Los Cabos Travel: A Destination in Deep Ascension

Los Cabos Travel is finishing up a very good year … with plenty more of that to come, according to Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director of Los Cabos Tourism. Talking to reporters at a VIP travel industry summit at the Hacienda del Mar in Los Cabos last month, he notes a phalanx of strong statistics and talks about how 

Rodrigo Esponda

these numbers have embolden a slew of new projects, concepts and tourism initiatives in the destination coming from many corners of the tourism industry.

Los Cabos visitor numbers are outpacing 2022 by double digits and expect to top out at 4 million. Air arrivals are up nearly 3 percent, tourism satisfaction is at 77 percent (much higher – 96 percent — when it comes to those visiting Los Cabos for golf) and hotel rates are up slightly at a healthy $389 ADR. And those changes do not only reflect numbers.

They also reflect the types of travelers who are now choosing Los Cabos as their vacation spot, says Esponda. 

Moreover, “Two years ago, we saw there was a big change in the profile of travelers to Los Cabos. And this was because of COVID. One change we saw was in the age category. Before, it was the older, 50 plus travelers, who were coming. Now we are seeing that average age as 35. And that is because of all the activities you can do – when you have zip lining and scuba diving and four-wheeling adventures in the same vacation, then it’s not just the destination that your parents visit to sip wine and relax.”

After Covid

Secondly, he notes that after COVID, people were looking for a place of health, a place they could go to feel better …and not unexpectedly wellness activities in spas, retreats and health-focused tours began to increase with the times. “We saw that wellness was the secondary reason people were coming to Los Cabos but that bucket was three times what it had been before the pandemic,” says Esponda. 

And hotels in Los Cabos follows those numbers to revamp their spas and their wellness programs with attractive reasons to book. Now, the tourism office has focused ways for matching visitors with activities and the types of vacations they seek as so many hotels, suppliers, restaurants and commercial development have come together to optimize the visitor experience in the past 24 months. 

Finally, As can expects, commercial non-stop flights, especially from the US west and mid-west, are following the numbers as well. Los Cabos currently sees 30 cities in the US offering nonstop service to Los Cabos International Airport – up from 18 such cities in 2019. And new routes are on the way: Las Vegas, Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis among them. 

Los Cabos: What’s Next?

New developments in Los Cabos this past many months have included some impressive resort openings worth noting for current and future bookings: 

Park Hyatt Los Cabos Travel:

Offering a total of 163 rooms and 19 villas in the new Cabo del Sol luxury development, this property was design with a commitment to environmental sustainability. Originally slate for a 2020 unveiling, the opening of this prestigious resort has reschedule and is now slate for the upcoming year. Guests can expect meticulously design fairways to a rejuvenating spa within environmentally conscious footprint.

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos Travel: 

This new all-inclusive adults-only boutique hotel is located between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose. It is the third Velas Resorts property in the region and offers 115 luxurious suites. The hotel features a wellness center, a spa, an infinity pool, and a choice of upscale restaurants and bars.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences at Cabo Del Sol: 

This new luxury resort is the Four Seasons’ second property in Los Cabos and will open some time in 2024. The resort is to feature 141 guest rooms, suites, and private residences, all with ocean views. The property also boasts a Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course, a world-class spa, and five dining options.

St. Regis Los Cabos Travel Quivira: 

This new luxury resort is located at the luxury resort development Quivira Los Cabos and will feature 120 luxury rooms and 60 residences. Guests will be pampered during their stay, as St. Regis is known for its personal butler service and fantastic spa services. The resort also features an internationally-acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and a pristine 2.5-mile perfect beach.

The Amanvari:

 Lauded for its luxurious properties worldwide, Aman is set to open its first development in Mexico in 2024. The new resort, call Amanvari, is locate on Baja’s East Cape and will offer guests a serene and private escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The resort will feature a private stretch of white sand beach along the Sea of Cortés, multiple dining venues, an Aman Spa, and private Aman Residences. The resort is being developed by Irongate and London’s Heah & Co, and will feature 20 double-story pavilions, three luxury restaurants, and two swimming pools. The resort’s location is a mere 45-minute drive from Los Cabos International Airport, making it easily accessible to travelers.

Soho House Beach Club: 

This new scene-focus property is set to open in 2024 as part of the  greater Cabo Del Sol development plan in motion in Los Cabos. The Club will locate on one of the area’s most scenic beaches and is expect to offer a range of amenities, including a restaurant, palapa bar, fitness center, member retail experience, and guest rooms. The hotel will have approximately 70 rooms and operate as a boutique property. Many know Soho House as a private members’ club that has expanded into a global brand with locations in major cities around the world. The brand is known for its sophisticate yet relax atmosphere and its ability to provide guests with a home away from home. Soho House Beach Club is expect to be no different, offering guests a chance to unwind and relax in a beautiful setting. 

Rancho Pescadero: 

This new top luxury beach resort hotel near Cabo opened in early December 2022. It offers a choice of rooms, suites, or villas and features a luxury spa, four pools, a fitness center, and three on-site restaurants and bars.

Casa Maat: 

This new luxe boutique hotel located at the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa opened on August 1, 2022. The Casa Maat Hotel offers just 45 distinguished guest rooms and suites.

Villa La Valencia Beach Resort & Spa: 

This new all-inclusive resort in Los Cabos is locate on the beach along the tourist corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Villa La Valencia offers a total of 308 spacious suites ranging from studio to 4-bedroom units. The property features the longest winding lazy-river in Cabo, several pools, a wellness center and spa, four restaurants, five bars, a Kids’ Club, and a fitness center.

Los Cabos Luxury

As numbers increase and interests in development and partnerships crop up all around this once quiet fishing village at the confluence of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, trends to watch are the rise of precious, private, luxurious and, at times, surprisingly affordable villas to book, usually with a three-night minimum. And going hand in hand with that product is the rise of inventory available through private aviation. For instance, visitors can take hop on a JSX flight from Dallas or Los Angeles to experience the perks of private flying. The private aviation industry is spurring the new airport spaces in development at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Cabo San Lucas International Airport (MMSL). 

Los Cabos Villas for elevated stays c/o Elegant Mexico

Not only are luxury properties such as Four Seasons, St. Regis, Aman and Marriott incorporating often sumptuous private resident lifestyles within their spreads as a bookable vacation options that come with upgraded advantages and perks, several developments and neighborhoods are opening their doors to luxury vacation seekers who want privacy, room to roam, exquisitely designed surrounds, pools, views, a dedicated staff and chef and even private access to the beach for two to 22 guests through such handlers as Cabo Villas and Nocturne Luxury Villas. 

Conclusion: Los Cabos Travel

“The private traveler is less than 5 percent of our business but if you think of 5 percent, that is a lot – especially in what it implies for coming in a private plane to the destination” says Esponda. “But the significance here is not the quantity but the quality of product in the experiences, the spending and the satisfaction to be had.”

The model goes hand in hand with new Michelin-starred dining, magnificent shopping, and the proliferation of art galleries, farm-to-fork foodie experiences, private yachting, immersive spa days and retreats, and inspiring golf plays to be found … in one place packaged within a setting of sea swells, rolling hills and endless blue skies.