Luxury Beside the Beach: Hacienda Del Mar Los Cabos Resort

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its original publication date. (2024)

Los Cabos is world-renowned as a pleasure-seekers beach destination, flaunting endless sunshine and luxurious resorts on sparkling sand. Add an effervescent nightlife and you have the perfect Mexican escape. 

“Cabo” is famous for its Arch of Cabo San Lucas at the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean merges with the Sea of Cortez — a body of water dubbed “the world’s aquarium” by famed marine biologist Jacques Cousteau. Water sports and snorkeling opportunities abound throughout its pristine waters.

More than 80 hotels and resorts, accommodating all travel styles, welcome guests to the region. Perhaps the finest of all, overlooking the Sea of Cortez, is the luxurious Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort. It is an ideal abode for a romantic getaway, a relaxing refuge, a spring-break holiday or a family vacation, offering action-packed tropical adventures in the sea or adjacent desert environment.

“I’ve been here six years, and I never tire of our fantastic property,” said general manager Piere Ouradou, a native of France. “The hacienda style is unique to Mexico, and you will not find it in any other part of the world.” Indeed, with its 20 structures of traditional style, the expansive property mimics a colonial village. 

Mexican hacienda style

The architecture features courtyards, fountains and many walkways that wind past white stucco walls with rustic wood accents and tiled roofs of red clay. Sprawling across 27 acres, with nearly 1,500 feet of beachfront, the resort offers 273 upscale rooms and villa suites, ranging from one bedroom to twin-level, four-bedroom suites. 

All accommodations are decorated in Mexican style and come with balconies or terraces, marble bathrooms and minibars. Some larger rooms come with kitchenettes. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout. Wrought-iron staircases enhance the lodgings. 

Throughout the grounds are perfectly manicured gardens, five pools, and a kids’ club with a mini water slide. You’ll find an infinity pool, an activity pool, and a pool with a swim-up bar, hot tubs and Jacuzzis. Restaurants and bars are seemingly everywhere.

Dining for every taste

A good problem is having more dining options than days at the resort. The all-inclusive, four-star property tempts guests with local and international menus. Gourmands will find a bellyful of meals in a plethora of locations. There are four upscale restaurants, four casual snack bars for noshing, and in-room dining. 

The award-winning Pitahayas Restaurant serves delectable Mexican-Asian fusion cuisine. Diners here are welcomed to the Cava de Santiago, an underground wine cellar and a winner of Wine Spectator’s award of excellence.  It contains over 200 vintages from nine countries.

With spectacular beach views, the lavish De Cortez Grillhouse serves some of the region’s finest cuts of meat and a fresh catch of the day from Cabo’s bountiful waters. A mecca for steak lovers, ít Baja-Mediterranean fusion menu has twice been accorded the prestigious Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

Other dining options include local fare at Tomate’s Restaurant, El Burro Cansado taco bar, and Tortugas Snack & Beach Bar, where you’ll find a raw bar and fresh sushi. Sirenas serves casual craft pizzas, burgers and salads, adjacent to one of the swimming pools. 

Golf and so much more

Golf is one of the most popular activities for Cabo visitors. Indeed, the breathtaking golf courses, with scenic ocean views, lure seasoned professionals and first-time golfers to this oasis in the desert. The course layout of the Hacienda’s Cabo del Sol course is striking, with ocean views from almost every hole. 

Beyond golf, the list of adventures, both soft and adrenaline-filled, is long. The surrounding waters offer an underwater world for scuba divers and snorkelers. Baja, California hosts many fishing tournaments, making half-day or full-day boat charters a must for angling enthusiasts. Eco-adventures include hiking, zip-lining and rock climbing. Many visitors explore beaches and deserts on ATVs. 

The rejuvenating Cactus Spa invites guests to enjoy a variety of signature spa treatments that cultivate wellness and indulge one’s senses. A variety of therapeutic massages, facials, body wraps, salt scrubs, manicures, pedicures, waxing services, make-up services, and hair care will enhance your stay. 

Several packages are inspired by traditional Mexican practices, sometimes employing a blend of native herbs. There are sauna and steam rooms, hot and cold jacuzzi tubs, and relaxation spaces. In-room massage appointments can be booked. 

Perhaps the only negative aspect of this stellar resort is that the beach is not suitable for casual swimming due to riptides. But there are enough pools on property to suit most desires.