4 Best Hotels in Los Cabos Side Trips, Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula

More than 2 miles of pristine beach and breathtaking Baja flora surround this five-star resort, where rooms all have spectacular sea views, access to ample amenities, and the personalized luxury only Four Seasons can deliver. The drive from the first security check-in to the lobby is more than a mile, plenty of time to take in the artfully harmonized endemic Baja landscaping. From there the property only gets more impressive. The 141 rooms and suites are laid out in three horseshoe-shape arrangements, ensuring they all have Sea of Cortez views. The on-site Oasis Spa is first-class, as are the eight on-site food and beverage options, golf at the newly unveiled 18-hole course from designer Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Kids' Club, and the 250-slip marina. Four large pool areas, a lap pool, and tennis and basketball courts all offer outdoor recreation, but for a truly interactive experience in this incredible setting, visit the beachfront activities concierge for rentals ranging from stand-up paddleboards to sailboats, or better yet, a snorkel or dive trip to the living coral reef at nearby Cabo Pulmo National Park.

Complete with furnished canvas tents, this glamping experience on Isla Espíritu Santo has had to take the glam down a notch thanks to new (though hopefully temporary) government legislation that forbids any permanent island encampments; this new need to break down and rebuild twice weekly has resulted in a simpler overall setup, but guests are hardly "roughing it." Every tent at Camp Cecil comes with a real (and comfortable) bed, and a quite sophisticated, environmentally friendly bathroom set up so guests may comfortably shower and do their business while leaving no trace. A bilingual naturalist tour guide is on hand 24/7 to take you around the island by boat or on foot and provide good company. At the camp, kayaks and paddleboards are available for leisurely use, as is a tented sitting area stocked with refreshments. There's even daily housekeeping. Most surprising is the impressive quality of dining that comes from the mess tent three times a day; you would think the chef was preparing each course in a gourmet kitchen and not over a portable, three-burner stove.

The location of Todos Santos' most popular hotel is quite extraordinary as you'll immediately be mesmerized by the sights and sounds of crashing waves; you can audibly hear them from your room. (Note: light sleepers may benefit from earplugs; otherwise, enjoy the soothing sound as it lulls you to sleep.) Every inch of the property is thoughtfully designed with a mix of colorful '70's motifs and classic beachy neutrals. The dining is among the best in Todos Santos; Sunday brunch at the farm–to–table restaurant, Cosecha, is the talk of the town. 

No lodging in Todos Santos has a more spectacular location than Paradero, which is set within an organic farming community and offers panoramic vistas of desert, mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Paradero's name, which loosely translates to "a stop along the way," is inspired by their clientele (a majority of guests come as an add-on to Los Cabos or as part of a larger trip around the Baja). The design-forward space is an Instagrammer's paradise, with sleek concrete structures and towering cacti serving as dreamy photo backdrops. Guests can sign up to join different group experiences each day, like a walk around town or sunset viewing at the beach (complete with a bottle of wine). This is an adults-only property, and everything about it is subtly romantic, so noncouples might feel a bit awkward. Aside from dining on-site, there's not much to do once the sun sets; all communal space is outdoors and minimally lit, the rooms intentionally forgo television sets, and there's not a single business to patron within walking distance. Having a rental car is a must if you plan to spend time in town, as the hotel charges a 400% markup on the 10-minute ride to/from.