Destination of the Week: Grand Velas Los Cabos

Photo courtesy of Grand Velas Los Cabos

This week’s Destination of the Week takes us to Los Cabos, Mexico, where dramatic desert landscapes meet the Sea of Cortez. From romantic yacht excursions and Michelin-starred dining to whale watching and rich Mexican culture, Grand Velas Los Cabos offers travelers an unforgettable way to experience this spectacular destination.

Los Cabos is known for its striking desert meets the sea setting and rich culture. How can guests at Grand Velas Los Cabos connect with the culture and character of the destination during their stay?

Every detail, from the architecture and cuisine to the wellness treatments and programming, is designed to connect guests with the beauty, history and culture of the region. As a native Mexican, family-owned resort, Grand Velas Los Cabos takes a distinctly local approach to the guest experience, incorporating the flavors, traditions, artistry and natural ingredients of Baja California Sur throughout the stay.

Guests might learn to make traditional Mexican candy, experience spa treatments featuring native ingredients such as damiana and nopal, or take part in a Latin Rhythms Class, while the resort’s spaces showcase work by Mexican artists and artisans.

But above all, it is the warmth of the hospitality that brings this sense of place to life, reflecting the welcoming spirit of Mexico and making guests feel not simply like visitors to Baja, but genuinely connected to it.

For couples looking for a romantic escape, what makes Los Cabos such a special destination, and what experiences at Grand Velas Los Cabos can help turn a getaway into something memorable?

For couples, Los Cabos has all the ingredients for a perfect romantic getaway: dramatic desert landscapes, the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez, spectacular sunsets, and incredible gastronomy.

At Grand Velas Los Cabos, the setting lends itself to experiences that go well beyond a traditional resort getaway, all of which are organized and taken care of by each guests’ personal concierge, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. For a date night that is anything but ordinary, guests can experience Grand Velas Los Cabos’ Star Maps & Star Chefs: Michelin Dinner Under the Stars at Sea. Couples board the resort’s 55-foot Bella Yacht at golden hour and cruise into the Sea of Cortez, where a five-course tasting menu by Chef Francisco Sixtos of MICHELIN-starred Cocina de Autor is served on deck as the sun sets and the stars emerge. The evening concludes with a private astronomy experience, during which an astronomer uses a high-end telescope to interpret the constellations overhead. The four-hour private experience is limited to one departure per week, making it particularly special for honeymoons, anniversaries, or simply a memorable night for two.

Couples can also opt for Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, the brand’s adults-only, AAA Five Diamond sister resort next door, which offers a more intimate setting with just 79 suites, a private beach area, infinity pool and personalized service. Guests at the Boutique also have full access to Grand Velas Los Cabos and its five gourmet dinner restaurants, allowing couples to pair the intimacy of an adults-only boutique stay with the experiences and amenities of the larger resort.   

What should travelers know about enjoying the beach, ocean views and laid-back coastal atmosphere while staying at Grand Velas Los Cabos?

Our series of expansive, multi-tiered infinity pools cascade towards the shoreline, offering unobstructed, panoramic views of the water, while the sound of the waves provide a natural soundtrack throughout the property.

From approximately December through April, during the annual whale migration, guests may spot breaching whales from the comfort of the pool or their suite. The waters surrounding Los Cabos are also known for spectacular sightings of jumping Mobula rays, adding another memorable wildlife experience to the destination.

Food can be one of the best ways to experience a destination. How does the culinary program at Grand Velas Los Cabos showcase Mexican flavors while also giving travelers a variety of dining experiences throughout their trip?

The culinary program at Grand Velas Los Cabos is truly singular. The resort completely redefines the concept of the all-inclusive, with five award-winning gourmet restaurants on the property, each of which offers a different dining experience.

