Hotel Villa Del Palmar At The Islands of Loreto – All-Inclusive Luxury In The Pacific

Loreto in Mexico has been on our travel list for a while. And we finally got to experience a little slice of heaven in the form of Hotel Villa Del Palmar at the islands of Loreto. We were craving an adventure and romance-filled second honeymoon for a while now. This all-inclusive resort was perfect, as it’s designed for relaxation, loads of water fun, and with the focus to “get away from it all.” It sits on the gorgeous Sea of Cortez in the tranquil Danzante Bay and is surrounded by Baja’s Sierra de la Giganta mountains. As the sun set into the Sea of Cortez, we held hands and knew we’d made the right choice coming here.

An impressive introduction to a seaside paradise

Our arrival here is one of the things I’ll remember the most. Imagine laying your eyes on gorgeous views of the pool and ocean the minute you step onto the grounds of the resort! That’s exactly how it was for us. The super-friendly and warm staff immediately went out of their way to help erase any journey stress we had. While they were checking us in, which was very relaxed by the way, they offered us delicious welcome drinks. Then, they guided us through a wonderful tradition of an aromatic hand-washing ritual, followed by the best chair massages we’ve gotten in our lives. It’s symbolic of all tensions and burdens getting washed away so we could completely focus and enjoy our stay. Things were definitely off to an amazing start!

It only got better from there on, especially when we were shown our rooms, complete with keyless entry. They strapped on chipped bracelets on our wrists, so we didn’t have to stress about carrying around room keys. We were floored by the VIP welcome amenities in our room, such as the beautiful personalized welcome greeting on our plush bed, the imaginative towel creations, and the gourmet chocolates. In fact, we were treated to a variety of handmade towel creations every time our rooms were cleaned. They made for great pictures for the ‘Gram!

The huge, well-appointed suites with massive sea-facing balconies

One of the major reasons why Villa Del Palmar in Loreto stands out is the massive size of the suites and the balconies. What’s more, even the smallest entry-level rooms have balconies and are a whopping 650 sq. feet in size! We’d never seen such massive balconies in our lives, especially one we could call our own. I don’t even know if what we had could be called a balcony because it was as good as an outdoor room by itself.

We chose the one-bedroom suite as our nest for our romantic Mexican sojourn, and we had an absolute ball. Our balcony came with an arch, comfy lounge chairs, and even a patio dining set where we’d enjoy our morning breakfasts and late-night nightcaps. The best bit was that our room directly faced the hotel’s pool courtyard and the beach, making for wonderful views. Our suite even had a kitchenette, where cooking romantic meals was one of the best parts of our stay since we’re both excellent cooks and foodies. And while the modern bathroom was wonderful, it was the in-room spa bath that stole our hearts. We took advantage of it by enjoying bubble baths every second day!

Would you believe that there was a washer-dryer in our suite too? Yep.

Beach bliss and pool time

We knew we’d found bliss when we saw that the resort has not one or two but five different swimming pools creatively designed like sea turtles. Our favorite was the adults-only pool that occupied an enviable spot on Danzante Bay, complete with mountains in the background. The gorgeous landscaping of flowering bushes, agave plants, and coconut palms only added to the amorous ambiance. We even spent some quiet time in each other’s company in the massive oversized hot tub, complete with cocktails in hand.

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What’s more, there was always something entertaining going on by the pool, whether it was water aerobics, a friendly volleyball tournament, or even poolside bingo! We could watch from the comfort of our daybeds when we wanted and could join in when we wanted.

No matter how pretty you find the pools, you must spend time at the beach overlooking the captivating Sea of Cortez. We enjoyed a blissful swim in the waters, which were warm enough, followed by a nice stroll from one end of the beachfront to the other. Later on, we even rented kayaks and paddleboards to head out on the water and sunbathed on the daybeds with Mexican beers from the beach bar/snack shack. Pro tip: After we’d drunk all the coconut water from the coconut we got at the beach bar, the bartender made us drink in the coconut shell. Heck, he even cut up a fresh coconut and served it to us in a cup with Mexican sauce and spices on the top – don’t miss it!

