Pacific Beach Hotels

US$150–250

One of the oldest hotels in Cabo, the Hotel Finisterra (tel. 624/143-3333, toll-free U.S. tel. 800/347-2252, www.finisterra.com [1], US$115–180) stands on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There are two parts to this resort: an original building built into the hillside but set back from the beach, and two newer towers collectively called the Palapa Beach Club, which are on the beach and overlook the pool. A well-equipped business center makes for a comfortable office away from home. It has leather chairs, five flat-screen TVs, and several Dell computer stations. Wireless Internet costs US$10 a day. A 1,040–square meter swimming pool with whirlpools and a swim-up bar sits on the beach at the foot of the Palapa Beach Club. Beds are on the firm side, and there are a variety of views on the older Finisterra side of the resort. Be sure to request city, marina, garden, or ocean views when you book. Guests can use lighted tennis courts, a sauna, and swimming pool. There is a spa and wedding chapel on-site.

Another historic property close to Land’s End is the Hotel Solmar Suites (tel. 624/143-3535, U.S. tel. 310/459-9861 or 800/344-3349, www.solmar.com [2], US$140–280), which features 180 rooms and suites on the beach with separate timeshare/condo units overlooking the beach. An older section of units directly on the beach has lower ceilings and less natural light; newer units are set back from the sand but have high ceilings, better lighting, and newer furnishings. Amenities include tennis courts, an aquatic center, and two heated pools with swim-up bars and hot tubs. The hotel’s La Roca restaurant (6 A.M.–10 P.M. daily, mains US$6–15) cooks your fish any way you like it. The Solmar is well known among anglers for its fishing fleet and among divers for its luxury liveaboard boat, the Solmar V (www.solmarv.com [3]).

Next door to the Hotel Solmar and walking distance to the beach, Terrasol Condominiums (tel. 624/143-1803, toll-free U.S. tel. 800/524-5104, www.terrasolcabo.com [4], one-bedroom US$130–250) has studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Each has a full kitchen, ocean view, and wireless Internet access. Amenities include two pools, a tennis court, swim-up bar, and snack bar.

Over US$250

The sparkling new Capella Pedregal (Camino del Mar 1, tel. 624/163-4350, www.capellahotels.com/cabosanlucas [5], US$575) has 66 oceanview rooms in a five-story building, plus villas and casitas for rent. Beds are king-size, and rooms come with a long list of luxury amenities, including a spa, private plunge pool, and twice-a-day maid service so your sheets are turned down before you retire. Pets are even allowed. There are three restaurants on-site: Don Manuel serves traditional Mexican dishes in an elegant setting. El Farallon is modeled after a seafood market. And the Beach Club serves more casual fare. Learn to make ceviche, tamales, or salsa and moles in one of the resort’s one-day cooking classes (US$70 pp). To find the hotel, turn right off Marina Boulevard onto Camino del Mar; then take the immediate left turn into Capella Pedregal.

Open since 2002, the Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach (Cabo Pacifica, tel. 624/142-9999, toll-free U.S. tel. 800/990-8250, www.pueblobonitosunsetbeach.com [6], US$190–330) has 327 suites on a 20-hectare hillside overlooking the Pacific, behind the Pedregal development. Amenities include a hilltop “sky pool,” a main pool that overlooks the beach, tennis courts, and a free shuttle into town (drop-off at the Pueblo Bonito Blanco on Playa Medano). Fitness facilities cost extra (US$15/day), and massages run a steep US$130 at the Spa at Sunset Beach (8 A.M.–7 P.M. daily). Two-for-one happy hour lasts exactly one hour, so it’s best to load up on beverages during that time. Eat tacos and chicken sandwiches and the like poolside, or enjoy sushi in the bistro.

In the vicinity, the newest Pueblo Bonito property, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica (Cabo Pacifica, tel. 624/142-9696, toll-free U.S. tel. 800/990-8250, www.pueblobonitopacifica.com [7], US$400–500), opened in 2005. Couples in search of a romantic getaway like the no-kids factor at this boutique-style resort. Its 154 rooms, including 14 suites, are appointed in minimalist fashion, with a sand and ivory color scheme. Those who want a little more nightlife find the location a bit too remote. Strolling along the beach is discouraged due to heavy surf; you can, however, rent a bed on the beach for US$20 an hour. There is a free shuttle to town or cabs for US$10 one-way. Meals at Siempre, the resort’s main restaurant, are pricey, and food quality gets mixed reviews. The on-site Armonia Spa offers a variety of massage treatments, including hot stone, Shiatsu, four hands, deep-tissue, Swedish, and pregnancy massage (US$100 for 50 minutes).

To get to any of the Cabo Pacifica resorts, follow Lázaro Cárdenas, the main boulevard through town, west past Plaza Amelia Wilkes, until it curves to the right and becomes Herrera. Go through a traffic circle and continue following this street around a few S-turns and up the hill toward the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, two blue and white signs indicate the way to Cabo Pacifica. At the stop sign, turn left into the driveway that says Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. This is the entrance for all the Cabo Pacifica resorts at press time. Tell the attendant at the gate which resort you want to visit, and then proceed along a long landscaped boulevard that descends down the ridge to the resorts and beach below.