You’re taking longer, immersive trips that these resorts or tiny islands are well-equipped to deliver.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba
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It isn’t possible for the Condé Nast Traveler team to see and do everything, everywhere, all at once—though we try our best! Fortunately, we also have you, our readers. This year you cast an astonishing 757,109 votes in the 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, sharing your opinions on the very best in travel. You told us you were enchanted by Italian hotels, went on safari in Botswana, took to semiprivate aviation, and advocated for newcomers to the top American cities. We loved poring over the results to find out what’s sticking with readers and editors and spinning the data into a snapshot of the current moment in travel. Ahead: your manual for planning that next adventure, whether it’s to a top-rated hotel or resort, or centered around a worthy cruise, spa, or island. These are the best resorts in Mexico, as voted by our readers.
View all of the Readers’ Choice Awards winners for 2025 here.
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Courtesy Hotel Esencia
20. Hotel Esencia
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Gold List 2018, 2019, 2023 
Readers’ Choice Awards 2019, 2024, 2025Right on Xpu-ha beach, the best stretch of white sands on this part of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Esencia is one of those hotels that is spoken about in hushed tones by bohemians in the know, none of whom want to let this secret get out. But those who do make it here discover a small, natural beauty of place set on a palm-swaying estate on the edge of the tumbling sea. There are hammocks to laze in, and a dimly lit spa where lotions and potions made from garden herbs are crushed into poultices to smooth out knots. For snorkeling among rainbow-colored fish, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is a five-minute hop on the hotel’s catamaran. There are ceviches and tiraditos to try at Mistura, a restaurant with views of the moon-dappled sea, and a wooden beach bar that does the best Margaritas in Mexico. Then there are the rooms. The interiors of the house, originally built as a hideaway for an Italian duchess, have splashes of fifties art and huge bedrooms with generous terraces. There are brand-new Jungle Rooms with plunge pools and beach suites that are a study in white. All in all, it is perfect.
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Banyan Tree Mayakoba
19. Banyan Tree Mayakoba
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, 2024, 2025After 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.
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Courtesy Beloved Hotels/Photo by Enric Duch
18. Beloved Playa Mujeres
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2025Just 20 minutes north of Cancún, the whitewashed, low-rise architecture of this resort is refreshingly understated, while the rooms, starting at 960 square feet, mix sharp-edged lamps with sumptuous sofas and gauzy curtains. The spa, with a great open-air hydrotherapy circuit and an elaborate gym, occupies prime real estate (at too many hotels, it’s wedged in the basement). At Aroma, the more formal restaurant, satisfying, straightforward combinations like Caribbean lobster with risotto are made with the freshest ingredients; only the wine list is a bit weak. With a whirlpool tub in every room, the atmosphere is definitely honeymoon-friendly—even moreso since 2016, when the resort became adults-only. As for the beach, it’s perhaps the biggest luxury, considering those in Cancún proper have faced erosion problems. Broad, palm-lined, and quiet, it stretches away to the north alongside a placid bay.
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Mi Amor
17. Mi Amor
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2018, 2021, 2024, 2025Set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the beach in Tulum, this adults-only boutique hotel is filled with romantic little nooks from which to take in the sun and surf: egg-shaped chairs dangling over the pool, cushioned daybeds in private gazebos, hammocks slung from private patios. You’ll want to leave the sliding doors in your guestroom open to invite in the sea breeze. At the onsite restaurant, timeless classics from Mexico’s coastal regions are served at brunch every day and feature on the intimate dinner menu. Spa treatments include ground coffee exfoliation, chocolate mud wraps, and flower baths. Best of all, you’re about a 35-minute walk from the Mayan ruins of the Tulum archaeological site.
