The 40 Best Resorts in Mexico: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
Now in its 36th iteration, our annual Readers’ Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from hotels and airlines to cruises, islands, and luggage. This year, you traveled farther and deeper; seeking out remote properties; sailing on smaller, more intimate ships; and prioritizing destinations you’ve been waiting years to visit. At least that’s what a staggering 526,518 of you told us in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. Seventy-five percent of you told us that you used up all your vacation days, often to take longer, immersive trips—the kind that resorts on distant plains or stamp-size islands are well-equipped to deliver. Now, you can use the results to decide where you’re going next. Here are the best resorts in Mexico, as voted by Traveler readers.
You can also view these best resort winners in Eastern Mexico and in Western Mexico as lists with scores.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Courtesy Secrets the Vine Cancun Resort and Spahotel20. Secrets the Vine Cancun
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Readers' Choice Awards 2023An adults-only getaway in the heart of Cancun, Secrets the Vine is a massive (497-room) property with sleek suites and a preferred club perfect for those who always spring for an upgrade. The butler service and dining are a favorite among visitors, and the chic design that centers Italian marble and teek wood make this a classic-feeling option (especially for an area that can go kitschily astray). The massive stretch of beachfront, multiple adjacent infinity pools, and indoor/outdoor dining with views overlooking the Caribbean Sea make this a perfect choice for any couple or group outing.
Victor Elias/Waldorf Astoria Cancunhotel19. Waldorf Astoria Cancun
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Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023For all the resorts that crowd Mexico’s east coast, the Waldorf stands out for its truly white-glove service and amenities that make it hard to leave the property. There are infinity pools aplenty, acres of pristine coastline, and that most glorious asset of all, the feeling of complete privacy in one of the country’s most bustling vacation spots. The decor, a soothing sea of creams and sand hues, spotlights Mexican artisans and highlights materials like tropical woods and local stone. The vibe here is palpably slow—no rushing from one activity to the next, just relaxing. And there are enough private cabanas to go around—you can forget about the dreaded visit to the pool at dawn to reserve a great spot. There are also dozens of lounge chairs facing the beach for when the ocean is your dip du jour. With comfortable yet polished rooms, an excellent spa, and a clutch of bars and restaurants serving excellent riffs on traditional dishes and drinks, this is Cancun like you’ve never seen it.
Garza Blanca Cancunhotel18. Garza Blanca Cancun
Readers' Choice Awards 2023Opened in February 2022, this Costa Mujeres gem has become a winner for its stand-out dining (including a food truck and on-site Japanese restaurant) as well as a beachfront pool deck complete with a glass-sided infinity pool. The modern amenities and standout service make it clear this is a five-star property, and guests love the poolside sushi and steak as much as the vast beachfront and unending views.
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Courtesy Viceroy Hotels and Resortshotel17. Viceroy Riviera Maya
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Staying at the Viceroy Riviera Maya is a vacation in the truest sense of the word: Palapa villas with lots of wood and rattan (many with private pools and outdoor showers) are connected by meandering pathways that fan out to lush, fragrant gardens. And it’s all fronted by seven miles of glorious, white sand beaches. Just remember that you are in the jungle, so be sure to keep your eye out for wily spider monkeys.
hotel16. Atelier Playa Mujeres
Readers' Choice Awards 2023This five-star gem with a rolling green golf course and tequila tastings opened in 2020. Its butler service and rooftop amenities like El Cielo sky bar make it a new favorite for milestone trips like big birthdays and bachelorettes. The on-site Mexican cuisine feels at home here. Set away from the busier strip of Cancun, it's a hidden gem with lots of Spanish-speaking clientele and a smaller feel than you might know in this resort area.
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15. Be Tulum
Readers' Choice Awards 2023A rare boutique property in this resort-heavy area, Be Tulum has a smaller feel and plenty of character. Guests love the outdoor showers and jungle-nestled feel that still keep the beachfront at their feet. Popular for honeymooners and cuisine lovers who enjoy the open-kitchen restaurant, it's a beach club / hotel vibe that embodies Tulum well and has garnered repeat clients.
