What are the top 10 best hotels in Los Cabos, including luxury, boutique, and budget? Whether you are on honeymoon, looking for a romantic break, traveling as a family, or want to escape alone, we have the perfect hotel.
Los Cabos is located at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, in Baja California Sur. The best time to travel to Los Cabos for the weather is from May to June, when the wintertime crowds have gone home, and the summertime storms have yet to hit. October and November are also nice months for a vacation, but you’ll need to begin your hotel search early to save money.
The best discounts and special offers tend to be in the low season. Although hotels like the Four Seasons do not reduce their rates outside the main season, they do tend to offer 3 nights for the price or 2 and 4 nights for the price of 3 types of discounts, which can make a trip to Los Cabos, outside the high season, much more affordable.
There are three basic holiday resorts that you can reach from Los Cabos International Airport and then transfer to via taxi or Uber.
Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are two cities known together as Los Cabos. They share a coastline but are 20 minutes (or 33 kilometers) apart and offer completely different atmospheres, with the tourist town of Cabo San Lucas being known for its party scene, while San Jose del Cabo has a more peaceful, traditional Mexican feel with not much nightlife here other than the numerous great local restaurants.
The 15-mile Sea Of Cortés coastline, which lies in between these resort towns, is packed with excellent luxury resorts and some decent golf courses, but not much is walkable from each resort, so be prepared to spend most of your time within the resort, or you might want to rent a car to get around.
Beyond this, you will find the Four Seasons and the soon-to-open Aman Resorts on the coastline of the Sea of Cortés, facing away from the Pacific. These resorts enjoy a much calmer beach that is better for swimming. If you want to swim, it’s wise to pick a resort with a safe beach, as many of the hotels facing the Pacific can endure some pretty dodgy currents.
1. Four Seasons Los Cabos
Four Seasons Los Cabos is just down the beach from the new Amanvari Los Cabos in the 1,000-acre beachfront resort community of Costa Palmas. This luxury vacation development brings a whole new level of luxury to Los Cabos, making this the number one spot to choose, both for your couple’s break or honeymoon and a family holiday with the kids.
The calm shores of the Sea of Cortez and this Four Seasons hotel are surprisingly easy to reach, less than an hour from the airport, and they have a huge advantage over many other luxury hotels around Los Cabos. Hotels that face the rough Pacific are disadvantaged as you are often confined to using the hotel pool rather than swimming in the sea. The Sea of Cortez in front of this Four Seasons hotel offers calm waters and excellent snorkeling, everything you need from paradise!
I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos separately. The key is to book your next Four Seasons stay via our luxury travel concierge.
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos is part of the exclusive Costa Palmas resort community, which will also feature a private marina and members-only beach and yacht club, all set along a two-mile stretch of immaculate white-sand beach and the warm, swimmable waters of the Sea of Cortez.
The 145-key resort features a low-density layout spread across multiple buildings, a collection of whole-ownership oceanfront, marina-side, and golf-side private residences, and an intimate collection of custom single-family beachfront private residence villas.
Alongside multiple pools, extensive indoor and outdoor event and wedding facilities, and five unique dining outlets, the resort also features a Robert Trent Jones II signature 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, and progressive fitness facilities.
The resort’s extensive grounds are connected to an adjacent yachting marina that features up to two hundred slips to accommodate yachts up to 250 feet (76 meters) and its own ocean-side marina village, complete with artisanal boutiques, additional dining options, and locally curated music and art.
The East Cape’s location of this Four Seasons, on the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Sea of Cortez, makes for excellent snorkeling and diving, some of the world’s best light tackle and sport fishing, and world-class windsurfing and kiteboarding. The idyllic setting at the base of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains also offers endless opportunities for land adventure, from hiking, biking, and horseback riding to exploring waterfalls, spring-fed freshwater pools, and hot springs.
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas marks the third addition to the company’s growing Mexican collection, which currently includes properties in Punta Mita and Mexico City. The resort will join an exclusive collection of Four Seasons resorts in destinations including the Maldives, Seychelles, Bora Bora, Koh Samui, and Hawaii.
2. Amanvari
Aman Resorts are definitely one of the most luxurious hotel brands in the world. One of their newest hotels is called Amanvari and is located in Baja’s East Cape and will open in 2020.
