Paradise Found: Experiencing Luxury and Authentic Mexican Charm at Hacienda Encantada

 

Coming back from Los Cabo after my stay at Hacienda Encantada Resort and Residences, everyone on the plane was abuzz. Even the line to board through the gate tunnel had felt like a party. Passengers were talking to strangers near them, smiling, asking where they had stayed, feeling good, even though they were leaving behind their margaritas. For now.

My seatmate, a gray-haired lady stuck in the middle, confessed, gripping the armrests, that she was a nervous flyer. Her last flight over Florida a few months back had harsh turbulence and left an indelible impression. I started asking where they had stayed and whether they had had a good time. She started telling me about their resort, and as she talked, her hands released their death grip. “It wasn’t cheap. It’s Cabo,” she shared with me, “but it was worth it!”

“Oh my gosh,” I gushed, “I just came back from the most amazing resort! It had the best food and the best ocean views. The rooms were super high-end, with dark solid wood furniture, and the rates were so cheap!”

I still didn’t know her name, but she was no longer clutching the armrests and was instead looking for her phone to write down the name of this magical hotel. “It’s called Hacienda Encantada and it’s unbelievable,” I told her.

“Excuse me,” the lady behind me poked her hand through the space between our seats. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. What was the name of your hotel?”

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Mexico Grand Hotels

Separated only by a driveway, Hacienda Encantada Resort & Residences and Vista Encantada Spa Resort & Residences offer shuttle service from the airport. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a tropical drink. Vista Encantada is the fancier of the two. They are part of a portfolio of three hotels under the Mexico Grand Hotels brand. 

The third is the most casual, Marina Fiesta Resort and Spa, located in the heart of all the action in downtown Cabo in the “Golden Zone.”

 

 

Hacienda Encantada

On the Hacienda Encantada side, multiple earth-hued buildings are sprinkled around hills, gardens, and driveways. There are three pools and eight restaurants with bars. Guest rooms are located in two buildings, one set on cliffs facing the Sea of Cortez, the other with garden views.

 

 

The 203 rooms and 35 residences include studios, one- to two-bedroom suites, and standalone villas with up to four bedrooms, some of which feature private pools. All of the buildings are named after structures on a Hacienda, which is a large plantation in a Spanish-speaking country. A traditional hacienda has a main house as its central point,  various farm buildings, and several casitas that form a sustainable community. Along that theme, each room is furnished with luxurious, solid dark wood and features decor reminiscent of traditional Latin dwellings. 

There is also a market and pharmacy, an outdoor sports center (basketball, tennis, and volleyball), a putting green course, and fitness center on this side. A kids’ club is also here.

Rates for these rooms start at $150, however check the special offers page for discounts

 

Vista Encantada

There are 36 suites on the Vista Encantada side of the property, ranging from one to four bedrooms, with penthouse options available. Some of these rooms come with plunge pools. All have ocean views. A rooftop infinity pool, overlooking Cabo and the Sea of Cortez, provides full bar and restaurant service. The Milagro Spa is in this resort, but guests from both sides can reserve services.

Rates at this resort start at $353, however they too have a special offers page

 

 

Arriving at Hacienda Encantada

It began when I arrived to meet my group. Coming from all over the United States, we all landed at different times for our three-night stay at Hacienda Encantada, so we could write honest reviews. 

After checking in, the front desk alerted me that my room wasn’t ready. I left my luggage in the lobby and a golf cart, the preferred mode of transportation at the hilly Hacienda Encantada, transported me to El Patio, the poolside restaurant overlooking the ocean and the heart of Cabo San Lucas, approximately 8 miles (12 km) from the hotel.

The ocean breeze felt cool and pleasant after my two-hour flight from Los Angeles. I woke up too early to eat, so by now, I was hungry; however, I didn’t want to fill up before our group welcome dinner. The great thing about choosing the all-inclusive package is it takes most of the thought out of choosing food. I wasn’t looking at the prices to calculate the best value. I was reading the food descriptions to see what sounded yummy. I chose the ceviche tostadas and sea bass. Let me say the mini tostadas were tangy perfection and one of the best I’ve ever enjoyed.

 

 

Not far from my table, cushioned loungers for the pool crowd sat feet from the cliff’s edge. I made a mental note to return and enjoy that space.

