Villa del Palmar: The Hidden Gem in the Baja Peninsula – Luxury resort, history and sapphire waters found at the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto
When you discover a vacation spot that is so magical, do you tell everyone? Do you share this seemingly private place that offers a type of beauty that comes from nature itself? In a world where traveling is somewhat taken for granted, it is at the Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa in Loreto, Mexico, that you will learn how mountains, sea, desert and water come together to bring you a sense of peacefulness like no where else.
When it comes to Mexico, we hear a lot about cities like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta to visit on vacation. And in the Baja peninsula, we know about the fun that is Cabo San Lucas. But, what you may not know about is that north of Cabo is a quaint town called Loreto that feels like a piece of Mexican history not yet shared with the world.
Traveling to Loreto
Getting to Loreto, Mexico, is just a short two hour flight from LAX on Alaska Airlines or if you are coming from Canada, WestJet Airlines. Having traveled quite a bit to Mexico, I was use to big bustling airports. Landing in Loreto was an easy and picturesque experience.
This newly built airport is small but mighty. Efficient with its single gate and carousel upon arrival.
When departing, an organized, air conditioned building offers sources for food, beverage and shopping as you wait for your flight and last minute appreciation for the beauty outside.
Travel from the airport to Villa del Palmar is a short 30 minutes. A waiting shuttle will whisk you to the resort but not before stopping at a breathtaking spot to let you take in the gorgeousness of the scenery.
Nature Meets Luxury Resort
As you approach the entrance to Villa del Palmar, you will see the resort surrounded by mountains, desert and water. Its own world which you will learn once you settle in. Bordered by the Sierra de la Giganta mountains, Danzante Bay and the Sea of Cortez, you will soon become one with nature.
Opened in 2011, Villa del Palmar’s owner, Owen Perry, sees the future of Loreto to be what Cabo was like 20 years ago. He’s investing in the area and its people who sparkle with joy when they share their city. This small fishing town is a proud one.
The resort itself has over 4447 acres of land from the buildings to the Rees Jones designed golf course.
Within the Villa complex, you will find 181 deluxe ocean view suites that are one, two and three bedroom suites that feel like your own apartment.
Full kitchens, enormous balconies and a jetted tub in your room will have you consider moving in for the long haul. Stress levels diminish as you look around your “home” for the time you will be vacationing in Loreto and peace begins to settle in.Sunrise and coffee on the balcony:
Never worry about locking yourself out of your room as their keyless entry will make it effortless for you and your family to never get locked out or lose a key. Perfect solution for the kids (ok, adults too) who may misplace their room keys! See for yourself how it works.
When you first arrive at Villa del Palmar until it is time to go, you will never doubt that the staff wants nothing more than for you to have the most amazing experience at their resort. The many ways in which they welcome you starts from when you first arrive to accommodating your every need throughout your stay.
Villa del Palmar: The Hidden Gem in the Baja Peninsula
Upon our arrival, we were offered a refreshing cocktail
and a ceremonial handwashing over a beautiful bowl.
As you step outside the lobby and take a deep breath, you will see the grounds in front of you that start with an enormous swimming pool in the shape of a turtle. So cute! Then, you realize that it’s time for lunch! Our first meal took place at Casa Mia restaurant that gave us views from the pool to the mountains to the Bay. Coming from a winter climate, this by itself was a reason to smile!
Some of my favorite dishes came from this restaurant. Simple. Fresh. Flavorful.
Guacamole and Chips (I have tried to replicate this at home and it just isn’t the same. Could be the scenery.)
The freshest of ceviche:
Shrimp tacos (these were so good, we had them multiple times during our stay!)
Mexican pizza:
As we enjoyed our lunch, we learned about the amenities and activities offered by the resort.
Dining covers all bases:
- Casa Mia Restaurant – Authentic Italian food for lunch and dinner
- The Market Restaurant – Fresh buffet items to create your own dishes
- Danzante Restaurant — Seafood and steak house with elegant presentation and large selection of wines
Each restaurant goes above and beyond to make sure that any food allergies or preferences are accommodated. Gluten-free, vegetarian, shellfish allergies, you will have plenty of options to choose from. And there is NO sacrifice to flavor and deliciousness of each dish! Should you go fishing and catch a fish, the restaurant will prepare your fish for you to your specifications. Now, that’s true personal customer service! Read more about the amazing culinary experience we had here.
