Can any of the hotels in Los Cabos beat the views you get of the iconic “Arch” at The Cape Cabo?
We doubt it.
This edgy hotel (properly called The Cape, a Thompson Hotel) is just outside the town of Cabo San Lucas.
And when checking in, we couldn’t help but gape at El Arco across the ocean bay, bathed in gold as the sun set behind it.
Those views are the first thing we cover in our review of The Cape (below)!
El Arco – if you’re not familiar with the resort destination of Los Cabos, Mexico – is the distinctive granite rock formation at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.
Everyone who visits can’t wait to see the Arch up close.
A popular way to see the Arch is to take a water taxi or glass-bottom boat ride from the Cabo San Lucas Marina. (It’s one of the most fun things to do in Cabo!)
About The Cape Cabo, a Thompson Hotel
The Cape Cabo opened its doors in late June, 2015.
It’s the first Mexican venture for Thompson Hotels, which manages a collection of deluxe boutique properties in cities such as New York, Miami, London and Toronto.
The luxury hotel brand was acquired by Hyatt Hotels in 2018, which is growing the brand.
The Cape Cabo: Review
The hotel is 5-star.
But with a hip contemporary vibe, it’s quite different from other high-end hotels in Cabo (like the One&Only Palmilla, which we’ve also stayed at and reviewed).
The Palmilla hotel, for example, falls more into the “traditional luxury” category.
The Cape Hotel in Cabo, on the other hand, targets couples with a more youthful outlook seeking hotels with a thought-provoking design. It’s a great hotel choice for adults.
It’s also at a mid-luxury price point, not the splurge end of the scale.
It was the first time we’ve stayed at a Thompson hotel – and we don’t think it will be our last!
Here are seven things we love about The Cape in Los Cabos
1) Every room has a smashing view
Yes, that’s right.
All 157 guestrooms, suites and villas have views of El Arco beyond the glittering bay.
Totally awesome, OMG, in-your-face views that you never get tired of gawking at.
2) It’s fun to swing on your day-bed
The Cape Hotel in Cabo has two buildings with guestrooms.
We prefer the main building – in large part because all rooms here have terraces with hanging cushioned daybeds.
In the late afternoon, when it was too warm to lounge at the beachfront swimming pool, we retreated to the shade of our terrace and enjoyed listening to the waves while swinging gently on the big daybed.
We stayed in a first floor Grand Terrace room, where the unique terraces are all black (black walls, black floor, black ceiling).
These terraces were designed like an old-fashioned camera to direct the eye straight out to the sea. Quite clever!
Room tip
Go for a Grand Terrace room on the first and second floors of the main building, as they have larger terraces.
Or if a private pool is calling out to you (and you don’t mind spending more!), then book a suite with a private plunge pool on the balcony.
3) You get a hand-etched, crystal bottle of tequila
We thought we’d sip just a little (and save some to bring back home).
But the extra-smooth, blue Agave tequila – distilled exclusively for The Cape – was so good that even though we’re not tequila lovers, we couldn’t resist finishing it.
Pssst! Save this post!
Bonus! You'll get our free guide on how to save up to 25% on luxury travel!
All guests receive the tequila as a welcome amenity, accompanied by a platter of orange slices and chili-spiced Sal de Gusano (or “worm salt,” a smoky salt made from the gusano worm).
4) Manta at The Cape Los Cabos – tasty fusion food
Los Cabos has great restaurants. One is found at The Cape.
The Manta restaurant in Cabo is the resort’s dinner-only restaurant.
Featuring Peruvian, Mexican and Japanese fusion food, Manta is one of the most avant-garde restaurants in Los Cabos.
Chef Enrique Olvera – who opened Pujol in Mexico City, widely regarded as Mexico’s best restaurant – oversees the kitchen at Manta at The Cape Los Cabos.
And the dishes he and his team whip up are light (no heavy cream sauces), healthy and tantalizingly tasty.
We were especially taken with the cactus salad, grilled octopus with chorizo mayo, and fresh fish with a ginger-garlic foam.
