Hacienda Encantada Cabo - 4-Bedroom Penthouse Vacation Review (June, 2026)…read more
If you are looking for a luxury, five-star, hassle-free beach vacation, Hacienda Encantada may not be the best fit. The resort offers beautiful views and several bright spots, but our 4-bedroom penthouse felt dated, several service issues affected the stay, and the property does not offer direct beach access. In comparing online reviews, the Yelp ratings (3.0) and comments seemed more consistent with our experience than the more favorable TripAdvisor reviews (4.6).
Positives
The $142 per person, per day premium all-inclusive option felt worthwhile because food and drink prices at the hotel were very high. However, guests should be aware that the resort periodically--sometimes hourly--requires tabs to be closed and restarted, which can feel like an added prompt for tipping. The breakfast buffet was excellent, and Ernesto was a fantastic server.
The hotel restaurants included in the plan were stronger than the Marina/Golden Zone options. Mestizo was our favorite, although one of the higher-end restaurants was temporarily closed during our stay. On our last evening, there was no indoor dining option available. Tip: Avoid Barolo for Italian food.
The pool staff and service were a clear highlight of the trip, especially Oscar and Manuel.
Our butler was also helpful in navigating most of the (daily) issues that came up throughout the week.
Negatives
We worked with the concierge for several weeks to arrange airport transportation and a boat excursion for six people. Even after reconfirming the details before arrival, the airport transportation was not in place, and we had to take a taxi to the hotel; transportation for the boat tour was also mishandled. Be aware that the airport arrival experience was heavily focused on timeshare sales, and many of the people offering assistance were affiliated with timeshare companies.
After the airport transportation issue, we were again approached by aggressive timeshare salespeople at the Hacienda Encantada who initially appeared to be hotel staff. Fortunately, they did not continue approaching us after that first interaction. Several people we spoke with said they spent four to six hours of their vacation attending timeshare presentations.
When we arrived at the penthouse, the room temperature was 82 degrees, and it took three maintenance visits before the rooms reached the 70s the next day. To keep the space cool, we had to leave notes asking staff to close the shades and doors, which meant we had little opportunity to enjoy the views during the week.
The resort does not offer beach access, which is important to know before booking a beach-focused vacation. The resort also requires towel cards for pool towels and charges $25 for each towel that is not returned, which felt out of step with the expectations of a high-end resort.
The Golden Zone/Marina area felt lower-end than expected and was crowded with cruise visitors. We were approached repeatedly while walking in the marina, including by people offering drugs, which made the area feel uncomfortable and less enjoyable for our group. Based on what we saw, the sister property appeared to be of even lower quality. One night during the World Cup, we were not allowed into the Golden Zone's Legends Bar despite having made a reservation two days earlier; it appeared that outside guests who were not on the all-inclusive plan were being prioritized, even though the bar seemed to have only a small number of people inside. The manager's on duty, Fermin and Gabriel were very unprofessional!
Housekeeping was disappointing. Dust from the air-conditioning repairs was not cleaned from the bathroom or shower, and basic items such as tissues and soap were not replaced even when empty containers were left on the counter or shower floor; beds were made and towels were replaced daily, but little beyond that was completed. None of the rooms had smart TVs, so we were unable to stream content during the stay. Tip: Bring an HDMI cord.
The hotel offered no evening entertainment, had no late-night bar or lounge options, and generally seemed to shut down around 10 p.m.
Although the penthouse was advertised as accommodating up to 12 people, we felt it would be more comfortable for a maximum of eight.
Overall Recommendation
Hacienda Encantada may work well for travelers who prioritize resort views, pool service, and an all-inclusive dining setup, but it is not an ideal choice for guests expecting a polished luxury penthouse experience, seamless logistics, strong housekeeping, or direct beach access. We would not return and do not recommend the resort.