Courtesy Chablé Maromahotel14. Chablé Maroma
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023This may quite possibly be the only hotel in Mexico that combines the level of wellness travelers now hop planes for with the country’s trademark sugary beaches. It has 70 neutral-palette suites, each with its own pool, terrace, and palm-shrouded outdoor rain shower. And let’s not forget its access to Riviera Mayakoba’s powdery beach. True to the brand, Maroma’s bright spa remains deeply rooted in Mayan healing traditions (the temazcal ceremony, led by a local healer, is the real-deal, requiring a two-hour commitment). While your schedule in the Yucatán is packed with fitness classes and spa sessions, Maroma encourages time spent sipping margaritas by the infinity pool, as any Mexican resort should. Chef Jorge Vallejo of Mexico City’s top-ranked Quintonil oversees the menus, sourcing ingredients from on-site ka’anches, Mayan gardens. Seafood is the star at Maroma, showcased at the rooftop raw bar and at casual restaurant, Kaban. The tasting menu-only restaurant Bu’ul is more ambitious, with regional dishes like mamey fruit tartare topped with glazed escamoles, surprisingly tasty ant larvae, which will challenge (and wow) your palate.
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Courtesy NIZUC Resort & Spahotel13. Nizuc Resort & Spa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023The beach—and its views—are the main attraction at this 274-room resort on the Yucatán Peninsula. Book one of the eight penthouse suites, which have outdoor living rooms and Caribbean vistas. Views aside, there’s much more to love: three colossal infinity pools and two beaches, both well stocked with loungers, and six restaurants. We love Ramona, with its clean and contemporary Mexican cuisine (did somebody say lobster bisque with mezcal sauce?) and La Punta Grill, where a tender, expertly salted flank steak might be the main event.
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Dreams Vista Cancunhotel12. Dreams Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort
Readers' Choice Awards 2023With a rooftop pool and sprawling views of the Caribbean Sea, Dreams is a favorite for its surf pool, family-friendliness, and on-site restaurants slinging delicious tacos and cocktails. Day trips to Isla Mujeres are just a ferry away, and getting off-resort is easy so you won't feel relegated to the property itself—though there's nothing wrong with that when the views are this good and the amenities never fail.
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Courtesy Mahekal Beach Resorthotel11. Mahekal Beach Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023There’s a bit of a Swiss Family Robinson feel at this Playa del Carmen resort, with bungalow-style accommodations, either facing 920 feet of beach or surrounded by jungle. The most fun are the Treehouse Rooms, many of which have elevated terraces at leaf-level. There are Maya decorative elements throughout, such as brightly patterned textiles. The “Tulum” style Fuego Restaurante y Cantina follows the popular trend of cooking over a wood fire. If swimming in the turquoise water isn’t thrilling enough for you, one of the most trusted dive centers in the Riviera Maya is on site, nearby the hotel's artisan pottery center.
Edgardo Contreras/Casa Chabléhotel10. Casa Chablé
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023Located within one of Mexico’s most spectacular nature refuges, this luxury lodging experience is a welcome respite from Cancun’s endless strip of all-inclusives and Tulum’s increasingly frenetic development. After boarding a small fishing boat that whisks you past mangroves and colonies of frigate birds, guests are greeted by a lobby filled with beaded chandeliers, thatched ceilings, and rattan chairs and sofas. The overall vibe is: tranquil. With just 10 rooms (decked out with ocean-facing hammocks and outdoor moon showers) and no immediate neighbors, you’ll feel a bit like Robinson Crusoe—albeit with drinks service. Don’t expect a large pool or a bar scene; instead, you’ve got a warm, aquamarine sea at your disposal, and the best drinks happen on the pier at sunset (Chablé is perhaps unique in all of Mexico in that you can view a sunrise and a sunset over water). Come to Case Chablé to fill your eyes and mind with sea and sky.
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Tadeu Brunellihotel9. Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Set in the private, gated Mayakoba complex, the Andaz has a bit of beachfront and is a more youthful, playful, free-spirited alternative to some of the other hotels in the area. Most of the Andaz is built around tranquil lagoons and lush gardens, all crisscrossed with trails for walking and cycling. Guest rooms and suites are inspired by nature with open-plan layouts, abundant natural light, and a sea-and-sand color palette with bright pops of color in Mayan-style artworks and textiles. The activities staff encourages adventurous undertakings, from stand-up paddleboarding to kitesurfing. The four on-site restaurants showcase local cuisine and cooking techniques.