To go with the interesting food, a curated beverage menu focuses on mezcals, tequilas and sakes. Maybe start with one of the interesting Mexican margarita cocktails?
Or you can choose a fine Mexican wine (the Valle de Guadalupe on the northern Baja coast is producing some great wines).
Other diners rave about the restaurant too (see TripAdvisor reviews).
Another great Cabo restaurant: Do yourself a favor and dine at the beautiful farm-to-table Flora Farms restaurant.
5) The Cape is pet-friendly
Well-behaved pooches may stay with you (request a pet-friendly room).
We saw at least two small dogs being walked on their leashes from the hotel to the beach at front.
6) The Cape Hotel, Cabo San Lucas, has a sexy spa
We didn’t use the spa, but we had a peek at it.
It’s a very Zen space with seven treatment rooms (softly lit with dark charcoal grey walls and minimal art) and two oceanview cabanas for al fresco massages.
We could feel our bodies going “Ahhhh…” just walking through the spa out to the warm, freeform, saltwater pool that it overlooks.
7) You can see the sea from your bathroom
Many guestrooms have free-standing, copper-leafed bath tubs. They’re positioned in such a way that you can see out from the tub through the bedroom to your terrace and ocean view beyond.
We could also spy seagulls and the ocean from our glass-walled shower.
Do you love “wow” bathrooms? Then take a peek at the most stunning hotel bathrooms in the world!
If you stay at The Cape, Cabo San Lucas
Location
The Cape is on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, about a $15 to $20 USD taxi ride away from town.
Be aware
The splendid infinity pool gets all-day sun.
For shade, we could always find an empty curtained cabana. But when the hotel is busy, will there be enough cabanas for the guests who want them?
Last words: The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, reviews
We’re not the only ones impressed with The Cape in Cabo.
Most recently, it was named one of the 15 best resorts in Mexico in the 2023 Conde Nast Traveler “Readers’ Choice Awards.”
For more information and to book The Cape Hotel, Cabo: Check rates and availability here
Experience more of Cabo San Lucas!
When to go: Winter is the most popular season. But October and November are awesome for snorkeling and diving. And you can get great deals in Cabo in summer.
Airport transfers: Find the best Cabo airport transportation options. We’ve reviewed the top ones.
What’s special: Whale watching in Cabo is awesome in winter. (See humpback whales breaching!) You can also snorkel with whale sharks in La Paz.
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.
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.
If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!
Love this hotel? Then save our review of The Cape Los Cabos for later on Pinterest!
Photo credits: 3, 4, 6, 9, 11 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining photos courtesy The Cape, a Thompson Hotel
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!
Molly C
Friday 15th of January 2021
We just booked The Cape for early March and I cannot wait! Even more excited after reading this. ?
Janice and George
Saturday 16th of January 2021
The Cape is a great luxury hotel choice in Cabo. You're sure to like it :-).
John
Thursday 20th of October 2016
I recommend the hotel Villa del Palmar in Cabo San Lucas, it’s a perfect hotel for all the family. Truth be told it's just nice to go some place and forget all your problems. It's just perfect to really forget about the everyday and routine, just give it a chance.
Janice and George
Thursday 20th of October 2016
Thanks for the recommendation :-).
Becky
Thursday 12th of May 2016
Wow! Those views and the stylish decor look fantastic what a place!
Janice and George
Thursday 12th of May 2016
The Cape is a great new addition to the hotel scene in Los Cabos...
I. Levine
Thursday 5th of May 2016
I wish my timing had been better and that we could have had a drink together at this breathtaking property!
Janice and George
Thursday 5th of May 2016
That would have been nice :-). We'll have to see if our paths cross somewhere else in future!
Leigh
Wednesday 4th of May 2016
Looks fab - I just booked a December trip to Baja - I think after 7 nights of kayak camping, a little luxury is in order!
Janice and George
Wednesday 4th of May 2016
You'll have fun in the Baja! (And, yes, a little luxury would go nicely after a week outdoors.)