Los Cabos is known for its natural beauty and upscale offerings, and its unique appeal can work especially well for group events — whether it’s birthday parties, family reunions, wedding receptions, class getaways or other special occasions.
During my most recent trip to Los Cabos to attend the LGBT Travel Symposium, I experienced the group-friendly services of several suppliers, including destination management companies (DMCs), hotels, villas, attractions and restaurants. All provided lots of inspiration for anyone considering a customized group celebration or getaway.
Transfer Companies and Tour Operators
Throughout my visit, our group was shuttled around by Vivo Luxury Services, which operates a fleet of comfortable Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and other vehicles. In addition to private transportation, the company can also arrange outings such as city tours, shopping excursions and group side trips to Todos Santos, a nearby Magical Town.
Multiple tour operators and DMCs offer customizable activities for groups. We enjoyed a breathtaking afternoon with Cabo Adventures, which organized a private e-bike adventure that tested our skills on a broad stretch of desert and beach on the Pacific coast, along with a sunset boat tour from Wild Cabo Tours, complete with cocktails and many opportunities to photograph Cabo San Lucas’s iconic arch.
Open-air culinary experiences are another great option for groups. One of our most memorable daytime activities took place at Flora Farms, a 25-acre organic farm that’s home to a restaurant, overnight accommodations and private event and activity spaces, including an herb garden amphitheater and a mango grove that accommodates 250 people. Even I, a total non-cook, enjoyed the salsa-making class at Flora Farms, as well as a delicious lunch served under giant umbrellas on the lawn.
Groups can take a salsa-making place at Flora Farms.
Credit: 2023 DepartureLevel.comGroup-Friendly Restaurants
The culinary scene in Los Cabos is legendary, and many restaurants offer private spaces or buyout options for private dining. One of my favorite group dinners during my visit was at Don Sanchez, a downtown San Jose del Cabo restaurant that specializes in Mexican contemporary cuisine. Under the venue’s large, thatch-roofed palapa on the terrace, I dug into some of the best brisket I’ve ever eaten. There’s also a private indoor dining room for smaller groups.
Another personal favorite for group dining experiences is Nao, a stylish, all-white restaurant on the tourism corridor with a menu of sophisticated, expertly presented Mediterranean cuisine created by chef Alex Branch, who has worked on the culinary team of Capella Pedregal Resort (now a Waldorf Astoria) and One&Only Palmilla.
For traditional Mexican favorites, it’s hard to beat the expansive buffet we enjoyed at Los Tres Gallos, which has a wonderful, brick-lined patio in Cabo San Lucas and lots of space for groups to spread out.
I also must mention a personal favorite from a previous trip: Sunset Monalisa, a Mediterranean restaurant perfectly situated atop a hill with, as the name suggests, inspiring sunset views. The venue has multiple private, open-air terraces that are ideal for private cocktail parties, lunches and dinners.
The private dining room at Don Sanchez in downtown San Jose del Cabo
Credit: 2023 DepartureLevel.comGroup-Friendly Hotels and Resorts
Unsurprisingly, many of the beautiful, upscale hotels in Los Cabos are well-versed in hosting noteworthy private group events. For the first four nights of our trip, Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort served as home base, exuding traditional elegance and featuring architectural elements reminiscent of a traditional Mexican hacienda. Its on-site convention center features more than 18,000 square feet of event space, and I was especially impressed with the quality of the cuisine throughout my stay, including the delicious treats served during break times.
We also stayed two nights at the 305-room Corazon Cabo Resort & Spa in Cabo San Lucas, where the Rooftop 360 social area includes a swimming pool, bar and restaurant and is sure to wow groups with its spectacular views — it’s billed as the city’s highest rooftop bar.
Also a winner in the view category is Villa Penasco. Managed by Cabo Villas, this six-bedroom, 9,000-square-foot residence — which can be rented for around $4,200 per night — provides a photo-worthy setting for vacations with family or friends. Our reception also included the outstanding catering and event services of A Matter of Taste and The Main Event Cabo, both of which create dazzling experiences for groups both large and small in a variety of venues.
Groups looking for a decidedly contemporary setting, meanwhile, should consider the 145-room Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort Resort, Los Cabos, where a mildly brutalist architectural style sets the stage for sophisticated get-togethers (we enjoyed a tasty and beautifully designed group lunch there). The property, which reopened in January following a major renovation, has introduced 21 new luxury suites, two new Wellness Suites and a new beach and dining area; before the end of the year, it will also expand its culinary offerings even further with yet another new dining venue.
On our final day, we savored a goodbye lunch at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, where an oceanfront pergola, shaded by a thatched-palm roof, provided a memorable setting to savor delicious cuisine while gazing at the stunning water view.
During my trip, I found one thing to be certain: In Los Cabos, it’s easy to wow groups.
