Located on the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s premier tourist destinations known for its beautiful beaches and desert landscapes and renowned for its world-class hotels and resorts.
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Baja California offers visitors an incredible mix of activities, from fishing, snorkeling, and whale watching, to first-class food and wine experiences, hiking and wellness vacations. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that Baja California Sur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico.
It has taken us many years to make our way to Baja California finally, but having now seen the beauty of this region firsthand, we can confidently say – this was our first time in Baja, but it certainly won’t be our last.
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About Los Cabos
Baja California Sur, the second-largest state in Mexico, is home to over three million people. The state capital is La Paz, but the region of Los Cabos, located on the southernmost tip of the peninsula, acts as the hub of tourism in Baja California Sur.
The region of Los Cabos consists of 2 towns: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose de Cabo, each offering a unique vibe to visitors. Los Cabos is home to over xx hotels and resorts – there are many options for every style, budget and travel style.
When it came to choosing a resort for our recent trip to Los Cabos, we opted to stay at Hacienda del Mar Resort.
About Hacienda Del Mar Resort
Located inside the prestigious Cabo del Sol Community, just 20 mins East of Cabo San Lucas, Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort stands out from the rest. Its traditional colonial-style architecture, with Mexican hacienda-style property and lush gardens dating back to the 18th century, is what initially attracted us to this property. A mix of traditional decor, modern amenities, fantastic on-site facilities, and a beautiful location along the Sea of Cortez, was the perfect combo for our stay.
History of the Resort
The Hacienda del Mar resort is located in an area once part of a large estate known as Rancho Santa Monica. The ranch was originally owned by a Spanish nobleman, and it eventually passed into the hands of a Mexican general.
In 1995, the property was purchased by a group of Mexican investors, who began the process of restoring the hacienda to its former glory. The restoration took several years, but the finished product was worth the wait.
Hacienda del Mar Resort has been operating in Los Cabos for over 30 years. It is one of the most beautiful and well-established resorts in all of Mexico and continues to attract visitors worldwide.
Sustainability at Hacienda Del Mar
We were pleased to learn that Hacienda del Mar is committed to doing its part through its sustainable travel and environmental protection initiatives. While the resort is not the most sustainable hotel we’ve experienced on our travels, it’s on a journey to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to the well-being of the community they operate in.
Waste reduction is a top priority at the property, and guests are encouraged to recycle whenever possible. The property makes an effort to reduce food waste and its reliance on single-use plastics. There are several water-filling stations around the resort where guests can fill up their water bottles to reduce their use of plastic water bottles.
Water-saving toilets and showers have been installed to help guests conserve water during their stay. Most of the food served at the property is locally sourced and features local specialties and flavours to bring Baja’s culinary culture into the fold.
A percentage of revenue is reinvested into community projects supporting sustainability.
Accommodation at Hacienda Del Mar
The beautiful resort has 542 rooms, including 270 guest rooms and suites with a private terrace or balcony with ocean views. There are also several villas, perfect for families and groups of friends. A part of the resort is occupied by villas owned on a time-share basis or by full-time residents, individuals who have fallen in love with this slice of paradise in Mexico.
The guest rooms and suites are beautifully decorated with clean, bold colours and hacienda-style accents like wooden furniture and marble bathroom accents. Our Baja Ocean View Room balcony served as an extension of the room and featured lounge chairs, a sitting area, and a hot tub, ideal for a relaxing soak overlooking the ocean after a long day of exploring the area.
The villas offer even more comforts, including fully equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, and private balconies with stunning Cabo ocean views. Free Wi-Fi is available inside the room and throughout the resort, allowing you to stay connected no matter where you are on the property.
Facilities and Amenities at the Resort
Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort, Villas & Golf offers a wide variety of facilities and amenities on-site, including pools, 4 different restaurants, shops, a gym, and a spa.
Spa and Fitness Center
Cactus Spa
The resort’s Cactus Spa offers various treatments to help you relax and rejuvenate. The spa is well equipped with showers, change rooms, steam rooms, a sauna and hot/cold pools. The menu is extensive, ranging from facials and massages to nail care. We had a couples massage during our stay and found the experience to be relaxing and rejuvenating. The therapists were very professional and managed to maintain perfect pressure throughout.
Fitness Centre
Connected to the Spa is the Fitness Center, which features state-of-the-art equipment and everything you might want to continue your workout routine while on vacation. The large gym has dozens of cardio machines, free weights, and a separate yoga/cool-down room. Personal training services are available. The gym is conveniently open 24 hours.
