The InMexico.com Gold awards recognize the best of the best throughout the popular tourist destinations of Los Cabos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita in categories including resorts, boutique hotels, suites, spas, dining, nightlife, bars and cabanas, adventures, wedding venues, places to invest in real estate and golf. The InMexico.com Gold lists provide readers a luxury guide of all of the best things to see and do in Mexico.
Highlighted by the awards are the InMexico.com Gold Resort winners which are determined by evaluating every aspect of the resort including service, accommodations, amenities, location, cuisine, activities, spa, pool areas and more, allowing elite travelers to narrow down their choices when choosing where to stay. New additions to the list this year include JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa; The Cape, a Thompson Hotel; and Hotel Mousai.
Listed in no specific order.
One&Only Palmilla | San Jose del Cabo
A continuous favorite among celebrities and athletes, it’s no surprise that One&Only Palmilla frequently finds itself topping travel award lists. With top-notch security and service as pristine as its sparkling pools, no request goes unanswered, leaving each guest treated like royalty. In fact, employees stop what they’re doing and place their hand over their heart when guests walk by. The resort is also home to two completely different beach experiences. One side offers a restaurant, beach bar and calm water perfect for non-motorized water activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling and boogie boarding while the other side, despite not being swimmable is more secluded and private, complete with full beach service, six cabanas, loungers and hammocks. Two infinity-edged pools, one for family and one for adults only that include a swim-up bar, also provide separate experiences.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort | San Jose del Cabo
Owned by business tycoon Ty Warner, this palatial resort recently added one of the most expensive rooms per night, the Ty Warner Mansion. Even if you can’t afford the $35,000 price tag attached to the mansion, the other rooms are nothing less than impressive. Book a beachfront villa for the ultimate in indoor-outdoor living with a private infinity-edge pool and a Jacuzzi. With a refreshing landscape of desert trees and assorted cacti, Las Ventanas is truly a refined desert oasis. The resort also specializes in romance and are experts at creating exquisitely-designed greetings in the sand.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba | Playa del Carmen
Our favorite resort in the Mayakoba development, this Banyan Tree resort was the first for the brand in the Americas and is a sensual escape where East meets West. Blending in its signature touch of Asian hospitality, this escape offers guests a more experience than most. For those who crave to immerse their senses in their surroundings, each villa includes a private pool and a landscaped garden along with two complimentary bicycles per villa, perfect for cruising the hotel’s three-mile nature trail and almost every villa features an outdoor bathtub. Dine on Thai cuisine and relax at the spa where therapists have been specially trained in Thailand.
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort | Cabo San Lucas
This adults-only retreat is the only all-inclusive to make our list of top resorts. While the resort includes all the irresistible amenities of an all-inclusive, it certainly doesn’t feel like one. The food and drinks are on par with some of the best resorts and its newest resort-within-a-resort The Towers at Pacifica offer an extra level of luxury. Guests of The Towers can kick back in an exclusive VIP lounge and are treated to 24-hour service from butlers who have undergone meticulous training from one of the most exclusive butler and front-of-house training schools in the world: British Butler Institute.
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel | Cabo San Lucas
While The Cape is located just 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, the hotel has everything you could need and more for a glam night. Designed with 1960’s Southern California in mind, the hotel attracts a younger crowd and exudes an upscale, laid back party vibe. Whether it’s a fun trip with your special someone or a bachelorette party weekend, The Cape is where to see and be seen. Not to mention, the hotel is home to one of the only rooftop lounges in Cabo San Lucas.
Esperanza, an Auberge Resort | Cabo San Lucas
Owned by Northern California based-Auberge Resorts, it’s no surprise that Esperanza is a great place for wine, romance and one-of-a-kind culinary experiences. With a barefoot elegance, the family-friendly resort is surrounded by stunning rock formations and full of chic Cali-locals. The resort was even a favorite of Cindy Crawford’s before she owned a home in Cabo. Breezy accommodations include original Mexican artwork, canopy beds, private infinity-edged hot tubs and views of the Sea of Cortez while six dining venues serve up exquisite Mexican and international eats.
The Resort at Pedregal | Cabo San Lucas
After cruising through the only privately-owned tunnel in Mexico, you’ll arrive at The Resort at Pedregal, home to one of the most romantic restaurants in Mexico, El Farallon. Nestled into the rocky cliffs, this resort is one you won’t want to leave. All accommodations include a private plunge pool and the celestial-inspired Luna y Mar is our top pick for the best spa in Mexico. While the resort’s ocean is not swimmable, the expansive infinity-edged swimming pool is so close that waves sometimes lap into the pool. Receive some of the most personalized service from the resort’s staff who are members of the esteemed Les Clefs d’Or Concierge Services. You can spot these special members by their crossed gold key symbols on their collars.
