Cabo San Lucas●●○○

PLAYA GRANDE RESORT

★★★★½4.6 out of 5 · 8,792 reviews

4.5★

Photo: © TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

PLAYA GRANDE RESORT is a 4.5-star resort in Cabo San Lucas with 100 rooms rated 4.6/5 by 8,792 TripAdvisor reviewers; typical rates from about $280 a night; direct beach access.

About

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.

At a glance

Area: Cabo San Lucas
Star rating: ★★★★½
Typical nightly: $280
Beach access: direct
Kid-friendly: ●●●●○
Party score: ●●●●○
Walkability: ●●●●●
Rooms: 100
Casino: –
Swim-up: –
Kids' club: –
All inclusive: –
Vibe: lively
family
beachfront
walkable
casual

Sargassum: not a factor

Not a sargassum coast.

Photos

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Recent Pulse

What travelers are saying.

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Low confidence

Travelers say Playa Grande delivers consistent service and a walkable Médano Beach location. The staff — especially longtime servers at the Sports Bar, lobby bar, and poolside — earn frequent shout-outs by name, with many guests returning year after year specifically to see familiar faces. The newly renovated rooms show improvement, though some older units still struggle with AC reliability and musty odors. Food quality is solid when on the all-inclusive plan, but à la carte pricing shocks budget-conscious guests. A small number of reviews flag high-pressure timeshare pitches at check-in and restrictive policies around rideshare pickups.

Standing out

Named staff members — Julio, Carlos, Daniel, Jose — earn repeat mentions for remembering guests' drink orders and names across years
52 mentions
“Julio remembered our preferences after the first day and made us feel like we were coming home”
Newly renovated suites feature updated bathrooms, brighter lighting, and modern furniture that guests call a noticeable upgrade
4 mentions
“The refreshed rooms feel polished with improved fixtures and a more luxurious bathroom layout”
Médano Beach location lets you walk to the marina and main strip within minutes while staying on swimmable sand
7 mentions
“Close proximity to downtown and the beach means you're steps from everything Cabo offers”
All-inclusive package provides unlimited quality food and drinks without worrying about per-item charges that can reach $18 per cocktail
6 mentions
“The all-inclusive was worth it — we didn't stress over the expensive à la carte menu”

Watch-outs

Timeshare sales reps approach guests aggressively at check-in and call rooms repeatedly to schedule presentations
3 mentions
“You have to be rude to dodge the timeshare people who pounce in the lobby”
Older unrenovated rooms suffer from AC failures that take days to fix and persistent musty odors tied to mold in shower tracks
3 mentions
“Our AC never got below 76 degrees for five days before they finally moved us”
Rideshare and delivery drivers must stop at the security gate, forcing guests to walk outside the property to collect Uber or food orders
2 mentions
“Uber can't pick you up at the door — you walk to the gate or pay their overpriced cab service”

Tips from travelers

Ask for Julio, Carlos, Daniel, or Jose by name at the Sports Bar or lobby bar if you want personalized service
Book the all-inclusive plan upfront — à la carte prices run $18 per cocktail plus mandatory gratuities and fees
Request a recently renovated room at check-in to avoid AC issues and musty odors in older units
Give a fake phone number at check-in and unplug your room phone to dodge persistent timeshare sales calls

Maybe skip if: Skip Playa Grande if you want a quiet, secluded retreat — Médano Beach means jet skis, beach vendors, and lively crowds from sunrise to sunset.

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

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach sits on the Pacific side just north of Cabo San Lucas, perched above a cliff where the ocean runs too rough for swimming but the views make up for it. The resort shuttles guests to a calmer beach club down the coast, and most people seem fine with the trade-off — the 4.5 overall rating across 26,000+ reviews holds steady, with cleanliness scoring highest at 4.6 and service matching the overall mark. It's a large property with a full spa, golf access, and multiple pools that cascade down the hillside. Rooms and sleep quality both land at 4.4, which is solid for a resort at this scale. Value comes in at 4.2, suggesting it's priced where you'd expect for the amenities and location. The Pacific-side setting means sunsets are the main event, and the resort leans into that with terraces and dining spaces angled west. If you want calm water steps from your room, this isn't it. If you want space, service, and a dramatic coastline, it delivers.

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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

A Romantic Getaway on a Dazzling Ocean Beach

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

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica sits on the Pacific side just north of Cabo San Lucas, and it's adults-only — which is the whole point. The resort pulled an uncommon 4.7 for cleanliness and holds a 4.6 overall across nearly 9,000 reviews, so the operational consistency is real. Rooms and service both land at 4.5, which is solid for a property at this scale; sleep quality tracks the same, meaning the soundproofing and bedding are holding up. The Pacific side means actual surf and bigger waves — not a swimming beach, but the drama is why you're here. The spa setup is central to the property, and most guests either lean into that or spend the day at the pools. Service moves quickly, and the staff-to-guest ratio shows. It's a quieter alternative to the marina-side chaos, and the value rating at 4.3 suggests you're paying a premium but not an absurd one. If you want adults-only with ocean views that aren't sanitized, this works.

Adults only

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Restaurants nearby

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.

Cabo San Lucas

Lorenzillo's Restaurant Cabo San Lucas

Lorenzillo's sits right over the marina in Cabo San Lucas, with tables that look out on the boat traffic and the arch beyond. It's been a fine-dining anchor here for years, built around whole live lobster — you pick from the tank, they weigh it, you pay by the kilo. The 4.6 rating across nearly 4,000 reviews holds up mostly on service and setting; the food score is lower, which tracks with what you'd expect from a tourist-facing seafood house that moves volume. The atmosphere and staff execution are where it justifies the price tier, not the kitchen innovation. If you want a celebratory dinner with a view and you're comfortable with the formula, it delivers that. Just know the value subrating is the lowest of the four, so set expectations accordingly. Reservations help during high season.

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.

PLAYA GRANDE RESORT

Not sure how this fits your trip?

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort

Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort

Salvatore G's Italian Restaurant

Maro's Shrimp House

Lorenzillo's Restaurant Cabo San Lucas

Medano Beach

Playa de los Amantes

Salvatore G's Italian Restaurant

Maro's Shrimp House

Lorenzillo's Restaurant Cabo San Lucas

Medano Beach

Playa de los Amantes

Cabo San Lucas Beach