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8. Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection
Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023Taking its name from the Spanish word for “ethereal,” this new member of the Auberge Resorts Collection opened last December in a mangrove forest near a coral-lined beach in the Riviera Maya’s luxurious Kanai development. Carved wooden walls by late Mexican artist Manuel Felguérez take pride of place in the suites and studios, many of which boast their own private terraces and plunge pools. The spa takes its inspiration from Mayan healing practices, with treatments that make use of ingredients like cacao, local honey, clay, and crystals. Etéreo isn’t so much about escaping from the world as it is about immersing yourself in a new one: When you’re not lounging poolside, you might find yourself chatting with the house shaman and storytelling master, Yaotekatl, about the Mayan calendar and your astrological sign; learning about new discoveries throughout the Yucatan Peninsula from house archaeologist Dante García; or sampling Mexican spirits such as bacanora, sotol, raicilla, and charanda, a rum from the state of Michoacan.
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Greg Vaughnhotel7. Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2023When you enter your suite for the first time at this beachfront resort, a few miles down the sand from the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, you’re greeted with a chilled bottle of Ojo de Tigre mezcal, limes, chili powder, and shot glasses. Think of it as an impossible-to-resist invitation to chill out and get on the same relaxed wavelength as seemingly everyone else on this stretch of the Mexican Caribbean. While here, you can order tropical drinks from the swim-up bar, lounge on the white-sand beach, or enjoy an after-sun body wrap or a relaxing vanilla bath at the spa, but there are plenty of opportunities to be a bit more active, including yoga lessons, bike rides into town, and cooking and cocktail-making classes.
Courtesy Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancunhotel6. Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023Expect "a bit of Caribbean heaven" at this all-inclusive beach resort 20 minutes southwest of Puerto Morelos. Suites, some of which are swim-in/swim-out, are surrounded by 12 small pools and have views of "the most beautiful white sand beach." "Staff pamper you but respect your privacy." Sit under a palapa and enjoy seafood at Oceana; Himitsu has four teppanyaki grill tables. The 13,000-square-foot spa is "a wonderful refuge"—try the Papaya Passion, an exfoliation with papaya seeds and oils in a Vichy shower.
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Banyan Tree Mayakobahotel5. Banyan Tree Mayakoba
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023After its recent $50 million expansion, this is the star of the Mayakoba development in Playa del Carmen, with 34 private beachfront pool suites and a brand-new beach club with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Beneath wooden pergolas and linen umbrellas of the Sands Beach Club, city dwellers on a seaside escape bask in the balmy Yucatán air before the languid Caribbean waters of Riviera Maya. The development includes a waterway lined with mangroves perfect for kayaking excursions, over two miles of biking and walking trails, and a Greg Norman-designed, 18-hole golf course. The resort has its very own turtle field since, where four of the seven species worldwide come to nest on the beaches of the complex.
Durston Saylorhotel4. Rosewood Mayakoba
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Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Once you arrive at this gorgeous ecological enclave in the Riviera Maya, don't expect to rush anywhere—chances are, you'll want to gape at the interior details, like hunks of Yucatán limestone and renewable wood, as well as wooden lattices and glass doors that punctuate the guest rooms. On your Rosewood Mayakoba to-do list should be the Sense spa, which sits on its own private island overlooking limestone lagoons. Try out one of its unique Mayan-influenced treatments, like the Cenote Temazcal Purification—you'll start by meditating in the garden, and work your way to a detoxifying steam bath, scrub, and massage.
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Kempinski Hotel Cancúnhotel3. Kempinski Hotel Cancún
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023It’s a behemoth in size, but the Grand Hotel Cancún managed by Kempinski (formerly the Ritz-Carlton) is a cocoon in terms of personalization and comforts. The hotel fronts 1,200 feet of white sand beach right in the heart of Cancún’s Hotel Zone. The six dining outlets include two award-winning restaurants, the recently renovated Mexican-Mediterranean Fantino and the Club Grill, which has a champagne bar and live jazz every night. At D-Lounge, you can sip more than 100 varieties of tequila. All of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and ocean views. Of course there are the expected amenities, like a kids’ club and the Kayantá Spa, which has custom treatments inspired by ancient Mayan healing rituals.
