Review: Villa Del Palmar Loreto, Mexico

Need a quick getaway? Villa Del Palmar in Loreto, Mexico is a hidden gem of a resort! And it’s just an easy 2-hour flight from Los Angeles! This all-inclusive resort is the perfect place to spend a long weekend of relaxing fun in the sun. Read on for my review.

Disclosure: I was invited on a four-day all-expenses paid trip to Villa del Palmar Loreto for editorial consideration, however, all opinions and Viva La Mexico attitude are my own.

I love to get away for a few days to relax and recharge. Travel is a great way to experience new cultures and create life-long memories.

Loreto, Mexico

Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto is a luxurious resort located on the Sea of Cortez, just off the eastern coast of the Baja Peninsula of Mexico overlooking Danzante Island. This Mexican town is less popular than areas like Cabo San Lucas which means it is quiet, relaxing but no less gorgeous.

Loreto, Mexico is a charming fishing town with gorgeous buildings, friendly people and great restaurants. You’ll quickly notice that while you get the same Mexican vibes, there are far fewer crowds and the pace is much more low-key.

The town is not huge, but there is plenty of shopping and delicious food to explore. It’s easy to get around by walking and you can easily spend hours here. The buildings are stunning including the Mission de Loreto church that was built in 1697!

The all-inclusive resort in Loreto that I stayed in is located outside of town (although they offer shuttle service!). You should absolutely plan at least one visit to check out the town although the resort has plenty to keep you busy!

How to Get There

Because this is a smaller, less traveled town of Mexico, there are fewer direct flights available. The town is easy to access via international airports and there are a number of direct flights, just not daily.

You should be able to find direct flights to Loreto, Mexico from larger cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Dallas and Calgary, and from various points within Mexico as well.

The Loreto International Airport is small and quiet and easy to navigate. Some guests opt to rent a car and make the 30-minute drive down the Transpeninsular Highway, which leads you right to the Loreto all inclusive resort’s main entrance, while others prefer to take a shuttle.

The All-Inclusive Resort

Upon arrival at Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, I could tell immediately that this was going to be a pretty special place.

Gorgeous views of the pool and ocean, super friendly accommodating staff, a lovely aromatic ritual hand washing, a chair massage and delicious cocktails were among my first impressions of this resort. Things were definitely off to an amazing start!

Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto is set on almost 5000 acres, with 181 beautifully appointed rooms, 3 wonderful restaurants.

There are also 5 swimming pools, a 39,000-square-foot luxury spa, beautiful beaches, tennis courts, miles of hiking trails, glass-bottomed kayaks, sport fishing, and a Rees Jones-designed golf course.

I absolutely loved the keyless room entry with this chipped bracelet, so easy and stress-free

I absolutely loved my VIP welcome amenities in the room like the beautiful personalized ‘Welcome Mrs. Romy‘ rice/bean/berry greeting on my bed, the gourmet chocolates and the creative animal towel creations – every day, after my room was cleaned I was greeted by a different handmade towel animal, so clever!

Located on a private cove, this resort has everything you need for your stay. A calm bay for water sports, a little shop to pick up some wine and snacks for the room. Even an on-site doctor is available to make sure everyone in your party stays healthy.

One of the first aspects of Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto that struck me as different then other luxury resorts that I have visited was the stellar hospitality and service I received during my vacation at this resort.

It was so much more than the top-notch-service you often get at luxury resorts – it was the genuine passion, enthusiasm and pride the staff took in their work at this resort.

It didn’t matter if it was the most senior staff member or a junior, everyone seemed so happy and appreciative to be working here and throughout my visit this struck as something special and unique.

One-Bedroom Suite

After my belly was happy, I headed up to my fabulous deluxe ocean view one-bedroom suite with an amazing view of the resort and ocean.

With a kitchen area and living room, this one-bedroom suite felt luxurious. This resort, while being great for a girl’s trip or couples trip, would also be great for families.

2 and 3 bedroom suites are also available.

The Food and Cocktails

After we were checked in and pampered a little, it was time to enjoy our first meal at Villa del Palmar Islands of Loreto and it was nothing short of spectacular. I was immediately smitten with one of the unique delicacies of the area: CHOCOLATE CLAMS!! OMG!

