Cabo San Lucas is one of my favorite warm-weather destinations. With gorgeous views, fantastic resorts, and fun activities, it really is one of the best places for a family vacation. When you visit the resort, the place you stay is a big part of your vacation, so it's important to choose the best option for your trip.
I recently returned to Cabo for a three-night stay at the Villa Del Palmar, a beachfront resort offering an all-inclusive option. Villa Del Palmar was recently closed for a major renovation of its public spaces, so I was excited to check it out. Overall, I loved the resort and would absolutely recommend it and return with my family.
Disclosure: My trip to Cabo San Lucas at the Villa Del Palmar was complimentary for review. All opinions are my own. This post may include affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Resort and Spa Review
Who It's Good For
Villa de Palmar is a great choice for families and couples. With the kids' activities like the kids' club and shows, and the adult-only pool area, it really caters to both. In addition, we saw families with teens and young adults, as well as families with young kids, enjoying the resort.
The Villa del Palmar Cabo is located about 40 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and 1 mile from downtown. It offers stunning views of the El Arco rock formation. It's adjacent to two other Villa Group properties: Villa La Estancia and Villa del Arco.
When booking your stay at the Villa del Palmar, you'll have the option to book either a room-only or an all-inclusive stay. I'd recommend the all-inclusive option unless you plan on spending a lot of time off-property. It's so much more convenient to have that option, and it includes gratuities.
Rooms at the Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas
The Villa del Palmar has three buildings, all surrounding the pool area. It offers 466 suites.
Room types include the following:
- Ocean or garden views
- Junior suites
- One-bedroom suites
- Two-bedroom suites
- Presidential three-bedroom suites
For our three-night stay, we had a one-bedroom suite. This room offers a king bedroom, two full bathrooms, a kitchen with a cooktop, a full-size refrigerator, a microwave, a balcony, and a living area with a queen-sized pull-out couch.
This room is a great option for a family, especially considering the two bathrooms. It makes getting ready so much easier when you have access to two showers. The extra living space is useful, too, especially if some family members wake up/go to sleep earlier than others.
I was especially impressed with the comfort of the beds and pillows. Touches like these really helped make the vacation very relaxing. The rooms have an honor bar with a stocked fridge and snacks, and room service comes twice a day.
Amenities and Activities at the Resort
The amenities and activities at Villa del Palmar are what truly set it apart as a family-friendly resort.
Beach
Not every Cabo resort (even those right on the waterfront) offers a beach, but Villa del Palmar does. There are some lounge chairs and umbrellas there, and it's a great spot to watch the sunrise.
Pool Deck
Part of the recent renovation of Villa del Palmar is within the pool deck area.
There's an expansive adult-only pool, as well as an adult-only hot tub. Surrounding these features are many sun loungers and umbrellas. This isn't necessarily a quiet pool, but it doesn't have the activity of the family pool area.
The family pool area is on the level below the adult pool. It also offers hot tubs, a splash area, lounge chairs, and umbrellas. This is where all pool activities take place. Run by the activities staff, these activities vary by day and include water aerobics, water volleyball, and Bingo. You can see the day's activities on the chalkboard right by the pool.
We spent most of our time by the adult pool. However, we saw the activities in the family pool, and everyone looked to be having a lot of fun. The activities staff is very engaging, and the guests really seemed to be having a good time.
Fitness
The Villa del Palmar offers a large indoor gym, great if you want to stay fit during your family vacation. There are two locker rooms by the gym, both offering a hydrotherapy circuit with a hot tub, showers, a steam room, and a sauna. Since the locker rooms aren't often used (most people just use their room), these hydrotherapy circuits are usually pretty quiet.
The resort also offers tennis and pickleball courts. Equipment can be borrowed, and guests can reserve a court for one hour per room per day.
Full-Service Desert Spa
Guests of the Villa del Palmar can take advantage of the full-service spa at the sister resort, Villa del Arco. It's a quick 5-minute ride on the complimentary trolley to the spa.