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Victor Eliashotel2. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
$$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023The most distinctive part of Hilton’s luxury debut on Mexico’s Riviera Maya is its chameleon-like approach to hospitality. Yes, with its 349 rooms, acres of pools, 11 restaurants, and kids’ and teens’ clubs, the Conrad is the type of resort whose (large bronze) gates a traveler would be content to pass through only twice: right before check-in and right after checkout. Spiritually, though, it aligns more closely with the smaller-scale properties 30 minutes north in Tulum that seek to connect guests with the surrounding destination. Honoring the Mayan cultures that have occupied this stretch of Caribbean coast for centuries, a traditional sacbe, or “white road”—the name of the ancient roadways Mayans created to travel by moonlight—cuts through the jungled grounds. In the lobby, a soaring art installation takes a cue from Mayan macramé. And at the cenote-inspired spa, a traditional four-hands massage is second only to a jalapeño margarita in the open-air bar as a way to immediately shed any lingering real-life stress remaining after a dip in the sea.
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Courtesy Fairmont Mayakobahotel1. Fairmont Mayakoba
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Some consider Tulum a little too laid back—just ask the patrons of the Fairmont Mayakoba. Designed around a network of crystal clear waterways, the property is situated deep within 240 acres of dense tropical forest. The resort is home to five pools—including an adults-only infinity edge pool—and El Camaleón, the 18-hole course designed by Greg Norman, has two water features. Rooms are bright and airy to reflect modern Mexican design, and have deep marble soaking tubs. Book a private suite, and you’ll have a pristine white beach at your doorstep. El Puerto restaurant captures the flavors of regional Mexican seafood, while Las Brisas blends traditional Latin flavors with global ingredients. Willow Stream Spa focuses on traditional Mayan techniques and offers a top deck with unbeatable ocean views. And if you want to design your own adventure, take out an electric lanchita—a small, electric boat—to explore the grounds.
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Gaston Galiciahotel20. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023At this all-suite beach resort just north of Puerto Vallarta and the Paradise Village mall, you would never believe you're in an all-inclusive. Rooms with views of the Pacific include colorful Mexican art by the Huichol people, goose-down comforters, and Balinese furnishings. Outstanding staff even clean your sunglasses, spritz you with Evian, and circle the pool with an ice-pop cart. The spa is one of the best in the country, and five restaurants serve wonderful, well-prepared international cuisine.
Courtesy The Luxury Collectionhotel19. Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2021, 2023“Transformative travel” is the buzzword at this contemporary oceanfront resort. The location gives it easy access to adventure expeditions around Baja California, downtown San José del Cabo, and the Marina in Cabo San Lucas. But it’s also a place for an inner journey, starting with sublimely comfortable rooms with plush beds, marble floors, custom furnishings, and barely-there barriers between indoor and outdoor living. Many rooms have secluded patios, views of the Sea of Cortez, private plunge pools, and, that ultimate indulgence, the outdoor shower. There’s an extensive spa, and a 24-hour fitness center. The diverse dining options include Cascabel, a showcase of modern Mexican cuisine with live cooking stations devoted to different regions.
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Courtesy Pueblo Bonito Hotels and Resortshotel18. Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023This resort is like a slice of the Mediterranean in Cabo, with white-washed buildings standing out against the Sea of Cortez. Each of the suites are decorated with the same Mediterranean style and have private patios and balconies perfect for watching the sunset. When it comes to swimming, you'll be spoiled for choice between the tropical swimming pool and direct access to the beach. Other resort amenities include three on-site restaurants, full-service spa, and seaside golf course.
Albert Lewishotel17. Rancho Pescadero, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023Owner Lisa Harper has always placed a great importance on uplifting Todos Santos, Mexico since Rancho Pescadero’s inception in 2009. So when they decided to overhaul and expand the resort—going from 12 guestrooms to 103—they implemented rare and lengthy programs for the industry, ranging from creating a solar farm and installing a desalination plant to transplanting thousands of plants moved during construction and placing them back in their original locations. But they are also concerned about the strains that a luxury resort can bring to rural areas. Therefore, they plan on building a complex of 170 homes for employees, while also breaking ground on a technical school that will be open to all in the area, and investing in a clean-air incinerator for the resort’s waste but also for local use. An elegant-yet-beachy guest suite designed by Mexican architect Alejandra Templeton of Indigo Añil—and jumping into the private plunge pool overlooking the crashing waves, you might find yourself thinking, this is true well-being. A place to disconnect, reconnect with what matters most, and feel confident that the investment is eco-responsible and helps to uplift the people who live in this slice of desert paradise.
