Hotel El Ganzo
Hotel El Ganzo is not only one of coolest hotels I’ve ever been in, it’s also Cabo’s latest hot spot. When I visited a few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to tour this beachfront property that juts up against the Puerto Los Cabos Marina.
Just how cool is this boutique hotel? For starters all guests need to be over 18-years-old (though dogs are welcome). The hotel lobby is swish with oversized Alice in Wonderland chairs, a stage and surround sound system to host concerts and a cream, red and turquoise colour scheme that’s a refreshing change from the heavy colonial motif so often seen in Mexico.
The Goose (English translation of El Ganzo) is also the latest celebrity hotspot in Mexico. Edward Norton has stayed here, Slash played an impromptu concert last December and Charlie Sheen made waves (big surprise), when he Tweeted a pic and claimed to party with Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigos.
Artist in residence programs are common in conservative hotels, but El Ganzo takes it a step further by including musicians and videographers in their mix. Undoubtably, the music and art component is what draws guests to this funky hideaway. Artists are given absolute freedom to create works of art inspired by the property and its unique atmosphere. All works produced are shared with guests, from live installations to concerts on site.
The hipster factor is magnified by a cellar trap door in the middle of the main restaurant that opens into an underground recording studio. This in-house studio can be booked by guests for an hourly or daily rate, but it’s most often used by the musicians in residence. Stocked with the highest quality equipment including Blue Microphones, Fender and Gibson, it can accommodate anything from solo artists to entire bands, any time of the day or night.
All 72 rooms overlook the Sea of Cortez. The furniture is an eclectic mix of stark white and rustic reclaimed wood. Thin gauze separates the bedroom from the bathroom area, where a magnificent sunken bath tempts tired tourists. Live large and ask for a first floor room so you’ll get your own private outdoor jacuzzi.
Coolest Pool in Cabo
The pool area boasts a sushi bar, a lap pool and the sweetest fishbowl of a pool you ever did see. Want to hit the beach? Simply hop on board the hotel’s panga boat and take the two minute journey across the canal to their private beach club. Reputed to be the most swimmable beach in the Cabo area, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and canoes are available for the active set. Non-guests can join in the fun for a consumption fee of 300 pesos (roughly $30CND) per person at the beach club and 500 pesos ($50 CND) for the pool.
Other amenities include a full service spa, a state-of-the-art Fitness Center (sporting Kinesis workout equipment), and exclusive access to the 18-hole Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. Personally, I was a fan of exploring the surrounding area on city bikes rented at a rate of $20/day. There’s a well developed scenic bike path that takes you past a sculpture and cactus garden, so guests can take it all in.
Get Here Now
With rates starting at $187/night, this property is a steal. They won’t stay like this for long, though. Rates are expected to rise up to 60% in 2014, so best break for The Goose as soon as you can.
Would you ever stay at such a unique hotel or do you think it would be too intimidating?
Thank you to Los Cabos Tourism who hosted my stay. As always, my opinions are my own. Images via Hotel El Ganzo (except the bike one, that baby’s mine).
Great article. As I was on this trip with you, I love reading how you took the facts and wove them so interestingly with the descriptive photos.
Thanks, Karen. I can’t read to your impressions of Cabo.