A stay at Villa del Palmar Loreto gives families a chance to relax and unwind while soaking up the hotel’s peaceful atmosphere. Nestled in the hills of Baja’s desert and overlooking the calm blue water of the Sea of Cortez, Villa del Palmar has plenty to see and do—so active teens craving adventure won’t even have to leave the resort to find excitement.
Hiking Trails
Villa del Palmar has five of its own hiking trails ranging from easy to advanced. The trails start down by the resort’s private beach and weave across the nearby hills, providing stunning views of the bay on one side and the open gulf water on the other. Take in the local flora—species of larger trees and plants like torchwood and ironwood are marked with signs dictating their names. The trails are also full of lizards and birds as well as artificial cave paintings recreated by the Kid’s Club staff to teach little ones the area’s ancient culture.
Since the trails are clearly marked and located directly beside the resort, responsible teens can hike the easiest trail on their own. Or make it a memorable part of your family vacation and make a longer trek together. Just don’t forget your bottled water, as it can get hot up on the rocks!
Kayaking and Paddle Boarding
Another great adventure teens can partake in at Villa del Palmar is getting out on the water in front of the resort. The resort has set up a shack on the beach that rents out kayaks and paddleboards to guests. Parents don’t have to worry as their teens head out to explore either—a flag sitting atop the hills shows kayakers and paddle boarders how far out they can travel so they can stay within sight of resort staff.
Step it up a notch: family vacations aren’t complete without some level of unique excursions. The resort offers overnight kayaking trips. Explore the five islands of Loreto by day and camp on one—Danzante Island—by night. These adventures give you the chance to get out on the open water and spot sea life like sea lions, rays and dolphins.
Boating, Whale Watching and Snorkeling
A number of tours are available to transport guests to the nearby islands. Now a protected marine park, the area surrounding the resort is filled with thriving sea life. From December to March, visitors often catch grey whales playing in the waters off of the islands. Other common sites are jumping Manta rays or pods of dolphins—sometimes over 100! The captain of the boat will do his best to find animals for your viewing pleasure.
Many of the islands also offer opportunities for snorkeling. Carmen and Coronado Islands have wonderful reefs brimming with fish, eels and other creatures. Our guide dove to the bottom to grab starfish and puffer fish for us to touch as we swam through schools of blue, yellow, black and silver fish.
The boat tours depart from the bay in front of the hotel and the hotel’s concierge can assist with reservations. Other options include sailing or sunset adventures.
Plenty of Pools
After a day of adventure on the trails and in the water, relaxing by the pool will be every teenager’s dream. There are four pools for adults as well as Jacuzzi: swim, soak or lay out in one of the poolside chairs and listen to some tunes. Order food to be delivered poolside or stop by Casa Mia, an open-air eatery covered by wooden beams, which offers wood-oven pizzas, salads, sandwiches and tacos.
The best part is that these are just some of the activities offered at Villa del Palmar. Teens (and their families) will also love the bicycle rentals, scuba excursions and fishing expeditions.
