We just returned from our one week stay at the Banyan Tree Cabo Marquez and in a word it was – Fantastic! We stayed for one week from Saturday March 15, 2025 to Saturday March 22, 2025. A bit of background, we discovered the Banyan Tree resort brand (“BT”) in 2023 when we stayed at the Banyan Tree Koh Samui, Thailand and were blown away by the level of service, beauty of the resort, the individual villas each with private pool and the wonderful amenities. Then in 2024 we traveled to Vietnam and stayed at the Banyan Tree Co Lang in central Vietnam since we loved the brand from discovering it the year before. Fast forward to 2025 and due to my wife’s recent health scare and the issues associated with it – we had to stay close to the US and for a shorter time. We found out through searching that BT had 2 beach resorts in the Western Hemisphere which is the one on the Mexican Riviera south of Cancun and Cabo Marquez south of Acapulco. We wanted to have views and the same type of hillside experience with the villas scattered on an ocean hilltop - like the other 2 BT we went to - as well as have a resort we could do a day trip and see a town or beach area. The Banyan Tree fit the bill perfectly and even better only 15 minutes from the Acapulco airport.
We like to plan vacations so we don’t have any unexpected surprises so we knew all about the past issues Acapulco has sadly had over the past decade or 2. As always the reality was not what was reported and frankly for the past 5 years (minus hurricanes) its been a very safe and nice place in the tourist zones (more on that later). But the Banyan Tree at Cabo Marques is not in Acapulco. It is an entirely different bay and area perched on its own peninsula completely occupied by the Banyan Tree – it’s an amazing property and the size of it is impressive but how the separated all the villas around with water views makes it so unique and private.
So we arranged a private driver – found through Trip Advisor – and arrived at Acapulco airport on that Saturday. We were VERY impressed with how uncrowded and fast we moved through immigration and then customs. Because of the negative reviews of Acapulco and the past issues (now years past) there are not a lot of flights from the US to this airport. We actually are AA status members so we took that flight from DFW to ACA. It was a bout 2.5 hours and because of the lack of Americans coming like Cancun we actually arrived in a smaller regional jet. It was great because smaller plane meant no lines at customs and the airport is not big so from time we got off the plane to getting luggage was 15 minutes. It was heavenly! Especially if you ever flew into Cancun which is a madhouse at times when several planes from US land.
Our driver had a sign for us and even brought flowers because it was my wife’s birthday. His name is Carlos and runs (Acapulco Tours) and through whats app +52 744 120 3568 you can reach him. He drives a big Tahoe and was so communicative and diligent that we are using him when we go back to BT Cabo. He will also do a stop at the very nice supermarket on way to BT if you want. Big shout out to the Trip Advisor community for their reviews and that’s why we hired him.
Now the resort….We loved the big hills and winding our way down the peninsula to get to the end of it to find the entrance for the BTCB – it had beautiful waterfalls on each side and the guard was very detailed in making sure we were guests before admittance – which we liked. We wound our way through the most beautiful gardens and pathways to come to the Grand Lobby. Upon exiting Carlos’s vehicle we were met by the first of so many wonderful and friendly staff that we encountered through the week with our bellhops and the front desk, Paulina (whom was great prior to our arrival answering my many emails weeks before our trip). But the biggest thing was the amazing view from the open air lobby – simply stunning! We were on top of the hill/small mountain about 300 feet from the Pacific Ocean with 180 degree views of the Ocean and the pool and restaurant area. Words and photos can’t really capture it but it was just an amazing entry to start our vacation!
Check-In: instead of standing behind a large check in structure we love BT because its chairs and tables and you can check in simply sitting on a couch looking out over the gorgeous view and Paulina sat with us to go through the cc check in and explaining various things. But what was most impressive was that while sitting there the actual General Manager of the property, Ingo, came out to meet us and introduce himself. But even more impressive was that he knew about our arrival and specifically came out to say hello and talk to us – along with his assistant bringing very much appreciated two very cold Modelos to enjoy why we checked in and enjoyed the views. We would see Ingo throughout our stay and have several conversations and interactions. He was always present and was extremely gracious. You simply do not see this level of attention at most resorts where you never interact with management like this.
The Buggy Ride:
So like a well-oiled machine, after our check-in with Paulina, our wonderful talk with Ingo and our beers, all our luggage was loaded up on the “buggy” – nice golf carts with a back bed to load luggage – as was our own buggy with our own driver to take us to our private stand-alone villa. The buggy pathways are also beautiful and you could see the landscapers doing all sorts of planting and pruning on the way. As a side note Acapulco was hit with a very large hurricane (which usually does not happen) 14 months before our arrival so the wonderful location of the BTCB on the ocean was obviously a big detriment when it came to a storm like that. It knocked the resort out for 12 months from memory so we were there only 2 months after they opened. So what they accomplished during that time was more than impressive. It also resulted in almost all the villas being completely refurbished from the windows to the interior to brand new beds (so comfortable) and equipment so you have a resort that is in effect – brand new.