Regular readers of Luxury Travel Diary will already know that we love the Aman Canal Grande in Venice and Amanvari ticks all the boxes. Stunning pool, never-ending beach, enviable views over the Sea of Cortés, Aman style, and, of course, expect the rockstar treatment you experience at all Aman hotels.
It is, in fact, just up the beach from the new Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos in the same 1,000-acre beachfront resort community of Costa Palmas. Amanvari’s twenty stilted hotel pavilions are designed to appear like mirages across the dunes, dotted between palm trees. The main pavilion will have three restaurants, a 30-meter infinity pool, and four romantic hot tubs for guests, along with a spa. If you don’t want to leave, you don’t have to. Aman is selling residences within the property so that your vacation never needs to end!
Will this be one of the best hotels in the world? Yes and no. Every hotel has its own individual merits. They are like your children; you don’t love one more than another, but each has unique traits that make you love each one differently. The Four Seasons Cap Ferrat is one of my favorite hotels in the world, as is the Belmond Cipriani in Venice but each is a favorite for different reasons.
3. Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort, described by some as “heaven on earth” is situated near the peaceful San Jose Del Cabo and offers 84 luxurious suites and villas, including 12 Signature beach villas. From the first moment you arrive behind the discreet gates, you are welcomed with open arms. Your stay starts with the complimentary arrival Mariachis (frozen margaritas), a special touch, and your stay will get better from here on in.
Accommodation is spacious suites complete with marble showers, Conchuela limestone floors, and a telescope for viewing the night sky. The Signature Beachfront and Oceanview Villas are perfect for a special event or a honeymoon and sit steps from the legendary Sea of Cortés. From private, infinity-edge pools to the expansive bathroom, with its steam and rain shower and infinity bathtub for two, this authentic Mexican villa awakens all senses to the wonders of this private paradise. Don’t miss the recently added beach cabanas with private Jacuzzis.
Five distinct dining venues include coastal cuisine with Asian influences at Arbol, an authentic Mexican menu at El Restaurante, Sea Grill featuring ‘La Marisqueria,’ savory street tacos at Taqueria, and an authentic and fresh ceviche experience at the Tequila & Ceviche Bar.
Leisure activities include world-class golf, an acclaimed spa, deep-sea fishing, water sports, ultra-luxury amenities and programs, and poolside pampering by their highly-trained team of pampering Pool Butlers at the legendary Infinity Pool. The beach feels like your own private oasis with the most respectful and discreet staff.
For your honeymoon or couples break, a “Director of Romance” is dedicated to making guests’ romantic dreams come true. The Spa at Las Ventanas is heralded as one of the world’s top spas, featuring exquisite indoor-outdoor treatment rooms, private terraces, duet suites for couples, a serene solarium, and a full-service beauty salon. The treatment menu features a variety of holistic treatments inspired by the resort’s surroundings in Los Cabos.
4. Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection
The Cabo San Lucas Resort, Esperanza is a private beach resort tucked between two scenic bluffs on the Baja peninsula and boasting a world-renowned luxury spa, championship golf courses, secluded beaches, and a vibrant nightlife.
Resort amenities include four restaurants, five pools, a private beach, an award-winning spa, a yoga studio, a fitness facility, children’s activities, a private concierge, and more.
Many of Esperanza’s casitas and suites offer 180° views of the Sea Of Cortez and are perfect for couples and honeymooners. Infinity-edge hot tubs can be found on the terrace, and interiors transform into dramatic indoor/outdoor living spaces. Inside, no detail has been overlooked, including such as deep-soaking tubs and luxurious Italian linens.
Villas at Esperanza are perfect for families and larger groups and have nearby access to the attractions of Cabo San Lucas from a tranquil residential sanctuary offering Esperanza’s signature service and amenities. These luxurious accommodations exude a casual elegance that reflects the rich history and traditions of Mexico. Interior features include gracious living space, gourmet kitchens, spacious bedrooms, boastful baths, hand-crafted furnishing, original art, lush garden courtyards, and sweeping ocean vistas.
