Has anyone been out to Villa del Palmar Islands of Loreto to see how the Danzante Bay development is doing. I noticed a "lake" in the image. Seems
like a big undertaking.
We anchored the boat off the island one day. And went tooling down several miles in the zodiac. The wife said, I think that's a hotel. I thought
she was seeing things at first. We cruised on in and had drinks at the bar on the beach. It was crazy just stumbling across the place in the middle
of nowhere.
[Edited on 7-25-2017 by BajaNomad]MexicoTed - 7-26-2017 at 05:30 PM
JZ, did you see any of the golf course with the "lake"? How about the residential layout which would of been on the right of the hotel in your photo?JZ - 7-26-2017 at 09:39 PM
JZ, did you see any of the golf course with the "lake"? How about the residential layout which would of been on the right of the hotel in your photo?
No houses. Only went into the hotel from the back. Didn't go out the front. We were drinking a good bit at the time.
Pic looking back from the hotel to the beach. I have about 20 more around the grounds on the back.
[Edited on 8-12-2017 by BajaNomad]del mar - 7-27-2017 at 09:19 AM
what a beautiful resort! at $125 a round +cart im positive i'll never hit a ball into that lake, I think a dozen holes are completed..Gscott - 8-5-2017 at 07:32 PM
That was a wonderful location. Until it was ruined by another resort.ligui - 8-6-2017 at 07:21 AM
Just next door to our property . They are building homes as fast as they can right now . Have heard that they have raised the pay to their workers and
the guys doing the construction .
I used to go down to the beach once and awhile in the past but they have the area fenced and gated off . Locals are allowed to put their boats in the
water in a small area to fish but must be part of the local co-op .
It hasn't really helped the people in the area much as most of the workers at the hotel come by bus from loreto and from the other resorts that the
company owns .
Looks like it's going to really grow .bill erhardt - 8-6-2017 at 09:38 AM
Here's an article published online today on VDP by a visitor from Arkansas:
Villa del Palmar perfect base for Baja adventures
By Bryan Hendricks
"All my life I've read stories about billfishing in the Sea of Cortez, but for an Arkansas boy, Baja California might as well have been the moon.
So when I was invited to join a media group as a guest at Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto in Baja Sur, Mexico, I eagerly accepted.
The first highlight occurred shortly after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport, when we flew low over Catalina Island. That's a
legendary place where Jim Hendricks of Long Beach, Calif. -- a staff writer for Sport Fishing magazine and others -- pursues white sea bass.
Hendricks, who might be related (his family originates from north Louisiana, mine from south Arkansas), showed me phone photos of his catches with
Catalina's cliffs in the background.
Altitude flattens a landscape, but it can't soften the shimmering blaze of the desert heat. Endless miles of uninhabited shoreline mesmerized me.
Goodness, how much fun could a fellow have exploring that coast with a Hobie, a tent and a month's worth of water?
The groundscape was a citadel of towering sandstone walls that glow different hues as the day progresses. Their beauty is intoxicating.
Villa del Palmar Resort is luxurious, but unpretentious. The workmanship is exquisite in all details, from the quality and fit of the flooring to the
union of walls and ceilings to the construction of the door and window frames.
My two-room, fully-furnished suite had a queen bed, hot tub, two big-screen TVs, a fully-equipped kitchenette, refrigerator/freezer, two lavatories
with walk-in showers, and washer and dryer. A vast balcony offered a beautiful view of Danzante Bay.
On my bedspread, an arrangement of blue and red stones spelled "Welcome Mr. Lowber," which is my middle name. A similar message in chocolate drizzle
adorned a small plate of tortes.
Several restaurants are on the premises, from a relaxed poolside cabana grill to a fine eatery where at least semiformal attire is appropriate. All of
them served world-class, five-star fare.
There is also a full-service spa with hot tubs, eucalyptus steam room, aromatherapy and massages.
A well-stocked store is also on site where you can buy snacks, drinks and souvenirs.
The currency exchange rate last week was about 17 pesos per dollar, but that's often negotiable.
The resort's most prominent feature is Danzante Bay Golf Club, a challenging layout designed by Rees Jones. The signature 17th hole is the stuff of
postcards. It's a par 3 over a deep ravine that ends abruptly at a sheer cliff that drops to the sea.
Danny Garcia, the club pro, said, "You should come here in November when the whales are here. There are also manta rays and marlin. It's like a giant
aquarium out there."
Garcia, who played a round with Jim Hendricks, Brandon Hendricks, Sid Dobrin and myself, was affronted that desert bighorn sheep left tracks in his
sand traps. Desert bighorns are common here, as attested to by Allyn Ladd of Camden, who bagged one near Loreto in his pursuit of all North American
big game species with a bow.
Paul Moreno, chief operating officer of the Villa Group, said that Loreto is what Cabo San Lucas was 30 years ago. As at Cabo, fishing is the main
attraction to Loreto.
Moreno said he is proud of Villa del Palmar's family appeal. Families with children were present, and activities such as nightly dance parties keep
young people entertained.
Moreno mentioned Mexico's lawless reputation and acknowledged that Baja is under the highest risk travel advisory.
"If you look for trouble, you will find it," Moreno said, "but you will not find it here."
Gary Graham and Greg Niemann, veteran Southern California writers, have traveled extensively in Baja California since the 1960s, mostly by car and
motorcycle. Niemann's new book Baja Legends is an excellent primer. They've seen every nook and fold in the peninsula, and they echoed Moreno's
sentiments.
I met a retired San Diego couple that were sailing the coast. Upon learning I'm from Arkansas, I was asked, "What do you think of the Clintons?" The
tone suggested strong admiration for the Clintons.
I got the same question en route to Los Angeles from the wife of a prominent Southern Baptist pastor from North Carolina. Her tone suggested disdain
for the Clintons.
My answer to both was, "It's pretty darned cool to have a president come from your hometown."
They both agreed wholeheartedly."
tiotomasbcs - 8-7-2017 at 06:05 PM
It doesn't sound to me like much dinero is returned to the local economy. I'm sure it's very nice but not really Baja. Just my opinion. Nice if
they used local pangas but that ain't gonna happen. I hope people do visit Loreto for day visits and possibly lunch/dinner. Where's Jimmy Connors
now?! Tioligui - 8-8-2017 at 04:46 AM
Just heard that they are building housing for new construction workers . They are getting ready to build a higher end hotel on the property . Guess
one with 5 pools is not enough .ncampion - 8-8-2017 at 06:49 PM
As a resident of Loreto, I hope it never turns into Cabo.ligui - 8-9-2017 at 05:23 AM
Is it 50 or is it 30 moorings available? I haven't had my coffee and pitayas yet, so I must have not seen the reason for a contradicting pair of
numbers.
