While driving from the airport into Cabo San Lucas, the only giveaway that Hurricane Odile had devastated the region just months before was the palm trees — trunks sprouted baby fronds instead of long swaying leaves.
And at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort, which suffered very little damage, guest wouldn’t know anything had been amiss. The five-star resort on the Pacific side of Los Cabos was in top, tourist-ready condition when we visited in mid-December.
One of several Pueblo Bonito resorts in Los Cabos, the Pacifica is the brand’s only all-inclusive property in town. Catering exclusively to adults and with a large spa, it focuses on romance and relaxation. Yes, you can sip all the Italian bubbly or pina coladas you want, but there’s no loud pool music or after-dark nightclub.
Its 154 guestrooms are spread out in six five-story low-rise, gold-hued, Adobe-style buildings. All have ocean views. Contemporary in decor, guestrooms feature stone floors with pebble mosaic accents, sliding glass doors opening onto large terraces, high ceilings, comfy beds, solid soundproof doors and bathrooms with above-the-counter marble sinks and walk-in showers. Onyx panels in the doors allow the yellow glow of outside lights to warm the rooms at night.
Outside, water canals and ponds wind around the attractive desert-garden grounds planted with cacti and bougainvillea. Gardeners rake the sand, trim bushes, sweep leaves and keep everything well-maintained.
The pool lounging areas are expansive. There are plenty of cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas lining the long free-form pool running almost the width of the resort. Another circular pool (lit up by colorful twinkling lights at night) and a third large hot tub offer more poolside lounge chairs — no need to dash down in the morning to reserve a chair.
But if you want to lounge like royalty in one of the white-curtained double daybeds on the beach fronting the resort, you have to pay an extra charge. And while you can walk the glorious 2.5-mile stretch of gold sand (without being bothered by beach vendors), you can’t swim there due to the surf and dangerous riptides.
In keeping with the wellness and rejuvenation focus, free exercise classes are included. There’s yoga at 7 a.m.; body sculpt or ball classes for abdominal workouts at 10:30 a.m.; and aquasize in the pool at 12:30 p.m. The air-conditioned gym is well-equipped (but it doesn’t have any windows). Endangered sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the beach, and one late afternoon, we watched staff members release baby hatchlings into the sea.
At night, we could choose from an outdoor buffet corner, the main restaurant (where alfresco poolside tables lit by candles were the most popular) or a small indoor/outdoor sushi restaurant. The creative sushi selections hit the mark with us. After dinner, blazing fires in copper braziers by the beach invited lingering over a nightcap under the stars.
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica’s all-inclusive plan allows dining at three other Pueblo Bonito resorts in Los Cabos, and free shuttle service between the resorts is another great perk of staying here.
The Details
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resortwww.pueblobonitopacifica.com