Anyway back to the buggy – like all the guys that picked us up and took us around all week – the drivers are great and love talking and practicing English while we practice Spanish (which was a recurring and much appreciated exercise all week because it was fun to practice – needless to say their English is much better than our 20 word Spanish vocabulary!). But the resort and its villas are set throughout this large peninsula with bay and ocean views BUT you don’t walk to the public areas, restaurants, spa, pool, etc…you simply pick up the phone dial 0 and request a buggy and tell them where you are going. 5 minutes later you have your very friendly driver waiting and whisks you away on your gorgeous driver through the jungle to your destination. I really loved that ride because of the views you could see, the foliage, the villas and the drive. IT was a fun experience every time we went! And same when you leave the resort areas to go back to your villa. Let the spa manager know or the front desk and again they pick you up and drop you back off at the villa. None of this walking (and sweating) with your bags to get from one area to another area like most resorts. Its really a very special perk and again – fun to do!
VILLA:
I don’t know how to describe this better than the photos I have attached. Simply stunning, private and a true home away from home as you could literally spend the week at your villa and never leave your private pool and lounge chairs – or your private covered living room. It tracked just like the BT resorts in SE Asia and that is why we were so excited to come to this resort and have the amazing Pacific views. Skipping ahead but on 2 occasions after spending the day at the main pool we would go back to our villa and get in the pool with a beverage or 2 and not leave it until we watched the sun set into the ocean horizon….it was so beautiful we would then order room service and have a romantic evening on our private outdoor living area looking at the ocean and the lights of the resorts and expensive mansions across the bay. Just so romantic and special!
The villas themselves are so unique. You have a main door that you have to enter through with your key to enter your “compound”. Talk about luxury and privacy. Then you have your villa with bedroom, beautiful large bathroom, bar, table and chairs and AMAZING floor to ceiling windows WITH automatic controls….waking up to a dark room then hitting the remote to have all 4 large shades rise at the same time to reveal the Ocean and Cliffs IS the way to wake up in life. Loved it!
When you come out of your villa as part of your private compound you have a deck with 2 large and comfortable (and cushioned) teak deck chairs. They got a lot of use during out stay. But the best part is your private infinity pool above and overlooking the water. Every villa has this and every one has an amazing view. The pool is huge for a couple and so many mornings and evenings I would be in it. The 2nd roofed structure in your villa area is an outdoor living area with a very comfortable couch and large round table WITH a hammock swinging over the side of the pool (if you don’t want to use it simply put it up) but this villa was made to relax, reconnect and take a deep breath from the rat race of our usual busy lives.
The Main Pool: Our first day we took our buggy to the spa while my wife had an amazing massage at these little mini-villa treatment rooms that you can walk to with views over the Pacific while I went to the brand new gym next door to the spa. After she was done we met and walked to the main pool/restaurant area to have breakfast while overlooking the pool and the water. Again its easier to see the beauty through my photos than my poor attempt with words. This would be our main place to go during the day – other than our one amazing day with Carlos our airport driver – taking us into Acapulco but see that below. The manager of the restaurant, Cello, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (one overlooking main pool and ocean) Mauricio came up to us and introduced ourselves and we had a wonderful chat – which would repeat itself every time we went there – as he was well-traveled (better than us that’s for sure) and go over different parts of the world with some funny stories! But again that level of care where management is actively engaged with guests is so very special. Nothing ever gets missed that way!
So we had an amazing breakfast – and side note all the food and drinks are top notch, fresh, healthy and so good. Never had a bad meal and the seafood is so fresh! You will not go hungry with the variety either.
After breakfast we met our next new friend whom we loved talking to every day the rest of the week – Luis Smith (running joke is there are so many Luis on staff named Luis Smith (whom because of all the Luises on property was Luis #1). LOL. But what service! Perfect English and in short order we had a covered cabana to ourselves (all complimentary) and 2 lounge chairs under the umbrella, a bucket of ice for water and then our first drinks of the day. What a great way to start first day of vacation! But I cannot speak highly enough about Luis #1 as well as everyone we met that week – very special people who truly liked interacting with us as Americans and who were so genuine and caring. This creates a wonderful guest-centric vibe on the whole property – and since its not a big property by number of villas at I think 35-40 – then the staff truly gets to know you, what you like, drink preferences, food preferences, etc.