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Gaston Galiciahotel16. Grand Velas Los Cabos
Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023First off, leave behind any outdated notions of what an “all-inclusive resort” can be. This place has style. The luxury property near the southern tip of Baja California occupies a sweeping half-moon-shaped building with trapezoidal dividing walls between balconies that evoke a sea full of sailboats. Suites are all larger than 1,100 square feet, which might inspire real estate envy in big-city apartment dwellers, and many of the rooms are kitted out with private terraces and plunge pools; specialty suites include perks like a personalized wellness concierge and daily in-room fitness training. You may remember the resort making headlines a few years back for serving “the world’s most expensive taco,” which was priced at $25,000 and included langoustine, Kobe beef, beluga caviar, and black truffle brie on a gold-flake-infused corn tortilla, with a salsa of dried morita chilies, civet coffee, and ultra-premium añejo tequila. Sure, it’s gimmicky, but the culinary team here takes food seriously, with seven restaurants including the tasting-menu spot Cocina de Autor, the French-accented Piaf, and the poolside Cabrilla, dedicated to ceviches and Mexican-style seafood cocktails.
Christian Horan/Courtesy Viceroy Los Caboshotel15. Viceroy Los Cabos
$$$ | Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023The Viceroy has taken over this stunning Miguel Ángel Aragonés–designed resort—which started life as the Mar Adentro—and it enjoys a location that's just minutes from the town of San José del Cabo. Built from glass and concrete, the hotel has eight different buildings for guest rooms, all offering unbroken views of the ocean beyond. Rooms feel like a dreamscape, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private outdoor spaces, and the villas even have rooftop pools. Decor is mostly white, with light wood accents, letting the stunning natural setting speak for itself.
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Courtesy Villa Group Resorts/Photo by Julien Leveauhotel14. Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa Riviera Nayarit
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021, 2023Located on the northern edge of Nuevo Vallarta, this family-friendly resort is centered around a grand bi-level pool with a swim-up bar and access to the calm waters of Flamingos Beach, while the spacious rooms and suites feature Spanish Colonial–inspired furnishings. Within the resort, guests can join cooking classes (to learn how to make paella, guacamole, or ceviche), take dance or Spanish language lessons, or work up a sweat playing beach soccer, pool volleyball, or water polo. Don’t miss the elegant Mexican steakhouse La Casona’s lobster night, which features such dishes as lobster confit salad with hibiscus jelly and mesquite-grilled lobster tail—or, for something even more romantic, book a sunset table for two right on the sand, lit by the warm glow of flickering torches.
Courtesy Rosewood Hotels & Resortshotel13. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023A meandering network of terraces, suites, pools, and bars make up this Mexican-Mediterranean resort overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Beyond the rooms, which feature terra-cotta fireplaces and hand-carved cedar doors, guests can look forward to personal butler service and a fresh fruit basket each morning. But the Ty Warner mansion, named for the resort’s owner and founder of Beanie Babies, wildly outdoes it all: The exclusive, 28,000-square-foot estate sits at the water’s edge. Guests who book it can request a fireworks display to watch as their personal chef prepares dinner.
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Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa Los Caboshotel12. Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa Los Cabos
Readers' Choice Awards 2023Los Cabos' azure blue waters come to life at this luxe property's infinity pool deck dotted with white umbrellas and lounge chairs beckoning for a day in the sun. Opened in February 2022, its a stunning newcomer that's quickly become popular for its sprawling beachfront, 308 suites (some of which have balcony hot tubs), and five-star service. Shiny amenities meet waterfront relaxation at this rising-star resort. Don't miss the winding lazy river for some unwinding—it's the largest in Cabo.
