Perhaps it’s the sparkling water or its unique where-the-desert-meets-the-sea landscape, but there’s something magical about Los Cabos. Located at the tip of Baja California, Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo have a remarkable pull to visitors, which is perhaps why so many resorts also have residential communities: people simply can’t get enough of the beautiful climate, friendly locals and luxurious lifestyle. And there’s something for everyone. The nightlife is wild. The restaurants range from fantastic hole-in-the-wall Mexican cafes to the serene farm-to-table Flora Farms, where you might have dinner next to a Hollywood A-lister. You can hike mountains, scuba dive, fish or just relax on the beach, margarita in hand. And best of all are its hotels, which seemingly compete to outdo each other with luxury amenities and pampering service. Here is our handpicked selection of the best hotel suites in Los Cabos.
[See also: Los Cabos: The Renaissance of Mexico’s Hottest Destination]
The Ty Warner Mansion
Las Ventanas Al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort
Special amenities: Wine cellar, tequila library, full kitchen with pizza oven, massage for each guest in specialized pavilion, gym, dedicated staff including butler, assistant, chef and chauffeur
Size: 28,000 sq ft
Nightly rate: from $35,000
Contact: Lauren Carr, director of sales and marketing, lauren.carr@rosewoodhotels.com, +1 800 626 7466, rosewoodhotels.com
Not just any entrance would do for the incredible 28,000-sq-ft Ty Warner Mansion. You arrive by traversing mosaic-tiled stepping stones across a pond set in a circular vertical garden with ferns and tropical plants cascading down its walls. An imposing carved-wood front door opens to reveal views straight through the mansion to the ocean. Inside, the space is bright and airy, with white walls, high ceilings and brightly colored custom furnishings and Mexican art handpicked by the mansion’s namesake, Ty Warner. It contains every conceivable luxury, and many you wouldn’t have ever thought of on your own. (The 9,000-sq-ft Top of the Waves rooftop terrace—accessible via elevator—is an adults’ playground with glass-bottom lap pool, glass-sided whirlpool, bar, putting green, billiard table and massage pavilion.) Architect Jorge Torres and interior designer Robert Couturier created an intimate vibe despite the grandeur of the space, including a cinema room that feels like a luxury Indian tented camp and a vintage game room with pinball games and chess. There are two master suites (the only bedrooms in the mansion), which open directly onto a large terrace bordered by an undulating 328-ft infinity pool. Picking between the outdoor seating areas is a challenge. Will it be one of the two palapas, or perhaps the sunken in-pool sitting area?
Related
Launch a custom fireworks show
Design your own fireworks display and watch the sky light up from the comfort of the mansion—whether it’s from the whirlpool or the infinity pool is up to you.
Villa Cortez
One&Only Palmilla
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Special amenities: Master butler in residence, VIP airport transfers, cinema for 12 with over 2,000 movies, private fitness suite with Technogym equipment and dedicated fitness trainer, home office, in-villa spa, full kitchen, daily breakfast, reserved beach cabana during stay
Size: 10,500 sq ft
Nightly rate: from $11,500
Contact: Marcela Nuñez, reservation manager, marcela.nunez@oneandonlypalmilla.com, +52 624 146 7082, oneandonlypalmilla.com
On a secluded stretch of beach, an ultra-luxurious Mexican hacienda promises tranquility, stunning views and possibly the best, and most heartfelt, service you will receive at any hotel. Villa Cortez at One&Only Palmilla sits at the edge of the property overlooking the Sea of Cortez and a quiet beach. Surrounded by palm trees, tropical flowers and plants, the four-bedroom villa has every modern convenience (including a cinema for 12, private spa, in-villa fitness room and office) and makes the most of its lush environment. One living room wall slides away, leading to a vibrant garden with an infinity pool. There’s also a cozy seating area around a fireplace, which is the perfect spot to sip margaritas or enjoy a tequila tasting as you watch the sunset. To make the most of your stay, the villa has a live-in master butler who will plan the perfect trip for you, handling every detail. He will drive you in a golf cart to your tee times on the 27-hole Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course and to spa appointments, arrange for beach cabanas on one of Cabo’s only swimmable beaches, plan tasty feasts with your private chef and ensure you have everything you need. During your stay, you will receive an iPhone programmed with a single number—your butler’s—so you can leave your personal phone in the room and truly disconnect from the outside world.
Catch a wave with Tropicsurf
Luxury surf school Tropicsurf’s talented and easygoing instructors make the sport accessible to all levels and ages. Learn proper technique on the sand before heading out into the ocean. The very patient teachers share their tips and tricks, and will help you time your paddling so you can actually ride that wave. More advanced surfers should plan a day trip to some of the region’s especially challenging beaches.
