Cabo San Lucas●●○○

Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas

★★★★☆4.1 out of 5 · 11,132 reviews

All inclusive

4★

Photo: © TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas is an all-inclusive 4-star resort with 100 rooms rated 4.1/5 by 11,132 TripAdvisor reviewers; typical rates from about $350 a night; direct beach access.

About

Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas anchors the southern stretch of Médano Beach, steps from the marina and the action in downtown Cabo San Lucas. The location rating of 4.5 out of 5 tracks — you're walking distance to the arch tour boats and the string of beachfront bars, but the resort itself faces calmer water than the open-ocean properties farther north. Service stands out here, rated 4.4 compared to the overall 4.1. Cleanliness matches that at 4.5, which matters in an all-inclusive where shared spaces get heavy traffic. The value score of 4.2 suggests the rate holds up against what you're getting, though this is a big property and the experience skews toward families and groups rather than seclusion. Rooms and sleep quality both clock in at 4.1 — functional and clean, not boutique. If you want to be on Médano Beach with easy access to town and you're comfortable in a full-scale resort environment, the numbers support it.

At a glance

Area: Cabo San Lucas
Star rating: ★★★★☆
Typical nightly: $350
Beach access: direct
Kid-friendly: ●●●●○
Party score: ●●●○○
Walkability: ●●●●●
Rooms: 100
Casino: –
Swim-up: –
Kids' club: –
All inclusive: ✓
Vibe: family
beachfront
walkable
lively

Sargassum: not a factor

Not a sargassum coast.

Photos

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Recent Pulse

What travelers are saying.

New

High confidence

Travelers say the staff at Riu Palace consistently impress, with poolside bartenders and servers earning mentions by name across multiple reviews. The all-inclusive setup delivers solid value for families, with specialty restaurants like Japanese and Fusion outperforming the steakhouse, and buffets offering variety including lobster nights. The property shows its age in places—pool plaster patches are visible, roof leaks occurred during recent rain, and fresh wood stain smell lingered in hallways—but maintenance crews keep common areas immaculately clean despite heavy traffic.

Standing out

Staff remember repeat guests and engage by name, especially poolside servers like Luis, Gary, and Chris
12 mentions
“Poolside servers came over to greet me each day and knew what I liked”
Japanese and Fusion restaurants deliver quality that exceeds the steakhouse
4 mentions
“Japanese and Fusion were amazing while the steakhouse had worst service despite longest wait”
Walkout swim-up pool suites near activity pool offer privacy with convenient drink service
3 mentions
“Private pool rooms near activity area let you see entertainment but keep your space”
Access to neighboring Riu Santa Fe pools and dining expands options without leaving the cluster
3 mentions
“Easy to visit Santa Fe for pool parties then return to quieter Palace side”

Watch-outs

Property maintenance lags: roof leaks during rain, pool plaster patched unevenly, fresh wood stain odor permeated rooms and clothes
4 mentions
“Roof repair badly needed; plaster fell from ceiling and stain smell required vinegar wash”
Unmonitored children ride scooters through buffet restaurant and common areas
2 mentions
“Kids rode scooters inside the buffet dining room with no staff intervention”
Adult evening entertainment minimal compared to Santa Fe, limited to brief casino and bingo sessions
2 mentions
“Palace adult activities lasted 30-45 minutes while kids stage shows dominated schedule”

Tips from travelers

Book walkout pool suites near the activity pool for privacy plus front-row view of daytime entertainment
Use beach vendors outside the resort for arch tours and jet skis; prices are lower and negotiable
Skip the Italian restaurant until ventilation improves; heat makes dining uncomfortable
Reserve specialty restaurants early; Japanese and Fusion outperform the steakhouse despite its longer waits

Maybe skip if: Travelers seeking adult-only tranquility or robust evening entertainment should look elsewhere; this property caters heavily to families with children and offers limited structured nighttime activities for adults.

Similar resorts

Cabo San Lucas●●●○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa

Grand Solmar Land's End sits at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula in Cabo San Lucas, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The location rating of 4.9 reflects the reality — you're at the edge of everything, with direct views of the Arch and genuinely private beach access that most Cabo resorts can't offer. The rooms also pull 4.9, and the cleanliness score matches it, which is rare at scale. With over 6,400 reviews holding at 4.8 overall, the service consistency is real. The value score of 4.6 suggests it's priced above mid-tier but doesn't lean into the ultra-luxury premium some neighbors charge. Worth noting: you're on the Pacific side, so the swimming conditions depend on the day. The resort shuttle into downtown Cabo runs regularly if you want the marina scene, but most guests stay put.

luxury

Cabo San Lucas●●○○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

PLAYA GRANDE RESORT

Playa Grande Resort is on Médano Beach in central Cabo San Lucas, steps from the marina and the main strip. The 4.7 location score makes sense — you can walk to most of what people come to Cabo San Lucas for, and the beach here is swimmable, which isn't true everywhere on the Pacific side. The 4.6 overall rating across nearly 9,000 reviews suggests it delivers consistently. Cleanliness matches at 4.7, and service holds at 4.6. Rooms and sleep quality both hit 4.5 or better, which is solid for a beachfront property where noise can be an issue. Value sits at 4.4, fair for the location. This is a resort that works if you want to be in the middle of the action without paying top-tier rates. You're trading some polish for proximity. Médano Beach means jet skis, beach vendors, and restaurant access — it's lively, not secluded.