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita | Punta Mita
Located in the gated development of Punta Mita, this resort draws inspiration from a Mexican beach home with its assortment of casita-style guestrooms. Great for families, the resort features a lazy river, multiple pools, a chic beach shack, an ice cream stand, an array of art pieces and more. Enjoy unique features like paint easels located throughout the grounds of the resort ready to be used at a moment’s notice along with live Cuban music nightly in the bar. Don’t miss your chance to recharge at the newly renovated Apuane Spa or tee up at one of two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses.
Andaz Mayakoba | Playa del Carmen
The newest of Mayakoba’s four resorts and the brand’s debut in Mexico, Andaz Mayakoba was built from the ground up and has a fun, upbeat vibe. We recommend booking a stay in a beachfront room which are primely located near the pool, the beach and two of the resort’s restaurants, OllaTaco and OllaCeviche, both serving mouthwatering beach eats like ceviche and tacos. This colorfully decorated hotel is perfect the younger crowd or anyone looking for a more casual yet still upscale experience.
Rosewood Mayakoba | Playa del Carmen
Keeping in line with Rosewood’s elevated experiences, this sophisticated resort offers an upscale, contemporary feel with a quiet atmosphere. The tropical suites are located along the lagoons and accessed by riverboat or golf cart. Many accommodations include a private rooftop deck, private heated plunge pools, boat docks and over-sized terraces. Perfect for a romantic getaway, guests can enjoy an elevated level of privacy here; each suite includes its own butler for any request you have.
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort | Punta Mita
Nestled within Mexico’s most exclusive beach community along the shores of Riviera Nayarit, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort offers guests great service in an even greater location. Mouthwatering cuisine can be enjoyed at its five dining outlets including Carolina, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant of Mexican cuisine in Punta Mita and Mary Mita Boat Bistro, the only food boat in the Riviera Nayarit. Another highlight includes the 10,000-sq.-ft. Remede Spa with outdoor areas and three infinity-edged pools with private cabanas plus access to two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses. While the resort’s accommodations are in need of a makeover, the resort’s location is true tropical paradise.
W Punta de Mita | Punta de Mita
Step into the colorful world of the Huichol culture at W Punta de Mita, where indigenous-inspired design takes over. The hotel gives off a playful vibe with vibrantly decorated suites (hello to turquoise and pops of neon) and common areas, where textures, decor and design all lend to a cheerful atmosphere. Like one big Mexican fiesta, the resort is brimming with picture-perfect opportunities, from the 700,000-tile mosaic walkway and the candy skull decor to the tin-lined welcome area and the mermaid-themed cabanas. Even the cuisine packs a punch; glowing interiors complement the Southeast Asian cuisine at Spice Market and a repurposed 1950’s Chevy truck that now serves as a beach bar make for necessary Instagram posts. We recommend booking a beachfront suite complete with your own swimming pool.
JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa | San Jose del Cabo
If endless pool options are what you’re after, JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa has 11 to choose from. From a teen pool and multiple kid’s pools to family pools and adult pools with bars, this family-friendly resort has somewhere for everyone to soak up the sun. Located in Puerto Los Cabos, stunning architecture complements the beachfront location. For an exclusive experience book a stay at the Griffin Club, the resort-within-a-resort that boasts its own private pool, lounge and upgraded rooms.
Hotel Mousai | Puerto Vallarta
Sit pretty and high at Hotel Mousai whose sky-high tower is a beacon of posh luxury. The adults-only Puerto Vallarta hotel is laden with unique features and a glamorous, yet contemporary style to leave any guest breathless and relaxed. From its wrap-around terraces, rooftop infinity-edge pool, ultra-swanky lounges and high-tech suites, Hotel Mousai is a step above even itself. High-tech amenities and modern charm adorn the suites that include shiny Italian porcelain floors and walls decked out in metallic pearl, gold and silver tones. Suites also include private terraces with hardwood decks, a Jacuzzi and hammock. For an even better experience, book a corner suite that features a wraparound terrace offering views on all three sides. Trek to the top for the rooftop, the hotel’s main attraction that’s decked out with an infinity-edge pool and a chic restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and mid-day snacks.