How To Do Los Cabos in Luxury
With Michelin-starred eats, design-minded spas and more, this Mexican retreat goes way beyond your standard beach vacation.
Warm-weather vacays tend to follow a similar formula: lounge, eat, reapply sunscreen, repeat. Don’t get us wrong—a sunny sojourn, especially as a vitamin D-deprived Canadian, is always a treat. But sometimes, staring at the same set of sun chairs and partaking in the same mediocre buffet loses its sparkle by day four.
Los Cabos does things a little differently. Tucked at the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, this twin-city destination—San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas—has transformed into a refined, luxury-laden paradise. The party-town reputation of the past, once defined by DJs and spring break excess, has given way to a new identity rooted in elevated indulgence. Today, you’ll find globally acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants, truly authentic cultural experiences, world-class boutique hotels, and a steady stream of A-listers like Dua Lipa, Kaia Gerber, and Selena Gomez.
Whether you’re looking to unwind with a perfectly chilled margarita on a design-forward veranda, your every need met by a devoted butler, or you’re craving a bit of thrill on a catamaran cruise or a sunset four-wheeling adventure above the sea, Los Cabos travel delivers luxury with a fresh, adventurous edge.
Ready to relinquish your every preconceived notion about a resort town? Here, we share our top picks for getting the most out of Mexico’s crown jewel.
Things to Do in Los Cabos
Where to stay
Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos
While Los Cabos has no shortage of five-star accommodations—Aman, Park Hyatt and Soho House are all set to open new resorts in 2025—our prime pick is this bougainvillea-dotted, adults-only escape that takes personalized luxury to new heights. Check into one of its 79 sprawling suites and you’ll quickly see why. There’s the rare, all-inclusive culinary experience that holds its own against lush, pay-as-you-go stays—think à la carte creativity, on-demand juice shots and craft cocktails. For all your sunning needs, make your way to the stadium-style loungers by the flora-tiled infinity pool, where every guest scores an epic ocean view. Freshen up in your suite, outfitted with a chlorine-neutralizing vitamin C shower head and Dyson dryer. You might not want to leave the comfort-laden grounds—but alas, the beauty of Los Cabos calls.
Where to visit
San José del Cabo
Like any other tourist town, San José del Cabo is not immune to the inevitable kitsch, but once you brush past the tequila-shilling souvenir shops, you’re met with total vibrancy and true charm. Get your caffeine hit at Junio, a Scandi-style surf shop and café (hello, iced matcha!). Then stop by Ruba’s, a foliage-covered bakery nestled in a 1940s-era casita, for the classic Mexican sweetbread, concha. On Thursday evenings, the big draw is the historic municipality’s Art Walk, which sees all the local makers spill out onto the Gallery District streets. Make a night of it and snag a dinner reservation at the Michelin-recommended Nao for Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a terrazzo-heavy dining room.
Where to adventure
Apex Ocean Divers
All that lounging have you longing for some adrenaline? Set sail on the Sea of Cortez with these long-time diving pros who get you up close and personal with local ocean life. Boasting a wealth of knowledge and zeal for all things aquatic, the gregarious guides don’t promise any sightings (animal welfare is the company’s top priority) but on our four-hour excursion, the animal kingdom showed out: a pod of playful bottlenose dolphins, a smooth hammerhead shark circling the boat and two mid-migration humpback whales making their way up the Pacific coast.
Where to eat
Cocina de Autor
A Michelin Star restaurant in a beach town? Yes, you read that right. When the dining authority came to the Baja Peninsula for the first time last year, this culture-blending institution scored the area’s only starred designation—and for good reason. Tucked inside the original neighbouring Grand Velas Hotel (there are two!), the ocean-front Cocina de Autor is headed up by world-renowned Dutch chef Sidney Schutte and local legend Francisco Sixtas. Expect an eight-course, Mexican ingredient-focused tasting menu with French-style precision and plating: chocolate clams on the half shell dressed up with green apple, jalapeño and heirloom corn; buttery-soft butternut squash bookended by artichoke-and-edamame-stuffed panipuri; and a cinnamon-spiked chilate confection cradled in a ceramic set of hands to finish.
Where to unwind
Esencia Wellness Spa
It’s a right of passage to enjoy a little — or a lot! — of zen on a beach vacay. Tap into that ahhh feeling at this lavishly equipped spa set in the ultra-exclusive Nobu Hotel. You already love the celeb hotspot’s serene, minimalist charm—but this 13,000-square-foot haven takes it to the next level. There are 13 private rooms primed for tradition-imbued treatments (we’re partial to the skin-rejuvenating Inhibit facial ceremony) plus the included outdoor hydrotherapy garden which is home to a cabana-covered jacuzzi, an ice plunge pool, experiential showers and sun-dappled pool. You can even book in without being a guest of the hotel, though staying a night or two wouldn’t hurt.
What To Wear
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Jillian Vieira is a Toronto-based writer and wardrobe stylist. The former Style Director at The Kit, her work can now be seen in FASHION, ELLE Canada, the Toronto Star and Toronto Life among others.
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