As we look back on our travels in 2015, there are few resorts that stand out in our mind more than our visit to Esperanza, an Auberge Resort property in Cabo San Lucas. The 57-room resort (also a member of Relais & Chateaux) is fresh from a top-to-bottom revamp after a 2014 hurricane, and has emerged better than ever.
Here are a few of our favorite features from a recent visit:
The Updated Grounds
The Sea of Cortez’s shores aren’t suited to ocean frolicking, so a Cabo visit is often confined to the pool. Updates to the private beach area (with its new palapa-topped cabanas and wooden sun deck) are well-appreciated, while the azure-blue multi-tiered pool is now our favorite spot to lounge, thanks to well-positioned in water chaises and roving attendants who bring everything from citrus-infused water to foot massages.
The Rooms
Eschewing the bright colors and motifs so often used in Mexican resorts, the renovated rooms offer a palette of contemporary and neutral furnishings with grey-washed wood floors and light driftwood accents, with pops of deep blue and hand-tooled leather furnishings for contrast. Designer Mary Alice Palmer of HKS Hospitality Group made the decor changes, which we absolutely love. With just 57 rooms, there’s not a bad view in the house, but we do love the Beachfront suites, with their 1,200 square feet of living space and infinity-edged hot tubs, if we had to choose.
The Spa
We’re serious spa-goers, and it means something when we put Esperanza’s at the very top of our short list. A short walk from the main check-in, the spa seamlessly blends fitness (think gratis Beach Bootcamp, yoga, and TRX) with wellness (custom “agua frescas” to complement your treatment) with irresistible treatments at a relatively affordable price compared to other luxury resorts. Go with the Tropical Essence Massage. You’ll thank us later.
The Food & Drink
Signature dining outlet Cocina del Mar is one of the most beautiful settings in which we’ve ever enjoyed a meal. Request a table as close to the ocean’s edge as possible and bring a wrap – you might just get sprayed by a passing wave. We’ve envisioned a wedding here ever since we first saw the setting.
The Service
Service at Esperanza goes above and beyond – from an always-waiting golf cart to offer a lift to your room to friendly staff who wave as you walk past. No detail is too big – or too small.
Rooms from $525.