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16. SLS Playa Mujeres
Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Along a palm-studded stretch of coast in the Yucatán Peninsula is the recently opened SLS Playa Mujeres, a 498-room resort offering an array of suites, some with a private balcony, terrace, or a garden with a swim-out pool. The opening of SLS Playa Mujeres also marks the debut of SLS Elite, a selection of rooms offering benefits, including private lounge access, preferred dining reservations, and entry to an exclusive beach. Available to all guests on an all-inclusive basis are 18 restaurant and bar concepts, including Mediterranean-inspired dining at Fi’lia and Cleo, fresh catch at Caracol, and classic steakhouse fare at Union. At the heart of the resort is the 20,000-square-foot Ciel Spa, a wellness destination with thermal baths and an outdoor tranquility pool.
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Courtesy Excellence Resorts
15. Excellence Riviera Cancun
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2021, 2022, 2025It’s paradise for adults at this stucco, tile, and marble all-inclusive 12 miles from the Cancún airport. Alternate between the palapa-dotted beach and the six winding pools. Suites have king-size four-poster beds, whirlpool tubs, marble baths, and furnished balconies or patios. Eight international restaurants provide a wide roster of excellent options, like Basmati for Indian cuisine or Agave for Mexican with live mariachi music. The dreamy Miilé Spa has a swim-up front door and a menu focused on Aqua Wellness treatments.
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14. Finest Playa Mujeres
Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Set just north of Cancún on the Yucatán Peninsula, Playa Mujeres is the spring break hot spot’s cooler, quieter sister. Bone-white sand dunes and seemingly untouched beaches contrast against the magnificent and deep blue of the Caribbean. With artfully planted palms, flowing curved lines, and beautiful woods incorporated throughout the resort’s design, Finest Playa Mujeres pairs like a fine wine with the landscape. With a kids club, baby care, and even spa treatments for guests of all ages, this family-friendly resort doesn’t leave anyone behind. Part of the all-inclusiveness here are the 12 (!) on-site dining options, which range from the casual La Cocinita food truck to snazzy Brass Steakhouse. This is no one-and-done visit. If you enjoyed your first stay, rest assured there’s still more to explore on your future visits.
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Atelier Playa Mujeres
13. Atelier Playa Mujeres
Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, 2024, 2025This 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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12. Catalonia Riviera Maya
Readers’ Choice Awards 2025When scanning over this Cancún resort’s tennis courts, scuba diving center, four pools, and 3,900-square-meter Alegría Spa, lush is the word that comes to mind. Seated on a plum plot near the airport, Playa del Carmen, and several premier golf clubs, the resort is your hub for all of the best things to do in Cancún. But trust that the property brings the party to you with weekly beach parties, disco nights, and theatrical programming. While all-inclusive at some resorts means simply flying and flopping, that’s just the tip of the iceberg at this effortlessly cool, extravagantly fun beachside property.
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Nikolas Koenig/The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai
11. The Edition Riviera Maya at Kanai
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Hot List 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Making its debut in Latin America, The Edition Riviera Maya at Kanai brings the brand’s quintessential late-night soirees and chic city style to an expansive, 620-acre nature reserve in the Yucatán Peninsula’s Riviera Maya. With interiors by the Ian Schrager Company in collaboration with the design firm Rockwell Group, and architecture by Edmonds International, the resort was created with cenotes (freshwater limestone pools) in mind. After walking up an orchid-lined staircase, guests arrive at a seating area with views of an oversized lagoon-like swimming pool—the resort’s centerpiece—that looks straight to a palm-lined path leading to the sea. It’s here where the property’s cenote-inspired architecture really shines, courtesy of a bamboo yoga deck designed by Eduardo Neira. The structure’s undulating walls continue to the surrounding limestone buildings—mimicking the seismic ripple that occurred when an ancient asteroid struck Chicxulub—which contain 182 guestrooms, including 30 suites, most with plunge pools and terraces providing either ocean or mangrove views. During a stay, guests are privy to the menus of two Mexican chefs who both appear on the World’s 50 Best lists: Francisco Ruano leads the resort’s signature restaurant Ki’is (meaning “zest” in Mayan), which is known for its revolving tasting menu; while Tomás Bermúdez helms So’ol (Mayan for “oyster”), an outdoor seafood eatery overlooking the Caribbean Sea. From $729. —Michaela Trimble
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Victor Elias
10. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya
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Hot List 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The 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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Kempinski Hotel Cancún
9. Kempinski Hotel Cancún
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025It’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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Courtesy Excellence Resorts
8. Excellence Playa Mujeres
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025If you need a break from your wily brood—and let’s be honest, who doesn’t, every once in a while?—it’s down to Excellence Playa Mujeres you go. This adults-only, all-inclusive resort north of Cancún racks up rave reviews for its service, which begins with a cold towel and cocktail greeting and continues at dazzling speed. The place has plenty of beach real estate, where you can float aimlessly for an hour or two, or latch onto an icy cold margarita via beachside service. Suites with sand-hued marble floors and colorful accents feature four-poster wooden beds and sumptuous white linens, plus—get this—a pillow menu. Each one also comes equipped with a spacious private terrace crowned with a cushy, comfortable day bed, but you may want to spring for a two-story rooftop terrace suite: Measuring just over 1,600-square-feet, it comes with a plunge pool turned to the temperature of your choice.
