12 Cool Boutique Hotels in Cabo (Beachfront Options!)

There’s no shortage of fabulous places to stay in Cabo.

Los Cabos, in Baja California Sur, is known as Mexico’s priciest resort spot. But the cost of your Cabo vacation doesn’t have to drain your piggy bank. With a little effort, you can uncover amazing smaller boutique hotels that offer great value – and plenty of character.

Some are super cool and unique too! (We’ve stayed at many during our trips to Cabo.)

Here’s our list of the best boutique hotels in Cabo. You’ll find a mix of inexpensive urban digs, charming-but-still-affordable places, chic design-forward inns and 5-star luxury hotels. Think treehouse retreats, surfer havens and even a swanky adults-only all-inclusive!

All are right in Los Cabos – in Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, or along the Tourist Corridor connecting the two towns. A couple are even hotels with a swimmable beach (a rarity in Cabo).

Cool Cabo San Lucas boutique hotels

1) Bahia Hotel & Beach House – $$ to $$$

And when tire of drinking rosé on the beach (is that possible?), head back to the hotel’s courtyard pool for a cool dip. (We usually gravitate toward the pool when staying at the Bahia, as the music is quieter here than at the beach.)

At night, hit the hotel’s Bar Esquina, one of the hottest restaurants in town. For a change of scene, the hotel’s central location puts you within easy walking distance of Cabo San Lucas’s other great restaurants, clubs and bars.

Interested in a budget-friendly stay in downtown Cabo San Lucas with loads of authentic Mexican charm? Casa Bella Boutique Hotel is the perfect place.

With 14 richly colored rooms, decorated with chunky, rustic wooden furniture and brightly hued accents, the whole place is very cozy and comforting. The rooms are nestled around a beautiful flower-filled courtyard, complete with a small inviting pool.

It’s all so charming, you might not want to leave – but if you do, Cabo San Lucas Marina is just a short stroll away. From there, hop on a water taxi to see the legendary Arch of Cabo San Lucas at Land’s End (where the tip of the Baja California Peninsula juts out between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of ​​Cortez).

Planning a wedding or other special event? You can rent out the entire hotel, turning it into your own private Mexican hacienda!

Best San Jose del Cabo boutique hotels

3) Hotel El Ganzo – $$$

What’s super cool? Artists are invited to hang out and paint on the white walls, and edgy art installations are everywhere. Visiting musicians also record tunes in the underground recording studio and perform on-site.

And let’s not forget the views. We always love watching the fishing boats coming and going from Puerto Los Cabos marina out front and the pelicans putting on a diving show.

4) Hotel Casa Natalia – $$

Casa Natalia is found in the historic heart of San Jose del Cabo’s old town.

All 18 sunny and spacious rooms are decorated with traditional Mexican wares, like Otomi embroidery, rich woods, and rustic chic rattan. Each room is different, with works of art from local Cabo artisans.

5) Acre Resort Los Cabos – $$$

Ever dream of living the Tarzan life in a treehouse? Well, that is what Acre Resort is known for – besides its drool-worthy farm-to-table restaurant.

Set on 25 acres of verdant greenery in the town’s foothills, the property is part home for rescued animals (you’ve got to meet Burrito the donkey), part farm, part boutique hotel and 100% all-around vacation paradise.

There are several villas. But the 13 unique treehouses are the main reason to stay. Hovering high on solid stilts, they’re surrounded by majestic palm trees that seem to touch the sky.

They look rustic. After all, they are treehouses.

But then we stepped inside and saw all the luxury amenities you’d find in a fancy hotel, minus the air conditioning.

There are screens, a king-sized bed with a mosquito net, high-speed free WiFi access, a private terrace to sip Acre’s own mezcal and an outdoor shower so you can get sudsy under the stars.

There’s also a beautiful outdoor swimming pool ensconced among hundreds of palm trees.

6) Casa Costa Azul Boutique Hotel – $$

Set right on a swim- and surf-friendly beach, this family-run boutique hotel gets rave reviews from guests who stay here.

