Los Cabos may firmly maintain its reputation as a party town, but if you want to escape the madness and discover a sanctuary of relaxation, originality, and undisturbed luxury, then Hotel El Ganzo is destined to become your home away from home.

This is the perfect escape for musicians, writers, filmmakers, and all type of visual artists; or anyone that appreciates beauty in an idyllic setting structured to let their creativity roam free. The hotel – which is only 20 minutes away from the Los Cabos International Airport – functions more like a compound for creatives than a superior resort ready to indulge your every whim.
Fortunately thanks to the winning leadership of General Manager Ella Messerli, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other or give up any of your demands, whether artist or leisure traveler, Hotel El Ganzo is ready to please the most discerning guest.

When you first arrive to the property you feel as though you’re driving onto a film set, the white structure with its Basquiat-like crown mural on top stands like a mirage, a fictional foreground set against the blue skies and mountainous background, with the Sea of Cortez added on the side to complete the cinematic illusion.

Immediately upon entering the hotel an attendant greets you with a refreshing beverage, a pleasant reminder that you have found a little corner of paradise.

After a seamless check-in you make your way to the suite, all the while feeling like you’re strolling through the halls of a most chill beachside gallery. Art is all around. At the entrance, in the lobby, down the corridor, in the hallways, right in front of the door as you prepare to enter your suite, and yes, all throughout the interior. You’ll only lose focus of the artworks as you step in the room and gaze out your window.

Whichever floor or room you select, the view is sure to impress. Right in front is the Sea of Cortez, with a prelude by the Puerto Los Cabos Marina, and the exclusive beach club. This is what you came for. Palm trees, sand, and sea. The view is so outstanding that this becomes the best work of art of the hotel.

But back to your suite. During your stay at Hotel El Ganzo the art lives with you, it becomes a part of you and you become a part of it. Here you are a subject in what seems like a surreal masterpiece. Your accommodations may contain original murals of sea creatures native to the region, flowers, or sometimes just the word ‘love’ written against carefully placed planks of wood. Each individual room is meant to have its own artistic impression and the work is continuously in progress throughout the hotel’s 70 guestrooms.

Select artists are sometimes invited to enjoy a residency. They are given absolute freedom to produce works of art inspired by the property and its unique atmosphere. They can build live installations throughout the hotel and leave behind a piece of their own original artworks for posterity.

Artist Ernesto Rios

During my stay Mexican contemporary artist Ernesto Rios used only matches and fire, against plain white walls to create a unique design that now gives a simple hotel room true character.

Master Suite (c) Hotel El Ganzo

ACCOMMODATIONS
As awe inducing as the art in your room may be, Hotel El Ganzo is aware that HOMBRE readers are accustomed to the best – and it delivers. There are three accommodation categories and each room has a touch of rustic elements and solid comforts. Sizes range from the 387 SF of a Deluxe Room, to 760 for a Master Suite, to the 3,900 SF of the Very Large 2 Bedroom Suite. Amenities are top notch regardless of category, including fully stocked minibar, climate control, ceiling fans, flat screen smart TV with satellite service, complimentary WiFi, electronic wall safe, 400 thread count bed linens, organic bath amenities, terrycloth robes, soaking tub, and walk-in shower with handheld shower-head and rainshower.

All have plenty of natural light, custom-created wood furnishings, crisp white linens and artistic wood headboards. Some of the more elaborate suites include sliding glass doors with outdoor terrace, separate living room and bedroom, grand salon, and indoor/outdoor Jacuzzi.

ROOFTOP
After experiencing the amenities and taking in the panoramic view from your floor to ceiling windows its time to explore the resort. We suggest you make your way to the rooftop with its Storm Trooper mural, and infinity pool that takes almost the entire length of the space. There’s the swim-up bar, the regular bar, and the clear jacuzzi designed to make for Instagramable moments – and elicit the envy of your followers.

Here you’ll also find Gachoo Sushi Bar, one of the hotel’s 4 restaurants. We’ll delve into more detail in our ‘Dining’ section. But if you’re a fan of seafood, sushi, and fresh delectable ingredients served in a picture perfect presentation then this is your spot.

Back in the lobby you’ll find the main dining area. Here the sundeck faces the marina, and has a fire pit that makes for relaxed afternoon conversations and some of the best sunsets in Los Cabos.

