Thinking about a sunny getaway in Los Cabos? Wondering where to stay in Cabo San Lucas for a luxury escape?
Ponder no more, as we’ve got you covered!
There are oodles of epic things you can do in Cabo.
And the best luxury hotels in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, are some of the most deluxe you’ll find anywhere in the world.
They’re so fabulous that the Mexican resort destination is a magnet for A-list celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba and Christian Bale.
To top that off, the weather in Cabo is wonderful too – reliably warm and dry (sometimes hot!), with endless days of sunshine. (Late autumn and early summer in Cabo are especially pleasant.)
Best luxury hotels in Cabo
Quick look: Our top 5 picks for different vacation styles
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal – Possibly the most expensive hotel in Cabo, featuring ocean-view suites with private plunge pools – perfect for couples! (See #3)
- Pueblo Bonito Resorts – Three affordable luxury resorts in Cabo San Lucas (offering suites with kitchenettes), suitable for families (See #4)
- Grand Velas Los Cabos – Fabulous luxury all-inclusive Cabo resort (See #5)
- One & Only Palmilla – Classic luxury hotel in San Jose del Cabo (with a classy old-world Mexican feel) on a safe swimming beach (See #10)
- Chileno Bay Resort and Residences – Relaxed luxury resort in Los Cabos (contemporary décor) on a great snorkeling beach (See #12)
Contents: 17+ Best luxury Cabo resorts and hotels
Where to stay | Different Los Cabos areas
Best luxury Cabo San Lucas hotels and resorts
2) The Towers at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica
3) Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
4) Pueblo Bonito Resorts | Rose, Blanco and Sunset Beach
Best Los Cabos luxury resorts and hotels along the Corridor
12) Chileno Bay Resort & Residences
13) Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection
14) Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos
Best luxury resorts in San Jose del Cabo
15) Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Other top luxury resorts near Cabo San Lucas
17) Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas
Can you swim at your hotel?
We love Cabo (aka Los Cabos).
Over the past 20 years, we’ve visited Los Cabos so many times that it’s become almost like our second home.
Sometimes we stay at 5-star hotels in Cabo – to write hotel reviews for this blog (and, in the past, for magazines and newspapers like USA Today, Interval World, TravelAge West and Cruise & Travel Lifestyles).
Other times, when traveling purely on vacation, we book and pay for our own accommodation.
(And, pssst! If you’re comparing Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find Cabo has way more luxury places to rest your head.)
We’ve already written about the top resorts in Los Cabos just for adults.
Now, here’s our guide to the best Cabo hotels and accommodations for luxury loving couples and families – from ultra-luxury hotels to all-inclusive resorts.
All are recommended. We’ve personally stayed at or inspected most of them.
Where to stay in Los Cabos
First, though, let’s get a handle on the geography.
The location of your resort matters. It can be key to your holiday enjoyment (especially if you have your heart set on swimming at your hotel’s beach).
So, where is Los Cabos?
Los Cabos refers to the whole tourist area at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula (in the state of Baja California Sur).
Main geographical areas or places to stay in Cabo
There are several areas to stay in Cabo.
Most luxury hotels in Los Cabos are found in the following three areas:
1) Cabo San Lucas – the main resort town at the very tip of the Baja California Peninsula (often called “Cabo” for short, though sometimes Los Cabos is called “Cabo” too, so it does get a little confusing!)
2) The Corridor – a 20-mile resort corridor (with a string of luxury hotels and golf courses lining the coastline) linking Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
3) San Jose del Cabo – a Mexican-style town with an historic center
Note: We use “Cabo” and “Los Cabos” interchangeably here in this post to refer to the whole resort area of Cabo San Lucas, the Corridor and San Jose del Cabo. When we say “Cabo San Lucas” from now on, we mean just the resort town of Cabo San Lucas (and immediate surroundings).
Best Cabo San Lucas luxury hotels and resorts
The Cabo San Lucas vicinity is a great area to stay if you want to be on or close to Medano Beach – one of the best swimming beaches in all of Los Cabos.
This location also places you within walking distance of lots of restaurants plus the Cabo San Lucas Marina (for walking, shopping, dining and movies, etc.)
With plenty of bars and nightclubs too, Cabo San Lucas has a bit of a reputation as a party town.
However, you can still find quiet accommodations even if you stay in Cabo. The further away from the center of town, the quieter it is.
1) Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Zen meets Japanese minimalism at the Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
And it’s a gorgeous mashup of contemporary design!
If you’ve ever eaten at a Michelin-starred Nobu restaurant, you know how sublime the food is.
Now Robert de Niro and celebrity chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa have opened their first Nobu hotel in Latin America – on the Pacific Coast a few miles outside Cabo San Lucas.
The same architectural firm that turned the Four Seasons Mexico City from fusty to wow designed the buildings and landscaping.
Many of the 200 suites have their own private plunge pools.
Decorated in whites and light wood, they feature spa-like bathrooms with Onsen teak soaking tubs and Italian stone vanities.
Beds are draped in organic cotton linens. And you’ll find yoga mats and wet swimsuit bags in your room.
The resort’s four pools each have their own vibe.
The bubbly flows freely at the “party” pool.
On the other hand, the infinity pool away from the “see and be seen” scene is a blissful adults-only area for calm and tranquility.
The food is a big reason to stay here.
The namesake Nobu Restaurant Los Cabos delivers up its brilliant Japanese fusion food, including signature dishes such as miso black cod and rock shrimp tempura.
The Ardea Steakhouse is also superb for dining at night.
The outpost of Malibu Farm is also enticing. It offers healthy vegan coconut tofu, ginger Wagyu beef with carrot arugula, avocado pizza and the like for lunch.
The resort’s location on the Pacific-side stretch of coast means it sometimes gets windy and chilly by the pools.
On the plus side, when compared to other top Los Cabos resorts, the lower rates here will make your wallet positively gleeful.
It’s the best luxury hotel in Cabo San Lucas for foodies who want a peaceful escape, away from the hubbub of Cabo town.
Nobu Hotel, Cabo San Lucas: Check rates and availability here
2) The Towers at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort
For a deluxe all-inclusive experience, check out The Towers at the adults-only Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort.
Offering a chilled escape on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, the resort has five restaurants, a state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking the ocean, a tranquil spa and two swimming pools.
The Towers is an exclusive “hotel within a hotel” section of the resort.
Book one of its 47 exclusive rooms or suites, and you have access to personal butlers certified by the British Butler Institute. You can also use the VIP oceanfront lounge for breakfast and sunset cocktails and dine at an additional Baja-focused restaurant just for Towers’ guests.
You can’t swim at the beach at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica due to rough currents.
But a free shuttle can take you to any of the other Pueblo Bonito resorts (see #4) – and you can swim at Medano Beach at the Pueblo Bonito Blanco or Rose resorts.
The Pacifica isn’t the top Cabo San Lucas hotel. (The Waldorf Astoria – #3 below – deserves that title for this area of Los Cabos.)
But we had a lovely time here, and we expect you will too!
You can read more in our Pueblo Bonito Pacifica review. Romance and relaxation are definitely on the menu here!
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort: Check rates and availability here
3) Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Every room and suite has a plunge pool.
And when it’s hot outside, you can even nosh in your swimsuit on a floating breakfast in your private pool! (The server sets plastic wicker baskets into the pool.)
Travel + Leisure readers voted it No. 2 in the 2023 list of top 25 resort hotels in Mexico (it was the No. 1 hotel the year before). It was even named one of the top 100 hotels in the world.
So, yes, there’s simply no question that the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is one of the most luxurious hotels in Cabo San Lucas! (Perhaps the ritziest?)
When it comes to dramatic entrances, the Waldorf Astoria knows how to make a statement.
To get to the hotel, you must drive through the 984-foot-long Dos Mares Tunnel. Owned by the hotel, the torch-lit private tunnel cuts through the mountain, opening at the end to stunning ocean views.
As for El Farallon, the resort’s high-end seafood restaurant is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
We listened to waves crashing below as we noshed on the freshest of fish, enjoying one of the finest dinners to be had in Cabo.
Waldorf Astoria, Cabo San Lucas: Check rates and availability here
4) Pueblo Bonito Resorts (Cabo)
You can’t go wrong booking any of the three PB luxury Cabo San Lucas resorts:
- Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos (dubbed “Blanco” for short, as it’s white in color)
- Pueblo Bonito Rose
- Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort
All of these PB resorts are considered 4.5-star. So they’re more in the “affordable luxury” category. They’re not as luxurious, for example, as the Waldorf Astoria (see #3), Montage (#6) or Chileno Bay (#12). But they’re not nearly as expensive.
