Montage Los Cabos

"Located on 39 quiet acres of beachfront, Montage Los Cabos looks out on the serene, divinely swimmable waters of Santa Maria Bay. All of the 122 guest rooms, suites, and casas have ocean views, expansive terraces with daybeds, dining areas, and outdoor showers. Interiors have a Mexican 2.0 aesthetic with local materials in a sophisticated desert palette, and landscaping embraces native, drought-resistant plants."

"At Montage Los Cabos, children ages five to 12 can get creative at the resort’s Paintbox Center, which offers arts and crafts, games, and themed days." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Why we love it: Modern luxury on the Sea of Cortez The Highlights: - Direct access to one of Los Cabos’ few swimmable beaches - The largest spa in the area with lots of wellness programming - Spacious and comfortable rooms The Review: Spread over 39 acres on the scenic coastal corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, Montage’s first international resort is part of the 1,400-acre Twin Dolphins planned community—so named in honor of the legendary Hotel Twin Dolphin, said to be the first luxury hotel in Los Cabos, and a favorite getaway of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Bing Crosby, and Lucille Ball back in the day. Today, vacationing celebs—and the rest of us—will find a contemporary, desert- and sea-inspired retreat with 122 rooms and suites (ranging from coastal and ocean view options to multi-bedroom suites), three group-friendly Casas (which come with extras like a butler, private pool, and complimentary BBQ night), and 52 furnished residences. All are comfortable and equipped with necessary conveniences (including Nespresso machines), but you’ll probably spend little time in your room as there’s so much to do and explore here. Take advantage of the hotel’s location on SantaMariaBay—one of the only swimmable beaches in the region—with some snorkeling or diving, or hang out in a beach cabana or around one of the three pools (which offer some adults-only areas). Guests can also head to the 40,000-square-foot Spa Montage for hot and cold plunge pools; fitness, yoga, and meditation classes; and treatments inspired by Mayan and Aztec traditions. (The Spa also has an in-house shaman who leads nightly stargazing and meditation sessions.) When hunger strikes, savor modern Mexican fare at Mezcal or visit the beachfront Marea, which transforms from day to night to offer two distinct dining experiences."

"Set the scene.In a part of Mexico packed with really great hotels, Montage Los Cabos feels both fresh and totally of place. Montage is a hotel that embraces, rather than tries to hide, the fact that it is smack in the middle of the desert, using native and drought-tolerant plants such as beautiful rock figs, all sorts of agave, and tall saguaro, instead of the area’s default unnaturally green lawns and garden flowers. It’s a lovely backdrop for the clean-lined local wood and sandstone buildings set on 39 quiet acres of beachfront. The hotel looks out on the calm, cobalt-blue Santa Maria Bay with its crescent of silt-fine sand—it’s one of the rare beaches in Cabo where there aren’t crazy breaking waves and wily currents, where you can just wade right in and go for a swim. What’s the story?The hotel is the first international hotel from the American-based Montage group, which also has properties in Deer Valley, Big Sky, Palmetto Bluff, and Laguna Beach. What can we expect from our room?Interiors reflect a new aesthetic that's coming out of Mexico City: traditional in terms of materials and craftsmanship but minimal and modern in execution. Here, that means lots of creamy sandstone and indigenous hardwood, updated equipale chairs, and woven throws and wall hangings. Buildings are low-slung and low density —which means privacy and quiet. All of the rooms have ocean views and huge floor-to-ceiling glass doors that lead to large terraces with daybeds and dining areas, and outdoor showers. For sea breezes and optimal whale-spotting from your terrace, request a room close to the water. How about the food and drink?There are two main restaurants. Mezcal for reimagined Mexican cooking such as lobster ceviche, a beautiful local scallop tiradito with charred pepper aquachile, and nopal and calabaza salad. As is often the case in Mexico, the more everyday dishes are as good if not better than the big-ticket plates—such as the poolside Baja shrimp cocktail and tacos al pastor, alongside a Michelada (order it with Victoria beer—it's every Mexican's favorite and the staff will love you for it). There's also Paletas, which is more like a marketplace, selling handicrafts and gifts, but where you can also grab a quick cafe con leche and pan dulce if you're not feeling like a sit-down breakfast. Anything to say about the service?The staff are fantastic, especially the men and women who take care of guests at the pool—genuine and quick to offer a tidbit about where to eat in town or what their favorite mezcal is. Sometimes the service at Mexican hotels can feel formulaic and either stiff or sort of false-friendly but the guest/staff interaction here feels natural and modern. Who comes here?West Coast industry peeps—studio execs and creatives from L.A. or tech-heads from Silicone Valley or Seattle—looking for a few days of sun and poolside palomas. Well-dressed but casual—Isabel Marant and Eres—but not without a little bling. If someone you meet in the pool asks if you'd like a ride home, it means they're happy to make an additional stop in their private plane. How does it fit into the neighborhood?The hotel is set on the Golden Corridor, an undeveloped stretch between the hotel zones of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Its closest neighbors to the north and south are miles away and the city centers of both Cabos are each a 20-minute taxi ride away (if deciding between the two, San José is infinitely more charming). Anything we missed?The hotel doesn't hit you over the head with it, but it has a strong wellness game. Marea, the more casual restaurant, has a separate vegan menu; the hotel partnered with celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque to create seasonal options, and the spa has some serious mind-body options, including guided journeys with the hotel's resident shaman. Is it worth it? Why?Yes. Cabo has no shortage of great hotels, but Montage's location alone—on a quiet, undeveloped stretch and in front of the rare, swimmable beach—makes it worth it." - Rebecca Misner

"Montage Los Cabos is home to three restaurants and has begun a guest chef series since its opening in 2019. It is also where Chef Dominique Crenn created the Casa Crenn dining experience." - Travel + Leisure Editors