 

 

My Room At Hacienda Encantada

The decor is what sets these spacious rooms apart from those at other Cabo hotels. I learned later that the matriarch of the family decorated them, and it is evident how much meticulous effort she placed into designing each room. No cookie-cutter prints hung on the walls. Instead, tapestries and ancestral paintings remind us of the heritage of the haciendas. Inside my one-bedroom suite, a four-poster bed, armoire, and chaise lounge all boasted local artisan talent. 

The living room contained a dining room table, couch, another armoire, and more local artwork. The balcony overlooked the pool area and the ocean. My room had three closets and two bathrooms. It came with a full-sized, stocked kitchen for families who want to cook some meals in their rooms. The on-site market sells food basics.

 

Room Reveal Video: Hacienda Encantada One-Bedroom Suite

Take a peek inside my room to get a better idea of my experience:

 

Restaurants At Hacienda Encantada and Vista Encantada

After getting settled in my room, I stepped out of my building to wait for the golf carts that ferry guests around.

 

 

The sun was setting by now, so as we shuttled to meet my group toward the top of the hilly property, I snapped some glorious photos of my first sunset in this Mexican paradise.

 

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When I arrived, the group was savoring cocktails and appetizers at an outdoor table at Los Riscos Mesquite Grill & Bar. After nibbling on all the appetizers, we ordered from a menu of steaks, seafood, pasta, and salads. I couldn’t be this close to the ocean and not eat the freshly pulled fare, so I ordered the lobster. Every bite dipped in melted butter slid across my tongue in notes of tender heaven. Conversation flowed as easily as the wine, and by the time the tray of desserts arrived, we all felt like old friends.

 

 

Besides the talented chefs, it was the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below and the twinkling lights of the coastal city that made the night so incredible.

 

 

In the morning, I once again took in the views of the expansive water during my outdoor breakfast at Las Marias, set right below Los Ricos. I could see the distant rocky outcrop of Land’s End, the formation of rocks that is the southernmost edge of Baja California Sur.  I enjoyed fruit, egg, and meat selections from the buffet on this morning, but could have ordered à la carte. 

 

 

It wasn’t until later that I learned about Fresco, the juice and smoothie bar, and the even more upscale breakfast buffet at next door Vista Encantada’s Mestizo del Mar. One can never have enough vitamins, especially when traveling, so I visited Fresco that afternoon before it closed at 3 pm.

 

 

Of course, as a travel writer, research is key to providing good advice so the next morning, I investigated Mestizo, set beside the rooftop pool of Vista Encantada, with 360-degree views from its floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Baristas brewed fresh coffee, and cooks prepared eggs in all styles. I may have lingered a bit longer than my breakfast to make sure I caught the vibe. Families and friends sat around the bright room, animatedly talking, and I imagined planning the day’s adventures.

 

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All-Inclusive Dining Package

The already mentioned restaurants are included with a stay if guests choose the all-inclusive rate. All Mexico Grand Hotel restaurants and bars are included in that price. However, restaurants and bars located inside Vista Encantada are exclusive to those guests (with the exception of Fresco and Mestizo), while Vista guests are free to choose from all offerings.

Other on-site restaurants and bars included in the package or available a la carte are:

• La Trajinera – serving Mexican gourmet dinner
• Barolo – serving gourmet Italian dinner
• Il Forno – brick oven pizzas, pastas, steak, and seafood by the pool
• La Pergola – casual poolside restaurant
• Lola Mia – deli and coffee shop
• El Eden – poolside tequila and taco bar
• Atico – rooftop restaurant and pool bar with sandwiches, burritos, and burgers (Vista Encantada)
• Cantomar – lobby bar
• Tequila Tastings – every day at the Tequila Museum from 4-5 pm, except Mondays and Fridays
• Room Service and mini-bar – which is essential for a comfortable stay, especially for midnight snacks (though room service ends at 9 pm and includes a 15% tax)

Additionally, six restaurants in the Golden Zone, located by Marina Fiesta, are also included in the package. Explore downtown Cabo San Lucas and still eat and drink for free!

They are:

• Baja Lobster Co. – Seafood & Oyster bar
• Los Deseos – Mexican Restaurant
• Jack’s Steakhouse
• Presto – Italian Restaurant
• Golden Legends – Sports Bar

 

Things To Do At Hacienda Encantada

Guests can enjoy complimentary cooking classes, horseback riding, and guided bike tours with the all-inclusive rate. Also, all guests can take aqua aerobics, Spanish lessons, cocktail-making classes, meditation walks, participate in ping pong tournaments, handicrafts, pool games, board games, and kids’ games.