A thrilling time in the water

Since my partner and I are both water babies, we had to have lots of beach and water fun – and Hotel Villa Del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto ensured that we did! One thing we loved about the resort’s Danzante Bay location is all the wonderful marine life and the local flora and fauna. In fact, French naval officer Jacques Cousteau once called the Sea of Cortez “The Aquarium of the World.” That’s why we went on the enthralling Bahia de Loreto National Park & Snorkeling Tour. This tour allowed us to explore the stunning beaches of Bahia de Loreto National Park, one of Mexico’s greatest treasures. In fact, the authentic panga boat tour even took us snorkeling, where we discovered underwater wonders along the way.

However, our most mind-blowing water experience was when it was dark, when my partner, I, and a few other guests headed out on stand-up paddleboards rigged with LED lights. So, that ended up illuminating a path around and ahead of us. Hence, we could see marine life in all its glory, right from jellyfish to tropical fish! Our guides were excellent and took us to the best spots around while keeping us safe at the same time. After about an hour, they guided us back to the resort using the paper lanterns that were set up for the beach party.

Fun dining experiences

After all the daytime fun and the LED paddleboarding, we made our way to the nighttime Beach Party hosted by the resort. The dinner was an exhaustive buffet of local and international delicacies, including lots of healthy food options. The staff ensured that we had a fun night with a series of games for both adults and kids, but our favorite bit was the dancing that came with the limbo and conga line! That said, we also enjoyed quiet romantic dinners at the three restaurants. I couldn’t think of a better spot to enjoy a glass of wine and excellent seafood than from the restaurants’ patios, which offered incredible views of the beach, the sea, and the mountains.

Last, but not least, we became rather smitten with the yummy and creative cocktails the resort served. And we were mightily impressed when the ever-accommodating resort staff even arranged for a private tequila-tasting class, followed by a cocktail-making class! Needless to say, we took home some fantastic cocktail recipes, and this is one memory that will live on long, even after the trip.

Unwinding at Sabila Spa at Hotel Villa Del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto

Of course, no romantic sojourn is complete without a spa, and the resort’s signature luxury Sabila Spa and Wellness Center was perfect. The incredibly spacious and beautiful spa features steam, sauna, showers, baths, and stunning views of the mountains too. With more than 17 treatment rooms, it’s no wonder the spa staff takes so much pride in pampering. Besides separate men’s and women’s areas, the amenities include Scottish showers, cold plunge pools, and warm and hot tubs.

We especially loved the individual Jacuzzi baths that are set up with aloe vera-infused water, which was just the thing we needed after a long day at the beach. On another day, we relaxed in water soaked with Epsom salts that eased our muscles after kayaking and hiking. And, of course, we topped everything off with a couples’ massage and treatment, which included the Chocolate Mint Body scrub and the aromatic Sea of Cortez mud wrap – ah, bliss.

Pros

• Staying here allowed us to enjoy everything that the area has to offer without exerting any effort to do so.
• This resort is a unique eco-luxury destination that offers something for everyone, including families.
• With high-end amenities, this remote location resort is perfect for those who value undiscovered destinations and want to get away from it all. 

Cons

• While there’s a hotel shuttle, the resort is a good half an hour from the town center.

Conclusion

Visiting Loreto felt like our very own private paradise, and the incredible Villa Del Palmar is the perfect serene yet indulgent honeymoon destination. Besides the luxurious accommodations, the ambiance is as tranquil as it gets, especially since Loreto is a sleepy town. Plus, the staff and the resort could not be less pretentious, which earned them brownie points. As nature lovers looking for the ultimate anti–Cabo Mexican beach experience in Baja, staying at Hotel Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto is a must.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto have an airport shuttle?
A: No, but they’re happy to make arrangements for transfers to and from the airport for a nominal fee. You could either contact the resort directly or fill out this form here.

Q: What does all-inclusive cover at Villa del Palmar on the Islands of Loreto?
A: The all-inclusive plan gives you unlimited access to food, beverages, and alcoholic drinks (except premium liquor) at most of the resort’s bars and restaurants. Please see the details on the official webpage of the all-inclusive plan.