Cabo San Lucas, otherwise known just as Cabo, sits right at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, overlooking where the Sea of Cortez meets the North Pacific Ocean. Not surprisingly, this resort city is famed for strikingly white beaches, spectacular, dramatic arching stone cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and an amazing culture that’s a blend of the old and the new. Think a bunch of water activities, pool and beach time in the morning, and dancing the night away at pumping clubs. However, if you’re looking for something different when it comes to accommodations, we’d highly recommend staying at some of the most gorgeous boutique hotels in Cabo.
Let’s face it: lodging options are dizzying in number, but there’s nothing quite like staying at a smaller, intimate boutique stay where the focus is on quiet relaxation, discerning service, and where the staff knows your name. So, if you’re not interested in staying at some tacky all-inclusive resort in Cabo or at a sterile chain hotel, these boutique stays are right up your alley. Read on!
If you’re looking at Cabo as a destination, you might want to know that it’s also an excellent golf destination and is home to one of the top golf resorts you must visit.
Castillo Blarney Inn
11
How would you like to stay in a mini-castle on the hillside in Cabo? Well, that’s what you get when you cross an Irish castle with the Cabo desert. Behold the Castillo Blarney Inn, a gorgeous boutique stay set into a rocky hillside. Featuring a stone exterior, this unique hotel has the flavor and soul of an Irish inn but the decor and style of Baja California.
We had the choice of just six rooms and suites, making staying here a very intimate and exclusive experience. What’s more, they all were spacious and large, and they all came with fully equipped kitchens. In fact, most rooms even had balconies or terraces with views, including ours.
That being said, the hillside location with sweeping Cabo and Caribbean sea views, the seclusion and serenity, and the amenities were the highlights here. We could relax throughout the year in the outdoor swimming pool, and that too after a scrumptious breakfast. After that, we’d reserve come time in the hot tub, followed by an evening around the outdoor fireplace. The gardens, the terrace, and the on-site restaurant and bar round up the amenities of this place.
Check Rates on:
Lumina at Cardinal Cabo San Lucas
10
Best value-for-money. One of the best value for money boutique stays we found in Cabo is the Lumina at Cardinal. Now it might not be a traditional boutique stay, but it’s such great value that we had to include it in this list. This boutique serviced residence features options for studios and one/two/three-bedroom apartments. What’s more, these apartments were contemporary and incredibly stylish. Moreover, they featured all the comforts and amenities we could possibly for an extended stay in Cabo. These included plush beds, sleek bathrooms equipped with bath products, and completely equipped kitchens, which allowed us to whip up meals. This was very useful since we were traveling with the kids, who always wanted something to eat!
It might be a serviced apartment, but the property has a number of amazing amenities. The real gem of the property was the rooftop, which radiated some seriously chic desert vibes. Not only did it have a drop-dead gorgeous swimming pool where we could swim off a day of exploring Cabo, but it also had a jacuzzi for some unwinding. If that wasn’t enough, the rest of the rooftop featured a fire pit, sunken lounges for relaxing, and even a barbeque and a communal outdoor kitchen, all with sweeping views of Cabo!
Check Rates on:
Collection O Casa Bella Hotel Boutique
9
We loved everything about the authentically Mexican, hacienda-style property of Casa Bella Hotel Boutique. A traditional expression of Cabo, the property is stunning, right from the outdoor lush areas to the indoors. It sits in an utterly charming Colonial-style structure that’s a lovely and pleasing mulberry pink in color. That, along with the lush gardens, make for a very pretty picture indeed. Choose from a wide variety of rooms and suites, all of which feature Mexican decor and textiles, dark solid wooden furniture, and pops of bright color.
That being said, the best thing about the property is the gorgeous and lush garden area. The crown jewel is the azure pool, which feels like an oasis from the bustling world outside. Bright flowering plants and shrubs, desert vegetation, shady trees, and lots of cozy places to sit and relax make it the perfect place to unwind. Rounding things up is the complimentary breakfast, which is a sumptuous spread.
Check Rates on:
Bahia Hotel
8
If you want to stay somewhere near Medano Beach, then the Bahia Hotel is a great boutique option. We wanted to avoid the obnoxious all-inclusives as well as the crowded waterfront, and this hotel, which is nicely set back from the waterfront, was perfect. What was even better was that it’s the sister property of the chic Sur Beach House on Medano Beach, so we had free access!
We loved the beautiful aesthetics and design throughout the hotel. Think bright, light, and white, and earthy hues and textures. What’s more, the stylish digs all featured high ceilings and living areas, along with mod-cons such as flatscreen TVs, microwaves, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. In fact, our upgraded room even had a private patio and direct access to the pool. Are you a larger group or a family? There are even two-bedroom suites, which have two terraces, minifridges, coffeemakers, and living and dining areas.
