Good day Ella and thanks for agreeing to participate in our interview.

Norm:

Ella could you tell our readers where is the Los Cabos region of Mexico and why is it sometimes referred to as the Jewel of Baja?

Ella:

Los Cabos is located at the very tip of the Baja peninsula; the name itself means the capes and is comprised of the town of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The arch of Los Cabos, a natural rock formation, marks the meeting of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It is named the Jewel of Baja for many different reasons depending on the eye of the beholder. Several special factors are undeniable: our year round sunny and dry climate, the abundance of golf courses (9 now and more being built), the dramatic geography of the Baja desert creeping into the sea, the wide array of luxury accommodations, spas and restaurants, our world-renowned deep-sea fishing and our reputation as the Marlin capital of the world. I can go on and on&

Norm:

Could you tell our readers something about the beaches in the region and what differentiates them from other beaches in Mexico?

Ella:

As I mentioned our geography is unique and quite striking. There is little development here as of yet so usually wherever you turn you can see the ocean. The beaches themselves are varied and can be long and sandy with dunes or rugged with spectacular rock formations. There are wonderful surfing beaches with great waves and some small coves for snorkeling. In comparison to the rest of Mexico, Los Cabos beaches offer more variety and less people-traffic.

Norm:

As you are the General Manager of the Marquis Los Cabos, could you tell our readers something about the resort and if it qualifies as a romantic getaway and/or wedding destination. If so, why?

Ella:

The new Marquis Los Cabos, in its third year of operation, is an architectural wonder. From your first arrival in our 40 foot open-air lobby overlooking the Sea of Cortez, you can sense that space was an important consideration for us. All our suites have full ocean views, as well as our restaurants, gym and spa. Our suites are over 1,600 sq feet with terrace, which overlooks the Sea of Cortez. It's romantic just standing there. Additionally, all suites have hydro-massage tubs and double sinks with marble floors. Our most popular accommodation is the Casita with its own private pool overlooking the ocean.
 
But  things don't do all the magic. The romance at Marquis Los Cabos is based on our attention to detail, and the housekeeping staff does an extraordinary job with special romance turn downs. With our special Romance Package, our housekeeping staff sets up white swans and flowers on the bed, run a bubble bath with floating rose petals, light candles and more. We have become a preferred hotel for weddings, either on the beach or by our pools with the sunset as your backdrop, even one spectacular wedding in our lobby. In a normal year, we can have up to 45 weddings, from all over the world. But the best ones to tell you about the magic of Marquis are the brides themselves.

Norm:

How safe is traveling in the region?

Ella:

Actually, the Los Cabos area is quite underdeveloped. So, traveling in the area is usually done by car or by yacht depending on your preference. The local people are generally very hospitable and even though there is sometimes a language barrier, you usually feel very welcome and quite safe. When in Los Cabos most travelers get organized with a Tour company to show them the sights. However, those who choose to rent a car and visit on their own, always find a helpful person to guide them around.

Norm:

If you had to choose 6 romantic venues in the region other than the Marquis Los Cabos, which ones would they be and why?

Ella:

Romantic venues abound here in our little corner of paradise.

• Being on a yacht watching the whales and a spectacular sunset is quite romantic.

• Having dinner in the desert with candles and nothing but the stars as a canopy.

• Having a beach wedding on Lover.s Beach right next to the arch of Los Cabos.

• Renting a gorgeous multi-million dollar villa overlooking a private beach to celebrate.

• Camping in the East Cape where you can explore for miles on end and there is no development

Norm:

Can you tell us something about the village of San Jose del Cabo?

Ella:

The town was founded in 1730 and you can still feel this colonial charm when you visit. San Jose del Cabo was a small fishing village and it is the kind of place where you simply walk around and absorb its tranquility. Contrary to Cabo San Lucas with extraordinary nightlife and a bustling marina, San Jose has a quaint atmosphere, with art galleries and chic boutiques. Although not very large, this small town will give any traveler a feeling of coziness and real Mexican charm.

Norm:

I understand that the Los Cabos region has quite an art scene. Could you elaborate?

Ella:

What has become very famous with comparisons to places like Carmel, California, is the small town of Todos Santos. It is famous for its Hotel California (of Eagles' fame), about an hour north of San Lucas. However, the artistic flavor is palpable in all of Los Cabos. Art galleries abound in San Jose and it is growing in Cabo San Lucas. At Marquis Los Cabos we have turned the hotel into a permanent art gallery including an extensive art collection which features specially commissioned oil paintings and bronze sculptures by leading Latin American artists including: Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Carlos Rios, Jorge Marin, Agustin Castro, and Fernando Garrido. This summer, we are offering the Aspiring Artist package for our travelers. Guests can enjoy a three-day learning workshop with a local Mexican painter. They also take home a quality artist kit complete with water colors and brushes from Winsor and Newton. We want to encourage guests to immerse themselves in the area.s thriving art scene.

Norm:

I also understand that Los Cabos has been referred to for decades as the marlin fishing capital of the world. Could you tell our readers why and what can they expect?

Ella:

Los Cabos boasts the most amount of marlin caught than anywhere else in the world. But we try to encourage fisherman to release as much as possible. Several big international tournaments are held every year seasonally such as the Bisbee's Black and Blue Marlin Tournament and Los Cabos Billfish Tournament, an event sponsored by the Los Cabos Hotel Association usually in October. And there are many more tournaments throughout the year for different types of fish.

Norm:

How easy or difficult is it to travel to Los Cabos from the USA, Canada and Europe?

Ella:

From the US and Canada, it's easier than ever to travel to Los Cabos since we have seen over a 25% growth in direct flights from one year to the next. Los Cabos is now directly-linked to most major US gateways with regular frequencies. From Europe, there is still a flight stop in the US or Mexico. However, this does not deter travelers because we are seeing an increase from that part of the world as well.

Norm:

Please tell our readers about the native food and wine of the area?

Ella:

Native foods are primarily from the ocean, including all kinds of fish and shellfish. However there is now a new and vigorous growth in the area of organic foods which are highly-prized by our international and Mexican chefs. Obviously cactus products are widespread, as well as some special herbs and spices native to Baja. For instance, the Damiana herb is used to make a sweet liqueur or it can be dried to make a healing potion. A popular tale is that the Damiana herb makes a great love potion because of its tonic attributes. In northern Baja, the vines planted decades ago have matured to produce award-winning Mexican wines and we of course offer these with all of our Baja cuisine.

Norm:

When is the best time to visit the Los Cabos region and what activities can one experience when visiting this area?

Ella:

The new additional international airlifts give travelers the opportunity to travel to Los Cabos whenever they want. No longer is this area only accessible during the winter months. Fishing, golfing, hiking, ATV'ing and even Hummer tours in the desert are available all year-round. Since we only have an average of 5 rainy days a year, travelers are virtually guaranteed sunshine. Preferences will often influence the time of year to go. For example, the winter months tend to be sunny and warm with cool nights. The summer months are warmer with balmy nights  ideal for evening surfing. Regardless of one's preference, Los Cabos is no longer a seasonal destination and offers very much for vacationers during all 12 months.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to tell our readers about the area that we have not covered?

Ella:

Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk to you about our wonderful Los Cabos, which is becoming a beacon for international travelers looking for luxury accommodations, spa aficionados wanting the highest standards in pampering and die hard fishermen who almost never come back empty handed.

Thanks once again for your excellent information!