Cocina del Mar is an incredible restaurant carved into the bluffs overlooking the Sea of Cortez and features multiple levels of romantic stone terraces flowing from a circular palapa-roofed dining room down to the property’s two sandy coves. Sea-to-table seafood highlights the region’s fresh catch from the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, accented with some of the finest organic Mexican. Complementing the menu is an extensive wine list and a Tequila and mezcal Menu.
La Palapa restaurant is located within the Villas and offers casual outdoor Cabo dining, amazing views, an exhibition kitchen, and a swim-up bar.
La Terraza Americana restaurant features light fare and traditional American cuisine, including salads, sandwiches, and burgers, all served in a casual outdoor setting.
Finally, Las Estrellas is a lively garden bistro tucked in a lush setting at the Villas at Esperanza. The modern dining experience features family-friendly fare, including wood-fired pizzas and traditional dishes with a Mexican seafood twist.
The Spa is famous for its coastal desert environment and hand-crafted botanical treatments. The Cabo spa features 14 treatment rooms, including a couples suite, a large soaking pool, an outdoor shower, and a private sunbathing area.
5. One&Only Palmilla
Although the waves here can be both spectacular and rough, the infinity pools elevate you so that you can enjoy views of the Pacific, even when the waves crash against this rocky peninsula. The good news is that one of the beaches here is safely swimmable year-round.
One&Only Palmilla attracts celebrities and Hollywood A-listers. It ticks all the boxes with impressive fine dining and an excellent spa, and at certain times of the year, you can watch distant humpback whales navigating the Pacific.
The feel of this resort is Spanish colonial with white-washed walls. The bars and restaurants here ooze sophistication with colorful furnishings. The open-air terrace named Breeze overlooks the pools and is a good place to have breakfast or lunch. Expect your breakfast to have a touch of Mexican mixed in with the usual. For example, how do scrambled eggs, guacamole, and Pico de Gallo sound?
Suviche offers sushi and a bar in the evening, or try one of two beachside grills. For something special, head to the most high-end restaurant in the resort, ‘Seared’ by Michelin-starred Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which serves a delicious gourmet menu with a hint of Mexican.
Service is incredible if sometimes tiring as staff greet you and bow each time you see you. Somehow, they haven’t got this quite right (at least for the less vivacious guest who wants to hide away rather than be constantly greeted), so for service alone, I would always prefer the rockstar intimacy of the Aman or the perfectly non-intrusive service of the new Four Seasons Los Cabos detailed above.
The One&Only Spa has its own yoga garden and treatment cabanas situated in landscaped courtyards. There’s also an excellent children’s and teens’ club, a private surf school, and a Jack Nicklaus 27-hole golf course exclusive to the resort, along with paddle-boarding and tennis.
Standard’ Ocean Front’ rooms are large, but ‘Pool Casita Suites’ are perfect for a special occasion or a honeymoon and have a private plunge pool and incredible ocean views and are the ones to pick if your budget stretches that far.
6. Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the best place to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy rewards in Los Cabos.
Set along the dramatic coastline of San José del Cabo with panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez, Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is the fourth extraordinary resort in the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio and the second in the Caribbean and Mexico region.
“We are extremely excited to add the exquisite Zadún to the evolving and expanding portfolio of Ritz-Carlton Reserve, an elevated standard of luxury set in remarkable locations. We are particularly excited by the growth this opening represents for our beautiful and diverse region,” said Tim Sheldon, President of Caribbean and Latin America Marriott International.
The name Zadún is inspired by the unique topography and dunes of the region and is meant to evoke transformative and pure experiences. Set in some of the world’s most prized destinations, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties draw inspiration from their locale and native cultures and offer a highly personal connection between guests and the location.
The striking design of Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, will celebrate the desert and the sea. Evoking a true sense of San José del Cabo, the resort’s buildings are placed gently along the steppes of the land, as if they are one with the landscape, rising out of the earth to create the ultimate desert luxury.
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, features 115 elegantly appointed suites and villas, many with their own private plunge pools. The Reserve also features a collection of Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences.
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, joins Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, Phulay Bay in Thailand, and Mandapa in Bali, Indonesia, in offering a serene and transformative escape to the world’s most discerning travelers. Each Reserve is unique, a rare place for those who appreciate a personalized experience and the most meaningful local immersion.
