We came to Ixtapa, Mexico, after a few busy, food-filled days in Mexico City to relax and unwind. Cala de Mar has won many accolades for being one of the best resorts in Mexico, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We stayed here for a very relaxing five nights from February to March of 2024. We absolutely loved the quiet location, stunning views from our suite that had ample outdoor space and a private plunge pool, as well as the various restaurant and activity offerings here. This resort is not outlandishly priced, and we paid about $550 per night (including taxes and breakfast) to stay in a luxurious suite, which was a super value.

The Location

Ixtapa, Mexico, is essentially a town that was exclusively built by the government of Mexico to be a resort town. Just north of Zihuatanejo, or “Zihua,” Ixtapa is an area that is basically full of hotels and touristy tchotchke shops. There is a beautiful beach in Ixtapa, surrounded by large resorts, but there is no character, charm, or anything of cultural interest in this area. That said, Cala de Mar itself is a mid-sized hotel under 100 rooms, located on the northern end of the hotel zone, away from the mega resorts, and stands alone, carved into the cliffs above the ocean. This allows for more privacy and solitude, and the feeling that you’re in a very special place. There is no beach here, but there are several large pools, and all of the rooms have their own plunge pool and large, comfortable balcony. Zihua is a more charming town with a cute shopping area, malecon, and tons of very cute restaurants and bars. There are a lot more hotels in Zihua, and most of them are smaller boutique hotels. I loved being away from the hustle and bustle of more touristy Ixtapa, as well as the congestion of Zihua.

The Amenities

Cala de Mar is a full-service resort that you don’t even need to leave if you don’t want to. As mentioned, there are several main pools, and we enjoyed hanging out at these pools in their cabanas, which were free and first-come-first-served.

There is a large spa, which has gorgeous treatment rooms with lovely views of the sea, and they offer any sort of service that you could imagine. It seemed like we were the only ones at the resort here at the spa, as we had the locker rooms, showers, relaxation room with jacuzzi, and restrooms all to ourselves. The workout room is spacious, air conditioned, and also faces the ocean for a nice view while you are sweating it out on the machines. On weekends, yoga is offered on the terrace.

Near the lobby is a large, air conditioned library room that contains books and games, comfortable couches, as well as coffee and snacks that are replenished throughout the day. There are also business amenities here, including a computer and printer.

Each evening at 5pm we were brought a happy hour snack of some chips with salsa and guacamole, as well as beers to enjoy in our room. Room service was also prompt, accurate, and delicious. The menu was essentially the same as the Las Rocas restaurant near the pool.

Finally, the resort will happily arrange transfers to and from the airport, which was convenient and stress-free. Service here, either through the front desk, concierge, room service or housekeeping, were all pleasant, prompt, and hassle-free. We never worried about a thing while we were here!

The Activities

Cala de Mar offers an endless number of activities both in and around the resort. We opted for a few different activities on our trip. We originally had booked an activity for every single day, but after our exhausting long weekend in Mexico City, we cancelled a few without issue (there is a 24 hour cancellation policy).

My favorite activity was the Mezcal tasting class. It was really informative and fun, and you can read about all the details about the class here. I really learned a ton about this artisanal spirit, and it’s well worth your afternoon to hang out on the beautiful terrace of the resort learning about mezcal!

We also surprisingly enjoyed the sunset cruise, even though it was nothing like what we were expecting! The last time I had taken a sunset cruise was on a large yacht with only a few other couples in St. Lucia. This time, we were picked up on a massive charter bus, and we made a bunch of stops at different resorts on our way south to Zihua to the dock. There was a huge catamaran waiting for us and about 100 of our closest friends, to take us out into the bay and all the way up the coast to watch the sunset. There was plenty of seating for everyone on this large boat, and there were about 20 staff constantly walking around and serving margaritas, beer, and eventually shots of tequila as well. We even were provided with a full dinner of chicken skewers, rice, salad, and chips. The views on the cruise were spectacular, the vibe was lively and fun, and we really had a great time. Even though this wasn’t the private, romantic cruise I was expecting, it was a total blast, and I would really recommend the sunset booze cruise!