When you are as entrenched in the food world as I am, to be able to go on vacation to a luxury resort that is hosting a Food Network Chef Week, you realize how totally fortunate you are. Food Network Chefs, Penny Davidi, Tregaye Fraser and Melissa D’Arabian spent a week creating recipes, doing demonstrations along the pool and cooking for guests.While that alone is a bonus, we were also so lucky to learn about the Persian food culture from Chef Penny and her Mom, Haideh, who treated us to a private cooking class. In this class, Mother and Daughter took over the restaurant kitchen to make Persian Rice. Join in the fun and learn the technique yourself. What a great experience! The passion for cooking is definitely seen in this family.
If your idea of relaxation is having anything to do with water, then you will be in heaven with all your options:
5 swimming pools that make up the turtle shape including a kids’ pool
Paddling boarding/Kayaking
Fishing
Guided boat rides to go snorkeling, fishing or whale and dolphin watching – note that if you do any of these, you will never forget the phenomenal experience you have seeing the sapphire waters and sea life
Jellyfish:
When it comes to a vacation that is meant to slow your life down, there is nothing more welcomed than a fabulous spa experience. At the Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa, that happens at the Sabila Spa which supports the resort’s philosophy of wellness. In this 39,000 square feet of relaxation, you will find an ultra luxurious experience just waiting for you. Whether you choose to take advantage of the spa treatments or unwind in the different water areas – spa tubs or cold water plunge – the view out the window of the mountains will aid in your escape from real life.Just to share how well respected the Sabila Spa is, it has been named to SpaFinder’s Best Spas in Mexico and one of the Most Fascinating Spa Resorts in the World by Vacation Idea.
One of the many things we noticed about this resort is that while they were 98 percent full, the outdoor space was not a wild and crazy spring break type noise level. Instead, it was filled with guests relaxing in the sunshine or in the pool, laughing, reading or gazing into the breathtaking scenery. I can’t wait to go back!
If you are traveling with your children, they will have their own kid-focused vacation with all the activities geared just for them. The Kid’s Club offers everything from sand castle building to Mexican cooking lessons to creating plays. In addition, they even teach about the environment that the kids can readily see and experience.
It’s never too early to begin thinking about where you want to go on vacation. Everything about this trip to Villa del Palmar was designed to encourage serenity, luxury, extraordinary service, a focus on the true beauty of the surroundings and dining from casual to gourmet. This resort aims to make their guests feel welcomed which we clearly felt and appreciated. Loreto was filled with different ways to relax, enjoy the breathtaking scenery, dine on meals made with the freshest fish and produce, explore the quaint town of Loreto, and learn the history of this fisherman’s town.
If you are looking for a vacation spot that offers you water activities galore, a world class golf course, an appreciation for nature’s beauty, delicious meals, welcoming locals and the opportunity to relax your mind and body, then you need to go to the Villa del Palmar resort at the Islands of Loreto.
Special Offer
For Inspiring Kitchen readers, Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto is offering a special rate of 50 percent of accommodations if you book and travel until June 2018. Enter the code – “CHEFW17” – under the category “Promo/Corporate Code” when booking through this link. Terms and conditions apply.
Happy Travels!
Your pictures are breathtaking and the food leaves one terribly envious and salivating! <3
Thank you, Dani! It really is that good. Glad the photos conveyed that!
Wow. That really is a hidden gem. I would happily sit looking at that view with some tacos and a cocktail.
It’s a beautiful place! Hope you get a chance to experience it one day. Thank you!
This place looks like heaven on earth! How lovely to find a great area like Loreto. The hotel is gorgeous and they sure know how to put on a spread. The food looks delicious. You were so lucky to be there and to see the whales and dolphins. I will absolutely keep Loreto in my mind when planning our next Baja trip.
I am so glad you got to “see” my experience there. It was so lovely and peaceful. Hope you get a chance to visit! Thank you!
Lovely travel post! Seeing the pictures itself I can make out that you had real fun!
Thank you! It was a wonderful trip in a very beautiful place.
Looks like an amazing place! Next year I’ll be renting an apt in San Miguel de Allende for a few weeks and then in Playa Del Carmen for a month so maybe I’ll have a chance to head to Loreto too!
That would be awesome! Different areas give you different experiences from scenery to food. Lucky you! Hope you take advantage of the discount. It’s amazing! Have fun!
SO PRETTY. And the food….GAAAAAH. Makes me want to jump on a plane and go there right now!!
Thanks, Noor. And so agree with the food! Delicious!
I love taking roads less traveled. Looks like you have found a great gem here in Loreto. The pics look amazing. I can’t wait to visit, thanks for the code 🙂
Such a nice message! Thank you. Hope you get a chance to visit Loreto.
This looks lovely! Finding a terrific vacation spot like this is so rewarding – the challenge is always figuring out whether you want to go back there or try somewhere new! Glad you had such a lovely time. 🙂
Thank you, Monica! You are so right! It’s definitely a place to relax and enjoy the scenery.