Baja California is booming with new vacation-home communities catering to families, foodies, golfers, and water-sports enthusiasts. Snorkeling in Chileno Bay leads the list of activities at Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, which will include 32 private residences when it opens this winter. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences at Puerto Los Cabos (rcrr-loscabos.com) will debut next year with 27 villas and preferred access to the Puerto Los Cabos community’s golf courses. Just outside Puerto Los Cabos, the organic farm and restaurant Flora Farms is home to 10 residences (culinarycottages.com) that come with harvesting privileges. On Playa Las Viudas, Maravilla Los Cabos (maravillaloscabos.com) is ideal for families, with hiking trails, a movie theater, and a beach club. Maravilla will welcome a next-door neighbor in 2018, when Montage Los Cabos (montagehotels.com) opens with 52 residences. Four Seasons will also come to town in 2018 with Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas (costapalmas.com), encompassing a hotel, a marina, 16 villas, and 50 residences on the sparsely developed East Cape. —Lisa Sweetingham
Cabo or Kauai?
Mexican and Hawaiian beach resorts have long competed for the affections of vacation-home shoppers from the West Coast and beyond. Here we weigh the benefits of two new communities in these classic destinations.
Chileno Bay Resort & Residences
The Place
New to the Auberge Resorts Collection, this property sits within Discovery Land Co.’s 1,200-acre Chileno Bay community. The 32 residences are steps from a swimmable cove—a rarity in Los Cabos—that is ideal for snorkeling.
What $2.8 Million Gets You
A front-row view of whales from your four-bedroom, 3,100-square-foot penthouse outfitted with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances in the kitchen and a hot tub on the terrace.
The Privileges
Access to the hotel’s spa, beach club, water-sports center, and more. Full membership opens up all the trappings of Chileno Bay, most notably its Tom Fazio golf course.
Amenity You Didn’t Know You Needed
Chileno Bay membership also affords harvesting privileges at its organic farm.
Best For
Active families looking for a casual getaway where they can fish at sunrise, golf in the afternoon, and swim and snorkel in between. (chilenobayresidences.com) —L.S.
Hokuala Kauai—A Timbers Resort
The Place
Debuting in stages beginning this year, this 450-acre spread will be the last oceanfront development on Kauai, grandfathered in thanks to a decades-old deal. Timbers Resorts stepped in last year to build a community that will initially include 47 residences.
What $2.8 Million Gets You
A two-bedroom, 1,714-square-foot unit with three lanais overlooking a lagoon. Sliding glass doors open onto Kalapaki Beach.
The Privileges
Preferential tee times at the Jack Nicklaus course, plus access to a spa, gym, clubhouse, and children’s programs.
Amenity You Didn’t Know You Needed
Water taxis to take you to the community’s retail center, running trails, event pavilion, and other spots.
Best For
The private-jet set who can hop over to the island easily (the airport is next door) and enjoy hiking, paddleboarding, and other active pursuits. (hokualakauai.com) —Heidi Mitchell
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