While Cabo often gets associated with spring break and boozy all-inclusive resorts, the truth is that this beautiful region does luxury incredibly well. In fact, several of our favorite luxury hotels in Mexico line the shores between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. That being said, although we love massive suites, plunge pools, exquisite cocktails, and butler-serviced balconies, luxury in Los Cabos doesn't come cheaply. However, with a wealth of stunning hotels in the region, you can find many of the amenities you're seeking for a bit less hard-earned cash. Read on for our favorite luxury hotels in Los Cabos and their cheaper, but still amazing, alternatives.
The Chic, Contemporary Pick: Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
The Chileno Bay Resort & Residences perfectly blends a chic, exclusive vibe with just the right touches of bohemian style and convivial bliss. The entire resort seems to pivot around the stunning pool complex, which dips toward the sea. You’ll find a casual open-air taco bar to one side and a farm-to-table restaurant that buzzes all day and night to the right. Oh, and expect stunning views of the Sea of Cortez from almost anywhere on the property. Even better, the beach right next to the resort is one of the few swimmable stretches in all of Los Cabos (and the resort offers free water sports). Back inside, you’ll find bright, sea-chic rooms that are packed with modern amenities. There’s also a modern gym with trainers, a beautiful spa, and tricked-out teen and kids’ clubs, making this the perfect place to unwind for a week or more.
The Alternative: JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
If you’re after the same contemporary style that’s on display at Chileno Bay Resort, but have a more modest budget, the JW Marriott Los Cabos is one of the finest and most reasonably priced resorts in the area. The property is pretty day or night, with a mix of intimate spaces and dramatic lines that open up to the striking coastline east of San Jose del Cabo. The chic and sober rooms are massive, and all have spa-worthy bathrooms plus large terraces. There are also two pools, including an infinity option that has beautiful views over the beach and sea. Dining options range from buffets to fine dining at Cafe des Artistes, which draws guests from around the region. You’ll also find an excellent gym and spa. While it doesn’t quite have the bohemian vibe of Chileno Bay and lacks a swimmable beach, there’s enough to love about this resort to make it an excellent budget-friendly alternative.
The Classically Elegant Pick: One&Only Palmilla
Arguably one of the most exclusive resorts in the region (and possibly all of Mexico), the One&Only Palmilla is one for the ages. The setting alone — along a mountainside abutting the Sea of Cortez and tucked into a lush jungle — is unrivaled. The welcome makes guests feel like royalty, as does the attentive butler service and dizzying array of perks. Dining is exceptional, and includes options by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten as well as more casual seaside spots. Separate pools for families and adults, plus one of the few swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, also give this resort its high-end edge. The rooms here are spacious and elegant, with stone inlays, beautiful Mexican-inspired decor, massive terraces, plunge pools, and palatial showers. Guests also get a daily selection of treats to snack on while sipping a drink or espresso. It’s the kind of luxury resort that feels world’s away from reality.
The Alternative: Marquis Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort & Spa
There are a lot of reasons why Marquis Los Cabos is a high-value alternative to the One&Only Palmilla. While they may seem strikingly different on the surface, look a little closer and you’ll see that they have plenty in common. For starters, food and drink are included in the rates, which will save you money over One&Only’s expensive a la carte dining options. However, it’s the quiet, refined vibe that makes it a similar alternative (and one of our favorite all-inclusive hotels in Los Cabos). Rooms have dashes of modern Mexican style, plus luxe extras like separate showers and soaking tubs as well as balconies or terraces (many with views of the sea). The pools here are particularly delightful, including one that runs right along the beach. You’ll also find amenities like a spa, gym, and a low-key set of activities throughout the day.
