A Couples Getaway at the Viceroy Los Cabos Resort

Ever since we saw photos splashed across social media of the incredible architecture at the Viceroy Los Cabos Resort in Mexico, it went immediately on our bucket list. Recently we had the chance to actually realize the dream, and packed our bags for a long sunny weekend at this spectacular hotel. Since both our kids went back to college, it was the perfect excuse for a couples getaway in Los Cabos, and the Viceroy was the ideal destination.

In fact, the Viceroy Los Cabos Resort was such a perfect experience that we only left the grounds once – for dinner at a highly-rated nearby restaurant. (More on that later.) But really, the Viceroy made it hard to think of any reasons to leave the comfort of the chill pool vibe. Or the comfy room vibe, or the world-class dining vibe. Or the I’m-on-a-couples-getway-and-don’t-want-to-exert-myself-one-iota vibe.

Not only is this luxury resort stunning, but the service and experience back up the hype. So yes, the Viceroy Los Cabos deserves to be on everyone’s bucket list – couples getaway or not.

Couples Getaway in Los Cabos

Easily Accessible

Sometimes a quick getaway is highly necessary, and Los Cabos is just the ticket. From where we live in California, the trip is only a sweet 2.5 hour flight. We flew from the Tijuana Airport because it is so darn easy to get there now from San Diego using the Cross Border Express (CBX). The flights to Los Cabos from Tijuana are far less expensive than flying from San Diego, and another plus? When you fly domestic within Mexico, there is a different terminal exit in Los Cabos.

Anyone who has flown into the Los Cabos airport before knows about the gauntlet visitors face as they walk through the terminal to exit. Dozens of tour operators, taxi companies, time share salespeople and others line the walkway and try to get your attention – sometimes in obnoxious ways. Then when you get outside, it can be challenging to find your ride to the hotel among the throngs of people trying to do the same. Exiting this airport from the domestic terminal is a breeze. I think there were 12 people waiting for a ride with us, and our driver from the Viceroy pulled right up within minutes and loaded our bags.

Even better, the Viceroy Los Cabos Resort is located in San Jose del Cabo, the historic town that began drawing people to this popular destination. The drive from the airport to the resort took about 20 minutes door to door, whereas the drive to Cabo San Lucas can take up to an hour.

Viceroy Los Cabos Resort Checks All the Boxes

One of the main reasons we chose the Viceroy for our couples getaway in Los Cabos is the wide range of offerings available at this resort. If we chose to stay on property the entire duration of our visit, we would be quite content. The Viceroy Los Cabos Resort literally checks all our boxes:

• luxurious design
• large rooms with balconies facing the ocean (and outdoor hot tubs!)
• beachfront with chairs on the sand
• fantastic pools with bar and food service
• great spa
• the best fitness facility we have seen at any resort in Los Cabos
• fantastic restaurants

Other-Worldly Architecture

If you recognize the resort from our photos, you may know it was used as a location for the hit HBO series Westworld. In the show, the stunning architectural elements of the resort are used to build a futuristic headquarters for an evil organization. (I don’t want to give away the plot, but there are robots.) I’m sure the showrunners and location scouts behind the series had seen the Viceroy’s futuristic design and fell in love with it. Just like we did.

No evil robots here. But the architecture is from another world – so striking in its contrasts of white, azure blue and black. The resort buildings are a combination of angular modern architecture and fluid winding lines that seem somehow organic. For example, the pathway to the beach winds down from the lobby past the nest-like signature restaurant and main pool, and encircles the spa and fitness center. Then it straightens back out and heads straight for the ocean, past more architecture wonders and through another nest before hitting two more pools on the way.

Stunning, I tell you. Iconic even – to the point where we could not stop taking photos because there is not a bad angle in the house.

Stellar Food & Beverage Offerings

Nido

Mexico has got it down when things come to all-inclusive resorts with excellent restaurants, and the Viceroy Los Cabos is no exception. Honestly, this is another reason why we chose this location for our couples getaway in Los Cabos. We wanted to eat inside Nido, the signature restaurant located within a nest of interwoven branches that looks like a giant overturned basket.

Here the cuisine is the star, despite the picturesque surroundings. We dined on the Asian/Mexican Fusion cuisine here, particularly enjoying the Tuna Avocado Ceviche with Nori Chips and Chicharrón Pork Dumplings. While tasting the menu, we were sampling wines from the Valle de Guadalupe wine region of Northern Baja California. It was a delicious meal and a perfect cap to a sun-drenched day by the pool with umbrella drinks (of course).

Cielomar Rooftop

Located on the top of the main lobby building ten stories up, Cielomar is an outdoor restaurant with spectacular views of the ocean, nearby hills and colorful sunsets.

With something on the menu for every palate, this restaurant aims to please with delicious and beautiful dishes. We started with the Melted Oaxacan Cheese and Grilled Artichokes, which we gobbled up in minutes. The Baja Scallops with Pancetta was also an amazing starter. For mains, we enjoyed the flavors and presentation of the Zarandeado Whole Red Snapper with its citrusy bite and buttery texture. The Kurobuta Carmelized Pork Chop was another standout, with roasted strawberries and sweet potato.