Want to stay active but don’t fancy a gym? Various additional activities are available for guests of all ages, including yoga, bingo, stretching class, Zumba, power walking, and beach volleyball.
Pools
There is no shortage of pool space at Hacienda del Mar. The beautiful resort offers several year-round outdoor pools, including two pools for kids, an infinity pool, an activity pool, and a swim-up bar.
The outdoor infinity pool was our favourite and the perfect place to soak up the Cabo San Lucas sun. The adult-only pool, on the other side of the resort, was the quietest and most serene place to grab sun loungers, relax, or even stay in the pool and use the swim-up bar.
Kids Club
The Kids Club & Babysitting services are perfect for families traveling with young children. Organized activities for kids include colouring, games, hide and seek, face painting, bingo, music lessons and more.
Meeting Rooms and Event Spaces
Hacienda del Mar offers various meeting rooms and event spaces equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment.
The on-site event coordinator can help plan and execute any events, from weddings to conferences.
Additional Amenities
The resort offers free high-speed internet, valet parking, free parking, and transportation services to help guests explore the wider Los Cabos or Downtown Cabo San Lucas area. An airport shuttle to and from Los Cabos International Airport is also available.
A concierge is on hand to help with restaurant reservations in Cabo San Lucas town, day trips and other tours.
Golf Course
The Cabo del Sol golf course is conveniently located within Cabo del Sol compound, next to Hacienda del Mar Resort. The golf course features 18 holes with beautiful ocean views. The Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf-designed championship course offers a challenging and enjoyable game for players of all levels.
Restaurants at Hacienda Del Mar
Great food is easy to find at Hacienda del Mar, as the resort is home to 6 on-site restaurants offering distinctly unique cuisine and atmosphere.
Pitahayas Restaurant
Pitahayas Restaurant is the oldest and one of the most iconic restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, having opened in 1995. The restaurant offers Pacific Coast cuisine in a beautiful setting under an impressive palapa roof overlooking the ocean.
The menu features fusion-style dishes and combines local and imported ingredients. The wine cellar underneath the Restaurant offers over 400 wine brands from wineries in Mexico and elsewhere in the world. Don’t miss a chance to try one of their vibrant cocktails too!
Cortez Grillhouse
Cortez Grillhouse has a slightly more casual feel than the flagship Pitahayas Restaurant. It offers an authentic grill experience with attentive service overlooking the majestic Sea of Cortez. The menu features a variety of grilled meats, seafood options, and vegetables. The beach bar is a perfect spot for sunset cocktails.
The restaurant is also open for a-la-carte breakfast with premium breakfast options, including our favourite, Eggs Benedict.
Tomates Restaurant
The Tomates Restaurant is Hacienda del Mar’s main buffet-style eatery, located in the centre of the resort.
Tomates offers an extensive breakfast buffet and some a-la-carte options in the mornings. The dinner menu changes daily between Italian, Mexican street food, and other themed nights. The restaurant overlooks the swaying palms and the Sea of Cortez beyond, providing an ideal place for diners to enjoy the resort’s oceanfront surroundings. Reservations are not needed at Tomates Restaurant, so it’s an easy spot to dine when you haven’t made other plans.
Las Sirenas
Located beside the infinity pool, Las Sirenas is an open-air restaurant offering lunch, snacks, and drinks throughout the day. The menu here has a bit of everything, including tacos, salads, seafood and other favourites. Perfect for lunch or an afternoon drink.
El Burro Cansado
El Burro Cansado offers the best selection of Mexican tacos. The menu features a variety of tacos, as well as burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
La Suerte
La Suerte Tequila Bar offers more than 100 varieties of tequila and a menu of light snacks and Mexican specialties.
In addition to the above-mentioned restaurants, there are also 2 swim-up pool bars offering drinks and snacks throughout the day. Room service is also available.
All-Inclusive Meal Plan vs. Hotel Room Only
Hacienda del Mar, Los Cabos operates a bit differently from many other resorts in Mexico by offering both all-inclusive and room-only packages. The all-inclusive package starts at $450 for 2 adults, while the room-only option is $250. Given the a-la-carte prices at the on-site restaurants the All Inclusive package is a real bargain that gives you a chance to enjoy some fantastic food, and drinks and have a really great experience at Hacienda del Mar.
All-Inclusive Package
The all-inclusive package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner at La Cortez and Pitahayas restaurants as well as themed nights at Tomatoes. Snacks at the pool and beach areas, wine at dinner, and basic alcoholic drinks are also included, as are meals for kids at the kids club.
