This Adults-only, All-inclusive Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, Has an Oceanfront Infinity Pool With a Swim-up Bar, En Suite Jacuzzis, and 24-hour Nachos

We were among the first to stay at the brand-new Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos.

When it comes to idyllic Mexico vacation spots, Los Cabos needs no introduction. The destination welcomes more than 3 million travelers a year and has no shortage of resorts — and a slew of them are all-inclusive. In February 2024, a new all-inclusive resort, only for adults, opened its doors: Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos.

If the name sounds familiar, it's because the owners also have Grand Velas Los Cabos two doors down from the new property. While the 307-room Grand Velas is family-friendly with amenities like a lounge for teens and a 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. daycare for kids, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is strictly for adults 18 years and older.

Juan Vela Ruiz, vice president of Velas Resorts, told Travel + Leisure that the decision to create an adults-only property is about giving travelers more choices. "With Velas Resorts, we try to give a very wide range of options to our guests," Vela Ruiz said. That's why the hospitality company opted to open an adults-only hotel to complement the thriving family-friendly enclave next door.

According to Vela Ruiz, Grand Velas was one of the original players in the all-inclusive luxury market in the world — let alone in Los Cabos. "When we first came out with the all-inclusive luxury product, there was no other player [like us in the area]," he said.

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos

• All-inclusive resorts often get a bad rep for food quality but this resort really sets the bar high.

• The oceanfront infinity pool with a swim-up bar is the shining star of the property.

• Every guest gets a private concierge who is a text message away, and it makes it so easy to ask questions and put in requests.

When I stepped onto the property, I immediately noticed the clean, simple, and modern aesthetic — perfect for an only-for-adults hot spot. Tones of beige dominated with only one bright pop of color: pink bougainvillea flowers. (The flowers are a trademark of Velas properties, which are scattered throughout Mexico.)

Here, my review of the new, all-inclusive Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos.

The Rooms

Grand Velas Boutique has 79 guest rooms and each is more than 900 square feet with a living area, walk-in shower, and either two queen-size beds or a king-size bed. Some rooms offer ocean views and other have garden views, but all rooms have a private terrace with either a Jacuzzi or a plunge pool.

My room had a box of assorted fruits and a tray with a bottle of mezcal. It was also stocked with chips, candy, nuts, and granola. The beverage options included soda, Gatorade, Tecate beer, water, peach juice, and chardonnay. Every night, a delicious dessert amenity appeared with the turndown service.

The bathroom amenities included Molton Brown soap, body wash, and hair products; Dyson hair dryers and straighteners; and dental kits and shaving kits. Each room also came with a straw basket for guests to sport around the resort with their towels and/or belongings.

But the standout part of my suite was definitely the stunning sea views that allowed me to watch the sunrise every morning and also peep whales on the horizon. The view was so good that I spent more time on the balcony than in my room.

Food and Drink

The quality of food at an all-inclusive can make or break the experience. At Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, the food and beverage options 100 percent make the stay.

The property has five food-and-beverage establishments: Loto, 51 Bar, Del Mar, Roca Bar, and the Pool Bar. All are part of the all-inclusive package and each offers guests something different. "If you go to any of the all-inclusive adults-only boutique hotels in town, they will have one or two restaurants," Vela Ruiz said. "Ours have more, and you will not have to repeat restaurants."

My first stop was 51 Bar, which offers grab-and-go fare, whether for a snack or a lighter breakfast. I was ushered here for my check-in process and swiftly handed a refreshing mocktail to enjoy on one of the plush couches. I found myself visiting for my mid-day caffeine fix and also loitering around the outdoor fireplace for a mocktail at night. (The team of bartenders can whip up mocktails and cocktails throughout the day, and a massive TV in the back serves as a spot for guests to catch up on sports.)

My first sit-down meal was at Loto, a dinner-only spot offering Japanese-Mexican fusion cuisine that specializes in slow-cooking over an open fire. Here, I feasted on tuna tartar cones, a shrimp salad dressed in eel sauce, and an assortment of yaki tori: chicken in shoyu dressing, octopus in gochujang and yuzu, and scallops in miso butter.

For breakfast, guests have the option to indulge in room service on plant-based burritos, vegetarian enchiladas, an assortment of egg dishes, creme brûlée french toast, to name a few options. But there's also daily breakfast (both buffet and à la carte) at Del Mar, which features a menu with traditional Mexican and continental fare.

