Rancho Pescadero

Rancho Pescadero, once a highly anticipated luxury resort in El Pescadero, Mexico, was recognized as a Michelin Key Selected property. However, its operational history was significantly marred by a tragic incident that led to its closure and subsequent rebranding. This review will detail the intended experience of Rancho Pescadero, alongside the critical events that led to its transformation into the Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa.

Please note: Rancho Pescadero, as it was known when selected by Michelin, is no longer operating under that name. The property closed after a fatal incident and reopened as Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa in April 2024.

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Comprehensive Hotel Review: Rancho Pescadero (Former Property)

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Prior to its closure, Rancho Pescadero, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, was positioned as a luxurious and unique adults-only retreat, garnering positive attention for its design and amenities. However, the overall sentiment dramatically shifted following a tragic carbon monoxide poisoning incident in June 2023, which resulted in the deaths of two guests. This devastating event led to the resort's temporary shutdown and a wave of severe criticism regarding safety protocols and management's alleged negligence. The property has since reopened under new management as Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa.

2. Key Highlights

Rancho Pescadero was designed to offer an immersive and enriching guest experience. Key highlights included:

• Design & Ambiance: The resort boasted an intentional design that integrated with the local landscape, using native materials like Palo de Arco wood and white clover. Its 30-acre expanse featured nine interconnected gardens, two farms, and a citrus orchard, creating a sense of a private escape. The entrance was notably inconspicuous, leading guests into a "desert-meets-sea" oasis. Artwork and decor were custom-designed and crafted by local Mexican artisans, aiming to provide an authentic "real Mexico" feel.
• Wellness & Amenities: The property featured a 25,000-square-foot spa, described as one of the largest in the country, with a wellness philosophy rooted in nature. Guests could create their own herbal blends at an apothecary for spa treatments. Other amenities included cenote-style jetted tubs, multiple outdoor pools with daybeds, a gym with Peloton bikes and an outdoor turf area, and activities like yoga, meditation, ceviche-making, and sustainability tours.
• Sustainability: The resort emphasized responsible development, employing practices such as zero single-use plastics, composting, dark sky lighting, and a desalination and water bottling plant.

3. Room Quality

The former Rancho Pescadero offered 103 rooms, suites, and villas, combining modern design with traditional crafts. Many accommodations provided ocean and coastal views, often including private roof decks and outdoor living spaces with plush daybeds. Oceanfront villas featured direct beach access, outdoor showers, spacious patios with plunge pools, and fire pits. Rooms were described as airy and spacious with tall ceilings, and often included sunken lounge areas, comfortable king-size beds, dual vanity sinks, large soaking tubs, and indoor and outdoor showers. Televisions were notably absent, encouraging guests to disconnect. The bathrooms often featured exquisite tiling, such as Talavera tiles, and locally sourced amenities.

4. Dining Experience

Rancho Pescadero's culinary program was overseen by Culinary Director Sandro Falbo, with an emphasis on local bounty. The resort had three dining concepts at the time of its reopening under Hyatt.

• Botánica: A garden restaurant that highlighted ingredients from the property's own huerta (garden) and locally grown produce, with tables set amidst the gardens. It featured organic meats cooked over a live fire.
• Centro: Described as a social hub and gathering spot, offering classic Mexican fare by two outdoor pools. Centro also served breakfast, which could be continental, American, or vegetarian.
• Farm-to-Table: Nearly all food at the restaurants and bars was sourced from the resort's organic herb gardens, vegetable farms, beehives, and chicken coops, providing a farm-to-table experience. Special diet meals were available on request, and breakfast could be served in the room.

5. Service & Staff

Initially, the intent for Rancho Pescadero was to provide intuitive, guest-centric hospitality, with a non-traditional check-in process designed to make guests feel at home. However, feedback concerning service became highly negative following the carbon monoxide incident. Former employees and current staff (speaking anonymously) alleged that management ignored repeated complaints about gas leaks and even disabled carbon monoxide detectors due to guest complaints about loud alarms. This suggests a severe lapse in service and safety prioritization by the previous management.

6. Location & Accessibility

Rancho Pescadero is located in El Pescadero, Baja California Sur, Mexico, edged between the desert and an expansive stretch of coastline. It is situated an hour north of San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD), and a short drive from the artist colony of Todos Santos. The drive from SJD airport typically takes about 55-70 minutes. While the resort offered airport transportation, the last mile to the resort was an unmarked, unpaved sand road, which some guests found bumpy. Public transportation, including buses, is available in the Pescadero area, and taxis can be hired for travel to Todos Santos or other attractions. The beach directly accessible from the resort was described as beautiful but sometimes too rough for swimming, with rough sand containing shells.

7. Value & Pricing

Cash rates at Rancho Pescadero were considered steep, reportedly starting from $750-$895 per night and increasing seasonally, with significant taxes and fees (around 34%) in Mexico. It was a Category 7 World of Hyatt property, meaning point redemptions were also high, ranging from 25,000-35,000 points per night for a standard room and up to 50,000-70,000 points for a premium suite with a plunge pool. While point redemptions avoided taxes, some guests felt the value was "okay, not great." Given the subsequent safety issues and rebranding, the perception of value is now heavily impacted by the historical context.

8. Common Complaints

The most significant and critical "complaint" by far relates to the carbon monoxide poisoning incident in June 2023.

• Carbon Monoxide Deaths: Two American guests died from carbon monoxide poisoning in their room.
• Ignored Safety Warnings: Current and former employees alleged that management was aware of frequent gas leak alarms and that carbon monoxide detectors were disabled after guests complained about their loudness. A housekeeper reportedly fell ill from suspected gas poisoning in the same room days before the fatal incident.
• Construction Issues: One guest review from May 2023 mentioned that the resort still felt like it was "under construction" even after its reopening.
• Transportation Costs: The hotel's transfer service from SJD airport was noted as being very expensive (e.g., $460 USD round trip).

The property, following these events, underwent a change in management and reopened as Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa in April 2024, with IHG Hotels & Resorts stating they were not affiliated with the resort during the incident and have since conducted rigorous safety re-inspections.

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