They are fresh, sweet, bright clams caught right in the ocean off the resort and they are to die for! The clams were baked with cheese and garlic and they were so good I had seconds and thirds. I’m a seafood lover but have never had chocolate calms before, what a treat (I also enjoyed them au natural aka raw too & they were equally as yummy!).

We also enjoyed delish guacamole and the first of many artisanal freshly made cocktails – I’m drinking a slightly spicy cucumber margarita here, cheers!

This discerning foodie in me was also very impressed by the delicious, inspired, gourmet and gorgeous food that I ate at while vacationing at this resort.

The plating and presentation was always beautiful and the food was tasty, fresh, regional and creative.

The Spa

Of course, this beauty maven was delighted to check out the resort’s signature luxury Sabila Spa and Wellness Center.

The spa is incredibly spacious and absolutely beautiful inside with baths, showers, sauna, steam and stunning views of the mountains surrounding the resort. I had a delightful skillful massage while I was there, and left the spa feeling utterly relaxed.

Activities to Do

One of the highlights of this trip was the indelible boat trip to Del Carmen Islands and then to the town of Loreto. This is where I got a birds eye view of the magnificent natural beauty surrounding this area.

We spent a nice amount of time cruising around the pristine aqua turquoise waters of the Del Carmen Islands, it was so beautiful! I LOVED seeing the contrast of the ocean next to the desert terrain of mountains and cactus, so unusual.

We docked at one of the islands for lunch and fabulous snorkeling and then we took the boat to the town of Loreto. While in route, we literally came across thousands of dolphins swimming and playing in the ocean, it was one of those moments I will never forget (a picture just doesn’t do it justice!).

Oh yeah, we also came across a friendly shark or two 🙂

This area is known for its sea life. From sport fishing to snorkeling, there is an abundance to see and do in the water.

The next day we woke up early to beat the heat and explore more of this beautiful property. The grounds of Villa del Palmar Islands of Loreto are vast and spectacular and we were lucky enough to go on a stunning hike that allowed us to see the island from a different vantage point – the views speak for themselves.

Our group became rather smitten with the creative and yummy cocktails that we were served throughout our trip. The ever accommodating staff were kind enough to arrange a private Tequila Tasting Class followed by a Cocktail Making Class so that we could leave the resort armed and properly educated about tequila.

We learned it must be made of & say 100% Agave on the label! And we took home some yummy cocktail recipes that we could make at home. It’s a memory that can live on even after the trip.

During the cocktail class, the spicy cucumber jalapeno margarita was a favorite!

Another incredibly special thing that we got to experience was the Luminaires by Loreto: Light a Wish program. The resort has partnered with Make-a-Wish Mexico to provide funding for one child’s wish per month.

Basically, how it works is it that once a week, guests and staff gather together to celebrate the wonderful moments in their lives by writing their thoughts on a luminaire floating lantern and then they light it and release it into the sky.

As these luminaires float symbolically into the sky together, these wishes are shared with the world and serve as emblems of hope for good things to come. It was a beautiful and touching experience. Check with the resort before going to see if they are still doing this.

Our last night in Loreto was a lively and fun Fiesta Mexicana that was filled with all the beauty of Mexican culture including a delicious Mexican food buffet, tequila shots, colorful performances, ritual dances, uplifting music and even a pinata.

It was an evening fun filled evening and the perfect way to put a close on our amazing trip.

And as the sun set on beautiful Danzante Bay out in front of the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, our amazing four days of adventure, fun and nirvana came to a close. Leaving us with amazing memories and a desire to come back again very soon!

Related Posts

• The Shops at Caesars Palace are worth a trip to Vegas!
• Looking for a quick getaway? Here’s what to do in Buellton, California. It’s a blast!
• Sayulita in Riviera Nayarit is a fabulous destination! Here are 5 reasons I love it.
• 5 Reasons you should visit Temecula! If you love wine (but they have beer too!) you’ll love it!
• Why a Disney cruise is the BEST!