And they’re a different style.
As condo-style resorts, they’re ideal for families.
Each suite has a private balcony, and most units come with kitchenettes. Bonus: You get daily maid service even though you have kitchen facilities.
As an option, you can book an all-inclusive stay. Unless you think the all-inclusive plan will save you money (or you’d find it more convenient), we don’t recommend it at the Blanco and Rose, however – you can easily walk into town and try out different restaurants for dinner.
The Blanco and Rose have prime spots on Medano Beach (where you can swim in the ocean).
Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach is a huge resort on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja Peninsula, where swimming is dangerous.
Though big, the property is gorgeous. Pueblo Bonito offers free regular shuttle service between Sunset Beach and Rose, so you can swim at the Rose and use its facilities for the day.
Of the two PB luxury resorts in Cabo on Medano Beach (close to the actual town), the Blanco is our favorite.
To find out why, read our post on which is the best Pueblo Bonito Resort in Cabo?
Best Los Cabos luxury hotels along the Corridor
Many of the chicest luxury Los Cabos hotels and resorts are found along the beachfront Corridor.
5) Grand Velas Los Cabos
How to blow away the all-inclusive competition?
Mix huge suites and a luxurious spa with extraordinary service and dining that pleases the most demanding of foodies.
That’s why we think the Grand Velas Los Cabos easily takes the prize for being the most luxurious all-inclusive resort in Los Cabos for couples, families and friends.
(Its sophisticated new sister resort, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, is just for adults – and is equally luxurious!)
Indeed, Travel + Leisure notes that Grand Velas Los Cabos is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, according to Hotels.com. And it was rated one of the best luxury hotels in Mexico in the 2023 TripAdvisor “Traveler’s Choice Awards” too.
We were certainly wowed during our stay!
You have a choice of eight restaurants, including French and innovative Mexican food dining spots. Don’t miss the haute cuisine at Cocina de Autor.
Pretty well everything but the $25,000 gold-flecked tacos are included in the rates. Think top-shelf liquor, at least 51 complimentary wines and in-room bars restocked daily.
You can’t swim in the ocean here.
But who cares!
Because you have infinity pools with pool butlers to pamper you silly, as you kick back in super-comfy lounge chairs with the most glorious sea views.
Many suites also have private plunge pools on their terraces.
Indeed, this Grand Velas is one of our favorite resorts in Mexico with private pools!
Grand Velas Los Cabos: Check rates and availability here
6) Montage Los Cabos
Another one of the best luxury hotels in Los Cabos is the Montage.
Embracing Santa Maria Bay on the Los Cabos Corridor, the Montage Los Cabos skillfully integrates contemporary cubic architecture into the surrounding desert landscape.
Accommodations range from spacious guest rooms with dramatic marble bathrooms (complete with tub-side candles) and separate sitting areas to 3-bedroom suites.
Ocean-view digs have both indoor and outdoor showers.
The snorkeling at Santa Maria Beach right in front of the resort is tops.
The gorgeous beach is also one of the few beaches where you can actually swim in Los Cabos.
You’ll also find two pools – one is for adults only.
Should you feel like pampering yourself, you can elevate your pool or beach experience by renting a private cabana for the day.
You’ll receive champagne on ice, coconut water, tapas, chilled towels, hourly amenities and attentive butler service.
Uber-cool, the Montage is a savvy pick for couples seeking a casually glam retreat on a great swimming beach.
Montage Los Cabos: Check rates and availability here
7) Las Ventanas al Paraiso
Rub shoulders with Cindy Crawford, Katie Holmes and Justin Bieber at this ultra-posh celebrity hideaway.
But be forewarned – you may never want to leave.
White-washed suites come with telescopes for stargazing, wood-burning fireplaces and large stone patios.
Many also have a little hot pool and spiral staircase to your private rooftop terrace.
What really sets Las Ventanas apart (making it one of the most exclusive resorts in Cabo) is its attention to detail.
Nightly turn-down service that includes two long-stem red roses on the bed or an awaiting scented bath.
Personally-sized robes and slippers, based on your airport pickup host’s input.
