Nestled by the ocean, this luxe resort boasts elegant rooms, a sprawling golf course, dreamy infinity pools, and top-notch dining, perfect for a lavish escape.
Carr. Transpeninsular, Tourist Corridor, 23400 San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico Get directions
"Located on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, this hotel offers whitewashed hacienda-style architecture and secluded beaches. Known for its personal service, many staff members are third-generation employees." - Michaela Trimble
"At the edge of the Baja Peninsula, One&Only Palmilla was originally built in 1956 as a 15-room hideaway for Don Abelardo Rodriguez, son of the then-president of Mexico. Today, it’s one of the region’s most luxurious resorts, composed of 174 oceanfront rooms and suites and two villas decorated in neutral hues and splashes of red; many have infinity pools and patios that face the Sea of Cortez. One&Only Palmilla has one of the area’s few swimmable beaches, plus three private rocky coves complete with floating beds, lounge chairs, and dedicated butlers. Activities include snorkeling, surfing, parasailing, and golfing the award-winning 27-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The massive spa’s wellness garden features a juice bar and 13 treatment villas; several have private plunge pools, rain showers, and swinging daybeds. One&Only Palmilla is a member of EarthCheck, a scientific benchmarking certification program, for its sustainability efforts, which include a state-of-the-art water purification system that produces and bottles filtered water on site. The resort works with the Red Committee for the Protection of the Sea Turtle by helping with daily patrols of nearby nests, an activity guests can join. From $1,280." - Jennifer Flowers
"Features four on-site restaurants considered the best in town, ideal for culinary exploration." - Sarah Bruning Sarah Bruning Sarah Bruning is the special projects and surveys editor at Travel + Leisure, where she has been on staff since 2018. She assigns stories across the magazine, primarily for the Experiences
"One & Only Palmilla is among a handful of luxury resorts that travelers can choose from in Baja California Sur'sLos Cabos region, but its history may be the most interesting. Built in 1956, the hotel was commissioned by Abelardo Rodriguez, the son ofMexico’s president at the time. When it opened to guests, the property was accessible only by boat or plane, lending it an exclusive air that was highly appealing to Mexican and American celebrities seeking refuge from the limelight. Famous guests of the era included Lucille Ball and John Wayne. Since then, the 15-room hideaway has expanded exponentially; it now boasts nearly 200 rooms and is accessible by car, thanks to the Carretera Transpeninsular. It still retains its luxurious air and continues to draw famous guests—as well as the merely well-off—looking for relaxing vacations in a gorgeous area where the mountains, desert, and sea meet. Each one of the resort's large rooms faces either the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortéz, and all are decorated with traditional Mexican handicrafts."
"One & Only Palmilla is among a handful of luxury resorts that travelers can choose from in Baja California Sur'sLos Cabos region, but its history may be the most interesting. Built in 1956, the hotel was commissioned by Abelardo Rodriguez, the son ofMexico’s president at the time. When it opened to guests, the property was accessible only by boat or plane, lending it an exclusive air that was highly appealing to Mexican and American celebrities seeking refuge from the limelight. Famous guests of the era included Lucille Ball and John Wayne. Since then, the 15-room hideaway has expanded exponentially; it now boasts nearly 200 rooms and is accessible by car, thanks to the Carretera Transpeninsular. It still retains its luxurious air and continues to draw famous guests—as well as the merely well-off—looking for relaxing vacations in a gorgeous area where the mountains, desert, and sea meet. Each one of the resort's large rooms faces either the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortéz, and all are decorated with traditional Mexican handicrafts."
