One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive at Sandos Finisterra is its natural beauty. Construction on Finisterra started in 1969 and the first 58 rooms opened in 1971 before Sandos took over and expanded the resort in 2013. It's nestled high into the Sierra de la Laguna Mountain range and the property’s 272 rooms feel more old-school charm than chain hotel, and that’s part of its allure.
“I think the original flair is important to the architecture of this resort,” says Nicki Van Den Auwelant, General Manager. “There are not a lot of resorts that have been built into the rock and have this natural color. That's what most people say when they first arrive - oh my god it’s even so much more beautiful than in the pictures.”
But its natural beauty is only part of the attraction. Out of 87 hotels in Los Cabos, Sandos Finisterra ranks #17 on TripAdvisor, with nearly perfect scores. As with all Sandos resorts, guest service is number one and at Finisterra, the ratio of staff to rooms is 1.5 giving every guest a very personalized service.
“My main focus, as general manager, is the attention of our guests, which we ask our staff to embrace and participate in decisions to make their experience even better,” says Van Den Auwelant. “I think the participation of our whole team and listening to them really is a key factor in the success of the resort.”
“Canadians love Cabo,” says Rocio Fonseca, Sales Manager. “Canadians come stay here and then keep coming back, our repeat guest rate is about 20%. They visit, they love it and then they come back with their friends, some even come back to get married here.”
Wedding and groups are a very big part of Sandos Finisterra; there are currently 154 booked for 2024 and agents and bride-to-be’s should take note – the property only ever holds one per day. During TravelPulse’s 5 day visit, there were two; one for 90 guests and another for 71 though the property can accommodate groups up to 100 guests. There are two locations for wedding ceremonies; the beach and the plaza with a reception location on the rooftop terrace that could arguably have the best view in Los Cabos.
Then there’s the eco factor of Sandos Finesterra, which according to the World Economic Forum, a booking.com survey found 76% of travellers want to make their holiday travel sustainable. There is a water shortage in Los Cabos, with some residents going without water for ten days and Sandos Finisterra doesn’t want to contribute to the problem so they have taken extensive steps in making the resort fully eco-friendly. Where other hotels in the area throw away 600+ plastic water bottles a day, Finisterra has eliminated water bottles, instead providing water dispensers in each room. Where the average laundry load per room in the industry is about 13kg per room, Finisterra’s averages about 8kg which means less water is used for laundry. When Sandos purchased Finisterra in 2013 the grounds were full of grass – landscape that needs watering. They quickly replaced it with desert plants, which add an interesting aesthetic to the property while not requiring regular watering. The resort even has its own distillation system which draws sea water and converts it to water used for washing, showering etc and all cleaning products are biodegradable.
With charm, service and eco-friendly factors top of the list of reasons to stay at Sandos Finisterra, it’d be amiss to not focus on a major one – location. Finisterra is located directly across from the marina, in the heart of Cabo San Lucas and depending on traffic, is about a 45-minute drive from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). The town is very safe and home to many restaurants, bars and shopping. The Sea of Cortez is less than a 10-minute walk and is a great beach for swimming.
Both Fonseca and Van Den Auwelant say they encourage guests to leave the resort to explore the vibrancy of the local neighbourhood, whether it's doing a day trip to Sea of Cortez beach or grabbing a local beer at one of the many bars and restaurants.
“I think what attracts many people here is our location because you go out of the resort and it’s a 10-minute walk into the center of the city,” says Van Den Auwelant. “If you want to party, if you want to go to the marina, if you want to go to the public beach, everything's very, very close. It’s also very safe, even at two o’clock in the morning.
Every spot of our resort is like a little hidden corner where you want to take picture, it's just so beautiful. We sort of have a Riviera flair in the hotel. I feel like it could be like French Riviera, like an Italian resort, because of the natural stones everywhere. You don't see that anymore.
I fell in love with Cabo and Finesterra, from the moment I came here and I know our guests will too.”
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