Banyan Tree Cabo Marques Review: Asian Style in Acapulco!

Have you ever been totally happy just to stay put in your hotel?

That was our experience at the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques in Acapulco, Mexico.

We booked the Banyan Tree for a few days following a cruise that ended (for us) in Acapulco.

It’s one of the most beautiful Mexican resorts with private pool villas – and one of the best Acapulco resorts.

Banyan Tree Cabo Marques review

After sailing from Vancouver, we visited San Francisco for a day (where we huffed and puffed up and down hills from the Embarcadero to Telegraph Hill and everywhere in between).

We then visited Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea and cruised expedition-style for several days in the Sea of Cortez (snorkeling, hiking and zipping off on Zodiac excursions).

We disembarked in Acapulco, where we made a beeline for the Banyan Tree.

Will Acapulco’s star rise again?

But before we get into our Banyan Tree review, let’s talk a little about Acapulco.

Part of the reason for feeling no urge to explore beyond our hotel was because of what we’d seen on the taxi drive from the Acapulco port to our hotel. Boarded-up shops. Empty beaches.

It all looked a little, well, down-at-the-heel.

It was sad, really, because Acapulco Bay itself is stunning in its natural beauty – green jungle-clad hillsides cascading down to a dazzling sea.

Acapulco was once the hot vacation spot for celebs and international leaders like Liz Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Cruise ships are returning too.

Maybe there’ll be an opportunity to revisit Acapulco again in future and spend some time exploring the resort city? Sometimes first impressions aren’t the right ones.

Having enjoyed the Diego Rivera Museum in Guanajuato, we’d love to see Diego Rivera’s mosaics at Casa de los Vientos.

(We’ve only read about this art museum and cultural center in Acapulco, once the home of Rivera’s one-time mistress, Dolores Olmedo.)

One of the best hotels in Acapulco

But back to the hotel and our Banyan Tree Cabo Marques review…

The bigger reason for not wanting to venture out was because the Banyan Tree is just so darn gorgeous. (If you know us, you know we love luxury hotels!)

Tucked away within the affluent gated Diamante area, this luxury hotel in Acapulco boasts 45 deluxe villas, all with private pools.

The smallest villas are 2,000 square feet in size!

From our pool, perched high up above the bay – with a smashing ocean view, by the way – we watched squawking parrots in the trees above us and feasted our eyes on fiery orange sunsets.

Sometimes a hotel buggy would whisk us to the resort’s main infinity pool, also with a drop-dead ocean view.

There’s also a more intimate pool nestled by rocks washed by waves at the bottom of the cliff (where there’s a great lunch restaurant too).

And speaking of food, we drank lychee martinis and ate delicately spiced Thai delicacies at the resort’s signature Saffron restaurant.

Why would we want to leave this luxury Acapulco resort?

Want to escape to the Acapulco Banyan Tree? Practical info

What it costs

You can get a hillside pool villa about half the cost of an ocean-view villa.

Tip

For all-day sun with full-on ocean views, ask for Villas #408 to #411.

It’s close to the airport

It’s only a 20-minute drive from Acapulco’s international airport to the Banyan Tree. Snag a direct flight, and the Banyan Tree is perfect for a romantic three- or four-night getaway.

Is Acapulco safe?

Acapulco is located in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

And, yes, you should be cautious if deciding to visit Acapulco. It’s hard to ignore the city’s high murder rate.

The violence is mainly drug cartel focused, however. You’re not likely to get into harm staying at the Cabo Marques hotel.

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Photo credits: 6 and 8 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining photos Banyan Tree Cabo Marques (except where noted)

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