Pool butlers who arrange your umbrella just so – they’d move our umbrella every hour, as the sun moved, so we could always be in the shade! (They also deliver complimentary frozen chocolate sorbet, along with ice buckets with bottled water and Evian misting spray.)
Other luxury amenities include a delightful in-room tequila welcome, 24-hour room service and twice-daily housekeeping (in addition to nightly turn-down).
Hungry?
Try the fish tacos at the Sea Grill.
If Tandoori lobster, octopus curry and other Asian specialties tickle your fancy, you’ll love the resort’s Arbol restaurant.
An amazing gym plus a variety of fitness classes and personal Pilates, yoga and training sessions mean you can stay fit.
Super wow factor
The “Romance Director” can arrange a private movie night on the beach just for the two of you. Think 50-inch plasma TV and home theater system, champagne and your own cinema butler.
Or maybe you’d like to propose to your sweetheart on the beach – with the ring delivered by a Mexican cowboy riding a white stallion!
Just be prepared to drop scads of money here.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso: Check rates and availability here
8) The Cape, a Thompson Hotel
This luxury hotel in Los Cabos, The Cape (a Thompson Hotel), blends a hip edgy design with classic Mexican accents.
We particularly loved our hanging daybed.
Not to mention the sateen sheets and the copper soaking tub.
And the staggering view of the Sea of Cortez and El Arco (Cabo’s iconic rock Arch).
And the welcome blue Agave tequila in a crystal hand-etched bottle.
Manta, the resort’s Peruvian, Mexican and Japanese fusion restaurant, is one of the best restaurants in Cabo.
The resort’s location is prime too. You’re only a short cab ride away from other restaurants (or nightlife) in Cabo San Lucas.
And if you can’t bear to travel without Missy, your beloved four-legged friend, bring her along. The Cape is pet-friendly (for well-behaved pooches).
To discover more great reasons why you’ll love it here, see our review of The Cape Cabo, a Thompson Hotel.
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel: Check rates and availability here
9) Marquis Los Cabos
For adults only, the AAA Four Diamond Marquis is not only one of the best all-inclusive hotels in Los Cabos, it’s also a work of art.
The first thing you see as you enter the open-air lobby is the soaring three-story-high arch rising above – and the glorious aquamarine expanse of the Sea of Cortez beyond.
On either side are striking winged sculptures by Mexican sculptor, Jorge Marin.
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Then as you wander throughout the resort, you’ll come across some 400 original oil paintings by Latin American artists.
Ocean-view rooms come with Nespresso machines, and you lather up with L’Occitane products in the bathroom.
We found the little corridor cupboard in the wall sweet (in more ways than one!) – fresh wake-up pastries are delivered here each morning.
The resort also has 26 beachfront casitas (1,400 sq. ft. in size) which feature private plunge pools.
Two of the resort’s three swimming pools are serpentine-shaped infinity pools nuzzling the water’s edge.
The beach isn’t swimmable.
But we were quite content to lie under a pool umbrella on a cushioned teak lounge chair, watching the thunderous surf crash on the shore and the occasional ultralight airplane buzz overhead.
Marquis Los Cabos: Check rates and availability here
10) One & Only Palmilla
With white-washed walls, red tile roofs and a Spanish colonial feel, the One & Only Palmilla is a marked departure from the ultra-modern design of many other 5-star Cabo hotels.
But it offers every possible indulgence – from contemporary (a telescope on your balcony for whale watching) to classic (a personal butler to unpack your clothes).
Sports amenities include five clay tennis courts and a 27-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
As well, you get complimentary Mexican fruit and cocktail snacks each day, and you’ll find personalized robes in your room.
Choose from 15 different categories of rooms and luxury suites. Some have private plunge pools.
Or splurge bigtime on Villa One.
This 15,000-square-foot, four-bedroom villa comes complete with its own outdoor pool, private screening room and the services of a fitness trainer and spa therapist.
One thing we especially loved about this luxury hotel is that it has a virtually private swimmable beach (rare on the Los Cabos coastline).
And to keep you cool, there are apparently 3,000 palm trees on the property. (Mind you, we haven’t counted them, but we do know there are lots.)
The One & Only Palmilla is in an elite league of its own.
Keeping company with the Waldorf Astoria (#3), Las Ventanas (#7), Zadun (#15) and the Four Seasons (#17), the One & Only Palmilla is one of the most exclusive luxury hotels in Cabo.
