Jon A.
Yelp
Cue the impromptu fireworks for the backdrop in the marina. Cue the late night, quiet patio of tequila and mariscos. Cue up every moment you have in your mind of celebration because this review has special occasion written all over it: Yelp is in Mexico and there's no better place to review first than Hotel El Ganzo, and I've been waiting to write this review of a very special occasion for months now. How many times can I write "very special occasion" in a review? Sheesh, I have no idea, but let's find out.
When you see that the flag flying with the Goose up high, that's when you know you're going to have one of the most off the beaten path experiences that you'd least expect, because when you say "off the beaten path" as it's not a shack, it's gorgeous. It's a boutique hotel of about 70, all Sea of Cortez facing, rooms and is of the Preferred Boutique group.
It's completely removed from the expectations of the All Inclusive culture of Cabo. In fact, I've been incredibly weary of going to Cabo for a very long time because of it, and when planning a very special occasion, I had Cabo in mind but it never felt quite right... until I found Hotel El Ganzo. I started clicking through the website and I couldn't really imagine it existing amongst the rest of the all-inclusive resorts. Then, I found out that it's the first major property of a new marina development. And then, of all things, I found out that Charlie Sheen owns the roof top bar. And throws his own parties there. And, well, if Charlie "Short Sleeved Button Up" Sheen showed up on this special vacation, so be it.
When booking this place you're going ask, "wait, where? What exactly? Oh it's not all inclusive?" Those are all fair questions. It's in the Puerto de los Cabos, and it's the only property there other than an incredible local taco shop (more to come on that) and a convenient store. So it's set off about 15 minutes, separated from a national park from the rest of the resorts and it's surrounded by the quiet marina of fisherman and yachts. Across the marina, yes that's their private beach, bar and restaurant that they can take you to and fro. The isolation of the place is something to really take in. The rooms, the entire location is designed well enough you're not going to want to leave, and you don't need to... just prepare for it.
Oh, hey, a sidebar: a note on the whole all inclusive culture... you eat three, maybe five, okay six, meals a day, how much food needs to be inclusive? The food here is really high quality, including the sushi bar on the roof. I know that seems strange, until you realize there are fisherman slicing fresh fish below you in the marina. To me, I'd rather have an experience like this with pointed food and being remote. I really don't need to guzzle a pack of beer and have the feeling I need to be eating and drinking to catch up with the prepaid bill of food. Rather, I'd love to keep it relaxed and low key like Ganzo.
We were there in October and it was really quiet other than the Saturday afternoon pool party. Most of our days were spent on the rooftop with the infinity pool, the infinity pool on top of the infinity pool (could you be any more ridiculous Charlie?) and the swim up bar. Over the course of the five days there were maybe a dozen other guests staying there and really that makes the days really special, and quiet. And the service, be it a slow time of year, was incredibly staffed and seemed to be everywhere and were on top of everything. It may have been the eight hour flight day but the first bite of the ceviche and handmade tortilla is what I want from now on whenever I'm on a rooftop.
Every room has an ocean view and a balcony. The lower levels have hot tubs on their patio. The upper levels have a canopy bed that opens out to the balcony. We took a peak at the corner suites, and next time that's where we'll be staying. Speaking of next time... yes, the special occasion definitely makes this place resonate deeper, but with direct flights from Virgin and this place's ability to be consistently remote, there's no reason I / we / anyone else? come down here for a quick weekend away.
I feel like I've gone on forever -- some intense Ganzo ramblings here, much like the ramblings I got on about after a fistful of iced Cubanas -- and I haven't even mentioned the downstairs breakfast and the downstairs pool. Or the full details of the service, or that they do rotating art installations and live music, with a sound studio, and movie nights. Oh, and private drivers! They'll take you to Flora Farms, or any other restaurant or bar in the area in their hot retro Ganzo-embossed Land Rover.
Really, there were impromptu fireworks. There were quiet nights with their kind staff. Their were endless views of the Sea of Cortez. And, I couldn't think of a better place to *ring* in a new chapter of our lives. Here's to many more impromptu weekends at El Ganzo.