lively

Cabo San Lucas●●○○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

Sandos Finisterra

Sandos Finisterra sits on the cliffs where the marina meets Land's End in Cabo San Lucas, and the location rating backs it up — you're looking straight at the arch and the Pacific convergence. The 8,700-plus reviews and 4.6 overall put it in solid territory for mid-tier travelers who want proximity over polish. Service and cleanliness both land at 4.5, which means things run consistently; rooms and sleep quality come in a notch lower at 4.1 and 4.3, so adjust expectations accordingly. The value score at 4.3 suggests you're paying for the spot and the setup, not luxury finishes. It's family-friendly, the pools sprawl, and you can walk to the marina boardwalk in five minutes. If you want the postcard view without the price tag of the ultra-tier resorts down the coast, this delivers. Just know the bones are older and the rooms show it.

All inclusive

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Restaurants nearby

Cabo San Lucas

Sunset Monalisa

Sunset Monalisa sits on the Pacific cliffs in the Misiones del Cabo area of Cabo San Lucas, and the 4.9 atmosphere score tells you why people come — the view is the menu's co-star. The food holds its own at 4.5, and the kitchen takes fine dining seriously without the usual resort-town corner-cutting. Service runs tight at 4.7, which matters when you're paying fine-dining prices and the place is pulling over eight thousand reviews. The value rating sits at 4.3, which is honest — you're paying for the location and the execution, not for a deal. But the overall 4.8 across that volume of feedback means they're consistent, and consistency at this level in Cabo isn't common. If you're going to do one splurge dinner with a view, this is the reliable play. Reservations move, especially near sunset. The road up is narrow and the parking is tight, so plan the arrival.

Cabo San Lucas

Salvatore G's Italian Restaurant

Salvatore G's is an Italian spot in downtown Cabo San Lucas, a few blocks off the main strip. The food rating sits at 4.8 out of 5, which is unusually high for a tourist-heavy area — the kitchen clearly isn't coasting. Pasta comes out right, the portions are honest, and the pricing lands in the mid-range without feeling like a gouge. Service also clocks in at 4.8, meaning the staff moves and the pacing works. The atmosphere rating matches the rest at 4.7, so it's not trying to be a scene — just a solid Italian dinner without the resort markup. Over 4,400 reviews and the scores hold steady, which suggests consistency more than novelty. If you want red sauce and a booth in Cabo without overthinking it, this does the job.

Cabo San Lucas

Maro's Shrimp House

Maro's Shrimp House is on Calle Miguel Hidalgo in Cabo San Lucas, across from La Dolce. The menu does what the name says — shrimp, prepared about a dozen ways, from garlic and butter to breaded and spicy. The operation is efficient and the portions are generous, which explains the 4.6 on both food and value across more than five thousand reviews. Service runs at 4.7, so the staff keeps pace even when it's full. The atmosphere sits at 4.4, which is fair — this is a working shrimp house, not a scene. You come for the food. The kitchen moves fast, the plates are consistent, and the price point makes it easy to return. If you want shrimp in Cabo without the beachfront markup, this is the answer.

Beaches nearby

Cabo San Lucas

Medano Beach

Medano Beach is the main swimming beach in Cabo San Lucas, which matters because most of Cabo's coast is open Pacific with serious undertow. This one sits on the Sea of Cortez side, sheltered and calm enough that lifeguards actually oversee designated swim zones instead of just waving people back. The 4.3 rating across 4,500+ reviews holds because it delivers the straightforward thing people want: swimmable water, long stretch of sand, and the restaurant-and-bar infrastructure you expect from a tourist beach. You'll find beach clubs with lounge setups, water sports rentals, and boats heading out to the arch. It gets crowded, especially midday when the cruise groups arrive, but the water stays gentle. If you're traveling with kids or you just want to get in the ocean without checking the flag conditions, this is the one that works.

Cabo San Lucas

Playa de los Amantes

Playa de los Amantes sits at the southernmost tip of the Baja peninsula, where Land's End meets the Sea of Cortez. You can only reach it by water taxi from the marina or by walking along the base of the cliffs from Playa El Médano at low tide. The beach is tucked into a cove with calmer water on the Cortez side, though you're swimming without lifeguards and dodging boat traffic from tour groups coming to see the Arch. The rock formations are the draw—the natural stone archway frames the beach and marks the division between the two seas. The Pacific side, officially Divorce Beach, is a different story. Swimming there is prohibited. The rip currents are serious and people have drowned ignoring the warnings. Most visitors stay on the Cortez side, where the water is swimmable if you're cautious and aware. Bring what you need—there's no shade and no facilities. The water taxis run frequently, and most will wait or pick you up on a return trip.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.

Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas

Not sure how this fits your trip?

Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa

PLAYA GRANDE RESORT

Sandos Finisterra

Sunset Monalisa

Salvatore G's Italian Restaurant

Maro's Shrimp House

Medano Beach

Playa de los Amantes

Sunset Monalisa

Salvatore G's Italian Restaurant

Maro's Shrimp House

Medano Beach

Playa de los Amantes

Cabo San Lucas Beach