There’s something so enchanting about sitting with your feet tucked under the warm sand while a salty aroma passes by with the breeze. Gazing into the eyes of the Sea of Cortez and up at the orange and pink-streaked sky, tasting the tender gifts of the ocean. It’s that unforgettable intimacy between yourself and nature and the people you love most that makes a moment truly special, that grounds you in its fairytale.

The moon has great significance in Mexican culture. While the meaning of the word Mexico has never been confirmed, one theory posits that in aztekatl (the language of the Aztecs), meztli means “moon,” and xictli means “navel,” which combined puts the derivation of Mexico as “place in the navel of the moon.” Additionally, one of Mexico’s most important archaeological structures is the Pyramid of the Moon, situated in what once was the ancient Mesoamerican city Teotihuacan. At Cocina del Mar, we celebrate the moon with a Full Moon Dinner series, held monthly under the beautiful lunar glow.

Some of my friends say their best dreams are of when they fly in the sky, bouncing among the clouds. My favorite dreams are of walking on the water, staying just above the surface but never slipping through. Well, guess what? My dreams came true on my family’s recent vacation in Los Cabos. We did a lot of super fun things, like riding camels along the beach and taking a kids’ cooking class. But the absolute coolest part of the stay was when I got to walk on water. 

There are seven sea turtle species in the world, and Baja California Sur is home to a remarkable five of them—the hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, black turtle and olive ridley—all of which are endangered. These amazing sea creatures can hold their breath for up to seven hours at a time, slow their heartbeat to once every nine minutes, and most can dive to depths of up to 960 ft. (or nearly 100 stories underwater). But there’s another trait that’s even more astonishing, and the reason we give each of our guests a wooden sea turtle when they leave.

The collective, deeply-felt emotion that falls over wedding guests as bride and groom walk down the aisle together—beaming in ear-to-ear smiles as newly-weds—is difficult to put into words. Mariachi, however, seems to capture this overwhelming love exceptionally well through its robust, sonorous music. An unforgettable way to transition from ceremony to reception, couple and guests enjoy the option to be lead by vivacious and talented mariachi dressed in exquisitely-embroidered sombreros and traditional attire.

Walk hand-in-hand down the aisle and into your getaway car— a golf cart decked out with wedding decor and ready to whisk you away to your wedding photoshoot location. From fresh-flower garlands to flowing ribbons to an elaborate “just married” banner, style your ride to suit your special day. Post-ceremony, our couples have enjoyed the option to swiftly depart upon a whimsical photo shoot tour to Esperanza's most picturesque, scenic backdrops.

There is a cliff at Esperanza where I go to retrieve live sea urchins that cling to the sides of the warm granite, as they sunbathe and seek refuge from the constant crashing of the Sea of Cortez. The cliff is one of my favorite spots at the resort and I climb up there to carefully collect the urchins and bring them to my kitchen to prepare and serve them.

This past July I met up with the owner of Tiki Cabo Organic Farm at the annual pitaya (aka dragonfruit) competition in his hometown of Miraflores. Locals will tell you that this is where you can find the best organic produce.

In the Marais district of Paris there is an enchanting little bar with Parisian-Bohemian-styled Mexican influenced décor. Miniature pinatas and plastic cactus seem to be set in conversational arrangements with colorful Dia de los Muertos paper dolls and sugar skulls. Mezcal is served straight up or in cocktails accentuated with herbs, citrus and spice. There's a low percussive rhythm of an indistinguishable but unmistakably Latin beat. This delightful collision of culture affirms my belief that mezcal is the next big thing in the cocktail scene.

In 1592, explorers sailing the Sea of Cortez first had the idea that the Baja Peninsula could act as a perfect refuge for trade ships arriving from a long Pacific voyage. It would be a place to breathe in fresh air and to rest and recharge before continuing on their voyage. Fast forward to present-day Baja and while the type of voyagers have changed, the primary needs have remained the same.

There are 17 things I love about Los Cabos and being the concierge here, let me tell you about 3. First is the time I coordinated a marriage proposal in a waterfall. There ia a secret waterfall of Santiago Oasis in Sierra La Laguna – only a short distance between San Jose del Cabo airport and La Paz where two people pledged their love to each other and have returned every two years.