Often when a lodging company has three resorts in one location, they’re scattered around town in different spots, even if it’s a big brand like Marriott. The Velas Resorts company has a very different situation in Los Cabos though, where their three resorts that appeal to different crowds are all a few minutes’ walk away from each other on the tourist corridor.
This wasn’t always the case. We reviewed Grand Velas Los Cabos soon after it opened and found it to be just as impressive as the other ones that came before it in the Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit’s Nuevo Vallarta area north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. Both of those were big and bold luxury all-inclusive resorts that were set up well for vacationing families, but recognized that the parents need some adult stimulation too.
So all three of these Velas resorts of Los Cabos have gourmet restaurants open for dinner, interesting bars that are more than an afterthought, and extensive spas for some proper pampering.
Grand Velas Los Cabos Resort
That game-winning plan continues at Grand Velas Los Cabos, the resort with the one and only Michelin-star restaurant in the region: Cocina de Autor. I have dined at a few others in Los Cabos that were “recognized by Michelin,” but they haven’t been nearly as impressive as the tasting menu dinner I had here. Everything was beautifully presented, the flavors were perfectly blended instead of over-salted, and the wine pairings were thoughtful as well. My experience was a 10 out of 10, one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Mexico.
If you’ve been to another Grand Velas resort, you’ll find some familiar elements here that have worked well in the others: bougainvillea flowers spilling down from furnished balconies, oversized rooms where even the standards are huge, and meals that are uniformly good across multiple outlets in various cuisines. The night restaurants are all beautiful, on par with what you’d find in a big city, and you’ve got several drinking spots to choose from by day or night.
The gym is well-equipped and the spa offers plenty of places to sweat, chill, or get some hydrotherapy in before your treatment. See our full review of Grand Velas Los Cabos.
Grand Velas Boutique Hotel Los Cabos
I’m not sure why the company picked a name that was so confusingly similar to the existing one when they opened this new luxury all-inclusive resort, but besides the small “boutique” differentiator indicating that this one is smaller, it’s also an adults-only property. So it’s not as large as its big sister and there are no kids splashing around. It’s more intimate and romantic, but with the same high standards on the food and beverage side.
You do have access to the larger resort in your all-inclusive plan (with reservations) if you get tired of the restaurant options at the boutique property. Or if you want to experience the larger spa for an additional fee. The main dinner restaurant here is terrific though and there are plenty of options on the menu at all the outlets to keep you occupied for a while.
The big highlight here is the swimming pool complex, which doesn’t look anything like the ones at other resorts in the region. The tile mosaic effect is quite impressive and there are two group hot tubs as well. The bartenders serve some interesting signature cocktails from the menu and they’re happy to make your favorite as well, from quality liquors that go up a notch or two from the norm.
See our recent full review of Grand Velas Boutique Hotel Los Cabos.
Mar del Cabo by Velas Resorts
we don’t have a full review of this property on our site because it’s not as upscale as the other two. This was an existing resort that was operating before either of its neighbors were even designed, occupying a skinny stretch of hillside that spills down to the same beach strewn with boulders, sandwiched between the two resorts covered above.
It only has tk rooms, so it’s a good candidate for a buyout if you want something beachfront for a destination wedding, sales incentive group, or big family reunion. The Encanto restaurant was excellent when I dined there and it had one of the best craft beer selections I’ve found in the area. The view from there to the ocean is stunning and the pool complex is beautiful.
This small resort is not all-inclusive though like the others and you’ve got to be mobile enough to navigate a lot of stairs. There are rooms you can reach by elevator from the lobby, but you can’t get to the pool and restaurant without plenty of steps. If you don’t have any issues, consider it your daily exercise in an area where it’s not so easy to come by apart from beach walks.
The beach is great for a long stroll here though, going past some condos, Le Blanc, and the Solaz Resort by Marriott. This is not one of the beaches where you can swim in Los Cabos though. There are some fairly calm areas near the rocks where you won’t get knocked down, but otherwise don’t get too close to the surf.
Mar del Cabo is a good choice if you like the colonial Mexico style (which you’ll also find in a more subdued form at One&Only Palmilla and Rosewood Las Ventanas) instead of the very modern style at the boutique resort next door. The bright talavera tile stands out in every direction you look and gives this property a real sense of place.
So check in with Velas Resorts if you’re considering a vacation in Los Cabos. They’ve got you covered with a big luxury all-inclusive family resort, a smaller adults-only luxury all-inclusive, and a less ambitious resort that’s a la carte and an ideal candidate for a complete buy-out. At all three of them, the activities and excursions offered are as extensive as anywhere in the region, especially if you’re a couple or a group looking for something novel.
See more at the Velas Resorts official website for all properties.