Not only that, it’s also on Travel + Leisure’s list of 25 best hotels in all of Mexico.
Stay here and you can brag (if you’re into this sort of thing) that it’s Jennifer Aniston’s favorite hotel in the area.
Head on over to our other Cabo Visitor blog for our review of the One & Only Palmilla.
One & Only Palmilla, Cabo: Check rates and availability here
11) Garza Blanca Resort & Spa
With six restaurants, eight pools (including a rooftop adults-only pool) and activities ranging from beach volleyball to yoga, this deluxe all-suite property offers something for everyone.
Entry-level suites at Garza Blanca are a minimum of 660 sq. ft. And they’re pretty glam!
Traveling with friends? Or maybe you’re booking a family vacation?
Check out the huge 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites, along with the 3- and 4-bedroom residences. All feature full gourmet kitchens.
Remote-controlled curtains? Hammocks on the terraces? Butler service? Check, check and check!
If you don’t feel like cooking, you can choose an all-inclusive plan.
All of this makes Garza Blanca one of the best luxury resorts in Cabo for families, especially, or a group of friends (bachelorette party?).
It’s not an intimate hotel though, so if you’d prefer something along the Corridor that’s a little quieter or romantic, look at Montage (#6) or Esperanza (#13 below).
Garza Blanca Resort & Spa: Check rates and availability here
12) Chileno Bay Resort & Residences
If spacious rooms with indoor/outdoor bathrooms, a jaw-dropping central pool and a calm swimming beach sound like vacation heaven, consider Chileno Bay Resort & Residences.
It’s one of the finest luxury Los Cabos resorts with a swimmable beach (that’s great for snorkeling too).
As media, we spent a day here – and ended up deciding that the three-tiered oceanfront pool is where you’d mostly want to hang out.
The pool closest to the ocean is just for adults. And the cabanas are so comfortable, that after you’ve gone for a morning snorkeling or stand-up paddleboarding session, you won’t want to leave your pool chair!
Part of the luxury Auberge Resorts Collection, along with Esperanza (#13 below), the resort has 92 rooms and luxury villas.
Appealing both to well-heeled families and couples, the resort has a teen club (complete with a recording studio) plus a kids’ club, an Insta-perfect bar with hanging swings and a top-notch spa.
Golfers take note: You’ll be thrilled to know that you get exclusive access to the private 18-hole Chileno Bay Club Golf Course, designed by Tom Fazio.
Chileno Bay Resort & Residences: Check rates and availability here
13) Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection
A peaceful sanctuary, the Esperanza is also part of the Auberge Resorts Collection like Chileno Bay Resort (#12).
But it’s the older, more traditional sister.
Hammocks, thatch palapa roofs, desert-hued stone work, driftwood tables and hand-tooled leather furnishings lend the boutique hotel an old-Baja feel.
Accommodations range from 57 suites and romantic casitas (“little houses” in Spanish) to privately owned villas which you can rent, including extravagant 4-bedroom haciendas with twice-daily housekeeping.
Most of the 950 sq. ft. casitas have an infinity-edge hot tub.
As the boutique hotel sits right on the rocky cliffs, every room has smashing views of the azure sea and Punta Ballena or “Whale Point.”
The binoculars in your room come in handy for watching those humpback whales in winter!
Esperanza boasts that it has the only private beach cove in all of Los Cabos (not swimmable though).
A posh way to enjoy it is by splashing out in one of its two-story open-air beach palapas.
They come complete with a daybed, swing, private butler service and add-ons like a 60-minute massage or private bonfire cookout under star-kissed skies.
The hotel’s signature Cocina del Mar is one of the finest restaurants in Cabo, serving up seafood by candlelight as waves lap the rocks below you.
You can’t do much better than the Esperanza for a truly romantic getaway in Cabo!
Esperanza, an Auberge Hotel, Cabo: Check rates and availability here
14) Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos
Just for adults, Le Blanc Spa Resort is a beacon for a truly luxurious all-inclusive stay in Cabo.
Indeed, with its stunning white-hot design, premium cocktails and liquor, high standards in à la carte dining and complimentary access to the water journey circuit at the spa, it gives the Grand Velas Los Cabos (#5) a good run for its money.
(Mind you, we still personally like the Grand Velas better. It has more tropical foliage and a slightly more traditional feel.)