Our days here began with long, languorous, and sumptuous breakfasts on the outdoor terrace of the hip Mexican-Mediterranean restaurant and bar. That, along with live music, a swim-up pool bar next to a heavenly outdoor pool, and a beach club, rounds up the amenities here.
Check Rates on:
Paradero Todos Santos
7
Located within a farming community in the ocean-meets-mountain town of Todos Santos, Paradero Todos Santos is Mexico’s first-ever experience-based hotel. This 35-suite property is sprawled on a palm tree oasis around 20-minutes from the beach and was a welcome departure from the all-inclusive, mega resorts Cabo is known for.
Staying here is a unique experience like no other, with all suites here featuring minimal design, muted olive green and sand hues, and elements like metal, concrete, and wood. Our rooftop suite even had an outdoor seating area with lovely views and, the star amenity, the “star nets,” which were flat wall-bolted hammocks suspended over the outdoor spaces. Meanwhile, the garden suites had outdoor soaking tubs and traditional hammocks.
Although the included adventures are the selling point here, the food is equally excellent. We had a fantastic unwinding time at the palm trees-shaded spa, which has open-air, palapa-style structures and hot and cold dipping pools. Moreover, they even have their own fleet of drivers, cars, and custom-made surfboards. Did we mention the open-air common area, a.k.a. living room with rattan lounge pillows and hammocks? Yep.
Check Rates on:
La Valise Los Cabos, Member of Small Luxury Hotels
6
Imagine staying at a friend’s bohemian beach house on the eastern shores of Cabo; that’s La Valise Los Cabos for you. This seven-casita hideaway on the East Cape could be accessed only via a long, bumpy dirt road and is surrounded by the wild coastline and desert scrub. So, if you’re looking to get away from the traditional and want a soulful, remote getaway, then this place is right up your alley.
Every casa features indoor-outdoor living features, hand-carved wood, and adobe textures, feeling more like a home than a hotel. We stayed in the spectacular Penthouse, which boasted a panoramic 180-degree terrace and an additional open-air sleeping area with sea views right from the bed. And since the property is so small, some units felt more private than others.
The food served on the property is home-cooked, simple, and delicious, whether it’s breakfasts, lunches, or dinners. Not only could they arrange massage treatments in our casa, but they could also arrange for equipment rentals, excursions, and transfers. Overall, the property retains an offbeat charm, making it feel like a true escape.
Check Rates on:
Mar del Cabo By Velas Resorts Adults Only
5
Best beachside property. If your priority is to stay in a boutique property on a swimmable Cabo beach, it would be Mar del Cabo. Thanks to the beachfront location, we could walk out to calm waters anytime we wanted. What’s more, it’s one of the oldest properties in the city, but the recent renovation has left it thoroughly Insta-worthy. Every inch of the property had winding walkways, while tiles, blue doors, and bright pink bougainvillea. It was like we’d stepped right into Greece! We loved the suites that were genuinely spacious, along with having separate living areas and kitchenettes.
The hotel is boutique in the sense of the attention to detail and personalized service that we received. However, the range of amenities made us feel like we were in a small luxury resort rather than an intimate hotel. Firstly, the on-site restaurant is solid, even though the San Jose dining scene is excellent. What’s more, the entire hotel had complimentary Wi-Fi, keeping everyone connected. Last but not least, they had multiple swimming pools, including one that was for adults-only relaxation.
Check Rates on:
Drift San Jose del Cabo
4
Drift San Jose del Cabo is the perfect blend of luxurious and laidback, capturing the essence and vibe of a California-Baja beach house perfectly. The property focuses on the water, with a legitimate surf school on the property. When we weren’t at the beach indulging in water activities, we would be at the lovely swimming pool, which has a shallow end where kids can play. In fact, it’s one of the few boutique stays that works for families.
What’s more, the property also has an excellent and genuine wellness program, which includes daily yoga classes, surf lessons taught by locals, and even meditation. We loved the on-site restaurant for breakfasts and other meals, which leaned towards Baja coastal cuisine.
When it comes to the rooms and suites, we loved the comfortable yet minimalist design, white linens, and light wood flooring, which set off the industrial accents well. Furthermore, they came with courtyard views, sleek bathrooms, hammocks, and Wi-Fi access, and no TVs.
Check Rates on:
Casa Natalia
3
Best adults-only. If you’re looking for an intimate boutique property in Cabo, then the 18-room Casa Natalia in the historic heart of San Jose del Cabo is perfect. Despite sitting just a few steps from the main Plaza Mijares, it’s still a quiet oasis.
