Cabo San Lucas has spent the last decade quietly becoming one of the most sought-after luxury real estate markets in the world. Los Cabos was recently crowned the number one super-luxury travel destination in Latin America, and the residential market has followed that momentum. The resort communities being built here now rival anything in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, and buyers are starting to take notice.
At Baja Properties, we work with buyers across every segment of the Cabo market. When clients ask us where the most compelling opportunities are, the conversation almost always turns to resort residences. These are private homes and condos built within, or directly alongside, operating five-star hotels. You own your property outright. You also have full access to the resort's amenities, pools, restaurants, spa, and beach club, often with the option to enroll in a managed rental program when you're not there.
This guide covers the ten resort communities we believe represent the strongest combination of lifestyle, ownership quality, and long-term value right now. These are all existing, operating developments. Not renderings. You can visit them today.
What Is a Luxury Resort Residence, Exactly?
Before getting into the list, it helps to be clear on what separates a resort residence from a standard luxury condo.
A resort residence gives you private ownership of a home or condo that sits within a branded five-star resort. You get a legal title (held through a bank trust called a fideicomiso, which is standard for foreign buyers in Mexico's coastal zone). You also get access to all the hotel's amenities, often at owner-preferred pricing or at no additional charge beyond your HOA fees.
Those HOA fees are higher than you'd find in a typical condo community. Expect anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 or more per year, depending on the development and what's included. That covers hotel-grade security, maintenance, insurance, and access to the resort's full facility team.
Most resort residences also offer an optional rental management program. The resort handles bookings, cleaning, and guest services. You get a percentage of the revenue. It's a straightforward way to offset carrying costs when the property sits empty.
One more thing worth knowing: branded residences globally command a price premium of roughly 25 to 35 percent over comparable non-branded properties, according to Knight Frank's Branded Residences Report. That premium reflects the brand's ongoing management, reputation, and guest demand, all of which support long-term property values.
The Top 10 Luxury Resort Residences in Cabo San Lucas
1. Chileno Bay Club & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
Location: The Corridor, Chileno Bay
Chileno Bay is the only Auberge-branded residential development on the Corridor, and it sits on one of the few naturally protected, swimmable bays on the Pacific side of the peninsula. That beach access alone sets it apart.
The community offers residences ranging from one to six bedrooms, all with access to the resort's three-tiered oceanfront pool, Tom Fazio-designed golf course, full spa, and fitness center. In the 2026 U.S. News Best Hotels rankings, Chileno Bay was ranked the third best hotel in Mexico.
Our take at Baja Properties: Chileno Bay is the strongest pick for buyers who want resort energy paired with genuine beach access. Short-term rental demand here runs high, driven by hotel guests who want more space and privacy than a standard room.
Explore Chileno Bay properties
2. Esperanza Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
Location: Punta Ballena, approximately 15 minutes from Cabo San Lucas
Esperanza holds a distinction no other resort in Los Cabos can claim: it's the only private beach resort in the region. That's 17 acres on Punta Ballena, with three distinct residential communities within the property: Punta Ballena, Las Villas, and Las Residencias.
It's a Forbes Five-Star property, and it carries that rating with quiet confidence. The design is understated and refined. The service is exceptional. Owners here choose full ownership or fractional ownership depending on how they plan to use the property.
Our take: Esperanza attracts buyers who are done compromising on privacy. Inventory is limited and resale competition is strong. If a private beach matters to you, this is the one.
Is Cabo real estate a good investment?
3. Montage Residences Los Cabos
Location: Santa Maria Bay, The Corridor
Montage Los Cabos sits on another of the Corridor's rare swimmable bays, which makes Santa Maria Bay beachfront access one of the development's biggest draws. The 52 Montage Residences are fully furnished and turn-key. You can close and be in the property within a matter of weeks.
Pricing typically starts around $3.95 million for a two-bedroom residence and climbs to $5.2 million and beyond for three-bedroom homes. All owners have full access to the resort's pools, multiple restaurants, spa, and beach club.
Our take: Montage has the strongest hotel brand recognition on this list from a short-term rental perspective. Guests pay a premium to stay within the Montage brand, which translates directly to rental income for owners enrolled in the program.
4. West Enclave at Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Location: Puerto Los Cabos, San José del Cabo
Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the ultra-exclusive tier within the Ritz-Carlton brand. Only a handful of Reserve properties exist worldwide. Zadún is one of them, and West Enclave is its residential component: 27 single-family homes on an elevated bluff above the Sea of Cortez with panoramic water views.
The architecture is modern and bold. Homes range up to five bedrooms and are positioned around the hotel with careful separation for privacy. The Reserve experience translates directly into resident life. The service standard is simply higher here than at a standard luxury resort.
Our take: West Enclave appeals to serious real estate collectors. Buyers here tend to be adding to a portfolio, not making a first purchase. The Reserve branding and scarcity of inventory make this one of the strongest long-term appreciation stories on the Corridor.