Courtesy Auberge Resortshotel11. Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023The only private beach resort in Los Cabos, Esperanza couldn't feel further from the freewheeling streets of downtown Cabo San Lucas (though it's only a 15-minute drive, in case a craving for cheap strawberry-mango margaritas strikes). This 57-room hotel sits right on the rocky Cabo coast, meaning every room, suite, and infinity pool—several room categories come with their own—promises stellar views, and a constant soundtrack of crashing waves. Inside, the rooms have a soothing blend of crisp white linens, light wood-beamed ceilings, and massive windows, and are all spacious enough to spend the day in. But with a world-class spa, fitness center (which also offers a full schedule of workout classes), and experiences that include sea foraging and a tequila tasting course, you'd rarely be tempted to do so.
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Blake Marvinhotel10. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Enveloped by short, craggy hills on 24 pristine acres of Baja California beachfront, the upscale spot is practically floating in open waters, and in fact, it’s tricky to distinguish the hotel’s infinity pool from the brilliant blue body of water behind it. This Mediterranean village–inspired enclave gives off a rustic beach vibe that makes you feel like you just stumbled upon the place, and luckily so. Suites are outfitted with hand-carved wood, locally made ceramic tiles, and plunge pools hanging off private ocean view-terraces. Another selling point? The exceedingly attentive staff, plus a personal concierge program—you'll have someone dedicated to making your vacation dreams come true, including planning romantic evening cruises and early morning massages at your request.
Courtesy The Cape/Photo by Francisco Estradahotel9. The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
$$ | Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023A mod-Mexican restaurant from Enrique Olvera, four bars with note-perfect cocktails (over 100 and counting), two pools, an amazing spa, and not a trace of hacienda-style architecture—in short, just what Cabo needed. Kudos to Thompson Hotels for introducing a place in an otherwise crowded market with uninterrupted views of El Arco and the Bahía San Lucas horizon. Mexico City architect Javier Sanchez has combined a relaxed 1960s Southern California-meets-Baja aesthetic. It’s refreshingly grown-up, perfect for couples, but without an ounce of pretension. Every room has a balcony to view the Pacific (some with private plunge pools and butler service), plus Cabo’s only rooftop lounge to relish each and every sunset.
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Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmashotel8. Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas
$$$ | Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Set right on the beach, against the backdrop of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, the Four Seasons is by far the area’s sleekest stay. Exclusivity is of course a draw—a handful of celebrities from L.A. are rumored to have bought villas. But there’s also a strong outdoor-adventure pull, from snorkeling in nearby Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, where giant polka-dot whale sharks hunt for plankton, to quad-biking empty sand dunes. While there might not be the bars and restaurants to rival Los Cabos, they’re hardly missed. Toes-in-the-sand El Puesto is the spot for ceviche and margaritas; for a proper sit-down meal, an outpost of beloved Greek restaurant Estiatorio Milos serves seafood suppers. All 141 rooms are designed to blend into the surrounding desertscape with sliding glass doors that lead to private terraces, as well as views of the Sea of Cortéz. And unlike on the rough, rocky Pacific side of Baja, the waters here are as tranquil as a lake.
Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collectionhotel7. Susurros del Corazón
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023Everything about this property is seemingly curated to feel more like a boutique hotel than a resort. It’s normal to stumble upon things like a sound bath experience on the beach led by a local bohemian who infuses jazz with the singing bowls or a sombrero making class. The on-site boutique, a Fashionkind outpost (which opened last December) co-owned by Nina Farran and Sophia Bush, includes leading designers from across Latin America, with a special focus on those local to Mexico. The design by Paul Duesing and Glazier Le Architects, sporting stone walls that continue from the balcony to the interior of the room with pebble-floored rain showers clad in colorful tiles almost entirely Mexican made and also supports local and regional makers, artisans, artists, and purveyors, solidifies the POV of being a boho-fresh, intentional, and barefoot sanctuary for those in-the-know. Don’t get me wrong, it still feels like a resort—just a resort that is focused on what is important to today’s customer.