On the inside, Casa Natalia is exactly how you’d imagine a boutique hotel is: just 18 suites sitting around a courtyard with a small swimming pool. What’s more, the design is Mexican colonial with contemporary touches, and the owner is actively involved. We loved digging into sumptuous breakfasts and dinners at Mi Cocina, the on-site restaurant.
All rooms feature terraces, and the personal touches felt like we were staying at someone’s home. What’s more, both suites feature private hot tubs on huge balconies with alfresco dining, hammocks, and sun lounges. In fact, some of the other suites have jacuzzi tubs too.
Check Rates on:
Hotel El Ganzo
2
Sitting on the marina in Los Cabos, Hotel El Ganzo isn’t your traditional luxury hotel. We loved the street-art-meets-industrial-chic aesthetic, which is throughout the property. Eco travelers will also love the hotel’s sustainability initiatives, as it was also the first Mexican hotel to become B-Corp certified.
There are a lot of things we loved about this hotel, starting with the fact that this is more than just a place to sleep; it’s an experience. What’s more, the hotel’s rooftop has a full recording studio where artists, including well-known musicians, come to record. Plus, there are rotating installations from local and international artists throughout the walls of the property. Additionally, there are live performances, an on-site restaurant serving delicious Baja-Mediterranean fusion fare, and a fabulous infinity pool overlooking the marina and the estuary.
Choose from sleek rooms and suites, all of which were airy and spacious, with the higher-end ones even featuring private terraces with hammocks. Did we mention that our room even had a bathtub? Yep.
“Staying at El Ganzo felt like we were staying in an art gallery that just happens to have incredible food and service!”
WOW Travel
Check Rates on:
The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
1
Best overall. Dominating the Cabo San Lucas beachfront with an unmissable piece of architecture is The Cape, A Thompson Hotel. But here’s what makes it work: despite having more rooms than usual boutique properties, it nails the personalized service — and then some. And despite the size, the feel is boutique: the staff knows your names, and what you like and what you prefer, which is saying a lot.
The rooftop Manta restaurant and bar serving Baja-Asian fare, undoubtedly, is the crown jewel of the hotel’s dramatic cantilevered structure. What’s more, the infinity pool scene is non-party energetic, and it’s so close to the beach that you’ll feel you’re practically in the ocean. We also loved the beach club, the social vibe, and the crowd of stylish 30-somethings. It’s the perfect place to see and be seen.
When it comes to the digs, the hotel brings urban-cool energy to one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in Cabo. What’s more, every room and suite faces the Pacific and the Cabo Arch. Our Deluxe King Ocean View room even had a daybed terrace, so what more could we ask for?
Check Rates on:
Our Verdict!
While we loved all stays in Cabo, the ones below are specialized – and special.
- Best beachside property: Mar del Cabo By Velas Resorts Adults Only
- Best adults-only: Casa Natalia
- Best overall: The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
- Best value-for-money: Lumina at Cardinal Cabo San Lucas
Where to Stay in Cabo?
“Los Cabos” comprises the two towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, separated by a 20-mile stretch known as the “Tourist Corridor.” While the former is a smaller, quieter town with a more authentic feel to it, Cabo San Lucas is the livelier counterpart, with lots of bars, restaurants, and water activities.
Our top pick to stay would be Medano Beach, which is a Cabo beach you can actually swim in. Located at the eastern edge of downtown Cabo San Lucas, it boasts calm, swimmable water and two glorious miles of golden sand, tons and tons of water sports, and daybeds and loungers for sipping margaritas, too. Next, there’s Downtown for the nightlife, food choices, and affordable stays. Thirdly, there’s Cabo Marina for the water babies, as it’s the launchpad for just about every water activity you can imagine. From sportfishing and sailing to snorkeling, sunset cruises, whale watching, and even some high-end shopping, the marina has it all.
That being said, the Pacific Side is perhaps the best pick for boutique stays, as it’s all about a quiet, upscale vibe, top-tier dining, and posh resorts and hotels, along with quiet, luxe, and sedate beaches. Finally, we have the “Tourist Corridor,” which is lined with golf courses and lavish resorts featuring every deluxe amenity you can think of and postcard-worthy views.
Are boutique hotels in Cabo all-inclusive?
While some, like the brand-new Grand Velas Boutique Hotel, do offer all-inclusive packages, most boutique stays don’t have traditional all-inclusive packages.
What is the best time to visit Cabo?
The best weather that Cabo sees, which is also when whale-watching occurs, is between November and April.