During my visit, I got an 80-minute hot stone massage. It was completely relaxing and was one of the best massages I've had.
While you are in the spa, you can also take advantage of the hydrotherapy circuit. It includes a cold plunge, a hot tub, a warmer tub, showers, a steam room, and a sauna. You can use it either before or after your treatment.
Watersports
Non-motorized sports are included with your stay and take place at Villa del Arco. This includes paddleboards and kayaks.
During our stay, we enjoyed a 40-minute guided kayak tour on the Sea of Cortez. It was so much fun to experience the views from the sea, and our guide, Tony, was excellent. If you enjoy kayaking, I'd definitely recommend it.
Shows
Every night at Tortugas Terrace, there's a live, 45-60-minute show. It's first-come, first-served, and many guests arrive at the restaurant's opening to get a good table and have dinner before the show. If you want to see a specific show, it's a good idea to arrive early. Guests receive a wristband upon check-in to the restaurant.
Shows include The Greatest Showman, Chicago, Michael Jackson, The Lion King, Broadway Showstoppers, and Pop Stars. There's also a Mexican culture show with live music and dancing.
Other amenities at the resort include (extra fees may apply):
- Grocery/souvenir shop
- Rental car desk
- Kids' club
- Playset
- Coin laundry facility
- Trolley to Villa del Arco (for the spa and watersports)
Food at Villa del Palmar
The food at Villa del Palmar is really what surprised me the most. The quality and variety of food are especially impressive for an all-inclusive experience. While a few premium items cost extra, almost everything is included.
One really special aspect of Villa del Palmar is the small tortilla factory located on the property. It operates early in the morning and provides tortillas to all three resorts. If you are up early, you can walk by to see them being made.
Bella California
Bella California, right on the water, is where you'll get breakfast each morning. They offer a full buffet, including hot food, Mexican specialties, made-to-order omelets, fruit, yogurt, a variety of fresh juices, and more.
Bella California also offers lunch and dinner. While I didn't eat here for lunch, I did dine there on the first night. Menu options include fresh fish, homemade pasta, a salad bar, and more. They also offer a pizza bar.
Sports Bar
Located off the lobby, the Sports Bar is open for lunch and dinner. It's the perfect spot to enjoy watching a game while dining on traditional bar food and local specialties, including ceviche and tuna. We were visiting during the NCAA tournament, so the Sports Bar was pretty busy.
Tomatillos
Tomatillos was the only restaurant we didn't get to enjoy on our trip. It offers farm-to-table cuisine and outdoor seating.
Carbon Grill
Located along the waterfront is the Carbon Grill. This outdoor Argentinian-style restaurant features combination meals for two, including shrimp, steak, fish, chicken, and pork. This was my favorite dinner during our trip - the view is beautiful, and the food is delicious.
Taco and Sushi Bar
At lunchtime, Carbon Grill turns into the Taco and Sushi bar. It offers a wide menu, including ceviches, sushi, and tacos. We tried a variety of things, and my favorite was the loaded potato. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. I would recommend eating there at least once during your trip.
Tortugas Terrace
Tortugas Terrace is where you'll find both the resort's dinner buffet and the shows in the evening. The buffet rotates each evening, so if you want to eat there more than once, you'll have a variety of different foods to try.
On the night that we dined there, they offered a Mexican buffet. It included things like making your own tacos, ceviche, meat, salad, and more. There's also a small dessert buffet with fresh churros.
Arrive early and get your table for the evening's show, which is typically held at 7:30 pm.
In addition to these restaurants, food is offered at the pools and beach, ordered and delivered directly from your lounge chairs. Room service is also available.
Why Stay Here
Villa de Palmar is a great option for a Cabo vacation. It offers delicious food, gorgeous views, fun activities and amenities, convenient rooms, and a fantastic location.
To learn more about Villa del Palmar, visit their website.
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