We also did a driving tour around Ixtapa, and Zihua, ending with a little walking tour of the shopping area around Zihua as well. I did not find this tour to be worth it, as at least 50% of the time was driving around. We did get to see a cool area north of the hotel zone of Ixtapa with all sorts of unusual birds and wildlife, and it was nice to walk around the town of Zihua, but this is something that could easily be done on your own, rather than hiring a private driver. Although we learned quite a bit about the history of this area, I would skip this activity, and opt for shorter trips via taxi to Zihua town, or to the Ixtapa beaches.

The Food

Cala de Mar has three different restaurants that serve meals at different times of the day. Las Rocas is the main restaurant by the pool, which is toward the bottom of the resort. This restaurant serves hearty and healthy breakfasts, as well as lunch. Typical lunches include all different types of tacos and ceviches, sandwiches and salads. There are a lot of seafood options at this resort, which I really loved!

Speaking of Seafood, the Seafood Market is open for dinner most nights, and is below the pool, closer to the beach. We enjoyed several dinners here, where you can order appetizers, and then can order from the fresh catches of the day, selected and put on display to help you make your choice.

The seafood is prepared grilled with several options for sauces, and comes with whatever sides you want. The side choices are endless, but I really loved the grilled veggies and rice. The pasta side was also very good – cooked al dente and not too salty. This restaurant is the best at the resort, and I would highly recommend eating here as many evenings as possible while visiting.

Finally, there is the Terrace restaurant, which has a great view of the sunset. We loved coming here for sunset cocktails (I highly recommend the grapefruit mezcalita!), but we also had dinner here too. Their menu includes a range of items from sushi rolls, to steak sliders.

It’s safe to say we never had a bad meal here at Cala de Mar. The seafood was fresh and delicious, and don’t skip dessert either. Their churros are truly the perfect blend of crispy and sweet, and they melt in your mouth! You can get them at the Seafood Market or up at the Terrace!

The Room

The rooms at Cala de Mar are some of the best we have ever stayed in! We booked a Romance Deluxe Ocean Front Suite, and we were on the 6th level, which was just about the top level of the resort. We had spectacular panoramic views of the ocean, and were able to watch humpback whales jump and play in the bay from our balcony. The terrace of the room was large and open, with a comfortable arm chair and large daybed, along with our own private plunge pool. The terrace itself doubled the size of our private space, and we spent most of our time here enjoying the sun and the views.

The bedroom was large, and the king sized bed was very comfortable. The a/c worked great at night, and there was a comfortable sitting area in the front if you wanted to get out of the sun. We had a mini fridge and coffee maker in the room which were convenient.

The bathroom was extraordinarily large, with separate rooms for the toilet and shower. It was all in neutral tones and had a very spa-like feel. The closet and storage area was in the bathroom as well, making the space seem huge, but functional. There was a ton of space for your clothes and luggage.

I absolutely loved the design and layout of these spacious and comfortable suites, and I would highly recommend requesting one on the upper level for the magnificent views.

The Vibe

The vibe of Cala de Mar is extremely tranquil and chic. You get the sense of extreme relaxation the moment you enter the spacious lobby of the resort, and that feeling is even more amplified when you are escorted to your own private sanctuary suite within the resort. Sure, there are people around, but you really only see them on excursions or at the restaurants. We opted to spend most of our time within our suite, and really felt like we were far away from normal life. The resort is lighted in a very romantic way at night, and the vibe trended toward a more moody feel in the evenings.

Breezes waft through the common spaces of this resort, which are all very neutral-toned with lots of natural artwork as well as plants and flowers, making you feel comfortable and at home. The walkways are lush, green, and have a zen-like quality.

The Recommendation

I would absolutely not hesitate to recommend Cala de Mar for a luxury escape in a lesser-known and less-popular area of Mexico to visit. The resort’s location is absolutely ideal for a sense of privacy and relaxation, and the service and food are outstanding. Each suite is self-contained, and has a private plunge pool, which we used almost exclusively, and you can’t beat the extraordinary views from each. Ixtapa and Zihua don’t offer a ton in the way of cultural activities, but if you are looking to get away to a warm place with a luxurious feel, comfortable rooms, and epic views at a reasonable price, do not hesitate to book here!