In addition, the in-room minibar is refreshed daily with 2 sodas, 2 domestic beers, 2 bottles of water, and 2 snacks. An all-inclusive meal plan is a great option for families traveling on a budget or couples looking to stay at the resort for the entire duration of their visit to Los Cabos.
Room Only Rates
The room-only option allows you to be more flexible and use Hacienda del Mar as your base while exploring the broader Los Cabos area. You can dine at restaurants in Cabo San Lucas or elsewhere in Los Cabos. You can also eat at the Hacienda del Mar restaurants using an a-la-carte menu.
Activities at Hacienda del Mar
Hacienda del Mar is perfectly located to enjoy the resort, Cabo del Sol compound, and the surrounding area of Los Cabos. There are plenty of events and activities at Hacienda del Mar throughout the year and lots of day trips you can take to fill your days in Los Cabos. Here are just a few of our favourites!
Turtle Release Program
One of the coolest and most unique activities at Hacienda del Mar is the Turtle Release program that takes place on the property throughout the year. The release is part of a wider Turtle Conservation project that allows visitors to witness and help release newly hatched turtles on the beach just in front of Hacienda del Mar. It’s a very special experience, so inquire about this with the concierge upon check-in.
Cooking Class at Tamarindos
One of our favourite activities during our stay at Hacienda del Mar was a cooking class at a local farm-to-table restaurant, Tamarindos, located about 30 mins away from Hacienda del Mar. The experience was fantastic and included a bit of harvesting in the garden at Tamarindos, a hands-on cooking experience and a delicious lunch featuring seafood, salads and a few traditional Mexican specialties. Bookings can be made with the concierge upon check-in.
Boat Tour in Cabo San Lucas
Another great way to spend a day in Los Cabos is to charter a private yacht with Cabo Adventures and enjoy a day on the water. We rented a beautiful 8-person yacht and enjoyed a day of sailing along the Los Cabos coastline. We visited the Arch of Cabo San Lucas and the famous Medano beach, did some snorkeling, SUPing, swimming and even spotted some whales. Drinks and delicious snacks were included in the price, and a beautiful Los Cabos sunset did not disappoint! The trip was organized through Hacienda del Mar and can be arranged with the help of the resort concierge.
DÃa de Los Muertos Celebration
The Day of the Dead is one of Mexico’s most iconic cultural celebrations, taking place annually on November 2. We were thrilled to have had a chance to participate in this unique event during our time at Hacienda del Mar.
The resort is home to one of the few private parades in Los Cabos (with most taking place in cities across the country). It’s a celebration of big proportions that attracts not just hotel guests but also locals from the Los Cabos community and other domestic visitors. There is face painting, fantastic performances, music, singing, costumes, traditional food and the parade itself. It’s a very cool celebration and an amazing experience – a bucket list item for us!
Other Events in Los Cabos
There are a number of other events and special celebrations in Los Cabos worth considering when planning the timing of your visit to Hacienda del Mar.
Cabo San Lucas Tennis Tournament
This tennis tournament takes place annually at the end of July/early August and is open to all guests of the resort. There is a nominal fee to enter.
Los Cabos International Film Festival
This film festival takes place every year in November. It is one of Mexico’s most prestigious film festivals and is open to all resort guests.
Hacienda del Mar Golf Classic
This golf tournament occurs every year in March. It is open to all guests of the resort, and there is a nominal fee to enter.
Easter Celebration
This celebration takes place every year in April. It includes an Easter egg hunt, live music, and other fun activities for the whole family.
New Year’s Eve Gala
This black-tie event is the perfect way to ring in the new year. It includes a four-course dinner, live music, and dancing.
The Bottom Line
We had a fantastic stay at Hacienda del Mar Resort and would recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and affordable stay in Los Cabos.
Between the Day of the Dead celebration, the cooking class, and our day out on the boat, we had the perfect mix of relaxation and activities during our 5-night stay at the resort. There was plenty of time to try all the restaurants, enjoy the pools, savor relaxation at the Cactus Spa and even squeeze in a few workouts at the Fitness Centre. It was a stay to remember!
Disclaimer: Our stay at Hacienda del Mar was provided courtesy of the resort, however as always, all opinions expressed in this article are our own
Great article about Los Cabos and Hacienda del Mar Resort! It’s clear that this is a beautiful and unique destination with a rich history and a commitment to sustainability. The descriptions of the resort’s architecture, facilities, and accommodations are very appealing, and the focus on environmentally conscious practices is commendable. It’s no wonder that this resort is so popular with visitors from all over the world.