts offers guests access to the largest sport fishing fleet in Cabo San Lucas.
Q: Do you consider yourself a green resort?
A: Yes we do, and are aiming to be a pioneer in the greener Cabo.
- Our chef uses organic and natural products.
- We produce our own sweet water and pump the water from the sea and are very careful with our water usage.
- As an energy saver, guests have to use smart key cards that automatically turn on the lights.
- In order to prevent energy loss, we have installed a unique air conditioning system in all the rooms that automatically shuts off when windows open.
- The attractive landscaping requires half the irrigation levels typically used by similar resorts.
- All the linens in the rooms are organic and housekeeping uses environmentally safe cleaning products.
- We also recycle and compost.
Q: What is the best way for people in the San Francisco Bay Area to contact you?
A: If I may suggest going to our site and booking directly.
Q: What do you want the world to know?
A: We are going back to our roots. We respect Mother Nature, are thankful for all the sources we have and wish to preserve them.
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In an environment like this, a spa is an essential part of the blissful experience. At Grand Solmar the spa’s association to the surrounding elements is a welcome addition. The next day, we experienced a Kanshi (aromatic) foot and hand treatment at one of the seaside cabanas where we met with Ericka Ronchin, veteran in Beauty and Wellness, the spa key leader. She explained that the African Kanshi treatment is a favorite. We felt re-energized and invigorated.
Following suit we headed to the Thalassotherapy Spa and were welcomed by Chela Origel, the spa manager.
Q: What is so unique about this spa?
A: We are the only Thalassotherapy center in Cabo. We use the practice as a guide. We feature seawater baths and seaweed-based treatments for preventative, curative purposes and incorporate seawater from the Sea of Cortes. A regimen of personalized therapies is adapted to meet individual needs.
Q: What are your signature treatments?
A: The Repechage Sea Escape, it consists of a stone facial and body therapy designed to melt your stress away. The Sea of Cortes Pure Body Revival is a favorite among our guests. It provides immediate rehydration using a hot oil therapy with hot stone relaxing massage followed by a cooling facial.
To escalate the day to blissful ecstasy, Chela lead us gently to the tranquility of a room where we enjoyed a healing experience with The Sea of Cortes treatment.
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A main focus of the resort is its dining experience at La Roca Restaurant. The kitchen is run by Chef Hector Lucas, whose cooking concept is Mediterranean Baja style cuisine with an exotic flair. Director of beverages and drinks is Maestro Eduardo Gonzalez Robles. Eduardo concocts the finest organic drinks and is the creator of flagship drink: The Grand Solmar Vita Verde (Green Life) dedicated to the green resort. The formidable duo coordinates the fine food and drink pairings daily. Chef Hector tours Cabo organic markets and gets exceptional ingredients such as organic vegetables, artisanal cheeses, native natural beef, sustainable fish that make his dishes authentically tasty.
On our final evening, under Chef Lucas’ sweet smile and thoughtfully prepared dishes, we tasted some of his organic specialties, such as a refreshing cucumber gazpacho of Jamaica, an exotic octopus hors d’oeuvre, Heirloom Tomato Crisp and lobster salads. We are big fans of lychee, and he surprised us with a superb lychee sorbet.
Lucas kindly agreed to share with our readers one of his summer favorite: the Grand Solmar Lobster Salad. Click here for the recipe.
With breathtaking views, a Thalassotherapy center, one-of-a-kind green amenities, exotic gourmet dining and personalized service that caters to your every whim, Grand Solmar is “a rock solid green pioneer by the sea.”
As the sounds of the crushing waves permeate our brain, we think of sweet smiles and precious moments at this very special place. Words like passion and dedication resonate in our minds.
Find more info about Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa. Stay tuned for more.
Special thanks to: Antonio, Rodriguo Gutierrez, Romina Padilla, Chela Origel and her amazing assistants Oracia, Esthela and Sandra. Erika Ronchin, Chef Hector Lucas, Felix Ojeda, Eduardo Gonzalez Robles, Juan Navarro, Joel Juarez Cisneros. Last but not least, the amazing Daniela, Luz Maria, Mercedes, Juanito, Rosario, Carmen, Samuel, Manni and Felipe.
A very special thank you to Rosemarie Capasso for all her help and coordinating efforts and Jean Louis Magron for his time and sharing his passion for Green Living with us.
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