Beach Club (c) Hotel El Ganzo

BEACH CLUB
Beyond Hotel El Ganzo’s single building structure is the Beach Club. Getting there is half the fun. You can take a quick boat ride, or burn some calories and ride one of the property’s complimentary bikes. It’s a great way to get your work-out on and take in the picturesque scenery.

The Beach Club features its own restaurant, and a calm swimable beach, a luxury in most of Los Cabos. A portion of the beach is reserved for guests only, VIP exclusivity and privacy all around. Take a stroll past the sand and walk the perfectly manicured grounds to lay in a hammock under the palm trees. Order your Tamarind Margarita and redefine the meaning of bliss.

DINING
As with everything else, Hotel El Ganzo treats gastronomy as what it should be, art. Just like visual artists and musicians, top chefs are invited to participate in a residency program and create culinary delights, some of which make their way to the restaurant’s permanent menu. While there chefs from the renown Mexican restaurant Fauna, David Hussong and Maribel Aldaco Silva were on-site, creating a memorable feast that combined elements from their popular eatery with El Ganzo’s inspiration.
The resort has four restaurants.

Gachoo Sushi Bar
Located on the rooftop, by the pool, and serving fresh and quick delicious bites. It specializes in raw cuisine, with ceviche, sushi and sashimi among the offerings. The presentation is masterful, and the taste exquisite. Reserve a day bed, order your pulpo ceviche and a mojito, face the sea, and let any worry be a distant memory.

Ganzo Downstairs
Located in the lobby, this is the hotel’s dining hub. The Downstairs restaurant begins each day with tasty breakfasts, including freshly squeezed juices, eggs benedict and the traditional Mexican favorite, chilaquiles. Lunch can include delicacies like ceviche El Ganzo, fresh fish tacos and Tortilla Soup. In-residency chefs serve their especially crafted meals here, and any new creations end up on this menu. All restaurants boast sustainable, farm-to-table cuisine, with fresh ingredients selected from the local farmer’s market, or the hotel’s own vegetable garden.

The hotel also maintains a well-stocked wine cellar, which means you can enjoy lunch or dinner with selections from Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Italy, New Zealand, and the United States.

Ganzo de Playa
If you’re spending the day on the sand, there’s no need to worry. The hotel’s beach club, serves its own unique menu, including salads, Baja-style fish tacos and burgers. Everything complemented by a diverse menu of beers or crafted cocktails.

The Container
This is Hotel El Ganzo’s fourth restaurant, located outside the property. You can take a two minute boat ride, bike or drive to get there. It has its own menu, serving Mexican specialties, steaks, chicken and fresh seafood, with outdoor seating, overlooking the water.

Music Studio (c) Hotel El Ganzo

MUSIC
Music is another integral element of Hotel El Ganzo. The property has a complete state-of-the-art “Underground” recording studio, built to meet the demands of Grammy Award winning musicians. Acoustically and electrically isolated from the rest of the hotel, The Underground is stocked with the highest quality equipment. The list of musicians that have used its soundboard is long and prestigious, ranging from recognized stars like Natalia Lafourcade, to new rising stars like Jenny and the Mexicats.
Much like the art and culinary programs, Hotel El Ganzo also offers a residency to thriving musicians, hand-picked by music curator, Mark Rudin. They can record original music, which is then played in guest rooms and available on the hotel’s Youtube channel. They also often perform to guests during the monthly El Ganzo Sessions rooftop concerts.

Spa Treatment Room (c) Hotel El Ganzo

SPA
The spa at El Ganzo has five spacious treatment rooms, as well as a therapy pool, sauna, steam room and indoor gym with Kinesis. Choose from indulgences like the Damiana Flower Treatment, which uses the unique aphrodisiac properties of a Baja desert flower to exfoliate and hydrate, or the Mezcal Ritual, a detoxifying experience that fosters relaxation and self-awareness, with an agave scrub, mezcal lotion massage, and desert clay purification process.

GIVING BACK
The hotel has created “El Ganzo Community Center,” which gives back to the community of La Playita. It consists of a free art program for the local kids that stimulates children to engage with art.

Hotel El Ganzo
Blvd. Tiburón s/n, La Playita, 23403
San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico
www.elganzo.com

All photography (except where noted) exclusively for HOMBRE by Francisco Romeo