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Hotel El Ganzo Review: An Oasis of Creative Cool in Cabo

Uh oh! There was a rainbow-colored splash of paint running down one side of the hotel wall.

Had someone accidentally spilled paint out the window of the Hotel El Ganzo?

That’s what we thought at first.

But we soon learned that the paint spill was actually a piece of art at this unique boutique hotel in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.

Oooh! Writing this Hotel El Ganzo review is going to be fun!

Actually, thanks in part to that intriguing artsy vibe, El Ganzo is one of the best hotels in Los Cabos.

Hotel El Ganzo

Hotel El Ganzo, Los Cabos

The whole hotel – rooms, floors, exterior walls – is a blank canvas,” Mark Rudin, Hotel El Ganzo’s music curator, told us.

Artists can leave their creation anywhere.

He explained that artists and musicians from around North America are invited to stay for a while and leave behind a contemporary art creation or recorded song.

Art mural at Hotel El Ganzo

Musicians also give a free concert for guests.

That was when we stayed at Hotel El Ganzo – before Hurricane Odile blasted through Los Cabos in September, 2014. And the art was a delightful surprise then.

Second visit

The hurricane virtually destroyed the hotel, however, and it took more than a year for it to be rebuilt.

But reopen it did.

And so we were happy to return to El Ganzo and see how the rebuilt hotel turned out.

Hotel El Ganzo, the best boutique hotel in San Jose del Cabo

We weren’t disappointed.

There’s still nothing quite like this super-cool, adults-only hotel.

With its artistic and musical focus, El Ganzo is in a class of its own.

Hot rooftop pool!

We have to mention Hotel El Ganzo’s rooftop infinity pool.

It’s hot!

We don’t mean “hot” from the sun (though it is hot up there in mid afternoon – you’ll want to seek shade in a curtained pool cabana or under an umbrella).

We mean “hot” as in you’ll remember the drop-dead views from this boutique hotel in San Jose del Cabo long after you’ve put away your swimsuit back home.

From the pool – and the glass, cube-shaped Jacuzzi – you have splendiferous, 270 degree views of the ocean, dive-bombing pelicans, sleek white yachts and fishing boats coming and going from the picturesque marina out front.

More El Ganzo photos

Here are some more photos of El Ganzo from our latest stay.

Art:

Hotel El Ganzo

Visual artist Ciler was El Ganzo’s first artist-in-residence after the hotel reopened following Hurricane Odile.

He painted this huge eye-catching mural on the wall by the reception desk.

Bicycles:

Hotel El Ganzo beach club

Fat-tire upright bicycles are free for guests to take out.

You can also sign up for a complimentary 9:00 am guided bicycle tour around the beautiful Puerto Los Cabos marina.

We finished our ride with a stop at the hotel’s beach club. (You can ride to it or take a complimentary, 5-minute water taxi ride to reach it.)

Sculpture Garden:

Sculpture Garden, Los Cabos

On our bike ride, we passed the Sculpture Garden with huge, interesting stone and metal sculptures.

Suite:

Hotel El Ganzo

We stayed in a corner suite – with ocean views from two balconies…

Bath amenities:

We loved lathering up with the organic, rosemary-scented bath products!

Champagne:

An empty bucket for Veuve Cliquot – and, yes, there were couples ordering bottles and drinking French champagne by the pool!

Hotel details at a glance

  • 72 rooms
  • Located on the yacht-filled marina in Puerto Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo)
  • Infinity pool on the roof
  • A water taxi runs back and forth across the bay to take you to the hotel’s beach club, where there’s a swimmable beach

Hotel El Ganzo review: Bottom line?

Hotel El Ganzo is still one of our favorite boutique hotels in San Jose del Cabo.

Experience more of Los Cabos!

Where to play | Non-cheesy sunset cruises? Water taxi rides? Whale watching? Check out our ultimate list of must-do Cabo activities!

Where to chill | Shake out your towel on the best beaches in Cabo.

Where to eat | In Cabo, do yourself a favor and eat at the beautiful farm-to-table Flora Farms restaurant.

Our top travel tips and resources

Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)

Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.

Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.

Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.

Pssst! If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!


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Hotel El Ganzo review

Photo credits: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining photos Hotel El Ganzo


About the authors

Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.

Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!

Fernando

Thursday 6th of April 2023

This is just a magical place. Stayed there and it's just beautiful. Everyone should put this on their bucket list… and be ready to be amazed dancing at “Crania.”

Kathryn Burrington

Monday 25th of August 2014

This sounds fantastic and what a treat it would be if your stay coincided with a visiting musician. I really adore the pool too - I can just picture myself there :-)

Anda

Monday 18th of August 2014

I like the "adults-only idea", not that I have something against children. Beautiful pictures too.

Pamela Morse

Tuesday 12th of August 2014

This sounds like a very good concept. Sort of a Baja Chelsea Hotel with nice design..

Amy Lynne Hayes

Tuesday 12th of August 2014

I LOVE the concept behind this hotel!! These are exactly the types of places I look for when traveling. This is definitely an oasis of creative cool.