It seems like every month or two there’s a new hotel opening up in the hot Los Cabos region of Mexico, but the name Solmar has been associated with the resort scene there almost from the beginning. There are currently five properties under the Solmar Hotels & Resorts umbrella, but the now-gone founder opened one of the first in 1974 on some cheap land near the famous arch, back when the only tourists staying here were sport fishermen.
There’s a bronze statue of Luis Bulnes Molleda in downtown Cabo San Lucas, but he would probably be prouder of what has become of his empire, with a cluster of hotels on Land’s End — where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortes — plus a sprawling golf resort on the outskirts. Some guests stay at one of these properties because of a timeshare arrangement, but they can also be booked like regular hotels.
I have stayed at spent time at several of their resorts on two different trips to the tip of the Baja Peninsula, so here’s a rundown of what to expect.
Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa
This is the flagship property of the group, a real showpiece nestled between the cliffs and the dramatic ocean waves. It has the feel of an isolated resort, but is actually walking distance to downtown Cabo San Lucas and the marina.
The look is dramatic throughout, with a huge high-ceiling lobby with Spanish colonial chandeliers, a sushi restaurant with a koi pond, and one circular restaurant perched over the beach. The 246 large suites in six category levels have a full kitchen, Murphy bed, furnished balcony or terrace, satellite TV with a few English channels, and dining table.
All paths lead to the sea, however, where multiple infinity pools and swim-up bars allow you to sip a cocktail while watching the show. The steep drop-off of the shoreline makes most of the beaches in this area too rough for swimming, so it’s best to hang out in the pool and see the violent waves come in with a bang. There’s a spa with open-air massage huts where no additional soundtrack is needed and several restaurants that look out at the water. Plus a convenience store, a great gym, and a sports bar.
In some months you can see whales with the naked eye or see schools of flapping rays jumping out of the water. At the end of the day, scores of boats motor by coming to watch the sunset, but you can see a great one here without going anywhere. Overall, Grand Solmar Land’s End offers a luxury experience without feeling too stuffy and the kitchens make it a great vacation choice if you don’t want to be going out for every meal. See more info here or check rates here.
Playa Grande Resort and The Ridge
This next-door neighbor resort has the same terrific beach to walk on and the pool complex looks to the same stretch of sea at the bottom of the Baja Peninsula. Playa Grande has lower rates than Grand Solmar Land’s End, but still features huge rooms with a kitchen and sofa bed that go from 635 square feet to a four-bedroom penthouse. There’s a big focus on fun, with volleyball nets, a mini golf course, and organized activities.
I had the chance to experience the excellent spa here and get all my kinks worked out, plus the attractive bar made me want to linger longer. There’s a small grocery store on site for restocking kitchen needs if you don’t want to haul things back from a downtown supermarket. Rates sometimes begin below $200 a night in the low season, starting under $300 in high season, which is a steal in this Cabo region. Check rates here.
The Ridge at Playa Grande section is a like a hotel within a hotel. It comes with extra amenities, plus access to a rooftop restaurant and pool that looks out at downtown Cabo San Lucas and the marina instead of the ocean. With the pool changing colors and the lights beyond, it’s a gorgeous spot at night.
It’s adults-only in this section, so you won’t get splashed by screaming kids if you’re trying to get a break from the little ones. All the rooms in this section are master suites or two-bedroom presidential suites. See more info here.
Solmar Resort
This is the most modest of the three resorts around the corner from the Los Cabos Arch, with less marble, more commercial tile in the rooms, but again it’s on the same fine stretch of beach and sea, which is wide and welcoming. You won’t have to downgrade your room space either: the smallest studio rooms are 600 square feet and it’s a minor difference to upgrade to the deluxe room, which is the size of a city apartment at more than 1,000 square feet.
All rooms have a kitchenette and sofa bed, plus a balcony or terrace. The suites have a full living room set-up, larger kitchen, dining table, and spacious bathroom with a tub .
If you’re looking for something less flashy, this is the kind of low-key beach resort that used to be more common throughout the vacation getaway spots 50 years ago: low-slung buildings, one pool area, and a bar/restaurant in a shaded palapa area. For rates that won’t break the bank. Hey, what else do you need really if you’re looking for relaxation in the sun?
Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes Resort
This resort was formerly called Rancho San Lucas when it opened, but changed to Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes Golf and Spa after the golf course opened and all the buildings were finished. This 834-acre hotel and residences property has a Greg Norman championship golf course, a full spa, several pools, a saltwater lagoon, a retail center, and tennis courts. It’s a family-oriented resort with waterslides and activities for kids.
Jut be advised that it’s in an area all its own that’s 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas (north of the Diamante golf area), but with the advantage that it’s on a quiet beach it’s not sharing with other large resorts and there are a a lot of adventure activities nearby.
Since it’s a newer build than the other established properties in the portfolio, it’s got even fancier rooms, ranging from large studio suites with full kitchen and Murphy bed up to four-bedroom suites with five baths and an oceanfront location. There are 146 hotel key offerings steps from the sand, while the rest of the units further back are privately owned or part of a fractional ownership plan. See info here and book direct or check rates here.
All the Solmar resorts include parking and Wi-Fi in the rates, though you will have to tack on the usual hefty Mexican lodging taxes. See the official website for more info. Book direct there or check online at Expedia.
Review and photos by editor Tim Leffel, who was hosted at Grand Solmar Land’s End and toured several of the others while writing for another publication. As always, all opinions are his own. For high-end stays, see Luxury Latin America’s reviews of the best luxury hotels in Los Cabos.