5. Four Seasons Residences at Costa Palmas
Location: East Cape (La Ribera), approximately one hour from Los Cabos International Airport
Costa Palmas is a 1,500-acre master-planned community built around the only private marina in Los Cabos and the largest swimmable beach in the region. The Four Seasons Residences here sit on the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, a very different experience from the Pacific-facing Corridor.
The East Cape is quieter and more private than the Corridor. Infrastructure has improved steadily over the past few years, and values have followed. Buyers who got in early at Costa Palmas have seen strong appreciation.
Our take: Four Seasons at Costa Palmas is the right choice for buyers who prioritize space, quiet, and beach quality over proximity to downtown. The marina access is a genuine differentiator for buyers with boats.
6. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
Location: Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal may have the most dramatic setting of any property on this list. You reach it through Mexico's only private tunnel, carved directly through the cliffs surrounding the resort. On the other side: a secluded Pacific cove with a 118-room hotel and residential casitas, each with private pools and ocean views.
It was ranked the fourth best hotel in Mexico by U.S. News in 2026. Despite being minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, it feels completely removed from it.
Our take: The Waldorf Astoria is for buyers who want to be in Cabo proper without the noise. The setting is genuinely dramatic, and the private tunnel creates a separation that no amount of landscaping can replicate.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal residences
7. Viceroy Los Cabos Residences
Location: San José del Cabo, The Corridor
The Viceroy Los Cabos is one of the most visually striking developments on the peninsula. Mexican architect Miguel Ángel Aragonés designed the property, and his signature bold geometry is impossible to miss. Only 21 private residences exist within the community: three, four, and five-bedroom villas and penthouses, all with private pools.
For buyers who care deeply about design and architecture, this is the property. The small unit count also means the community stays intimate and private in a way that larger resort developments can't match.
Our take: Viceroy is a design-first purchase. Buyers here are often drawn to the architecture before the location. Resale inventory is competitive precisely because so few units exist.
Explore Viceroy residences in Los Cabos
8. The Cape Residences by Thompson Hotels
Location: Land's End, Cabo San Lucas (Monuments Beach)
The Cape Residences are 32 full-ownership condos perched on the bluffs above Monuments Beach, with direct sightlines to the Cabo Arch. That view (the Arch, the blue Pacific, the rocky point where two seas meet) is something buyers either want badly or don't care about at all. Buyers who want it pay a premium for it, and they don't regret it.
The boutique scale of only 32 units keeps the community private. Thompson Hotels manages the property with a consistent service standard.
Our take: The Cape is the right pick for buyers who want an unmistakably Cabo address. The Arch view is irreplaceable and non-replicable. No other development can offer it.
9. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Rosewood Residences
Location: The Corridor, San José del Cabo side
.jpeg)
Las Ventanas al Paraíso is one of the most well-known luxury hotel names in Los Cabos, and it's held that reputation for decades. The property has just 83 rooms, suites, and villas, kept deliberately small to protect its intimacy. The residential component reflects that same philosophy.
Entry-level suites run 960 square feet and include rooftop terraces and private fireplaces. The property has been recently renovated. It ranked fifth among Mexico's best hotels in the 2026 U.S. News rankings.
Our take: Las Ventanas is the most understated option on this list. There's no flash here, just exceptional service in a quiet, refined setting. Buyers drawn to Las Ventanas typically value privacy and hospitality above everything else.
10. Puerto Los Cabos Master Community
Location: San José del Cabo
Puerto Los Cabos is the largest master-planned community in Los Cabos and home to several of the developments on this list, including Zadún. The community itself encompasses a world-class marina, private beach club, and two championship golf courses, one designed by Jack Nicklaus and one by Greg Norman.
Buying within Puerto Los Cabos gives you access to the community's full infrastructure: marina slips, beach club, golf, and a growing collection of dining and wellness amenities.
Our take: Puerto Los Cabos is the right choice for buyers who want to invest in the broader master community rather than a single resort product. Marina access is the primary draw for boating buyers. It's also the most accessible entry point at various price levels within a prestigious address.
Browse Puerto Los Cabos properties
How to Choose the Right Cabo Resort Residence
One of our agents worked with a couple last year who had narrowed their search to two properties on the Corridor. They went back and forth for weeks analyzing the numbers. Then they visited both in person. Standing on the beach at one property, they looked at each other and the conversation was over in about thirty seconds. The in-person experience does something no spreadsheet can.
That said, a few categories worth thinking through before you visit:
By lifestyle: If beach access is the priority, Chileno Bay, Esperanza, and Montage are the strongest picks. If golf matters most, Zadún and Puerto Los Cabos deliver. If design is your driver, look at Viceroy or The Cape.
By location: The Corridor runs between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, about 20 miles of coastline where most resort developments sit. Cabo San Lucas proper is livelier and more central. San José del Cabo is quieter and more residential. The East Cape, where Four Seasons Costa Palmas sits, is the most private setting, about an hour from the airport, with warm-water beaches and marina access.