Anyway, Le Blanc rooms are cool cocoons of comfort. They feature marble bathrooms (with Bulgari bath amenities), Lavazza coffee makers and beach bags for your stay.
You have no excuses for not working out.
A state-of-the-art fitness center offers many daily activities to keep you in shape, including spin, Pilates and dance fit classes.
The outdoor pool area is also quite beautiful, with more than enough loungers for all guests. No need to get out early to reserve pool chairs here!
And if you tune into your sense of smell, you’ll notice that different areas of the resort have their own subtle aromatherapy scent.
Yes, Le Blanc effortlessly joins the list of best 5-star resorts in Cabo.
Le Blanc Spa Resort, Los Cabos: Check rates and availability here
Best luxury hotels in San Jose del Cabo
San Jose Del Cabo is a more authentic Mexican town than Cabo San Lucas.
With a slew of art galleries and a weekly Art Walk in winter, it’s more sophisticated too.
If you base yourself near San Jose del Cabo, you’ll also be close to some delightful restaurants like the renowned Flora Farms, which dishes up the yummiest farm-to-table eats.
15) Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
There are Ritz-Carltons. And then there are top-drawer Ritz-Carlton Reserves.
A few minutes’ drive from the center of San Jose del Cabo, the new Zadun is a tranquil Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, with 115 rooms and suites. It opened in late 2019.
The “standard” rooms are among the most spacious of all hotel rooms in Los Cabos.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors replace walls. And contemporary stone and tile interiors incorporate Mexican artwork and furniture by local artisans in the décor.
Most impressive are the enormous private terraces with inviting lounge and seating areas.
To top that off, all rooms (except for some family accommodations) have private plunge pools.
This ultra-luxury Cabo resort prides itself on its extraordinary service.
You have a personal butler (called a “tosoani”).
Just text any requests – ice, more towels, drinks, the firepit lit on your private terrace – and minutes later, you have what you want. Room service is available around the clock.
As is expected, the Zadun has a world-class spa.
And for dining, there are four onsite restaurants, from authentic Mexican to a Peruvian fish market.
We’ve bedded down in Phulay Bay, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve near Krabi, Thailand (the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve).
That stay was close to perfection. So much so that we wanted to pack our butler in our suitcase and take him home with us!
We recently spent a day at the new Zadun Ritz-Carlton Reserve (the fourth in the R-C Reserve collection). And it’s equally fabulous – easily making the list of top 5-star Cabo resorts.
Zadun Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Cabo: Check rates and availability here
16) Viceroy Los Cabos
Classy. Futuristic in design. Luxurious pools and water features.
That’s how you might describe the Viceroy Los Cabos.
Rooms are white-on-white. Except at night, you can color your room different hues with the color mood lighting system.
Your tastebuds won’t get bored with five eating-and-drinking venues onsite – from ceviche and sushi at the beach-view Nido or “Nest” (which sits under a bird’s nest-like dome of branches and twigs) to a late-night champagne bar.
And because you’re so close to the old town of San Jose del Cabo, you can walk or catch an Uber to town, where more great restaurants await.
Bring earplugs for sleeping – some TripAdvisor reviewers say the soundproofing between rooms at this 5-star Cabo beach resort isn’t the best.
Better yet, stay in one of the suites or private pool villas closer to the beach, and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the sand.
Viceroy Cabo: Check rates and availability here
Other top luxury resorts in Los Cabos area
We’re not finished yet!
We have to tell you about the new Four Seasons on the East Cape – it’s within the general Cabo vicinity.
17) Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas
When it comes to luxury Cabo resorts, the Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is one of the newest and most visionary.
Opened in late 2019, it’s on the refreshingly undeveloped East Cape (about a 45-minute drive north of the Los Cabos International Airport) – well away from the action in Los Cabos.
For seclusion and exclusivity, it can’t be beat.
Upon arrival, you note that the contemporary cubist buildings blend in seamlessly with the cacti-studded dune landscape.
All 141 rooms and suites have Sea of Cortez views; ground floor suites have private plunge pools and outdoor showers. Travertine floors, carved ceramic walls and ivory and sand colors reflect the ultimate in good taste.
Two miles of untouched beach beckon walkers for morning and sunset strolls. Or check out the thoughtfully designed fitness center – it’s a pleasure to work up a sweat facing the ocean here.