Tequila and wine tasting is available at an additional charge for Hacienda Encantada guests, but included in the Vista Encantada rate. Same with the seasonal Temazcal sessions on Fridays, which is a spiritual sweat lodge!  

 

Milagro Spa 

After breakfast, we all gravitated toward the Milagro Spa, where we had all booked massages. The hotel recommended we arrive an hour early to relax into the hydrotherapy experience, and if nothing else, I follow directions (mostly). 

 

 

To prepare my body to relax, I rotated between the sauna, steam room, hot tub, and semi-cold plunge. Though I have to say the plunge was lukewarm, and the thing that made it amazing was the view.

 

 

Once it was time for the massage, it felt like my masseuse rewarded every frustrating parenting moment I had lived up to that point. She kneaded my hamstrings while releasing that night my teens came home late from my body. She found a spot in my shoulder that untangled the time I had to pull over the car because the older one started harassing the younger one, whose threshold for suffering is largely degraded.

What I’m saying is, it’s worth it. Do it for your well-being and sanity, and while you enjoy yourself, you can drop off your kids at the kids’ club.

 

Kids’ Club

The club is called Coralito, after the pens where the hacienda animals are kept. The appropriateness of this name varies by family. However, it suits mine perfectly. Counselors play games with kids aged 4-12, do crafts, and take the little, er, animals to cool off at the pint-sized newly added water park.

 

 

Things To Do Around Hacienda Encantada

The concierge at Hacienda Encantada lives to plan your perfect vacation. Ask him or her anything and they will sort it out for you.

We opted for the mandatory boat tour to Los Arcos. I mean, have you even been to Cabo if you haven’t taken a photo of yourself with the arch? We enjoyed gentle breezes, salt air, and the photo ops once we arrived at Los Arcos and Land’s End.

 

 

It wasn’t quite whale season yet, so we didn’t get to see the majestic beasts making their way south from the north, but we did slip into the water for some girl talk and more selfies. 

 

 

The concierge can also arrange fishing, golf, ATV tours, dolphin swims, or a complimentary shuttle to sister property, Marina Fiesta, which is where we started our second night.

 

[ctt template=”8″ link=”dXQ29″ via=”no” ]Found paradise in Cabo! @HaciendaEncantada offers authentic Mexican luxury, ocean views, incredible food & spa—all from $150/night. Perfect for families with kids’ club & water park! [/ctt]

 

Marina Fiesta and the Golden Zone

The Cielo rooftop pool bar at Marina Fiesta is another stunner of a location to hang with a date or a group of friends. Live music fills the air and the fiesta fills the night. City lights sprayed across surrounding hills twinkled through the evening shroud. 

 

 

We enjoyed cocktails before making our way down through the hotel and past the pool, still active with kids and pals, to our dinner at Los Deseos. Before appetizers and drinks arrived, the incredible murals on the walls threw us into another time. Our group sat at a round table that fit us all, perfect for large events and included in the all-incusive rate. Sticking with my maritime theme, I ordered the Damien Shrimp, which sounded hot and spicy, but it came cheesy too, so bonus!

 

 

The cool thing about the inclusive part is if families are feeling adventurous, they could explore all of downtown Cabo San Lucas and still stay within their budget.

 

Events at Hacienda Encantada

The big thing here is the parties. Let’s face it, Cabo can be very expensive, especially when confronted with name-brand hotels. They can cost a lot, and I can guarantee that they will not have the authentic touches found in a family-owned hotel.

There is a lovely old church perched on a hill that is the highest point of Hacienda Encantada, called Our Lady of Surrows.

 

 

Wedding ceremonies are conducted there overlooking the Sea of Cortez. La Vista, which faces Land’s End, is another gorgeous spot to remember how small we are compared to nature, but how big our love can be.

 

 

Restaurants also offer an area to host large parties like ours on our last night when the Hacienda Encantada set up a dinner lit by tiki torches and set to the soundtrack of a live saxophone player. 

 

 

How ever we all arrived, at the end of our three nights, we left feeling relaxed and ready to roll with whatever came next. The exact way every trip should end.

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