By investment profile: Buyers focused on rental income do best in developments with strong hotel brand recognition and high occupancy rates. Montage and Chileno Bay consistently lead here. Buyers focused on appreciation tend to look at developments with limited inventory, like Viceroy and Esperanza.
What Buyers Should Know Before Purchasing
The fideicomiso: Foreign buyers in Mexico's coastal zone hold title through a bank trust called a fideicomiso. It's legally sound, widely used, and renewable every 50 years. Setup typically costs between $2,000 and $3,000, with annual trust fees running $550 to $1,000. You have full ownership rights throughout. Our full fideicomiso guide walks through the process in detail.
HOA fees: Budget $3,000 to $15,000 or more annually depending on the development. Fees cover hotel-grade security, maintenance, landscaping, insurance, and access to resort amenities. Ask for a full HOA disclosure before making an offer.
Rental programs: Most resort residences offer an opt-in rental management program. The hotel manages bookings, cleaning, and guest services. You receive a percentage of revenue. Some programs have blackout periods during high-demand weeks. Ask the sales team for the exact revenue split and any restrictions before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners buy luxury resort residences in Cabo San Lucas? Yes. Foreign nationals can legally buy resort residences in Cabo San Lucas through a bank trust called a fideicomiso. The trust holds legal title on your behalf, and you retain full ownership rights. This structure is standard for coastal property purchases in Mexico and has been used for decades by international buyers.
What is the difference between a branded residence and a standard luxury condo in Cabo? A branded residence is tied to an operating five-star hotel. You get private ownership plus access to the resort's pools, restaurants, spa, beach club, housekeeping, and concierge. A standard luxury condo may be in a gated community with shared amenities, but without the hotel-level service infrastructure. Branded residences also tend to appreciate differently because the brand's reputation and management quality support demand over time.
Do luxury resort residences in Cabo include a rental program? Most do offer an optional rental management program. The resort handles all guest bookings, cleaning, and services. Revenue is split between the resort brand and the owner. The percentage varies by development. Enrollment is usually optional, meaning you can use the property personally without participating.
What are HOA fees like at luxury resort communities in Los Cabos? HOA fees at resort residence communities in Los Cabos typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 or more per year, depending on the size of the community and the amenities included. The fees cover hotel-grade maintenance, security, insurance, and access to resort facilities, considerably more than a standard condo HOA.
Which Cabo resort residence has the strongest rental income potential? Montage Residences Los Cabos and Chileno Bay Club & Residences consistently generate strong rental demand due to their hotel brand recognition and high occupancy. Well-located resort residences in Cabo can see annual gross yields in the range of 6 to 10 percent for owners enrolled in the rental program.
Is Cabo San Lucas real estate a good investment in 2025? Los Cabos has seen consistent price appreciation and strong demand from international buyers. Branded resort residences have historically appreciated faster than non-branded properties due to the hotel brand's ongoing management and demand generation. As with any real estate investment, location, timing, and the specific development all factor into returns.
What is a fideicomiso and do I need one to buy a resort residence in Cabo? A fideicomiso is a bank trust required by Mexican law for foreign buyers purchasing property in the coastal zone. Cabo San Lucas falls within the coastal restricted zone, so yes, a fideicomiso is required for most foreign buyers. The trust is renewable every 50 years, costs roughly $2,000 to $3,000 to set up, and carries an annual fee of $550 to $1,000. You maintain full ownership rights throughout.
Which part of the Corridor is best for buying a resort residence in Cabo? It depends on what you're looking for. The Pacific-facing Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo has the most options and the most established resort communities. San José del Cabo is quieter and appeals to buyers who want a more relaxed setting. The East Cape, where Four Seasons at Costa Palmas sits, offers private, warm-water beaches and marina access, with values still appreciating as infrastructure improves.
What amenities do owners get versus hotel guests? Owner benefits vary by development, but typically include priority access to pools, restaurants, and spa bookings, preferred pricing on food and services, dedicated owner concierge, and in many cases discounted or complimentary access to facilities that hotel guests pay for. Owners at some properties also receive a certain number of complimentary resort credits each year.
Are there any new luxury resort residences coming soon to Cabo San Lucas? Yes. Several major brands have announced upcoming developments. St. Regis, Soho House, Aman, Conrad, Delano, and Raffles all have projects in various stages of pre-sale or development in the Los Cabos area. We cover all of them in our upcoming luxury resort residences in Cabo guide.
Ready to Find Your Resort Residence in Cabo?
Our team at Baja Properties specializes exclusively in Cabo real estate. We have direct relationships with the sales teams at every development on this list, and we work with buyers at every stage, from a first exploratory visit to closing day. If you'd like to tour any of these communities or get a side-by-side comparison built for your specific priorities, reach out and let's set something up.
Contact the Baja Properties team or browse all Cabo luxury communities.