On a sprawling piece of property along the coastal highway of Baja California Sur sits the Hacienda Encantada and the Vista Encantada hotels, both run by the Mexico Hotel Group, a family-owned hotel group that started in the 1990s with their signature property Marina Fiesta in downtown Los Cabos.
Vista Encantada is the group’s newest luxury, adults-only property, and Hacienda Encantada is its full-service resort that caters to all groups, with a particular focus on families with kids. There are endless activities and dining options on the property which are great for families that don’t want to fuss with arranging their own tours or exploring off the resort. There’s also a shuttle that will take you to their hotel in town about 15 minutes away, but most guests stick around the property enjoying the three massive swimming pools and 10 on-site restaurants (14 if you purchase the Premium All-inclusive plan and also get access to the dining options at Vista Encantada)
A very enthusiastic activities team leads pool volleyball tournaments, karaoke, trivia nights, and even sings in their own Rock-n-roll cover band. That’s in addition to the three pickleball courts, an adorable putting green, tennis courts, biking and hiking trails, and a sand volleyball court. There are two gyms, both well equipped, with the more impressive views at Vista Encantada which is a 360-degree fishbowl room with views of the landscape below (access to both hotels is included in the all-inclusive package). The resort’s sister property, Vista Encantada, also has a luxury spa where I have had just average massages twice, but that has a gorgeous grotto swimming pool with a view that is irresistible.
The resort’s beach area is just for walking – swimming is dangerous due to the rocks and the currents – and there are stretch sessions on the beach in the mornings as well. A kids’ club offers a splash pad, other fun water activities, and an indoor (air-conditioned) area where kids can play with toys, or draw and color, supervised.
Dining options offer something for every taste, with the most high-end being the Los Riscos steakhouse where you can get lobster tail, filet mignon, and oysters on the half shell while looking out on some of the resort’s best views of the wild Pacific crashing along the rocky shore. The more casual El Patio sits poolside and offers a menu of pizzas, tacos, and other small plates during the day along with cocktails and beers from the swim-up bar. La Pergola is one of the resort’s lunchtime spots with a menu that combines Mexican and International dishes and includes Baja-style fish tacos and other seafood dishes.
Il Forno is a casual Italian restaurant with pizzas, pasta, salads, and foccacia and Barolo is its evening-only counterpart that offers a combination of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The tequila “museum” on the property is a sectioned-off area next to El Eden, the resort’s taco and tequila bar where guests can arrange a tasting with a tequila master who explains the ins and outs of tequila production, tasting, and pairing. It’s an excellent option to soak up (literally) one of Mexico’s most important cultural icons and the pride of the hotel’s owners who are from Jalisco, the home of tequila in Mexico.
A massive breakfast buffet greets guests every morning at the Tres Marias restaurant which is a little heavy on the Colonial Hacienda décor, but has great views from the terrace. Breakfast includes everything from bagels and lox to chilaquiles or huevos rancheros. There are also lots of little stops you can make if you get a craving like the Starbucks cafe Lola Mia in the lobby or one of the other swim-up bars on the property. Guests also get 40% off of room service is available from 7:30am to 9:30pm.
The resort’s selection of rooms is divided into three towers of five floors each. The Encanto tower is for all-inclusive guests only, the other two regular Hacienda Encantada towers can be reserved for either an all-inclusive or a European-style plan. Encanto rooms are all suites – from 1 to 4 bedrooms that range from 430 to 1600 square feet. These include full kitchens, dining and living rooms, and balconies that either face the resort’s interior gardens or the oceanside. Most also have personal plunge pools.
The other two towers of rooms include Luxury suites (600 square feet), one-bedroom master suites (1,400 square feet), two-bedroom family suites (1,250 square feet), and a two-bedroom presidential suite (2,000 square feet). Each has a kitchenette (with larger suites including a full kitchen), a lockbox, a selection of drinks (complimentary) and snacks (for purchase), robes, slippers, hairdryers, and toiletries. The presidential suite has a whirlpool and a private balcony with a plunge pool.
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My biggest complaint about this hotel is the same I had when I stayed at their sister property a few years ago — an overwhelming presence of single-use plastic (individual water bottles for example poured into your glass at dinner, mini bathroom products in throw-away plastic containers). It seems impossible in this day and age that a big resort like this isn’t starting to think more sustainably, especially in an ecologically fragile environment like Baja California Sur.
That said, for a stress-free family vacation of fun and sun, Hacienda Encantada will entertain the kids and offers a bevy of sports, activities, and dining options. This is the perfect hotel to just relax and enjoy the gorgeous Baja weather without having to lift a finger.
Rates at Hacienda Encantada run from $144 to $442 in the low season and $198 to $569 in the high season depending on whether you choose the all-inclusive or European plan. You can make your reservations directly with the hotel or compare rates at Expedia or Booking.com and book your room there if you find a better price.
*The author was hosted at this hotel but her opinions are her own.