There’s no reason to get bored at the Four Seasons.
It boasts seven pools, so you can relax by a different pool every day of the week.
You can also golf on the 18-hole course (designed by Robert Trent Jones II), hike to the nearby Sol de Mayo waterfall and natural rock pools (a great day trip from Cabo San Lucas), snorkel with sea lions at Cabo Pulmo (in season), go horseback riding and try windsurfing.
Dining options range from a fresh ceviche bar and poolside brasserie to an al fresco grill in a lemon grove and a Mediterranean seafood resto.
If you’re visiting Cabo for more than five days, we suggest combining time at the Four Seasons with a stay at a closer-in Los Cabos resort for the complete Baja experience.
Four Seasons Los Cabos: Check rates and availability here
Best Cabo resorts with swimmable beaches
If swimming in the ocean is tops on your must-do list when you visit Los Cabos, be sure to find out if you can swim at your hotel or resort.
While Cabo has great beaches, many are red-flagged as non-swimmable because of strong waves and killer undertows. Many hotels therefore don’t have safe swimming beaches (just great pools).
Medano Beach is one of the best swimmable beaches in Cabo. Several hotels and resorts are strung along this glorious stretch of beach.
The following top beach resorts in Los Cabos (reviewed above) are located on beaches where you can swim safely:
- Pueblo Bonito Rose (#4)
- Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos (#4)
- Montage Los Cabos (#6)
- One & Only Palmilla (#10)
- Chileno Bay Resort & Residences (#12)
- Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas (#17)
For a complete list, see our post on resorts in Cabo with swimmable beaches on our Cabo Visitor blog.
Final thoughts on the best places to stay in Cabo San Lucas (and beyond)
As you can see, there’s no shortage of fabulous places to stay in Los Cabos.
If you ask: “What is the best luxury hotel in Cabo?” – there’s no easy answer. It really depends on what you want from your Cabo vacation (e.g., a swimming beach, close and easy access to town, adult-oriented and so on).
The good news is that you have a lot of choice.
Once you’ve picked from the best resorts in Cabo San Lucas (or further out in Los Cabos) – if it’s in the area you want – you’ll be in vacation heaven.
The hotels and resorts have very high hospitality standards, and we have no doubt you’ll have an amazing time in Cabo!
Experience more of Los Cabos!
Snorkeling: Want to be surrounded by clouds of yellow porkfish? See our insider guide to the best snorkeling spots in Cabo San Lucas (and the best snorkeling tours).
Airport transfers: Check out the best Cabo airport shuttle services. We’ve reviewed the top companies, so you can pick the best shared or private transfer option for you.
Our top travel tips and resources
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy!
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: To book the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets may be non-refundable.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Inspired? Then pin this post on the best Cabo hotels. Thanks!
Photo credits: 1 Las Ventanas al Paraiso | 2 Grand Velas Los Cabos | 3 to 5 One & Only Palmilla | Remaining photos courtesy of the respective luxury Cabo hotels
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!
Gillian B.
Saturday 6th of May 2023
I was pleasantly surprised to come across your website while doing my own research into Cabo San Lucas. We are in the process of considering Cabo for a destination wedding in 2024, for which I am assisting with the planning.
While everything we have seen looks beautiful, my only concern remains safety.
That said, I am well aware of how unsafe some of our very own cities in the US are. However, asking family and close friends to travel to Mexico with all that we have seen in the media recently gives us reason to pause. Minimally, I would like to be prepared to answer questions as to how do we get comfortable with the concern for safety.
Is there anything you can share regarding safety and how you are comfortable on this point with Cabo?
Janice and George
Monday 15th of May 2023
Hi Gillian,
We've written a whole post on the issue of safety in Cabo on our other blog, Cabo Visitor.
Have a look at that. It should answer any questions you may have :-).
And best wishes with the wedding planning!
Diana
Tuesday 7th of June 2022
What do you think about the JW Marriott in Cabos ?
Janice and George
Wednesday 22nd of June 2022
Hi Diana,
We haven't personally stayed at the Marriott. But we know it has a great beachfront location in San Jose del Cabo. We also hear it's tranquil and quiet.
It's not walking distance to town and other restaurants, so it's a resort where you stay put and chill. But if you rent a car or plan to do some tours, that won't be an issue.
The Griffin Club (the VIP "hotel within a hotel") is said to be worth the extra splurge.
