In Cabo, each day can mean something different—sunrise boating, lazy beachside lounging, or cocktails at a rooftop bar as the sky glows orange.
For travelers who want comfort, style, and strong amenities without stepping into the ultra-luxury bracket, Cabo has an excellent lineup of hotels at more approachable rates. Here are my picks for Los Cabos stays under $500 a night (with prices varying by season and demand).
Viceroy Los Cabos
Designed by Mexican architect Miguel Ángel Aragonés, the Viceroy Los Cabos is a striking property that feels like a modernist dream—bright-white buildings surrounded by mirror-like pools, walkways that hover over the water, and guest rooms that feel almost suspended above it all. Rooms face the Sea of Cortez, with floor-to-ceiling glass, private patios, and mood lighting that balances the minimalist look.
Five pools weave through the property, including an oceanfront infinity pool with custom teak loungers, and evenings often come with projections on the buildings or a DJ set. Dining ranges from sunsets at Cielomar to omakase inside Nido, the sculptural “nest” at the center of the resort. A Harley Pasternak–designed gym, screening room, beachside Nidito bar, and rotating pop-ups add a lively, creative vibe to the stay.
- Fora Reserve perks include a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, a $45 daily breakfast credit per person, and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Nobu Los Cabos brings Japanese calm to Cabo’s wild Pacific side with clean lines, desert landscaping, and those signature teak soaking tubs that appear in every room. The design is minimalist without feeling cold: stone walls, shōji-inspired details, and balconies made for lingering with a coffee from the excellent lobby café. The resort is big, but cleverly spread out, so even at full occupancy it often feels quiet—helped by the wide pool decks, adults-only corners, and the soundtrack of waves you can hear from almost everywhere.
Dining is where Nobu really flexes. The namesake restaurant delivers its greatest hits (plus a few Baja-only dishes), Muna channels a Mediterranean mood above the Residences, and even the poolside Playa Bar turns out cocktails and snacks that go above typical poolside fare. For more unwinding, there are two spas: the Esencia Wellness Spa with a full hydrotherapy circuit and the Esencia Onsen Spa with Japanese-style bathing rituals.
- Fora Reserve perks include a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, a $100 daily breakfast credit per room, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos
Set along the corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, Garza Blanca is a contemporary, suite-forward resort with room-only and all-inclusive options—easy to tailor whether you’re here with kids, friends, or a bigger group. Entry-level rooms are already generous Junior Suites with private terraces and hammocks, while one-bedrooms and above add a full kitchen, washer–dryer, and butler service that makes longer stays feel effortless. The eight pools range from a glass-front showpiece to an adults-only rooftop. Food is a strong point: Blanca Blue serves up modern Mexican, BocaDos handles steakhouse classics, NOI brings a buzzy rooftop Italian concept, and there’s a casual circuit of tacos, food-truck bites, and poolside snacks for low-key days. Spa Imagine delivers one of the area’s more elaborate hydrotherapy circuits, and activities range from pickleball to whale watching.
- Fora’s Preferred Platinum partner perks include a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
Set away from Cabo San Lucas’ party scene, the JW offers a contemporary, quietly luxurious base in Puerto Los Cabos, with a relaxed pace and wide-open Sea of Cortez views. Its pools are the centerpiece—tiered saltwater pools that cascade toward the beach, a big family pool, and an adults-only option with a swim-up bar. Rooms are spacious and modern, with large terraces and spa-style bathrooms, and the optional Griffin Club adds a private lounge, pool, and all-day drinks and snacks.
Food is reliably good across the board, from sushi and cocktails at Niparaya to tacos and grilled dishes by the pool. The spa is another standout, thanks to its serene hydrotherapy circuit, temazcal, and ocean-framed relaxation areas. With a kids’ club, a Greg Norman–designed golf course, and a calm, well-run feel, it’s one of Cabo’s most well-rounded stays.
- Fora’s Marriott Luminous partner perks include a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt
Set on a rocky perch above Monuments Beach, The Cape pairs a modern aesthetic with some of the most striking views of El Arco in Cabo. Polished concrete, dark woods, and sweeping sightlines define the look, while every room faces the Pacific with a private balcony—some upgraded with plunge pools and butler service.
Manta, Enrique Olvera’s signature restaurant, is a standout with a Mexican–Pacific Rim menu that draws both guests and locals. The Rooftop is a local favorite—Cabo’s only open-air rooftop lounge and one of the city’s go-to spots for sunset, live music, and exceptionally well-made cocktails. Two pools (including a saltwater option and a swim-up bar), a serene ocean-view spa, and direct access to one of Cabo’s most iconic surf breaks round things out.
- Fora’s Hyatt Privé partner perks include a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Splurgeworthy: Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol
If you’re stretching the budget for one standout stay, the brand-new Park Hyatt Los Cabos delivers one of Cabo’s most exciting openings of the year. Debuting in November, this stunning resort sits inside the private Cabo del Sol community, where Sordo Madaleno’s clean-lined architecture meets Paulina Morán’s earthy, light-filled interiors. Rooms and villas feel spacious and serene, finished in limestone and natural woods, with many adding plunge pools and outdoor living spaces. Days move easily between three ocean-view pools, a beach club that comes alive at sunset, and dining that ranges from Mediterranean-Mexican plates at Silán to serious coffee culture at Dátil. There is also a 59,000-square-foot Navia Spa with a lap pool, full fitness, and a deep menu of Baja-inspired rituals.
- Fora’s Hyatt Privé partner perks include a $100 resort credit, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Email: italia.dutton@fora.travel
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