Luxurious Resort Overlooking Sea of Cortez

Villa del Palmar rises from a powdery stretch of white sand overlooking the sheltered surf of the Gulf of California and the iconic El Arco rock formation. After an express check-in, guests can surrender to the pool's refreshing waters or explore lavish, palm-lined grounds bustling with seaside restaurants and recreational facilities. Sun-soaked days spent snorkeling in the clear shallows are met with cool evenings livened by on-site activities such as mariachi performances and a vibrant nightlife a mile away in downtown Cabo San Lucas.

Guests of the Junior Villa suites can savor a mimosa at the open-air breakfast bar or saunter across lemon-tinged tiles onto the balcony or terrace and embrace the sea breeze like a plastic bag with wanderlust. A pair of lush double beds snuggle the sun-weary, and a fully equipped kitchen and cushy sofa bestow this paradisiacal escape with familial comforts.

Beyond the pleasant confines of the suites, guests are beckoned by myriad of amenities, beginning with the lounge-lined pool. Concierge servers deliver complimentary cocktails to poolside patrons reclined at the base of a waterfall and a whale-shaped slide that spits beaming swimmers into the pool. A short, barefoot walk between fan palms and cardón cacti leads to the beach. From here, guests can explore the sandy expanse by foot or rent a jet ski to tame the cerulean waves.

Cabo: Mexico Meets California

Villa del Palmar sits on the outskirts of a former fishing village, within minutes of land and sea activities ranging from golf and ziplining to surfing and whale watching. Guests can refresh their wardrobes in the haute, Rodeo Drive–like boutiques of downtown Cabo San Lucas or catch a half-hour taxi along the Eastern Cape to San Jose del Cabo, a traditional Mexican village with sleepy beaches and sun-baked storefronts. Though the famous El Arco rock formation can be viewed from Villa del Palmar's beachfront, a chartered boat tour will afford an up-close gander at the natural limestone archway and resident sea lions.

All-inclusive meals and beverages are served at any of five restaurants in Villa del Palmar and its sister resort, Villa del Arco, including upscale Mediterranean fare at La Perla and sushi at El Faro. A one-hour Mexican cuisine class integrates cumin, cilantro, and panache in its recipes, and three hours of unlimited arcade play placate little ones and inner children. After a vigorous workout in the fitness center, guests can cash in on their complimentary 50-minute massages to unburden bodies of stowaway stress that slipped through customs. Travelers seeking more me time will revel in the 31,000-square-foot Desert Spa, which proffers facials, aromatherapy, manicures, makeup, and haircuts.