Hope this helps!
Sandy Mayen
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
Hi - My husband I have not been to Puerto Vallarta or Cabo. Been to Cancun. We want to go somewhere different. My husband SNORES! We need a one-bedroom suite or 2 rooms. Some of the nice hotels with two rooms cost a lot more than some of the one-bedroom suites. Garza Blanca resort has a nice one-bedroom suite which is within our price range.
Please share your thoughts on Garza Blanca.
I also like the location of the Blanco Pueblo Bonito resort so that we could walk to other restaurants. I like seafood. My husband is a meat guy. The Blanco one-bedroom suite living room area has a small couch. Do you know if it's a comfortable pullout sofa? I read your reviews on the other Bonito resorts. The PB Pacifica seems nice too.
We don't mind going to Puerto Vallarta or Cabo. We are looking for a beautiful beach - but we don't have to swim in the water. We also want good food, not so loud a place, good service and scenery.
Any suggestions on which resort to stay? Thank you so much.
Sandy Mayen
Friday 1st of October 2021
@Janice and George,
Thank you so much! I just read about the new Garza Blanca resort in Cancun. However, I think GB Cabos restaurants will have better seafood. Any thoughts?
Janice and George
Thursday 30th of September 2021
We'll be writing soon about how to choose between PV or Cabo, so stay tuned on this!
Let's assume you've narrowed your choice down to Cabo :-).
Garza Blanca is newer than the PB resorts. And it's pretty swish. The 1-bedroom suites (not the "junior suites") are over 1,300 sq. ft. in size. Compare that to the 1-bedroom "luxury suites" at PB Blanco, which are cozier at 750 sq. ft. Bedrooms in the Garza Blanca suites have ocean views, wheras the PB Blanco bedrooms don't. Garza Blanca 1-bedroom suites also come with full chef kitchens; the Blanco kitchens are more kitchenettes. At Garza Blanca, you also get a washer and dryer, a 55-inch TV, robes, slippers, etc. It's considered 5-star, whereas PB Blanco is more 4.5 star. In terms of luxury, Garza Blanca beats the PB Blanco. But it's bigger, at 315 rooms and suites, so it feels less intimate than the PB resort, which has 147 rooms.
For location, PB Blanco wins. You can walk to the Cabo San Lucas marina and into town for various restaurants (both seafood for you and meat for your man). And Medano Beach is a great beach. The PB Blanco is also at the quiet end of Medano Beach, and it's not a "loud" resort. Can't tell you how comfy the hide-a-bed is though :-).
If you're going to "stay put" and relax at your resort, Garza Blanca offers more restaurant, pool and activity options. (And the food is good.) If you'd really rather get out and about on your own without having to get a taxi (and you're okay with less space to spread out), the PB Blanco is a better choice.
Hope this helps! Let us know how you decide :-).
Josh
Wednesday 21st of April 2021
What are your thoughts about the two Auberge properties (Esperanza and Chileno Bay), and how do they compare to the O&O and Las Ventanas?
Janice and George
Friday 23rd of April 2021
Hi Josh,
Sounds like there are some other hotels we must check out personally next time we're in Cabo :-).
Auberge is a great brand with unique luxury resorts (not cookie-cutter) in their collection. We've stayed at their Mauna Lani property in Hawaii and the Grace Hotel in Santorini.
The Esperanza will have a more intimate boutiquey feel than the One & Only Palmilla or Las Ventanas (perhaps more boho casual too, but still in a sophisticated way). The decor is more traditional Mexican.
Chileno Bay is more spread out, with more modern architecture. It has a swimmable beach, so if that's important to you, keep this in mind. One & Only also has a swimmable beach.
It's probably like choosing between crab, lobster or scallops. All are really good. You probably can't go wrong, whatever you choose :-).
Jon
Tuesday 13th of April 2021
Hello, Have you tried the Zadun hotel? We are hesitating between Las Ventanas and Zadun.
Thank you!
Janice and George
Tuesday 13th of April 2021
No, we haven't yet tried the Zadun. It'a a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and we've stayed at the Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Thailand (see #13 in our post on 27+ epic private pool suites, which was gorgeous.
Read the reviews on TripAdvisor and elsewhere for both resorts, then decide. You probably can't go wrong with either property! Both are top 5-star resorts :-). Enjoy...