Presidential Beachfront Suite
The Resort at Pedregal
Special amenities: Private cabana for beach dining, private chef, personal concierge, butler service, in-room video CrossFit sessions, complimentary use of Kids’ Club
Size: 4,100 sq ft
Nightly rate: From $5,000
Contact: Jenny DeBonis, leisure sales manager, jenny.debonis@theresortatpedregal.com, +1 844 733 7342, theresortatpedregal.com
Nestled between Pedregal Mountain and the Pacific Ocean, Resort at Pedregal feels utterly isolated, even though it’s a short walk to Cabo San Lucas through a tunnel carved into the mountain. Many suites are built high above the ocean into the cliffs with never-ending views, but the beachfront three-bedroom Presidential Suite is our pick. While you are close to the water, the villa has its own raised beach, so you can see the ocean and feel the sand between your toes while maintaining your privacy. On your ‘private beach,’ there’s a plunge pool, fire pit, sun loungers, dining area and hammock. A waiter crisscrosses the property on the wall separating you from the main beach, coming by to take orders and deliver the margarita of the day, which is always delicious and sometimes an unusual flavor combination. Inside, the rooms are warm and inviting, with traditional Mexican decor, dark wood and stone elements. One evening, have your butler organize a bonfire with Mexican s’mores and watch the moon rise over Pedregal Mountain, bathing the beach in its gentle light and illuminating the ocean as it crashes onto the rocks.
Champagne and mole tasting
A champagne tasting might sound unusual in Mexico, where tequila flights are the norm, but cliffside restaurant El Farallon entices guests with various champagnes paired with different bites topped with mole sauce. Craft a custom tasting with the sommelier—the champagne list is rather impressive and includes bottles such as
Krug Clos d’Ambonnay Blanc de Noirs 1995 ($3,900).
The Residences
Solaz, A Luxury Collection Resort
Special amenities: Tesla airport transfers, full kitchen, laundry room, personal artisan
Size: 5,077 sq ft
Nightly rate: From $4,500
Contact: Andres Davila, director of revenue, andres.davila1@luxurycollection.com, +1 855 323 2625, solazloscabos.com
Opening this year, the brand-new Solaz resort is a haven of contemporary design and natural elements that embraces Cabo’s arid landscape. There are more cacti and succulents than palm trees, and the dusty colors of the desert flood the ultra-luxurious residences. Full of marble, granite and handsome local woods, they are zen-like spaces right on the water. Each three-bedroom residence occupies a full floor, with a private elevator opening within. The wide balconies hold hot tubs, sun loungers, outdoor dining tables and a BBQ. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors disappear so you can embrace the indoor-outdoor living that Cabo does so well. Each residence has a personal artisan who provides butler-like services, including picking you up at the airport in a Tesla.
Catch your dinner
Head out into a deep-sea fisherman’s paradise on a luxury yacht and spend a blissful morning on the water. Return to the resort with your prize and have the resort’s chef cook it for you in a private dinner.
Imperial Suite
Grand Velas Los Cabos
Special amenities: All-inclusive resort, personal concierge, round-trip airport transfers, personalized robes, eight hours of babysitting per stay, daily 50-minute massages for each guest
Size: 6,481 sq ft
Nightly rate: from $18,000
Contact: Andreas Schmidt, managing director, andreas.schmidt@velasresorts.com, +1 888 407 4869, loscabos.grandvelas.com
On the 10th floor of the hotel, the two-bedroom Imperial Suite is a peaceful oasis. The modern coastal decor stands out in Los Cabos, where traditional Mexican design elements usually abound—although here, the views are the star of the show. Floor-to-ceiling glass pocket doors in the corner suite showcase endless ocean vistas and a bird’s-eye perspective of the coastline. Even the terrace has a glass railing, enabling you to enjoy the views from the plunge pool or bed. The suite’s Celestron telescope can be used to spot humpback whales in season, or to search for constellations at night. The king-size bed in the master suite overlooks the infinity pool and has direct access to the terrace. Both bedrooms have luxurious marble bathrooms with two-person Jacuzzis and two-person showers with full-body shower systems.
Discover Baja’s wine country
Fly by private jet to Ensenada for a private tour and tastings at the region’s premier wineries guided by Pedro Poncelis Jr, one of Mexico’s best sommeliers. Stop for a magical meal in the middle of a vineyard and take the opportunity to create your
own vintage.
