13 SEA OF CORTEZ COASTAL COOL The eternal question for devotees of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is which coast is the more appealing to visit – the Pacific to the west or the Sea of Cortez to the east. It’s a matter of taste, of course, but the latter is certainly upping its game with a slew of new hotel openings adding to its allure. Chief among these is the much-delayed Chablé Sea of Cortez, a collection of 50 suites arranged as pods along the sea, each with its own terrace, garden and plunge pool, truly taking advantage of the stunning ocean location in La Paz. Joining Chablé in embracing this coastal wonder this year are Aman, who will soon debut Amanvari in Los Cabos, and the nearby Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo Del Sol. PHOTO STOCKSY 32
14 MADAGASCAR LOST & FOUND PHOTO ISTOCK The forgotten isle of Africa is hard to miss – it’s larger than Spain and nearly the size of Ukraine – but its distant southerly setting and remarkably diverse population have made it hard to pin down. A hot spot of biodiversity, the island’s Andrefana Dry Forests (pictured) are designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site, and 90 per cent of the 200,000-some species of plant and animal life present are only found in Madagascar. There has long been just one luxe destination, Miavana, but this year will bring a second, Voaara, a beachfront hideaway owned by Swedish-born Philippe Kjellgren (PK to his friends), who spent some of his childhood on the island and has long been seeking the right opportunity to return. 33