Restaurants: As mentioned above your daily restaurant overlooking the pool with inside and outside seating (it was so beautiful there weather wise that we never sat inside) is Cello (breakfast, lunch and dinner – with wonderful Italian dinner menu) and then to us the real star of the dinner scene – Saffrons! A separate restaurant with a unique and impressive 180 degree curved view right on top of the ocean – albeit 100 feet up. We would literally rush to get our buggy to get from our villa to there before 630pm to see the sunsets while having a drink before dinner. IT was amazing and you can see the photos below. Again, like the GM Ingo, we had the manager of Saffrons – Guillermo – immediately come up to us and introduce himself and again – the high quality of service ensued. He was also so interesting to talk to and joke with and runs a well-oiled restaurant. The chef is from Thailand and this was some of the best Thai food we had since Koh Samui. The chef came out to meet us on my wife’s birthday dinner and we had to tell him how great his creations are and we never had a bad meal – again the seafood here is amazing and during our time soft shell crabs were in season so I had that 3 different times!
SPA: As mentioned before the treatment villas are all scattered about for privacy and you walk with your masseuse to your villa. They have a beautiful bathroom and shower – as we left the pool one day and wanted to clean off before the massage – as well as beautiful large interior. What we really liked is they do the same thing like BT in Thailand and Vietnam and have you sit on couch facing ocean windows and view and wash your feet and then have you smell and decide what oil you want for your massage. We always liked that little touch all BT spas do prior to the massage. My therapist was Elizabeth and I had her for 2 massages and she was wonderful. Very communicative and the massage was exactly like I liked. My wife had 3 massages and had Selma and loved it. They also were so accommodating with my wife due to her recent health issues so that was so appreciated! We wanted to give a special shout out to all the ladies - Olivia, Valeria (visit her in the gift shop), Elizabeth & Semla!
Yoga: Because they are slowly getting back after the hurricane to providing all amenities (probably 10% away from 100% pre-hurricane) they do not office fitness classes YET. But they found a wonderful yoga teacher that came 3x to us to their very nice well-appointed yoga studio next to the gym. Her name is Gude and the spa will be happy to arrange her. I joined my wife as it was good for what’s she is going through so she needed stretching. I ended up really enjoying it and Gude was excellent. I believe it was $75 (total) for a full hour which is extremely reasonable. Just heads up if want to do.
Resort Tour: So needless to say by the time we were a few days in to our vacation we knew we wanted to come back to the resort this summer prior to my wife’s surgery. So the Manager in charge of all the villas, Octavio, was so nice to actually take us on a “villa tour” and see some options when we come back. He took us everywhere and was so patient and kind. He even took us to the last of the villas being refurbished so we could see firsthand how destructive that hurricane was before….which then perfectly showed to us the immense hard work and effort that went into making the property look so amazing now. Its so impressive! Octavio again was another manager who always took time to talk to us and was always it seems on property. Really great guy…..and in the end we decided we want to have our villa we just stayed at for July! But it was nice seeing all the options.
Summary: I have never written a review this long before – and could still go on – but the quality of this vacation and the amazing time we had simply necessitated this review. This is the first time we have ever loved a location and property and people so much that we are returning in 3 months. As an American I think we were the only ones there and you can tell how much they appreciated us being there and would love to have more Americans visit. Its sad how what happened years ago tarnished Acapulco somewhat in the eyes of USA for traveling but I can honestly say I had such a better time here and the people we met than Cancun or RIvieria Maya or any of the Caribbean island. I never felt pressured, never rushed, and always greeted with a smile – both on and off property. They made a difficult time in our lives very special and it was nice to forget about my wife’s health issues if even for a week. It left her happy, content and refreshed! That is the true measure of a great resort – leaving you wanting more!!!
PS – day trip to Acapulco! Hire Carlos to take you and see the main tourist area on the ocean, go to the wonderful silver store, then have lunch oceanside while watching the cliff divers! A fun afternoon and was nice to get out of our cocoon of luxury to actually see Acapulco. We felt so safe and again was sad all the negative news reports from years past. The police show of numbers presences was appreciated and it was great to see how truly beautiful the town of Acapulco is and I hope it continues to start attracting more people from the US.
PSS - So if I forget anyone I apologize so let me give a final shout out to:
The guys: Ingo, Octavio, Guilarimo, Mauricio, Andres, Miguel, Alvaro, Luis Smith 1, Luis 2, Luis 3 & Juan!
And the ladies: Olivia, Valeria, Elizabeth & Semla, Gude (fantastic yoga instructor) and Paulina! See you all soon!