For those looking to experience International flavors at their best, Cocina de Autor is headed by two star Michelin Dutch Chef Sidney Schutte and Chef Francisco Sixtos, who utilize innovative European techniques on the freshest Mexican ingredients. Shutte’s menu offers up to eight to ten courses with a local Mexican wine pairing nightly. Cocina de Autor makes Grand Velas Los Cabos and sister resort Grand Velas Riviera Maya the world's only all-inclusive featuring MICHELIN-starred dining. Another restaurant, Frida, honors the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and brings the epicurean culture of Mexico to life with gourmet specialties that adhere to the most representative dishes of Mexico with a contemporary twist. Its design is inspired by the evolution of Mexico in the 20th century, giving rise to an art deco style that is synonymous with elegance and finesse. With dynamic and vibrant details such as a wooden screen ceiling and tile flooring with tin accents; lighting that accents the blue-green mosaic walls and exhibited furniture, Frida pays tribute to the artist's revolutionary soul.

Other dining options include Velas 10, which delivers seafood and steaks with unsurpassed oceanfront views, Sen Lin, which showcases the exquisite and exotic flavors of Northeast and Southeast Asian cuisines, and Lucca, an indulgent experience of Italian-Mediterranean cuisine. Additionally, we also host annual culinary festivals celebrating chefs across the Velas Resorts portfolio, as well as experiences such as tastings and cooking classes,  all included in the nightly rate and perfect for guests to experience more elevated culinary programming.

At Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, also included in the nightly rate, the culinary experience  is pillared by Loto and Roca Bar. Loto, where the essence of Japanese cuisine meets the finest meats, offers local seafood and vegetables on the traditional robata grill, a slow-cooking method over an open fire. True to its name, Roca Bar pays homage to the distinctive rock formations that define the destination. Boasting one of the most exceptional vistas, it provides an unparalleled vantage point of the deep azure Sea of Cortez to enjoy refreshing beverages and freshly prepared ceviche.

Grand Velas Boutique also gives couples more ways to enjoy Mexican food and wine together, including an Art and Wine Experience, Mexican Wine and Cheese Pairing, and Oysters and Bubbles Experience featuring sustainably harvested oysters from local Baja farms.These intimate experiences turn a meal or tasting into more of a shared date-night experience while introducing guests to Baja California Sur’s wine, seafood and culinary traditions. 

For travelers who want to venture beyond the resort, what adventures and experiences around Los Cabos would you recommend?

One of Los Cabos’ most iconic experiences is without a doubt a sail around the region's renowned rock formations on the Sea of Cortez. Guests of Grand Velas Los Cabos can actually experience this aboard Velas’ own 55-ft Azimut, Bella Yacht, where panoramic views of the sea and the formations serve as a living backdrop, while ambient music, curated canapés, and a premium open bar — featuring champagne, signature cocktails, and rare spirits — set an atmosphere of effortless refinement.

Outside of relaxing ocean cruises, you can’t go wrong with setting out on a sportfishing excursion, exploring the Baja desert by ATV or off-road vehicle, or walking the art-filled colonial streets of the historic center of Los Cabos. The hotel’s prime location between San Jose, known for its vibrant arts and shopping scene, and San Lucas’ exciting nightlife and city vibes, makes it an ideal home base to explore both sides of this incredible area.

There is also plenty on the horizon for travelers looking to experience another side of Baja California Sur. The Cortés Open, an international open-water swimming competition at Palmilla Beach, brings swimmers into the Sea of Cortez for races ranging from 1.3K to 7K, creating a particularly immersive way to experience one of the world’s most distinctive marine environments; its 2026 edition marked the event’s fourth year.

Baja Rural returns on February 28, 2027, celebrating traditional Baja cooking and the ranch cooks who preserve it, with a festival filled with regional specialties including machaca, cheeses, tamales, and local sweets. And from March 10–28, 2027, ABC Art Baja California will connect San José del Cabo, Todos Santos, and La Paz through a three-week cultural circuit of contemporary art, design, music, performances, workshops, restaurants, and community programming, offering travelers another reason to explore beyond the beaches.