It’s no secret that one of my favorite places in the world is the Los Cabos area of Mexico. So much so that I bought a house nearby in Pescadero. Before that, though, I spend more than a decade vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, and the Corridor, so I can speak to the best luxury hotels all throughout the Baja California Sur region. I’ll give you some good options for adults-only hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and even a brand new resort you may not have heard of yet. If you’re dreaming of infinity pools, spacious suites, and some of the best restaurants in Mexico, look no further than our list of personally-tested best resorts in Los Cabos, Mexico.
As a quick primer, Los Cabos sits on the tip of the Baja peninsula, in the state of Baja California Sur. It is made up of Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and a 20-mile corridor in between that serves more or less as a hotel zone. Hotel options run the gamut from family-friendly resorts, all inclusive properties, adults-only hotels, and hotels focused on a specific passion. Want a golf resort? No problem. Need a private pool? Several of these luxury options can handle that! Ok, now on to the goods.
Best All-Around Luxury Hotel in Los Cabos
Winner: Las Ventanas al ParaÃso
Las Ventanas al Paraiso is a luxury staple in the Cabo area. It is a member of the Rosewood Resort collection, and they do luxury right. Las Ventanas is in a great location in the Corridor between San Jose and Cabo San Lucas, sitting right on the Sea of Cortez and offering both private villas and regular rooms. From the front desk to the concierge service to the free wifi and flat-screen tv in each of the guest rooms, no detail is forgotten and no guest left uncharmed. We saw the staff bring sand toys to engage a group of kids, and no request was too small. A mistake with my husband’s food allergies was handled with grace, and the outdoor pool area is absolutely lovely for guests. If you visit Las Ventanas, expect a family-friendly resort but in an upscale way. There is no kids pool or loud music, but yet kids are completely welcomed and included in the experience. We love the laid-back luxury you’ll find at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, and make sure to always visit for the dining options when we’re in town, even if we aren’t staying on property.
Honorable Mention: Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Just outside of downtown Los Cabos, you will find a ritzy area called Pedregal, anchored by the Waldorf Astoria. The hotel clings to the hillside overlooking the ocean, and offers a seafood restaurant called El Farallon that is the envy of many. Honestly, I preferred the food at Cafe des Artistes at the JW Marriott over El Farallon for both inventiveness and price, but El Farallon is definitely a fine dining destination restaurant and a big draw in the area.
Staying at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is an experience, with private pools in all the rooms and full residences available for larger groups. There is something so luxurious about private plunge pools, and we can’t get enough. Waldorf Astoria Pedregal was named the #1 hotel in Mexico by Travel and Leisure in 2022, so you know you’re in for an incredible stay. Don’t sleep on the full-service spa, where you can find a fitness center with expert guides, yoga sessions, and a spa boutique. You can get a lot more than a relaxing massage at the Waldorf – they have designed an entire weekend-long wellness experience – now that’s true luxury.Â
Best Adults-Only Luxury Resort in Los Cabos
Winner: Marquis Los Cabos
Our pick for best adults-only resort in Los Cabos also has the bonus being an all-inclusive resort, which we don’t normally love, but which works beautifully here. The Marquis Los Cabos is our top pick, and it checks all the boxes. The Marquis is located in the Corridor, between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, and if you’ve read our Mexico content, you know the Corridor is my favorite part of Los Cabos. It is quieter than Cabo San Lucas, closer to the nearest airport, SJD, and has gorgeous (though not particularly swimmable) beaches.
The Marquis Los Cabos has everything you’re looking for – a beachfront infinity pool, air-conditioned rooms with private terraces, and a variety of restaurants with food and drinks included. I stayed at the Marquis Los Cabos for a girls trip, and it was a great value due to the food and drink being included, but it was also so easy to manage the trip because we weren’t tracking receipts and paying each other back or worrying about splitting bills.
Our group of 5 stayed in the Presidential Suite as well as a junior suite, and the Presidential Suite does not disappoint. It has a huge balcony with sun loungers and couches, and it is located directly in the middle of the resort, giving you the perfect place to people watch. The large dining table and living room furniture made catching up a breeze, and the 2 bedrooms gave us plenty of room to stretch out.
Honorable Mention: Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos
Our honorable mention goes to Le Blanc, a super-romantic adults-only resort in Los Cabos. It has a sister property if you’re traveling elsewhere in Mexico – Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun, which is just as good. If you’re looking for unforgettable experiences on a romantic getaway, this is the boutique hotel for you. Book a romantic dinner on the beach or just watch the palm trees sway in a private cabana on the beach. Like the Marquis, Le Blanc is also all-inclusive, and the service is superb. They offer 24-hour room service, personal butler service to help with any request you can think up, and delicious food and top-shelf liquor. They have a variety of restaurants on property, including one specializing in French cuisine, an Asian restaurant, and more. This is an all inclusive property that doubles down on a relaxing getaway, and couples will not regret a stay here.
Best All-Inclusive Luxury Hotel in Los Cabos
Winner: Grand Velas Los Cabos
Grand Velas is our favorite all-inclusive luxury resort option in Los Cabos, because everything about it is just solid. From check-in with a Veuve Cliequot cart to room service breakfast made exactly to order, Grand Velas just gets it right. All-inclusive here doesn’t mean well drinks – on top of fun events like a daily 5 pm tasting (it changes – tequila one day, “bubbly” the next, etc), Grand Velas’ gourmet restaurants are top notch and of course, all included in your room rate. The staff was polite and helpful, even letting us join a tequila tasting that was already in progress. If premium drinks are a priority for you, you won’t be disappointed at Grand Velas.
