The 9 best beach resorts in Mexico
an unexhaustive list
Is it time to plan a beach getaway? (When is it not?) If you live in the contiguous United States, Mexico is among the most reliable destinations for sun, sand, and cerulean blue bodies of water. There are direct flights from several major cities, and there are so many parts of Mexico to explore.
For the purposes of this guide, I’m going to focus on places that are A) on a beach and B) I’ve been to. If you’re receiving this in your inbox, you might want to click over to the website, because this guide cannot be contained by email; at least, that’s what the Substack editor is telling me.
Without further ado, in no particular order:
If you’re on the east coast and seeking a warm weather getaway, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place than Etéreo. This paradise sprawls out over a beachfront compound half an hour from Cancun International Airport.
The Caribbean laps against manicured white sand shores that make for excellent morning walks. The rooms are huge and appointed with sort of plush, modern (yet comfortable!) furniture that makes you think, “Yeah, I could live here.”
There is an encyclopedic array of mind and body offerings (seeking a synonym for the ubiquitous word that starts with “w”). My party and I emerged from a sound bath changed.
We also did a group meditation on a net suspended above a mangrove forest and one of us dropped their wedding ring, but an intrepid employee hacked through the forest and found it. Things happen, when you’re on vacation!
Oh, and the food. The food is some of the best food I’ve eaten in Mexico. Ceviche, tacos, churros, sushi (not native to Mexico, of course, but the nigiri hits) — it’s all 10/10.
Of note: Etéreo is part of the Kanai development, which also includes a St. Regis and an Edition Hotel. We didn’t check out either, but they looked solid from afar.
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
I used to think that Cabo was the be all, end all for beach destinations on Mexico’s west coast. Then I went to the Four Seasons Punta Mita.
A 45 minute drive from PVR, this verdant slice of shoreside woke me the F up. Thickets of tropical trees, an ocean placid enough for swimming and wading, and in the center of it all, a Four Seasons that delivers on all fronts.
I had a sublime filet of fish (not to be confused with the one on offer at the golden arches) at Pacifico beach club and a tlayuda the size of my face at Dos Catrinas.
The rooms are everything you’d expect from a resort whose name is synonymous with five stars, but if you’re going with a group, I’d suggest booking one of Punta Mita’s fabulous houses, many of which are managed by the Four Seasons (a Four Seasons reservationist can point you in their direction).
Each is unique and you have access to all the resort’s facilities and amenities, plus your own private pool(s) and beach. Casa Tesoro has its own nightclub and that may just be where you’ll find me for my next milestone birthday (21, thanks for asking)!
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
It’s hard to think of a box that Pedregal doesn’t check. Romantic getaway, family-friendly, secluded ocean front, walking distance to the marina should you want to hire a boat and cruise around (I recommend), every room has a plunge pool, and you can use or accrue Hilton Honors points?! I’m booking a flight right now.
Don’t miss the sprawling gym and El Farallon, the cliffside restaurant with spectacular nocturnal views.
A paean to modern design framed by a crescent of swimmable beach? Yes, please.
The Montage has perhaps the most enviable location in Cabo, on the shores of Santa Maria Bay, one of the few coves on the west side of Cabo that’s safe for swimming. (Riptides abound.) Besides the beach, there are pools galore and a spa that is justification alone for a visit.
While the chips and salsa totally slap, my favorite place to eat here is Talay, a Thai restaurant set up in a charming, lantern strewn courtyard.
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