Dotting the coast of Baja California Sur’s southernmost tip, Cabo’s placid stretch of waterfront resorts is among North America’s top vacation locales for families, couples, and celebrities in search of quiet luxury and privacy. The latter became apparent within hours of my arrival at the Hacienda. While on a scenic golf cart joyride across the property, I spotted what could only be rapper Waka Flocka’s unmistakable dreads as he strolled on the path ahead, taking in a view that would stop any visitor in his or her tracks. Gabriel Ibarra Macias, the Sales and Marketing Director for Mexico Grand Hotels, tells me coyly that Hacienda Encantada has played host to many performing artists and Hollywood elite in the past, though he won’t reveal more than that – a true testament to what brings VIP guests here in the first place.
As I spent more and more time within the spice-hued confines of the sprawling resort, the feeling of home promised by many luxury resorts began to ring true quite quickly. My suite, which I’m told has been decorated by the matriarch of the family of proprietors (along with the rest of the entire property), is warm and cozy, with nods to Mexican culture and style. An outdoor pool with a swim-up bar serves as the view from my patio. In the building next door, there’s a world-class spa with outdoor treatment cabanas calling my name. And with five distinct dining experiences awaiting discovery, there’s certainly no shortage of culinary exploration to top it all off.
Here, Ibarra shares with us Hacienda Encantada’s most coveted room, what makes it such a hot commodity, and some fascinating history that even further lends to the property’s dynamic character.
What’s the most requested room at Hacienda Encantada?
The Luxury Suite.
Hacienda Encantada
What makes it so special?
This room is the perfect combination of a luxury vacation and the comfort of home. Every Luxury Suite also features a private balcony, offering guests unbeatable views of the Sea of Cortez.
What is the rate?
From 212 USD to 249 USD (depending on availability).
What’s the most essential item on the room service menu?
Our burgers! Our burgers are a hit amongst our guests, especially small children.
Hacienda Encantada
What is your personal favorite dining experience at Hacienda Encantada?
We have many menus with varied options, but if I had to choose just one, I would choose the experience of La Mesa del Patron (the boss’s table) at Risco’s, an exquisite 4-course dinner with the best views of the Sea of Cortez and one of the most romantic experiences under the Cabo stars.
Tell us a few fun facts about the property.
Did you meet our charming cow statue, Lola? Lola is a member of the Hacienda Encantada family. She’s been part of our history since the resort’s beginning and throughout the years has become the hotel’s star. Lola is dressed up in costume for some of the year’s most important events. She loves attention and selfies.
Hacienda Encantada
We also have a wishing well. What makes it so special is its history dating back to the middle of the last century. When the construction of Hacienda Encantada began, this well was discovered; it was so deep that its depth is not known with precision or where the excavation leads. According to elderly legends, old settlers from Baja California Sur turned to the well as a safe haven. They were members of the Pericues tribe, who upon seeing the arrival of the Spaniards hid their most precious treasures there to avoid theft since they were the only ones who knew the way out. They hid their best spears, cooking secrets, and most importantly, the answer to how to survive in the summer and how to get plenty of water from cacti.
According to the legend, if you throw a coin and ask for a wish, you invoke the old settlers who not only to grant that wish, but also keep that secret that came from the heart.
