[LOS CABOS, MEXICO] — Here’s my review of Esperanza luxury resort Los Cabos, an Auberge resort. One of the best luxury resorts in Los Cabos. Cabo is crazy with Spring Breakers, bachelorette parties and some budget accommodations, but a few coves over is the super luxurious Esperanza resort, far enough away from the maddening crowds, but close enough to benefit from the convenience of getting in/out of town. Esperanza is an Auberge resort, so you know it’s top of the line.
Esperanza is part of the Auberge Resort Collection, so you know it’s gonna be top notch.
You get your own personal concierge who pretty much looks after to you round the clock and arranges everything for you.
The good thing about the location on Punta Ballena — the south-facing whale tale peninsula that juts out into the Sea of Cortez — is that you get both killer sunrises and sunsets, hard to find anywhere. Amazing light, all day and night. No humidity. Only a few bugs.
It’s ridiculously expensive, especially for Mexico — $1000/night is the new $500/night — and everything is extra…and extra expensive. (Think Hawaii Prices, not Mexico Prices). I don’t mind plunking down a thou for an amazing room in an incredible place, but I hate getting dinged for every single thing like I’m at Disneyland. Especially in a country where labor is so cheap, but you are paying full-on U.S. prices. It might be me, but it seems like it is priced more for what people are used to paying for at other Auberge resorts than what it costs. But, you just bite the bullet and don’t worry about it and just enjoy the ride.
But all were extremely nice people. Some great restaurants. Unbeatable views. Very easy to get to.
I typically prefer smaller independent boutique hotels, but this is a really nice resort.
Esperanza is the only private beach resort in Los Cabos. Compared to Cabo’s LA-style wide and maintained beaches, the strip of private beaches in front of the hotel are more natural and raw.
You’re facing the Pacific here and this part of the coastline is rocky, so there’s not a lot of ocean swimming on the point. But I’ll take these views over everything.
There are a number of different pools scattered about the property, some higher up the hill, some around the corner overlooking a private little beach or the glorious and giant main pool.
I love a good pool and this biggie is nearly perfect. Hard to beat views of the ocean just a few dozen feet below. I’m not as much of a beach person, I’m more of a sitting-by-a-pool-overlooking-the-beach person. This is a world class pool and view.
The pools are the best part. My only complaint: One shouldn’t have to fight to relax. You shouldn’t have to fight for a chair when spending over $1,000 a night. It made waking up ever day in paradise stressful, until you can secure your chair.
The wrangle for a good lounge space was the main pain. Our first day, before we knew better, we arrived late morning and every chair was taken. Every single one. We both had to get towels and lay them on the concrete for an hour or so before we saw someone get up and leave for the day.
You shouldn’t have to fight for a chair when you’re spending over $1,000 a night. It’s almost as bad as a Vegas hotel. But in the end, when you do mark your turf, you can relax and enjoy the quiet, mellow atmosphere.
TIP: Took us a couple days to figure out “the system” — go down before breakfast and “talk” 💵 to the crew captain and he’ll hold a spot for you.
Make sure you get up early and try to snag one of the few cabanas on the beach. A perfect spot to relax all day and dip in and out of the sun. They’ll bring you margs and great beach food so you never have to leave.
A great room set up, with wide opening doors, a cool infinity hot tub on every deck and a blend of indoor and outdoor space. You never want to leave.
Amazing light, all day and night. No humidity. Only a few bugs. My favorite type of weather. We turned off the AC and left sliding doors wide open most of the time.
Do your best to try to secure a good casita location. All the images on their website show balconies right over the beach, but you’re more likely to get stuck inland a bit, which they still call “oceanview” rooms. Yes, you can see the ocean.
Maybe try call their toll free number for reservations and asking/pleading advice vs. booking online and hoping for the best.
I don’t know about you, but I build my entire vacation around securing a room with a perfect view, will even schedule flights around availability of particular rooms. So it bugs me when a hotel or resort are nebulous about names or photo descriptions, only to be surprised/bummed when you get there.
REALITY:
Was this a horrible view? No. Just not the view I was expecting from all the pictures for this category of room on their booking website. I thought I was paying more for the best view, right over the water.
I expect that from a Hilton or local hotel chain, not from an Auberge property. This felt more like an “Acropolis View!” room in Athens, which while technically true, you have to duck out the window and turn your head right to see it.
There are a number of great restaurants scattered around the resort. Some really big, some smaller and more casual. Or smaller and fancier. It’s whatever you feel like you’re in the mood for.
Breakfast was our favorite meal of the day — and the only thing included in the exorbitant prices. You can eat at the common breakfast bar in the Palapa restaurant, but instead eat at Cocina del Mar and get some amazing Mexican specialties made to order. I’ve thought of these chilaquiles everyday since.
One thing worth splurging on is chartering your own sailboat. There are lots of large boats that take big groups out, but there’s something magical about about being under your own sail, without the chance of a bunch of loud drunks bumming your mellow.
You can scoot along the coast at your own pace, duck in and out of coves or stop for a swim. The hotel can arrange one for you. Schedule your sail or power boat for the end of day so you can catch the spectacular sunset.
You can go for a glorious horseback ride on the beach with a local guide. You can start out in the desert hills, then trudge through the white sand. Time your visit for sunset for the best light.
— Last Visited March 2013; Post Dramatically Updated December 2024 —
Here is Esperanza’s website.
Here’s a review from Condé Nast Traveler. A review from Forbes Travel Guide. Here’s the always reliable Mr&Mrs Smith review. And a review from AFAR magazine, which looks like the copied a lot of my copy. 🤣. And here’s the Michelin review for Esperanza.
Here’s where Esperanza is:
You don’t really need a car. We arranged for a ride from the airport and never left and were perfectly content.
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