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Courtesy Viceroy Hotels and Resorts
7. Viceroy Riviera Maya
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Staying 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.
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6. Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres, Adult All-Inclusive
Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Located just off the coast of Cancún on an idyllic island with outstretched views of white-sand beaches and the pristine Caribbean Sea is Almare, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort designed with traditional Mayan housing in mind. The resort opened in October 2024 as the brand’s first all-inclusive offering in Mexico, connecting guests with the natural beauty and culture of Isla Mujeres. The adults-only property offers 109 spacious suites, an oceanfront pool, six restaurants, and the wellness hub Alma Spa, which offers amenities like a steam and sauna room, a salt room, and hydrotherapy pools. For restoration and renewal, guests can explore daily outdoor activities like snorkelling, paddleboarding, and sunrise yoga.
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Etéreo, Auberge Collection
5. Etéreo, Auberge Collection
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Etéreo, Auberge Collection is only a 30-minute drive from the Cancún airport, but this slice of heaven on the Riviera Maya feels light-years away from the chaos. The resort is incredibly family-friendly, but not in a way that sacrifices any of its sophistication. It’s the type of place where you stay put and enjoy everything it has to offer, like luxurious spa treatments, unique culinary experiences, and pool and beachside lounging, unless you’re going on one of the excursions organized by the hotel, which range from water activities, like cenote exploration and sailing to a tour of the local archaeological zones. Every single one of the 75 rooms is ocean-facing, with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors framing the view, and leading to private terraces perched above the mangroves. Couples and families with young kids looking for an easy, peaceful escape would do well to book a stay at this intimate property.
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Durston Saylor
4. Rosewood Mayakoba
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Gold List 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Situated on a mile of white-sand beachfront, a stay at Rosewood Mayakoba is just as much about luxury as it is about immersing oneself in the wilds of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. When not relaxing in one of the 129 suites, well-to-do couples and families can usually be found congregating at one of Rosewood Mayakoba’s six swimming pools and four pool decks, from Casa del Lago, a relaxing multilevel pool overlooking the lagoon, to the Punta Bonita, a family-friendly infinity pool near the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Then there’s the Sense spa, renowned for its herbal treatments, and the numerous dining venues, including Agave Azul, an indoor-outdoor restaurant overlooking the lagoon and serving Baja California-style cuisine, as well as Zapote Bar, a day-to-night venue known for its cocktails, with signature drinks made with local ingredients and techniques.