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Courtesy One&Only Palmillahotel6. One&Only Palmilla
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2020, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Arriving at this spot on the very tip of the Baja Peninsula feels like coming home. Many of the staff are third-generation employees who remember not only your name but whether you prefer your margarita made with tequila or mezcal (and which brand), and where you like your yoga mat to be set up in your room. And those rooms. Whitewashed hacienda-style architecture brightened with hand-embroidered textiles, plus perks such as private butlers and, in the case of Villa Cortez, an exclusive fitness suite, spa room, and beach cabana reflect Cabo’s emergence as Latin America’s latest luxury hotspot. There is no shortage of glitzy new five-stars, but as the area’s first proper hotel, Palmilla has a serious advantage: real estate. Its secluded location on one of Cabo’s only swimmable beaches is unbeatable. In the ’50s, Hollywood’s elite flocked here, and today a fresh generation of A-listers does the same. A commitment to discretion and timeless glamour in an age of social-media noise, as well as constant reinvention (new wellness offerings from spiritual healer Alicia Kanxoc), have allowed Baja’s big hitter to continue holding court.
Zadún, a Ritz Carlton Reservehotel5. Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
$$$ | Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023The high-stakes Cabo hotel scene has been particularly frenetic for the past few years, with fresh openings from big-name players like Four Seasons, Montage, and Viceroy. Amid the fray, Ritz-Carlton managed to seek out a 20-acre plot for its fourth reserve, overlooking the indigo Sea of Cortez and built partially on the sand dunes. Suites feel both comfortable and considered, with vast living rooms featuring blue-and-white textiles, objets d’art from local artisans (woven leather baskets, painted pottery), and terraces with firepits. But it’s the staff that truly make the place stand out: remembering favorite breakfast tables and knowing the right chaise lounge around the enormous L-shaped pool at which to drop off each swimmer’s margarita. In one of the world’s most elevated hotel towns, Ritz-Carlton shows that the bar can always be raised.
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Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts/©2013 Carlos Martínhotel4. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023At this 1,500-acre hidden oasis north of Puerto Vallarta, no request is too outlandish—readers have shared stories of dedicated servers, like one who walked into the ocean, in his uniform, to bring them their drinks. Red-roof garden casitas are done in a sea-and-sand palette, with Mexican art and louvered doors. Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art 18-hole Jack Nicklaus course at Pacifico takes the game to the extreme: Be prepared to swing for a hole that's on an island 200 yards offshore.
Courtesy One&Only Mandarinahotel3. One&Only Mandarina
$$$ | Hot List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023This glossy, globetrotting hotel group might pick up new destinations as if they were passport stamps, but each is uniquely rooted in place. Here, along the Riviera Nayarit on the wild Pacific coast, that means drawing deeply on Mexico’s magic, with considered references to the Indigenous Cora and Huichol people. Bedrooms, whether oversized treehouses or ocean-facing villas, are a celebration of local culture, from the traditional textiles and pottery to the robes by contemporary Mexico-based label Candor. The spa, set in a natural volcanic-rock garden, is based on ancient healing practices and offers treatments including temazcal sweat-lodge rituals. The hotel has also tapped the country’s top chef, Enrique Olvera—of Mexico City’s Pujol—for Carao, where feasts begin with fresh ceviche and end on homemade cinnamon buñuelos. Meanwhile Alma, an open-air, garden-to-plate spot helmed by French-Mexican Olivier Deboise, is centered around wood-fired, Pan-American-meets-Mediterranean dishes. It might be a step up from the surf hotels down the road, but one that still feels very much in step with Nayarit’s spirit.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Courtesy St. Regis Punta Mita Resorthotel2. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023At this decade-old resort in a gated community along the Pacific, the tile-roofed casitas have Mediterranean-Mexican style with creamy whites accented by lime green and fuchsia tones and colorful handcrafted tiles. There’s a wide array of restaurants and bars, from the fine-dining Carolina to Sea Breeze for fish tacos and ceviche to the Avocado Vegan Bar. The staff here seems to work magic, whether that's charging taxi fares to your hotel bill or getting a doctor to make a house call to your room.
Photo by Graciela Cattarossihotel1. Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
$$ | Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Cabo San Lucas is a town full of resorts that are either too fusty, too fancy, or too family-friendly, but Chileno Bay is the rare option that feels both sophisticated and hip. Follow the throng of weekending thirty-somethings to the resort's cool open-air restaurant, or to a little taco shack on the beach with an excellent selection of small-batch mezcal. The beach that the hotel is on is probably the only real swimming beach in Cabo—no small thing, since it can be kind of painful to be at a "beach resort" and not be able to take a dip in the ocean. (Cabo's waters are notoriously choppy, rough, and not swimmer-friendly).