Casero

More homestyle and comfortable while maintaining that casual elegance of the resort, Casero is open for breakfast and lunch. The food here is delicious, and the real standout is the restaurant staff. They could not have been more friendly and accommodating, remembering us from the previous morning and preparing our coffees just the way we like them. They took such good care of us, I wished we could spend our mornings here more often. (Return trip in the planning, perhaps)?

Dalia

When we visited, Dalia Restaurant was under renovation. We took a quick walk through, and it looks beautiful. I understand the new menu is also very popular and worth a taste.

Zen Activities to Slow Your Roll

SPA at Viceroy Los Cabos

What’s a couples getaway in Los Cabos without a little spa relaxation? The full-service spa at Viceroy Los Cabos Resort is 11,000 square feet of bliss, and we loved it so much we went twice. Dug into the hillside beneath the resort, the Spa at Viceroy offers all the things that help guests relax, unwind and connect. There are couples services, rituals, massages, facials – even services for children and pets.

We began our session with a dip into the hydrotherapy pools to loosen up sore muscles and relieve travel stress. From there, we headed into the sauna for a quick sweat and then showered off. There is an ice fountain for those that like that cold plunge feeling, but we stuck to the warm and cozy places. The 90-minute deep tissue massage treatments were excellent and so needed. Afterwards, we met back in the relaxation room to recline on lounges and sip flavored waters while listening to some chill music.

A full list of spa services and details can be found here.

GYM at Viceroy Los Cabos

One of the things we love to do on vacation is work out. Although not everyone feels this kind of relaxation, our couples getaway in Los Cabos benefitted from the resort having a great gym. In fact, it really is one of the best hotel fitness centers we have ever experienced. It’s huge, and has all the equipment needed for a complete full-body workout. And this all makes sense since it was designed in partnership with famed fitness guru and author, Harley Pasternak.

There is plenty of cardio equipment, free weights, Hoist machines and tons of equipment for stretching, rolling, yoga-ing and more. There are spin bikes and an entire circuit room for group exercise classes and extreme work-outs. We wanted to try some of the fitness classes they offer but our schedules did not align. They have yoga classes, spin, beach workouts, stretching, TRX, abs and core, and a bunch more – as many as five or six classes each day.

Special Sound Bath Experience

One very special experience we fit into our busy schedule of lying in the sun, eating and drinking poolside, napping in our room and walking on the beach, was the Sound Bath Experience. A nod to local customs and culture, the experience was very spiritual (not religious) and peaceful. Live music was supplied by a local musician playing unusual instruments. Incense and dimmed lighting helped make the scene extra relaxing. And of course, the sound these different sized bowls make reverberates right down into your soul.

Within the hour-long class, we practiced breathing techniques designed to relax our bodies and minds. The vibrations from the bowls was deeply moving – way beyond what we had thought. We left feeling lighter and more focused.

Venture Off Property If You Must

If you decide you’d like your couples getaway in Los Cabos to extend beyond the Viceroy, we highly recommend you make an advance reservation at the highly popular Acre Restaurant & Cocktail Bar. Set amid a palm oasis a short taxi or uber ride from the resort, this special place is pretty spectacular. Not only is the food out of this world, but the ambience and setting transports guests to a tropical paradise.

Seating at Acre is all outdoors, and the vibe here is just so right. The night we visited there was a stylish DJ playing chill house beats while the palms swayed and the candles flickered. As the sun set, the outdoor rooms lit up with an enchanted glow. Everything tastes better in the right surroundings, and the menu here is next level. We happily sampled the Kanpachi Aguachile served in a cold press of green apple/cucumber chile serrano/cilantro/yuzu that was beyond delicious. Another dish we loved was a scallop ceviche in a tomato broth with fresh cilantro and cucumber slices. Other hits were the soft shell crab taco with wasabi guacamole, and the fresh-caught whole red snapper. To die for.

Kudos to the chef and kitchen team at Acre. We will most definitely be back.

Trip Details For Your Own Couples Getaway in Los Cabos

If you like our vacation and want to try your own getaway, here are a couple of pointers:

• Go mid-week if you are watching your budget. Room rates at the Viceroy are typically less expensive Monday to Thursday. If you are feeling bucks up, there are also private casitas with rooftop pools and full kitchens. Book here.
• Fly from Tijuana if you can to save money and time. We flew on Volaris Airlines and were quite happy with the service and aircraft quality. If you are flying from elsewhere, the Viceroy is still easy to reach from the Los Cabos airport.
• Don’t overpack. It’s always warm in Cabo – during the winter you might need a light sweater at night. No one is walking the fashion runway here, so bring nice things but don’t go crazy.
• Leave room in your suitcase for the stuff you will inevitably buy in Mexico to bring home.
• Make dinner and spa reservations in advance to get the services you want at the time that you want them.
• All the rooms at the Viceroy have ocean views, so don’t stress about your room location. If you like things more quiet, choose the main building on a higher floor.

• Don’t forget to tip your servers, helpers and housekeepers. They work hard and appreciate it when we recognize them for that.
• Don’t bother thinking you will swim in the ocean. The surf is waaaaay too rough in Cabo and muy peligroso for swimming.
• Eat all the fresh seafood and locally-raised ingredients. It’s safe and so is the purified drinking water at the resort. And yes, you can brush your teeth with the faucet water.
• Most importantly, relax, unwind and have fun enjoying each other’s company in one of the most beautiful resorts in the world!