My first breakfast was huevos rancheros, with a chicken quesadilla and chia-seed pudding on the side. The next day I enjoyed chilaquiles and enchiladas with a side of seasonal fruit. And, as a self-proclaimed beverage queen, I indulged in four drinks every morning: freshly squeezed orange juice, a banana smoothie, water, and a spiced cafe de olla.

During the day, the swim-up Pool Bar offers cocktails, and you can order not-so-small bites, like ceviche, al pastor tacos, fish tempura, and fried shrimp, to the daybeds around the infinity pool.

But there's also Roca Bar — the name is a tribute to the rock formations Los Cabos is famous for — which is a casual spot for drinks and small bites right next to the pool. You can sit inside and enjoy views of the Sea of Cortez while feasting on dishes like tuna tostadas, ceviche, fish tacos, and more regional fare. (In the evening, Roca Bar's terrace transforms into a spot to enjoy the starry skies.)

And, of course, the aforementioned in-room dining is available around the clock — including nachos you can feast on at any hour.

If the on-site dining options weren't enough, guests of Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos can eat at the five restaurants at Grand Velas Los Cabos next door: Cocina de Autor, Velas 10, Frida, Piaf (French), and Lucca (Italian). All of these dining venues are available to Grand Velas Boutique guests at no extra charge.

"Everything we have in terms of gastronomy at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is different from what you have in Grand Velas Los Cabos, but they also complement each other," Vela Ruiz said.

Experiences, Amenities, and Spa

The shining star of the property is its oceanfront infinity pool. And for those who want a little more ocean action, there are even umbrellas and daybeds on the beach, where I hung out keeping my eyes peeled for signs of whales.

The all-inclusive includes an array of tasting experiences. In the Agave tasting room, there is a curated selection of tequila and mezcal, and plenty of tequila tastings on offer. (I had a wine and cheese pairing here that spotlighted local vinos under the helm of the property's sommelier, which included a sheep's cheese from Chiapas paired with a 2022 bottle of Xolo from Valle de Guadalupe.)

There's also an outpost of SE Spa, featuring four ocean-view treatment rooms — two are dedicated to couples treatments. There are an array of signature treatments like “Sounds of the Ocean,” which is a massage coupled with sound-bowl therapy. There's also the “Ice and Fire Therapy" treatment, which uses hot obsidian stones and cold marble stones to stimulate blood circulation. (Treatments will use skin care products from EviDenS de Beauté, Natura Bisse, and Babor.)

No matter what you pick, all treatments include a Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos signature wellness ceremony, which brings guests through a sauna, steam room, ice room, and jacuzzi, and ends with a dip in the magnesium pool.

Between the dining options and experiences on-site, there's no need to leave the property. But should you want to, every guest gets a personal concierge, who can coordinate add-on excursions like whale watching, a sunset tour of the iconic arc (El Arco De Cabo), and a visit to Land's End, which is where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

The Location

Travelers can fly to and from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), which is a half-hour drive from Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos. The hotel sits along the Tourist Corridor of Los Cabos, which is also known as "El Corredor" by locals, and is a 20-minute drive from the resort city of Cabo San Lucas and a 15-minute drive from San José Del Cabo. The boutique property is next to two other Velas properties: Mar del Cabo and Grand Velas Los Cabos.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos has elevators and wheelchair ramps, and there are two accessible suites. The pool has access rails. And for guests who want to visit a neighboring property, there is a golf cart service that shuttles you door to door between each resort.

The hotel encourages its guests to reuse sheets and towels instead of requesting a daily replacement. To curb food waste, the kitchen prepares daily based on occupancy and has a system in place to find ways to repurpose fresh ingredients. For instance, vegetables are turned into slow-cooked dishes and broth, and fruits are proactively used in smoothies and to garnish salads.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is part of the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program, which lets travelers book with points earned previously. The hotel also has seasonal pre-sales (so, look for summer pre-sales in the spring, and fall pre-sales in the summer) that offer discounts on airport transportation and spa credits. Nightly room rates at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos start at $600 per person for double occupancy. The rates include all food and beverage with 24-hour room service, taxes, and gratuity. You can book your stay at loscabosboutique.grandvelas.com.

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