Though not huge, there are spacious rooms, and there are spaces for families as well as adults. The only drawback to both of our all-inclusive choices here are the size (well…that’s a drawback to us, at least!) Grand Velas is not a small hotel – you are going to be surrounded by a lot of people, unlike at some of the small luxury hotels on our list. But if you’re looking for a high-end free margarita cocktail or free yoga sessions, Grand Velas is the place to kick back and not have to think about paying extra for anything. It’s a perfect blend of convenience and service, and we can’t wait to go back.
Honorable Mention: La Garza Blanca Resort, Los Cabos
I spent another girls trip at La Garza Blanca, and could not get enough of their adults-only rooftop pool. It turned into quite the scene, with bumping music and lots of selfies. The ocean views cannot be beat, and it is one of the best places on property to relax with a drink. There is a cool rooftop restaurant that is open for dinner, and kids are allowed, but when the pool is open, it is adults only.Â
Overall, I found the service and food at La Garza Blanca to be not as good as the Marquis or Grand Velas, but then again, the room prices are also lower to match. At La Garza Blanca, my group of 4 stayed in a 2 bedroom suite, which had a huge deck, a full kitchen, dining table, and large seating area. It also had 2 full bathrooms and a half bathroom in the living room, which gave us plenty of space to get ready at the same time. Of course all the rooms have air conditioning and free wi-fi, and there are a ton of pools. There is even a kids-only pool and lots of other outdoor pools, one of which has a swim-up bar that was always full. It also has two huge hot tubs that got pretty rowdy late in the day.Â
My biggest complaint at La Garza Blanca was that there was a lot of waiting, especially at the onsite restaurants. It took a long time to be seated in the morning for breakfast, even though everything was included, which you would think would speed things up. Getting drinks at the rooftop bar took a long time, and you are getting mid or low-tier alcohol, not top shelf. Garza Blanca calls itself a 5 star hotel, but anyone accustomed to high-end properties would consider it a 4 star. You could choose between a continental breakfast or order a la carte, so the flexibility is nice, but the service overall in the on-site restaurants was a bit lacking.
Best Celebrity Watching in Los Cabos
Winner: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
It seems that everyone who is anyone is staying at Nobu these days, including the GOAT of gymnastics, Simone Biles, who just hosted her destination wedding at Nobu. It is the place to see and be seen, and with its striking modern architecture and Japanese influence, there’s a lot to see here! Nobu is located next to more than one excellent golf course, so if you’re looking to combine beach time with golf, this is a good choice for you.
Bottom line: come here if you want a scene, not a private getaway. Think live entertainment, live music, etc. Though it’s not technically on our list of adult-only resorts, it’s not particularly kid-friendly, so if you’re bringing the family, you may want to save Nobu for another time. Let’s not forget, though, that Nobu does not lean just on its vibe. It’s a member of the Leading Hotels of the World collection and is known for its world-class dining.
Honorable Mention: Esperanza
Cabo has become such a celeb hot spot that nearly any 5 star hotel has a reasonable chance of offering a celebrity sighting, but we’re picking Esperanza, an Auberge resort, as our number two because it seems to be a consistent favorite with Hollywood types. Tucked away in Los Cabos, Esperanza is a charming hotel with luxury amenities, including a private beach, tennis courts, a world-class spa, and more. This is a family-friendly hotel for a family vacation done right, with kids meals for no additional cost, fun activities for kids and teens programming, and even a kids menu at the spa.
Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Los Cabos
Winner: Rancho Pescadero
Our top pick for an eco-friendly resort is actually next door to our home in Pescadero, an hour north of Cabo. Rancho Pescadero just reopened after a multi-year renovation, and is now part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a group of boutique hotels that offer unparalleled service in unique locations. Rancho Pescadero leans into the agricultural and wellness community of Pescadero, with a specialized spa treatment menu, farm-to-table gourmet cuisine options, and an outdoor swimming pool.
Rancho Pescadero is adults-only, and while it does not have its own private beach area, it sits on San Pedrito beach in Pescadero, where there are few homes and the beach is nearly empty no matter the time of day or year. You have direct access onto the beach from the property, and the view is from the private balconies is completely unspoiled. It is one of the best hotels in the Cabo area, and as yet, word is still getting out so availability is plentiful.
Best Beachfront Vacation Rental in Pescadero, Mexico
Of course I can’t end this roundup without a shout out to my own vacation property, where I love to spend several months of the year. We rent out Casa Colibri when we’re not able to be there, so you can take advantage of its perfection as well! Casa Colibri is a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom villa with a pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and gym one row back from San Pedrito beach in Pescadero. With Cabo only an hour away and Todos Santos just 15 minutes, Pescadero is the perfect laid-back, quiet Mexican beach vacation if you want the convenience of Los Cabos without the congestion.
Wrapping Up
There are so many resorts and hotels in Los Cabos that is is hard to pick the best one. I’ve laid out the best resorts for different categories, based on real experience at nearly all of these properties. The nice thing is that it’s hard to go wrong in Los Cabos – up and down the coast of the Pacific Ocean, you’ve got incredible hotels with breathtaking views and a level of service that I personally find is waning in the US. Though my single top choice hotel on this list would be Las Ventanas al Paraiso, you can’t go wrong with any of these choices. What’s best for you and your group depends entirely on your goals for your trip, your budget, and what you value. Cheers to finding the best luxury resort in Baja California!
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