A mere 80 miles from San Diego lies the port city of Ensenada, a charming Mexican enclave that runs along 700 miles of Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortéz coastline. The city, which is the country’s largest municipality in the area, offers endless possibilities for vacationers. The region is replete with culture, adventure, inspired cuisine, fine wine and gracious hospitality that’s all tempered with a relaxed beach and marine mindset. This certainly holds true for the Hotel Coral & Marina—a luxury Mexican resort that truly has it all for families, couples, groups or any well-heeled traveler seeking an easily accessible, all-encompassing escape South of the Border.
A glistening getaway on the shores of Todos Santos Bay, Hotel Coral & Marina boasts the area’s only world-class marina with 353 slips that offer shared access to the property’s impressive array of amenities. But, for those seeking accommodations on land, has 147 rooms and suites featuring flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi and a coffee maker. Upgrade to a specialty suite for an added refrigerator, dining area, double bathtub, Jacuzzi, wine cooler and fully-equipped kitchen.
While standard rooms start at 635 square feet, the suites begin at 721 square feet and top out at over three times that with the Presidential Triple Suite providing a whopping 2,034 square feet of vacation space. In speaking with Lizette Sanchez, Director of Public Relations at Hotel Coral & Marina, she cited many elevated amenities available with the opulent top-tier suites, such as a wraparound ocean-view balcony, chic bar, modern living area, Jacuzzi, hydro-massage shower, dining table and a wine fridge.
With thoughts of the grand room options in mind, I asked Sanchez if any celebrity guests have stayed at the property. She enthused, “We’ve hosted a variety of celebrities, including Matthew McConaughey, Olivia Wilde, Nicolas Cage, Harrison Ford, Esteban Loaiza, Vinicio Castilla and the late Paul Walker, in our ultra-luxurious Presidential Suites.” Nice to know Hollywood A-Listers are privy to this delightful property.
However fabulous your room may be, don’t stay in it too long as there’s so much more to do and see at Hotel Coral & Marina. Whether your idea of a good time includes indulging in Baja-Med-style cuisine at the on-site Bistro & Cava indoor/outdoor restaurant or more of a casual fare at the Marina Grill restaurant, the hotel has plenty of options. Guests can also take a dip in the indoor or outdoor pool, ease tired muscles inside the large outdoor Jacuzzi or get pampered with a service at the fully-equipped C Spa. Various water activities like water bikes, paddle boarding and kayaking are available throughout the marina as well. With these enjoyable exploits, an on-site playground and professionally-staffed Kid’s Club, the Hotel Coral & Marina is decidedly family friendly.
What’s more, all of this is located just minutes from downtown Ensenada, San Miguel beach and the Las Cañadas campground where you can purchase a day pass allowing you to partake in an incredible assortment of ground, water and air activities like ATV rental, horseback riding, mountain biking, zip lining, canopy tours, water sliding and swimming. It’s also advisable to spend some time in Baja’s burgeoning wine country. For locations closer to the property like restaurants and shops, the hotel will even provide complimentary ground transportation. The hotel can also provide pick-up and drop-off service from, and back to, the U.S. Border, which is about a 90-minute drive each way.
For those who prefer to travel by sea, one of the hotel’s unique qualities of having its own marina is how effortless it is for ocean-going guests to arrive and settle in. “Our marina offers a high-quality experience that is convenient to those who choose to dock in Ensenada for a short vacation or a long-term stay. Ensenada is the very first port of entry into Mexico, and our property makes the immigration and vessel import process seamless for marina guests,” shared Sanchez. “Guests docked at our marina also have access to the hotel’s world-class amenities, specialized yacht maintenance services, a fuel dock and special discounts at the spa and restaurants. Those guests who fish particularly love to have their own catch-of-the-day grilled up at our Marina Grill restaurant!”
Speaking of restaurants, Bistro & Cava is the hotel’s award-winning signature gourmet eatery featuring a blend of traditional Mexican entrees and locally-sourced Mediterranean cuisine. But the food isn’t the only notable aspect of the bistro, as it also happens to house the largest local wine cellar in Baja California. From this locale, patrons can enjoy more than 150 labels. Those seeking a more casual atmosphere will enjoy eating at the waterfront Marina Grill restaurant or at the Pool Bar, where I highly recommend ordering the ceviche and a margarita. If this doesn’t put you in a vacation state-of-mind, probably nothing will. The Arrecife Lobby Bar is another communal space offering sports on the flat-screen and a two-for-one drink Happy Hour.
In my book, no luxury escape is complete without a trip to the spa. Hotel Coral & Marina’s own newly-designed C Spa is full service, offering a wide array of beauty salon services along with a number of luxurious and locally-sourced treatments. Among these is a service called VinoTherapy, a treatment that uses organic wine byproducts like grape leaves, stems, skin and seeds to exfoliate, moisturize and replenish skin all over the body. It’s a highly relaxing 50-minute service that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple.
Short-term, Sanchez indicated that the hotel’s C Spa plans to launch a more comprehensive wellness program later this year that will give guests another way to unwind and revitalize through a guided program of yoga, spa treatments and health discussions covering a range of topics from nutrition to meditation and exercise.
In discussing the overall longer-term future of Hotel Coral & Marina, Sanchez shared that the property’s efforts are to continually improve all facets of the hospitality it proffers, with a concerted focus on delivering “top-notch customer service.” I experienced this firsthand with an affable, mostly English-speaking staff willing to facilitate nearly any need or request. Continuous attention to cosmetic upgrades, employee training and innovative new guest programs will further enhance the guest experience.
Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a romantic respite or a group getaway, Ensenada’s Hotel Coral & Marina enchants as a one-stop oasis where leisure, recreation and gastronomic pursuits await.
