Viceroy Los Cabos
Five Star Hotel | San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
The view from our hotel room at the Viceroy Los Cabos.
What You Need to Know
One of the many art galleries in San Jose del Cabo.
The Area:
The Viceroy Los Cabos is located in San Jose del Cabo, approximately 34 minutes from the more well known Cabo San Lucas. While both are located on the Baja California Peninsula, the two towns could not be more different. Cabo has long been a destination for those looking to celebrate high school graduations (as the legal drinking age is 18 and the city is full of nightlife) or those just looking to have a good time partying in the clubs and on the beaches. Hotels are usually lower priced and plentiful. In stark contrast, San Jose del Cabo is known for its more laid back, tranquil vibe. While it’s true there are always people looking to party everywhere, you are less likely to be surrounded by countless bachelorette parties in San Jose del Cabo. And while San Jose del Cabo is more laid back, there is still plenty to do with eclectic shops and events around the small town.
The Property:
The Viceroy Los Cabos is a five star hotel that was initially designed by Mexican architect Miguel Ángel Aragnoés for his own concept hotel, Mar Adentro. Opening in 2016, the hotel was celebrated for its use of lines and curves and the beautiful contrast of its white buildings against the blue sea. In 2018, Viceroy Hotels took over the property rebranding it Viceroy Los Cabos.
The reputation of the Viceroy Los Cabos has grown over the years as one of the top hotels in San Jose del Cabo not only due to it's beautiful design but thanks to the plethora of amenities it offers guests. At the time of this post the amenities include:
3 dedicated restaurants
1 combination restaurant/bar
3 dedicated bars
Five pools including both family and adult-only options.
A Harley Pasternak-designed fitness center that includes cardio equipment (treadmill, stair stepper and elliptical), strength equipment, weight racks, spin bikes, fitness rooms and an adult jungle gym.
An expansive spa that includes thermal chambers, ice fountains, experience showers and hyrdo-massage along with countless services.
A kids club and babysitting services.
A movie theater and game room.
Complimentary Tesla and electric car charging stations.
Complimentary bicycle rentals.
Complimentary high speed Wifi.
Transportation services to and from the hotel.
An excursion desk to plan offsite adventures.
Pet-friendly.
The iconic nest that holds NIDO, one of four restaurants at the Viceroy Los Cabos.
Our Review
*For a quick review, scroll down to the next section.
The Room:
For our stay, we opted for the Ocean View King Room (starting at $511/per night). The room is spacious with an approximate size of 575 ft2. The king size bed was not only exceptionally comfortable (not too firm, not too soft) but was well situated to take full advantage of the views of the Sea of Cortez. The interior of the room includes a desk and seating area. Above the desk is a large 65-inch SmartTV that was never used during our stay other than to look at amenities in the hotel. A Nespresso machine came in handy on the mornings we opted to sleep in late (easily accomplished thanks to the automated blackout shades). The bathroom was cozy and had a fairly large walk-in shower with rainhead. The water pressure was strong and the hot water outlasted my typical long, hot showers. The provided robes were light and comfortable.
One of our favorite features was the adjustable lighting (different colors and dimmable) and the incorporated speakers that connected to our devices. The speakers came in handy to drown out the noise we experienced from the property next door that appeared to be hosting an outdoor DJ. The private exterior balcony, which houses lounging chairs (or a sofa), a soaking tub and a dining table, was the highlight of the room for us. The floor length windows opened onto the balcony, allowing us to bring the outdoors in and created a unique experience.
Room images courtesy of the Viceroy Los Cabos
The Restaurants:
We opted to dine at three of the hotel’s restaurants to experience all that the hotel had to offer. Of note, we made last minute reservations each night and had no issue getting a table. The food was exceptional at each restaurant. Breakfast was always at Casero due to the incredible views of the water that could be enjoyed from the table. The Ranchero’s Eggs were our favorite, but the avocado toast and eggs benedict were also well prepared and delicious. As this was a personal trip, lunch typically consisted of guacamole and cocktails by the pool (more on that later). For dinner, we dined at NIDO and Cielomar Rooftop. NIDO is nestled inside the nest on the water and has an incredible vibe. The blend of Japanese and Mexican flavors created an incredible culinary experience and we had a hard time wanting to try any other restaurant. While sushi is always my go-to, my partner opted for the fried chicken and was incredibly happy with that decision. At Cielomar Rooftop, the food was only eclipsed by the views and the live music. The scallops and lamb chops we ordered were well prepared and flavorable. Of note: the wine list throughout the stay was incredible with a large selection of local and international wines. The servers were well versed on each wine and made incredible recommendations.
Zen garden located near the spa.
The Amenities:
During our trip, we had every intention of sneaking in a daily workout but that never materialized, meaning, unfortunately, this review will not highlight the fitness center. The kids club and babysitting was also not utilized as this was an adults-only trip.
The one service you can always expect me to review is the spa. While my partner lounged at the pool, I opted for a 90 minute Viceroy Signature Body. The spa itself was tranquil and relaxing but the massage ranks as one of the top I have ever received. The masseuse was easily able to assess my needs and I left the massage feeling relaxed and renewed.
As I mentioned earlier, lunch was often enjoyed poolside. While the Viceroy Los Cabos has five pools to choose from, we spent the majority of our time at the beachside pool. Note: swimming in the sea was not recommended due to the strong currents, so having a beachside pool was a necessity. The beachside pool had ample amounts of loungers (with or without umbrellas). The service staff was incredible - drinks and food were brought quickly and always with a smile. We did happen to be there during a very loud, very energetic birthday trip but even though the guests got louder as the day wore on, the area was large enough that we could move to a quieter spot.
One amenity often overlooked by guests is the excursion desk. As we are travelers who get bored lounging around all day, the excursion desk at the Viceroy Los Cabos was a huge bonus for us. Unfortunately the excursions were all managed through third parties. The morning of one of our excursions we learned that our trip was cancelled not by the excursion desk, but by the no-show of the company in charge. After an hour of waiting (and being told they were just running behind) we finally learned the trip had been cancelled and would not be rescheduled. And while this was not the fault of the Viceroy Los Cabos, it did put a damper on the trip.
Our rating:
The Viceroy Los Cabos is one of the more exceptional hotels we have visited. The entire staff was friendly and eager to help and we always felt safe (something many travelers to Mexico are concerned about). The only true negative was the the loud music coming from the property next door - enough so that it killed the tranquil vibe we were hoping for. Because of that, we give the hotel an overall ranking of an 8.5 out of 10.
Quick Review: For those who prefer just the highlights.
The Good:
Incredible views of the sea.
Comfortable bedding.
Spacious shower with good water pressure.
Plunge pool on balcony with privacy and views.
Great lighting in the room that was adjustable (different colors and dimmable).
Incorporated speakers that could connect to your device.
Motorized blinds for full or partial privacy/blackout.
Food at all restaurants was consistently good. Guacamole was out of this world.
Bar service at lower pool was quick and friendly with ample selections.
Top notch service throughout the stay.
Spa services warrant a trip in and of themselves.
Car service from the airport was quick and easy to use and the drive was relaxing (the driver had ample beverages and snacks).
Secure location with controlled access for guests and visitors to ensure a safe stay.
Walking distance to a large grocery store with a shockingly large selection of wines from around the world.
The Not So Good:
Our excursions were booked through the hotel and were canceled day of with no notice to us or the hotel. The vendor never arrived to pick us up and we only found that the excursion was canceled when we contacted the excursion desk.
The hotel next door had a very loud outdoor venue with live music/DJ throughout the entire night. The music could be heard inside the room and tarnished the stay.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10.