Casa Costa Azul has just 14 rooms.

Each is furnished with dark wood Mexican furniture, adding a touch of local charm. Large terraces with sea views are perfect for that morning coffee moment.

It’s the only industrial-style boutique San Jose del Cabo hotel and has 29 rooms with raw stone features, polished concrete and neutral colors. The décor was inspired by the textures of the desert, and it shows.

With clean sweeping lines and dune-colored linens, it’s a minimalist’s dream hotel.

Nestled in the heart of San Jose del Cabo’s historic district, the Tropicana Hotel was originally built back in 1956. Its iconic restaurant, Josefinos, was a landmark in town – and we’d downed a few margaritas ourselves here!

Now, after closing its doors for a couple of years, the hotel has been completely spiffed up, reopening in late 2024 with a totally new vibe. We were totally blown away when we walked in recently to have a look!

Today, the Tropicana Los Cabos is part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection of independent hotels – blending unique character with polished luxury. Its 70 spacious rooms feature gleaming red clay tile floors, adding a warm colonial feel. Rates start at $260 USD per night in high season – a steal for this caliber of stay!

There are now two on-site restaurants. One was buzzing when we stopped by, serving fresh “field-to-table” cuisine.

Add to that a tranquil palm-fringed courtyard pool, and you’ve got a little oasis of calm. Beach time is just a short Uber ride away at the Veleros Beach Club.

Lovely boutique hotels along the Corridor

9) Mar del Cabo – $$$

But Mar del Cabo costs a whole lot less – and it sure is pretty!

When we first saw this boutique hotel on the beach, it reminded us of the hotels in Mykonos, Greece. It’s all white, with sapphire blue tiles and fuchsia bougainvillea cascading down your private balcony. 

Each of the 79 luxury suites offers more than 900 square feet of indulgence. They come with a king size bed with goose-down pillows and comforter, a private terrace with sitting area and outdoor Jacuzzi and a premium mini-bar (stocked daily). A Nespresso coffee maker ensures your caffeine fix is always on hand.

The spacious bathrooms feature a luxurious walk-in shower, along with Molton Brown bath products for that extra touch of pampering.

Oh, and let’s not forget the welcome bottles of wine and Mezcal, plus an aromatherapy diffuser, to complete the exclusive experience.

There are two onsite restaurants – a versatile all-day eatery and an elegant fine dining spot. Plus, as an added perk, you have full access to the culinary delights at the larger neighboring all-inclusive Grand Velas Los Cabos.

If surfing isn’t your thing, you can learn to paddleboard or just hit the fitness center. Or, for the ultimate in treating yourself on vacation, ask the front desk to organize a spa day for you.

And if you prefer an outdoor pool to the ocean, you’ll still be spoiled for choice with two infinity pools and a hot tub with ocean views.

A restaurant and bar on the beach make it super easy to spend days on end there. But if you’d like to venture out, there are more restaurants, cafés, bars and a grocery store within a few minutes’ drive.

The 36 eco-friendly rooms have a beach-chic vibe.

12) The Cape, a Thompson Hotel – $$$

This is the largest Los Cabos boutique hotel on our list.

But even with 161 rooms, The Cape, a Thompson Hotel never feels crowded.

It could be because each room offers breathtaking ocean views and a glimpse of El Arco (Cabo’s Arch). Or because some have plunge pools and others have copper leaf soaking tubs, so no one leaves their rooms.

The rooms are that good.

They are a captivating blend of mid-century Latin American décor with intense black accents.

Our terrace, where we spent a lot of time sipping bespoke mezcal cocktails on our swinging daybed, was completely black – the walls, the floor, the ceiling all black. It sounds a bit over the top, but it was super chic.

Photos: 2, 8, 16, 22, 23 © Janice and George Mucalov, Cabo Visitor | 1 Hotel El Ganzo | Remaining photos courtesy of the respective boutique hotels