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Courtesy Fairmont Mayakoba
3. Fairmont Mayakoba
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025Situated along the Caribbean Sea, the Fairmont Mayakoba is the perfect family-friendly stay in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Families will love spending time outdoors at one of Fairmont Mayakoba’s five swimming pools, including the three along the oceanfront with alluring views of the Caribbean Sea. The resort is especially accommodating for kids—they eat free when selecting a meal from the children’s menu and have access to free programming at the Balam and Coatí Kids Clubs, which offer plenty of cultural and wellness activities. The resort is home to several dining venues, including two breakfast spots, several lunch outposts, and a few evening dining options, like the Greek restaurant Gaia, and Ki, a beach bar and Korean grill offering dumplings, pork tenderloin, short ribs, and Wagyu beef. There are also three bars, including the lounge-style, adults-only Cielo Rooftop Bar with ocean views and the Las Olas Pool Bar, where drinks are served in the family-friendly main pool area. Surrounded by emerald jungle and winding lagoons, a stay here is also about exploring Mayakoba, a 620-acre ecological enclave nestled within a mangrove jungle, featuring 20 restaurants and bars, as well as El Camaleón, the PGA Tour Championship Golf Course.
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Courtesy Jason Dewey/St. Regis Kanai
2. The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya
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Hot List 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, 2025When viewed from above, the St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya looks like a deconstructed Olympic logo—a series of curvaceous shapes sitting on over a mile of private beach. It’s meant to be a celestial schematic (inspired by the 1,000-plus stars in the constellation Pleiades), with gleaming, ultramodern white buildings hovering over protected mangroves. While the scale may seem overwhelming at first, the genius of its indoor-outdoor architecture reveals itself throughout one’s stay. Every thoughtfully designed, Mayan-inspired room has a view of the sea; there are elevated wooden walkways in lieu of cement paths; and the whole place is surrounded by a ridiculous amount of greenery. The generous footprint allows for a variety of tastes and needs to be accommodated—solo travelers, honeymooners, girlfriends on getaways, extended families—with minimal overlap. There are multiple beach clubs, a kids’ club, and seven dining options (and dedicated butlers to help you manage it all). But the pièce de résistance here is the spa: It’s like a boutique resort within the resort, and you could easily spend the entire day there, whether getting pampered or not. Offerings include separate men’s and women’s outdoor aqua-thermal circuits with pools and a menu of treatments that incorporate ancient Mayan traditions. Best yet, the spa can be experienced even if you’re not staying on property. Similarly, St. Regis guests can easily pop over to the Edition or the Etéreo (an Auberge resort), the hotel’s neighbors in this gated development.
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William Jess Laird
1. Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya
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Hot List 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025This palm-studded resort has been one of the most beloved destinations on the Riviera Maya since it opened in 1995. But a complete reimagining of the 72-room hotel has given it a renewed edge over its neighbors—without losing any of its soul. Arriving at Maroma involves driving through thick mangroves where spider monkeys swing from the trees (the property sits on 200 acres of jungle) before reaching its signature whitewashed architecture and thatched roofs. The design still leans heavily on the region’s Mayan vernacular—the curved stucco buildings are based on ancient geometric principles—and wider Mexican craftsmanship. In fact, almost every detail of the restoration, overseen by interior designer Tara Bernerd, prioritized Mexican makers and artisans (80 percent of the property’s furnishings and objects were made in the country), from the hand-painted Saltillo floor tiles and woven wall hangings to the cotton “manta” caftans left in rooms for guests to slip into. Rooms overlook the palm tree-lined pool, the Caribbean Sea, or both, and feature more of those beautiful tiles, along with whitewashed walls hung with regional textiles. Every detail is designed to keep guests rooted in the Yucatán Peninsula: Even the in-room bar, which is far from mini, is stocked with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugarcane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a beautiful bottle. Of the two restaurants on site, the pick is Casa Mayor from Mexican chef Daniel Camacho, which does mind-blowing tomato salads. (The chef also teaches a predictably delicious tortilla-making class.) While the property is spectacular, you shouldn’t miss the chance to explore the surroundings, which include a network of cenotes reached through underground caves. A swim in the pools, bats swooping overhead, is the stuff memories are made of. From $845. —Lale Arikoglu
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Courtesy Pueblo Bonito Hotels and Resorts
20. Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2025There’s not much to dislike at this 52-acre, all-inclusive blufftop resort on the Pacific Ocean—after all, it’s not every day you take in perfect views of migrating whales while floating in an infinity pool. The architecture is hacienda-style, and the bedding and decor have Mexican patterns. Head to LaFrida, a dimly-lit boîte oozing with old-school Mexican elegance (think luminous black chandeliers, and Frida Kahlo reproductions lining the walls), for a night of traditional live music and some hearty but sophisticated dishes—the braised short rib, with a black chilhuacle sauce, is a must.
