Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos

Guests pull into a long driveway and drive past the golf course to find the entrance of Hacienda del Mar. The time-share project started in 1995 and is part of a huge 1,800-acre golf resort community, which also includes the Sheraton next door. It is easy to get confused since this property and the Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort have similar names and even share certain amenities, but the two resorts operate separately. At the Vacation Club, flora includes several types of cacti, and palm and shade trees that line rounded pathways. The buildings have Spanish Colonial inspired architecture and are in shades of red, green, yellow, or beige. The main building houses the lobby and front desk, and a pathway from here leads to the main restaurant, the scenic pool, and a massive stretch of wonderful beach, which due to its secluded location remains relatively free of vendors.Guests tend to appear mid-morning after having breakfast in their units to snag a prime spot at the pools and beach. As dusk starts to settle, a lovely evening ambience ensues. Under a giant palapa, Pitahayas has a modern bar and lounge centered around a fire pit, and the open-kitchen restaurant feels more sophisticated than those at neighboring resorts. For a slightly more casual environment, Girasoles is also open for dinner, and there's an open-air bar here, too, where guests can enjoy Cuban cigars and margaritas. On Tuesdays, the staff throws a cocktail party to get to know the owners -- one of the many ways they stay connected (family hospitality is part of the brand). Guests who are not owners will likely be asked (perhaps one too many times) to attend a time-share presentation. 

Hacienda del Mar is located slightly away from the main action in Cabo San Lucas, which is great for families looking for a bigger resort environment with more peace and quiet. The resort is part of a huge development called Cabo del Sol, and it can be reached by the Transpeninsular Highway that connects San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas. Guests arrive to Los Cabos International Airport, about 35 minutes away, and either take a taxi or rent a car to get to the property. For those who choose the latter, free parking is offered near the reception building only, which can be a hike from the individual buildings (guests should use porter service for transporting luggage). Taxi fares from the hotel into town to experience nightlife are quite high, but most guests tend to stick the resort, aside from a trip to Costco to fill up on groceries. There are several renowned golf courses in the complex, and excursions like whale watching and diving often include transportation.Cabo San Lucas, a 15-minute drive away, is at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. It's a beach town on the stretch of coastline collectively known as Los Cabos (The Capes). This has long been a popular vacation spot for sun-worshipping party seekers. 

This low-rise residential resort has 234 units in 20 three-story buildings -- most that come with elevators, but not all. Sizes include studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites with views of the ocean, grounds, or golf course. Units have hacienda-style decor with Spanish tiling, white and blue accents, traditional dark wood furnishings, and fully equipped kitchenettes (in the studio Junior Suites) or kitchens. These have coffeemakers, toasters, microwaves, pots and pans, dishes, glassware, and utensils; appliances are stainless steel. Bathrooms are spacious with separate jetted tubs and walk-in showers, and housekeepers replace Vert de Terres toiletries daily. Patios have sliding glass doors and are furnished with cushioned chairs. Bigger units tend to have more amenities, such as outdoor jetted tubs on the patios and laundry facilities.  

One of the two pools is long and oceanfront, with several tiered freeform sections, one with an infinity edge, as well as a stone bridge, basketball hoops, and a volleyball net. The main stone bridge has steps down to the beach. There are red cushioned sun loungers with white umbrellas, and a bar and cafe for lunch service (but no swim-up bar). This pool area draws mostly adults, while the more kid-friendly pool on the other side of the resort has a mushroom fountain and a small waterslide (but no ocean views). There's a cafe and bar adjacent to this pool as well. Kids also can spend time in the kids' club with bright indoor space and a lawn with a shaded trampoline.Most guests tend to hit Costco for groceries, but there's a great store on-site selling basic fruit and vegetables, clothing items such as hats and beach wear, sunscreen, and bathroom essentials. Guests can also stock up on beer, wine, liquor, and Cuban cigars.  Before check-in and after check-out, guests can use the comfortable hospitality lounge equipped with TVs, computers, and showers.  Larger units have washers and dryers, but for everyone else, a self-service laundry room offers several machines and a TV.The hotel has a small chapel offering Catholic mass every Sunday.

The Hacienda del Mar has a beautiful location along a huge stretch of soft beige sand. There are plenty of open spots to set up loungers and umbrellas. As is the case with other resorts in the area, swimming is not possible due to dangerous currents and riptides. That does not take away from the beauty, though; guests can enjoy long walks along the deep blue Sea of Cortez, relax under a palapa with a cocktail, or strike up a game at the volleyball net. A set of steps leads down to the sand from a few different areas -- one by the restaurant and one in the middle of the pool. Very few vendors (if any) find their way here since the resort is tucked away on its own cove. There are a few ruggedly attractive rocky patches, but more than enough soft sand. Be on the lookout for frequent whale sightings from December to April.

The main restaurant -- the only one that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- is called Girasoles and is located near the reception on the third floor. It has authentic Mexican cuisine and decor, and guests can dine affordably while overlooking the golf course and sea. In the evening, when it cools off, the staff lights outdoor heaters and candles, which add to the atmosphere. One floor below is a separate bar space with several high-top tables and TVs showing sports. For special occasion dinners, Pitayahas (named after a native tropical fruit) resides next to the pool and the beach under an 80-foot diameter palapa. The open kitchen serves Pacific-Rim cuisine, and there's a romantic and lively evening ambience. Not surprisingly, the restaurant has won several awards under Chef Volker Romeike, and reservations are suggested (no beach wear allowed). Guests can ask for a tour of the underground wine cellar, called Cava de Santiago, which has 350 labels from US, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile. Groups of up to 10 people can reserve the rustic wood table for private dining. The entrance of the palapa has a bar and lounge flanked by a photogenic tree with twinkling lights. Guests can enjoy cocktails at the bar, or sit in cushioned lounge seats surrounding the fire pit. Both pools offer lunch service, beverages, and cocktails throughout the day.