The Boutique Pick: Esperanza — Auberge Resorts Collection
Esperanza has one of the most dramatic and beautiful settings of any luxury hotel in Los Cabos. The compact resort is arranged on a series of hills that dip toward jagged cliffs and sandy beaches. The views are especially stunning at the hotel’s restaurant, Cocina del Mar, where tables are pitched on cliffs and terraces just above the crashing surf below. Top amenities include an infinity pool, attentive pool butlers, and an amazing spa and gym. But it’s the boutique atmosphere that really sets this property apart from much of the Cabo competition. Housed in small casitas, the rooms are outfitted with beautiful contemporary decor. They include features like dual showers, soaking tubs, spacious terraces with hammocks or plunge pools, and comfortable king-size beds. The overall small size of the resort leads to its tranquil, upmarket atmosphere, while also making it feel as warm and inviting as a friend’s posh home.
The Alternative: The Cape, a Thompson Hotel
Few hotels in the immediate Cabo San Lucas area can match the design and style at The Cape. It’s one of the most eye-catching properties in the region, and is an altogether more grown-up hotel than the many all-inclusive resorts that share the nearby shoreline. Interiors are tricked out in glazed concrete, beautiful hardwood, and leather, with pops of bright colors, all in line with the contemporary home ethos found at Esperanza. There are two pools here, as well as excellent Mexican fare, and the vibe stays low-key thanks to the hotel only having 161 rooms. You’ll find some guests surfing on the beach (it’s a bit too rough for swimming, generally), and that tends to carry over into the laid-back atmosphere of the hotel (there’s even a Surfer Suite, which is far more chic than it might sound). And if spa treatments are your go-to method for kicking back, hit up the spa’s stone hot tubs overlooking the sea.
The Spa Pick: Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort
There are few resorts in Los Cabos that ascend to the luxurious heights like Las Ventanas al Paraiso. From the handmade pastries and fresh juices at breakfast, to the striking pools, to the ever-present butler service and enormous suites, there’s little to fault here. But perhaps what sets this exclusive resort apart the most is its dedication to wellness and relaxation. Even before checking in, guests are whisked off to the spa for a 15-minute head and neck massage. It’s easy enough to see why, as the secluded and tranquil spa setting will have you clamoring for more. The hydrotherapy circuits for men and women are free for all guests, and include steam rooms, dry saunas, hot tubs, and ice baths. You would do well to sign up for a massage or treatment as well as visit the spa boutique before checking out.
The Alternative: Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa
Amenities aren’t in short supply at this attractive luxury property, which is tucked along the back side of the iconic Land’s End Arch (and blessedly separate from the rowdy downtown core of Cabo San Lucas). Grand Solmar offers similar facilities to some of the region’s most expensive luxury resorts, but in a more wallet-friendly package. It’s a bit larger and slightly busier than Las Ventanas al Paraiso, but with numerous pools, solid dining options, a pretty beach, and spacious rooms, Grand Solmar stacks up with the higher-priced competition. While the rooms are fresh and modern, and the location is exclusive, it’s the spa that steals the show. Here, treatment rooms come with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and its crashing waves. It’s hard to top that soundtrack when you’re getting a massage or relaxing in one of the spa’s thermal tubs.
The All-Inclusive Pick: Grand Velas Los Cabos
As previously mentioned, all-inclusive resorts in Los Cabos aren’t always known for being high-end. However, there are several properties that have opened over the last few years that are putting that reputation to bed. Grand Velas Los Cabos leads the way, offering a truly luxurious take on the all-inclusive vacation. The resort itself is stunning — picture a flower-draped building that crests around a series of picture-perfect pools, which lead to the beach. Amid all of this, you’ll find a dizzying number of delicious dining options, from international buffets to upscale French and Italian fare. To top it off, the property also has some of the largest and most attractive rooms in the region, plus a beautiful spa, great gym, and attentive service.
The Alternative: Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort
While it can be hard to find an all-inclusive experience that measures up to the Grand Velas, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos comes close. This is one of the nicest adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the region, and it’s far more peaceful and refined than much of its competition at this price point. Plus, the diverse array of bars and restaurants here put it well ahead of similar properties in the area. The grounds themselves are also lovely, with beautiful pools plus an attractive spa and excellent fitness center. Avid golfers are also in luck, as there’s a renowned Jack Nicklaus course just next door. Rooms are spacious, with terraces or balconies — opt for higher floors for views of the sea (though ground-floor units may have swim-out access, if you prefer).
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