Hacienda Encantada in Cabo San Lucas

Arid Cabo San Lucas has grown over the years into a tourist mecca and one of the favorite ports on the Mexican Riviera. There are always lots of great activity choices, from an easy trip to Lover's Beach to snorkeling at Chileno Bay to bar hopping and shopping around the marina to ATVs or ziplining at breakneck speeds through the desert.

On our recent return visit, we headed to Hacienda Encantada, a time share condo complex where our good friends Mike and Linda recently purchased a unit. Upon coming to shore, I turned on my cell phone and discovered I could not pick up my phone messages without some unknown password. This was disappointing on a number of levels. I had not activated my “out of the office” message before leaving the States, and without being able to access my voice mail, I knew people phoning me would probably think me inconsiderate to not return their calls. I had five messages on my phone but couldn't access them, so I turned off my phone and grabbed a taxi for the 200-peso ride to the condo at kilometer marker seven. It turned out one of those messages was from Mike, who had rented a car and come to pick us up.

To make a long story short, we found Linda enjoying the spectacular views out by the lower swimming pool, and Mike joined us about an hour later. In typical Mike fashion, soon we were treated to cervezas and delicious lunches at the poolside restaurant. The fish tacos were terrific, and everything else looked quite appetizing.

My octo-genarian friend Ed joined us on this excursion, and for the rest of the trip he would point back to this day, calling it a dream and the highlight of his vacation, as well as praising our generous hosts.

The fact that Ed called this day the highlight of the cruise is high praise indeed. As someone who loves to cruise, hates to fly and loves Mexico, this long time Redondo Beach resident has cruised the Mexican Riviera many times. By the end of the cruise, Ed seemed to know about half of the staff and passengers on the Radiance of the Seas. He had also essentially become the adopted grandfather of a Wisconsin family who cried at their separation from him on the last day of the cruise. He had seen many ports with them, including a return to the Princess Hotel in Acapulco for a nice meal with a view of the cliff divers, which was the projected highlight he had dreamed about for weeks before the cruise.

For Ed to still be talking about that wonderful guy Michael and the dream that was Hacienda Encantada on the drive home, you know it had to be very special.
We had talked about possibly going snorkeling at a nearby beach or returning to the marina for a drink, but we were all enjoying the day at the hacienda so much that we just moved between dips in the pool to relaxing in the lounge chairs.

Of course, we also went up to see their condo, and it was beautifully furnished. “A dream,” as Ed said repeatedly. The glass doors leading to the balcony on this third floor unit could be slid to the sides to maximize enjoyment of the panoramic views from the condo.

85 year-old Eddie was ready to buy a condo here for retirement. That was quite a statement for someone who loves Redondo Beach as much as he does.