Hacienda La Ballena

I arrived for my first Cabo visit and birthday celebration to a welcome drink and the sight of several whales. It was immediately clear I'd picked a fabulous place. My room was beautiful and comfortable, with a lovely view, and housekeeping kept everything spotless. I ate at Cocina Del Mar several times, and the food and service never fell short. Drinks, pool service, and loungers were all above expectations. Sebastian, our personal concierge, was welcoming and incredibly attentive. I also enjoyed a 60-minute massage and the amenities and exceptional service at the spa. I absolutely want to come back and would recommend this luxury stay.

Esperanza made our 20th wedding anniversary unforgettable. Shannon and I noticed the thoughtful little touches throughout our stay, and the whole staff worked hard to make us comfortable. The place feels special because of its people, and we'll likely be back. Sebastian arranged our travel without hesitation and got us the room we requested. The view was amazing. When we arrived, Ruben kindly walked us through the restaurant locations and how to get around, making sure we were comfortable. He and Sebastian worked together to make the visit one we'll remember. Juan also helped me find my way and coordinated rides. The pool and beach attendants were cheerful and treated us like royalty. When strong winds made us ask to move from the beach Cabana to the more luxurious pool Cabana, Sebastian arranged it on short notice. Jersain and Sergio brought us extra loungers instead of making us go down to get them. Mariana brought special tastings and little treats, a lovely touch. Lucero, Jersain, Sergio, and William took great care of us poolside, bringing snacks to the beach and tasty burgers, seafood, smoothies, and cocktails to the pool cabana. We loved the food. The red snapper at Cocina del Mar was a highlight, and the chef sent out a cake with a special note for our anniversary, which meant so much to us. We dined at Cocina del Mar twice, and both nights were exceptional. Please thank Alfredo, Alan, and Elan for looking after us. Alex was a great bartender too, and his drinks were perfect. We especially liked the "Tulum." We also had dinner at Estrellas, where Zoe was so sweet and gave us excellent service. On Thursday morning Juan Pablo and Fernando took us to the airport. Fernando kindly escorted us inside to help with our tickets, a classy, thoughtful touch. Please also thank housekeeping. They made us feel at home and kept everything clean and orderly. The bed linens were arranged and folded perfectly, and they left lovely little trinkets while we were at dinner. One housekeeper even wrapped a little velcro strap around my phone charging cable to keep it tidy. I didn't get their names, but they made our visit so special.

The kids loved the pool, which went a long way toward keeping everyone happy on our family trip. One of our favorite places in the area. Esperanza is special, especially the cliffside restaurant, where tables sit among the rocks. The food is incredible, and the views can stop you mid-conversation. It's unlike anything else in Cabo.

The grounds are beautiful and feel closely connected with nature, unlike some of the more ornate resorts in the area. We were there when the property was almost full, but the pools and dinner never felt too crowded. It's very family friendly while still being quiet for adults, a hard balance to get right. The service and food are excellent and rival Cabo's other top resorts. Rooms are spacious and well done, though a little less charming than at some other properties. Snacks by the pool, a custom embroidered pillowcase, and the cigar station each evening were nice touches.