7. The Resort at Pedregal
The Resort at Pedregal is spread over 24 spectacular mountainside and oceanfront acres. This luxury beach resort sits where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, near the legendary rock formations known as Land’s End.
The beach resort is reached via the only privately owned tunnel in Mexico, Dos Mares. Carved through the heart of the mountain, the tunnel is a 300-meter-long engineering feat that separates the town of Cabo from the Pacific Ocean. This incredibly dramatic entrance to The Resort at Pedregal deposits visitors at the resort’s entrance courtyard, overlooking a long expanse of beach and the ocean.
The Resort at Pedregal’s accommodations are immersed in the natural environment of Los Cabos, where the desert meets the ocean. Every terrace features a spectacular view where the waves of the ocean beckon. All accommodations at this Cabo San Lucas, Mexico resort offers beautifully appointed custom-made rooms with hand-crafted Mexican details throughout. If you are there for a special occasion or a honeymoon, go for one of the romantic rooms with a private plunge pool. The Beachfront Suites are also perfect for honeymooners, and the Presidential and Pedregal Suites are perfect for larger families.
Dinner is served in Don Manuel’s for contemporary Mexican cuisine or at El Farallon, serving fresh fish specialties and lighter fare in a dramatic, alfresco setting suspended over the crashing waves of the ocean.
8. The Cape, a Thompson Hotel
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel is one of the cheapest luxury options for your honeymoon or a family or couples vacation. It is also probably the trendiest. This achingly stylish resort sits on the edge of the beach and has an ultra-modern design. It feels like the entire resort has been sculpted out of driftwood, and every room within the hotel opens up to the ocean.
We particularly love the infinity pool here, which merges with the ocean. It is the perfect place to relax on a lounger in front of the big blue Pacific. The beach beyond is a sandy cove edged by jagged rocks, perfect for burrowing your toes in the warm golden sands or surfing, as the waves are impressive on this stretch of beach.
With its bold, modern lines and minimalist décor, The Cape brings an urban edge to the tip of Baja California Sur. Each of the 161 rooms and villas enjoys a view of Cabo’s iconic El Arco. Dark paneling, sleek furnishings, copper-leafed bathtubs, and vintage photography add to the coolness factor, as does the Spa’s black-on-black theme, assuring the only stimulus is the crashing of waves. Manta restaurant fuses Mexican with Peruvian and Japanese influences; a hip vibe hits the rooftop patio after dark.
9. Montage Los Cabos
In a legendary setting, Montage Los Cabos faces Santa Maria Bay (one of the only year-round-swimmable beaches in the area), Montage Los Cabos offers 122 expansive guestrooms and suites, along with 52 Montage Residences. Montage Los Cabos’ location includes 39 acres on the white sand beach and the azure waters of Santa Maria Bay.
Unique in the Los Cabos region, Montage Los Cabos features remarkable walk-in access to snorkeling and diving at Santa Maria Bay. The resort also includes three pools and Montage’s signature immersive children’s program, Paintbox. In addition, Montage Los Cabos features multiple dining venues where travelers can enjoy the region’s abundant seafood and innovative use of fresh, local ingredients. With 6,100 ft² of indoor meeting and event areas, as well as multiple outdoor beachside function lawns, Montage Los Cabos serves as an excellent venue for corporate meetings, executive retreats, and destination weddings.
10. Grand Velas Los Cabos
With a more traditional, high-rise resort design, Grand Velas Los Cabos is located in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, and is a luxury all-inclusive resort. The entire hotel offers breathtaking vistas down to the beach and the deep blue sea beyond. The grand architecture and authentic amenities bring a bit of Mexico into the resort.
All bedrooms are luxury suites with serene and contemporary décor, spa bathrooms, and spacious indoor and outdoor living spaces. The Spa has a signature Water Journey and treatments, and the chef-inspired restaurants have an excellent reputation. A variety of gourmet restaurants include a coffee shop, a mezcal, a tequila tasting room, and wine-based features inspired by Mexico’s wine region. Children and teens are cared for and amused with fun activities, while adults can enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail while floating in one of three infinity pools.
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