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Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts/©2013 Carlos Martín
19. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025At 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.
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Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas
18. Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas
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Hot List 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025Set 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.
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Courtesy The Luxury Collection
17. Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos
Readers’ Choice Awards 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025Solaz, a Marriott Luxury Collection Resort, sits on the Los Cabos corridor, perfectly positioned between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Its striking stone-and-glass architecture by Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas blends into the desert landscape, with commissioned Mexican art and more than 150 endemic plants reinforcing its four design pillars: art, architecture, landscape, and wellness. Rooms are sleek and minimalist, featuring pale stone, huanacaxtle wood, and terraces with plunge pools, cacti, and sandy patches that feel like private beaches. Oceanfront Suites offer the best views, while multi-bedroom residences with kitchens and dining areas cater to families and groups. Dining is a highlight, especially Michelin-recognized Al Pairo and Riccio di Mare’s Italian seafood, while villas and residences can host resort-provided chefs for a spectacular meal at home. With its seamless blend of design, culture, and Baja’s raw landscape, Solaz feels like a modern sanctuary by the sea.
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Courtesy Pueblo Bonito Hotels and Resorts
16. Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025This 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.
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Zadún, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
15. Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
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Hot List 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, brings the limited Reserve brand’s ultra-luxury ethos to San José del Cabo. Perched high above the dunes with cinematic views of the Sea of Cortez, the resort feels more like a private estate than a hotel, with each guest cared for by a personal tosoani (“dream watchers”) under Ritz-Carlton’s elite “Ladies and Gentlemen” philosophy of service. The 114 rooms and suites come with a variety of plunge pools, terraces, and views that stretch to the horizon, with multi-bedroom residences and a villa catering especially well to families. Add in whale watching from your terrace, the Cousteau-inspired Ambassadors of the Environment program for kids, and a sensory-led wellness program, and Zadún will leave you rested, restored, and ready to plot your return.
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Courtesy Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at the Islands of Loreto
14. Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto by Danzante Bay
Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Despite its reputation as a getaway for teens looking to hone their tequila shooting, the Baja California Sur peninsula in Mexico is much more than a “spring break!” destination. Plan a visit and make Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at the Islands of Loreto your home base. The all-inclusive resort overlooks the gorgeous Sea of Cortez from its 4,447 acres, complete with golf course, award-winning spa, tennis courts, five swimming pools, and several restaurants—not to mention miles of hiking trails plus kayak rentals. Choose from an array of suites and penthouses, including options that can sleep up to 12 people. And make sure to book a scuba diving tour with the hotel to enjoy the real draw of the region—incredible underwater wildlife, including turtles and dolphins.
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Courtesy Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
13. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025A 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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Courtesy One&Only Palmilla
12. One&Only Palmilla
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Gold List 2018, 2020, 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025Arriving 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.
