Remote resort and winery hosting about 30 individually standing buildings made up of three separate…read moresuites all encircling the grapevines tended by the staff.
About an hour and a half drive from the US/Mexico border stands El Cielo ready to welcome you into their quiet neighborhood surrounded by lush lands and hills often grazed by their many cattle and other livestock. Within the vicinity, you'll find little, but a few high end eateries exist. The dirt paths are roads less travelled, however, you're not too far from the port city of Ensenada.
As you drive into the long entrance to the main lobby, you'll notice the openness of it all. The horizon is just barely obstructed and the land is extremely flat with the exception of the hills nearby. The property has a lake and serves as a beautiful and serene place to take a walk. In the evenings, the stars are extremely clear and bright against the pitch dark sky. Bask in the tranquility as the only sounds you'll hear are the occasional croaks from the native frogs or chirps of crickets and whistling night breeze.
If you came during the day, however, and haven't melted already, the first step out will be a shocker due to the immense heat you'll feel being just a smidge closer to the equator. The staff greeted us with some cold glasses of refreshing white wines as we checked in.
Upon getting our suite and room keys, they offered to shuttle us to our rooms but if you drove in yourself, feel free to drive on over and park in the driveway. For those with electric vehicles, they do have charging available right outside each suite.
The rooms are spacious, well ventilated and adequately illuminated. The beds are soft and the mattress and pillows are super comfortable. The bathrooms are clean and modern; water pressure is good. Amenities were appreciated - bottles of drinking water (was told to refrain from consuming water from tap in Mexico so this was a big plus), clean towels, hygiene and supplemental kits were available, and mirrors were abundant (long, standard, and close up). Each room also comes with a TV and localized air conditioning and fan unit, giving full control over room climate. There's also a balcony but it was much too hot to be out during the day. The evenings were cool and provided a nice place to sit back and enjoy the stars.
There's a shared outdoor pool, a gymnasium and a chapel house. I only got to use the pool and it was relatively clean aside from the occasional bug that might have fallen in. There were towels and chairs for patrons to use. The lake was a nice stroll but it's not too big and much of the path is fully exposed to the sun.
Breakfast occurs between 8-9:30 am at the main building on the second floor. They'll check you in at the front desk for your name and room number and you'll have the option to sit indoors in the dark but elegant dining room or outdoors on the patio. The food is self service and included a variety of options including eggs, beans, meats, dairy, nuts and fruits. They also have a dessert section where I got to try a chia seed parfait with fresh berries. Orange juice and coffee are also served with your meal.
The service is phenomenal here. The staff are friendly and very welcoming. For non-Spanish speakers, it wasn't too difficult to communicate our needs.
Overall, El Cielo is a great vacation spot to disconnect from all your worries and engage in the present. There's not a whole lot to do here specifically, but the downtime offers room to connect with your loved ones. With its proximity to other hot spots and eateries, El Cielo proved to be a humble and comfortable rest spot in between the tourist attractions, explorations, and wine and dining. If you're looking for a place that has nearly everything taken care of for you to enjoy a stress free vacation, El Cielo has you covered. You just need to make your way down here!