Surfer Villa
The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
Special amenities: Full kitchen, laundry room, one complimentary pool cabana, complimentary surfboard rentals, round-trip airport transfers, personal concierge service, daily breakfast
Size: 5,848 sq ft
Nightly rate: From $3,800
Contact: thompsonhotels.com
Appropriately located at one of Cabo’s popular surfing spots, Monuments Beach, the two-story, three-bedroom Surfer Villa is designed with the wave enthusiast in mind. Perfect for groups (there’s an option to add a fourth bedroom) and entertaining, it has a large outdoor area with a dining setup and lounge, BBQ, wet bar and private plunge pool, all overlooking the Sea of Cortez and El Arco. Its adventurous decor has been described as ‘Baja-meets–Southern California,’ and the villa is filled with custom midcentury-style Latin American furnishings and surf-focused art. Photographs from Ed Fladung, who quit his job in the US and moved to Mexico to surf, adorn the space, along with handmade tiles painted with traditional Mexican patterns. After a day spent catching waves, recover with a soak in a freestanding copper bathtub or in the in-suite sauna, or relax with a game on the custom billiard table and a movie in the entertainment room.
Go whale watching
From December to April, charter a private yacht for an opportunity to see humpback and gray whales in their mating grounds. The Cape will stock your yacht with everything you need for a day on the water, including a private chef to whip up local delicacies, paddle boards, snorkeling gear and kayaks.
Four-Bedroom Villa
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort
Special amenities: Full kitchen, laundry room, pre-arrival itinerary planning, grocery-shopping service
Size: 4,000 sq ft
Nightly rate: From $2,100
Contact: Marc Rodriguez, general manager, esp.reservations@aubergeresorts.com, +1 855 331 2226, esperanza.aubergeresorts.com
The sprawling Esperanza resort sits atop oceanfront bluffs with striking views of Cabo’s rocky landscape. Paths snake through palm trees and rolling lawns up to towers of villas overlooking the property and ocean. The largest villas have four bedrooms with two master suites, and their residential style makes them well suited for extended stays—think full kitchens, large spaces for relaxing and entertaining, and world-class resort amenities. As the beach here is inaccessible, the resort’s pools take center stage. Be sure to book the garden-view villa, which has an infinity pool as well as a Jacuzzi. The villas on higher floors have ocean views and offer more privacy, but only have Jacuzzis. When you aren’t relaxing in your villa, expect to spend plenty of time at the two-tier adults-only infinity pool with a swim-up palapa bar.
A cultural extravaganza
On Thursday nights, the Palapa restaurant transforms into a Mexican carnival and dinner, complete with local artisans, performers in costumes, a fantastic buffet with endless options and a Charro quintet that will serenade you tableside. A spectacular fireworks show over the water caps off the evening.
Casita
Marquis Los Cabos
Upending preconceived notions of all-inclusive hotels, Marquis Los Cabos, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, calls its concept ‘unlimited luxury.’ The all-suite, adults-only resort has five restaurants, two bars, three pools and countless activities. Its one-bedroom casitas have gardens with plunge pools and ocean views, perfect for lazy afternoons spent ordering guacamole and chips from room service. The calming design has touches of Mexican-inspired decor and original paintings from local artists. Looking for more bedrooms? Check in to the fifth-floor Presidential
Suite, which has two bedrooms and a balcony with sun loungers. Don’t forget to visit the award-winning 13,000-sq-ft spa featuring Natura Bissé treatments using limited-edition Diamond Rose products.
Size: 1,670 sq ft
Nightly rate: from $1,438
Contact: Paola Velasco, reservations manager, concierge@marquisloscabos.com, +1 877 238 9399, marquisloscabos.com
2018 Openings
Montage Los Cabos
Twin Dolphin, the development’s residential community, is already open, and this summer Montage opens a hotel. Set on not one, but two, swimmable beaches on the Santa Maria Bay, it’s the perfect spot for a relaxing and luxurious beach vacation. Book Casa Santa Maria, a private 10,865-sq-ft, five-bedroom oceanfront compound.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
This is a big year for Nobu Hotels, which is opening five new properties in 2018. Bringing modern Japanese minimalism to Los Cabos’s sunny shores, the resort is bright and filled with custom furnishings, elegant wood soaking tubs, geometric design elements and lots of stone, a nod to the surrounding landscape.
Le Blanc Los Cabos
Currently in its soft opening, this all-inclusive resort is perfect for couples looking for
over-the-top pampering. It has 24-hour butler service, an incredible spa with a large hydrotherapy area and seven eateries, including Lumiere, a French-fusion fine-dining restaurant with a multicourse tasting menu.
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
With two championship golf courses, a desert botanical park and a collection of villas
with personal butlers, outdoor showers and swimming pools, Zadún is poised to become one of Los Cabos’s most cherished hotels. It will open just in time for December’s incredible whale-watching season.
2019 Openings
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos
On the East Cape, far from the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas, the new Four Seasons will welcome guests late this year. The resort’s highlights include a superyacht marina, Robert Trent Jones II–designed golf course, a sports complex with tennis, pickleball, basketball and roller hockey, and best of all, a large, swimmable beach.