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Courtesy The Cape/Photo by Francisco Estrada
11. The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
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Hot List 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025A 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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Joe Thomas/Four Seasons
10. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol
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Hot List 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Just when you thought Cabo couldn’t possibly need another top-shelf resort, the Four Seasons opens on a sweep of pristine coastline between the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo and proves you wrong. Of course it has the requisite Baja building blocks–excellent fish tacos, Pacific views, and a chic pool scene–but what sets it apart is that it stays true to its location and history while feeling thoroughly grounded in the present. Like its updated take on a traditional Mexican village square, including a cobblestone drive and whitewashed buildings but also a buzzy artist-in-residence studio and a gourmet deli with great coffee and regional wines and spirits. Or its excellent Nikkei-inflected restaurant Cayao from Mexican-born chef Richard Sandoval. Or the stunning Tierra Mar spa that marries Indigenous healing modalities with cutting-edge technology. Perhaps Cabo didn’t need just any luxury hotel–it needed this one. From $1,380. —Rebecca Misner
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César Béjar/Four Seasons
9. Four Seasons Tamarindo
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2025Located in the relatively undeveloped western state of Jalisco, Tamarindo is intentionally secluded. From the moment you pass through its tucked-away gates and steal a far-away glimpse of the bright-blue Pacific through miles of lush jungle, it becomes clear just what a hidden treasure the resort is. The outdoor lobby acts as a central home base for the property, where contemporary seating invites you to leave your worries behind and ornate wooden beams frame sweeping views of the coastline below. To the right sits Tamarindo’s Discovery Center, where guests can learn about the wildlife and vegetation that surround the property and how they change throughout the seasons, as well as the resort’s boutique, which is filled with unique crafts, fashion, and homeware made my local artisans alongside some signature Four Seasons merchandise. Just beneath the lobby’s main structure are several levels of eateries and bars, three infinity pools, the spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center, all cascading down the cliffside and overlooking the beach. An 18-hole golf course and two additional beaches are just a short golf ride away, as is Rancho Ortega, a 35-acre farm which supplies the resort’s produce, meat, and eggs and will soon produce its own tequila.
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Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita
8. Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico
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Hot List 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, 2025This is not your parents’ Four Seasons. Formalities, like a front desk, have disappeared, and the traditional concierge has been replaced with guides who can help arrange everything from dinner reservations to surf lessons. The all-inclusive model means the entire stay is blissfully transaction-free, and the intimate scale—at just 30 guests, the size is also a shift for the brand—allows for unscripted experiences such as mezcal tastings with local distillers. And the tented suites are what it takes to persuade travelers to book a hotel in Punta Mita that isn’t right on the beach. Terraced into 48 acres of forested Pacific-facing cliffs, this adults-only luxury tented resort was designed by sustainably minded safari-tent pioneers Luxury Frontiers. Each of its 15 spacious rooms has an indoor soaking tub, an outdoor shower, and a private plunge pool with sunset views. Taking in and getting out into nature is at the heart of Naviva, but a visit to the two spa pods is a must for treatments informed by Mesoamerican traditions, like the five-hour Refuge Retreat. It includes a copal cleansing and Mayan mud massage, plus post-pampering time to soak in the pod’s oversized palm-shaded tub. Guests have access to the amenities at sister property Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, just next door, but it’s doubtful you’ll want to leave this jungle oasis.
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Courtesy One&Only Mandarina
7. One&Only Mandarina
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Gold List 2025 Hot List 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2025Just when you think all beach resorts are made alike, One&Only Mandarina begs to differ. Nestled in the lush hills of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit—where jaguars skulk in the shadows, colorful birds fly overhead, and the gentle sound of the Pacific urges bone-deep relaxation—One & Only makes it easy to find the big red reset button you’ve been looking for. There’s a traditional temazcal sweat lodge experience at the spa, surfing on a private beach, and even a restaurant that has an Enrique Olvera–designed menu that would draw major crowds in a big city: Carao. Ultimately, though, it’s forgetting about the outside world that is the draw—and promise—of spending a few days here. From $1,290. —Megan Spurrell
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Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Collection
6. Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Collection
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Hot List 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, 2024, 2025Everything 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 Auberge Collection
5. Esperanza, Auberge Collection
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The 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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Courtesy The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
4. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
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Readers’ Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025At 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.
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Christian Horan/Courtesy Viceroy Los Cabos
3. Viceroy Los Cabos
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Hot List 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The 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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Photo by Graciela Cattarossi
2. Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Collection
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Hot List 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Cabo 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).
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Blake Marvin/Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
1. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
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Gold List 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Enveloped 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.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
$$$ | Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, Carretera, La Mesa Kilometer 59
In the ocean-meets-mountain town of Todos Santos, a new experience-based hotel is equal parts adventure and luxury
Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Collection
$$ | Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, Carretera Transpeninsular San Jose-San Lucas Km. 15
Located on one of Cabo’s only swimmable beaches, Chileno Bay hits just the right balance between sophistication and cool.
