Rancho Leonero Resort

Hidden Treasure on the Sea of Cortez

On the Sea of Cortez side of the sun-drenched southern Baja, where the legendary peninsula juts into the tropical zones, the palm-thatched, king-sized guest rooms and "main house" of Rancho Leonero punctuate the broad green lawns of a tropical clearing of a 350-acre corner of "Old Baja", nose-to-nose with the pristine blue sea.

A fishing and sportsman’s paradise, where coconut palms bend gracefully over two miles of dazzling unspoiled beaches, it’s a place like no other. Set well apart from other "East Cape" hotels, this handsomely tropical flower-studded resort stands in intimate relationship with the sea itself. Cradled by the mythical Laguna Mountains, it provides a comfortable and friendly sanctuary for those who want to truly experience the Cortez.

Even without the big-time game fishing, Rancho Leonero would be a vacationer’s dream. The sit-down family-style meals are spectacular and the kick-back, intimate style of the place is truly unique in all the world. Owner John Ireland is likely to greet you personally; the staff is friendly and available; and the service is first rate. Like Cheers, it’s a place "where everybody knows your name."

If you are seeking a memorable family-fun vacation in the unique atmosphere of one of the world’s last great nature frontiers, or intent on setting a new game fishing record (or both), Rancho Leonero has all the facilities for full participation in your Cortez experience.

Not only do 1,000-pound black and blue marlin prowl these waters, but striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, huge yellowfin tuna, yellowtail, wahoo, grouper, snapper, roosterfish and dozens of incidentals swarm over undersea canyons and dropoffs within a mile of shore.

Surf fishing along the famous "double reef" directly in front of the ranch is spectacular. If big game fishing is what you are after, Rancho Leonero sports a complete fleet of inexpensive pangas (Mexican skiffs), larger center console "super pangas", and roomy sportfishers up to 40 feet, all at affordable prices, all with superlative local guides who know how to put you on the fish.

Writes Neil Kelly, author of the definitive Baja fishing book, The Baja Catch, "This 40-mile stretch of the Cortez is the Grand Premiere class of all of Baja’s waters, and few if any places in the world can approach it".

Scuba or snorkeling in the waters right in front of the ranch are like diving in an aquarium, and the astonishing Pulmo Reef nearby (the only living coral reef on the Pacific side of the northern hemisphere) is something no diver should miss in a lifetime.

It is no secret that travel writers love to "discover" an out of the way resort where their readers can find not just a vacation, but an experience that truly takes them away from the workaday world. Here is what they are saying:

"From the huge statue of Neptune in the entry garden to the incredible undersea wonders of Pulmo Reef nearby, Leonero is a natural extension of the Sea of Cortez itself. It is so different from most Baja resorts that it demands a close look before choosing. Once you find it, you’ll keep coming back again and again." - BAJA NEWSLETTER

"Set directly on the Sea of Cortez…[Rancho Leonero] consists of gracious flagstone-and-thatched-roof cottages. There is a nice pool directly in front of the bar, and a baronial dining room has Spanish-leather chairs… Maybe 70 percent of the guests come for the fishing, 20 percent for the excellent scuba diving and snorkeling, and 10 percent loll on the beach, frolic in the pure blue bath-warm sea or explore the desert roads by foot or car." - MICHAEL SHNAYERSON, CONDE NAST TRAVELER  

Leonero Activities