Before Cabo San Lucas became shorthand for sun-drenched escape, the family behind Solmar Hotels & Resorts helped put it on the map. The company’s founder, Don Luis Bulnes, was a Spanish immigrant and visionary entrepreneur who saw potential in this rugged stretch of Pacific coastline long before the developers arrived. What began as a modest inn for sportfishermen in the 1970s (Bulnes had a passion for the sport) evolved into a homegrown resort collection with deep local ties and loyal returning guests. A legacy of family, hospitality, and Baja authenticity continues to define the Solmar experience today.
Simply put, Solmar stands as a cornerstone of Cabo’s evolution. The brand has grown alongside the city, but hasn’t lost sight of its roots. Across its six properties, Solmar blends warm, attentive service with sense of place. These aren’t generic beach resorts. Each one reflects a specific vision—shaped by landscape, local culture, and the family’s longstanding presence in the region.
At its core, Solmar is about genuine hospitality—the kind that doesn’t need training because it’s cultural. Many staff members have been with the brand for decades. Guests return year after year not just for the beaches or views, but for the people—who remember names, birthdays, and favorite suites. During my four days in Cabo, I experienced the brand’s signature approach at three of its flagship properties: Grand Solmar Land’s End, Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes, and Playa Grande Resort. Each has a distinct personality, but all share Solmar’s throughline of thoughtful design, impeccable upkeep, and a standard of polished service that is utterly gracious. Cabo might be known for more marquee hospitality names (think Esperanza and Las Ventanas al Paraiso), but I can’t imagine hospitality any more welcoming than that at Solmar Hotels and Resorts, or grounds and accommodations any more well-maintained and immaculate.
Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes: Remote, Refined, and Designed for Escape
Set within the gated Rancho San Lucas development, Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes feels farther from the town of Cabo than it actually is. The approach winds past desert scrub and golf greens before opening to wide views of the Pacific. This is a place built for quiet luxury. It’s ideal for couples and families who want seclusion without sacrificing style. The resort opened in 2017 and feels brand new. It currently features 145 spacious guest rooms and suites, all with kitchens or kitchenettes and sweeping terraces. And there are more guest accommodation on the horizon. Furnishing are rich with texture, bedding is plush, and the artistic tilework is striking.
The pools are vast, uncrowded and well-tended. Not a chaise lounge is askew. I spent an afternoon at the saltwater lagoon and felt I had the place to myself. I had the same experience at the sublime Spa by the Ocean, where five private palapas line the dunes, allowing the soothing sounds of the waves to further induce relaxation. Cuisine is a highlight—particularly at fine-dining Anica, where Baja flavors are served in a sophisticated space. The resort is favored by golfers, as Solmar Golf Links is just a short golf cart ride away. The 2020 Greg Norman design course weaves within the desert and dunes, and features five, stunning oceanfront holes from which breaching whales are a regular sight. It’s a Golf Digest Editors’ Choice course, ranked #12 in Mexico/Caribbean/Atlantic courses by Golf Week.
For additional activity, nearby Cactus Tours offers free shuttle access to its adventure park where guests can pedal the world’s longest Skybike course, ride camels along the dunes (my choice), or explore on horseback, ATV, and dune buggy.
Grand Solmar Land’s End: At the Edge of Everything
Just steps from Cabo’s marina but facing the ocean, Grand Solmar Land’s End delivers the best of both worlds. It’s Solmar’s flagship property, perched dramatically at the literal edge of the continent, with massive granite cliffs framing the beach. You can feel the pulse of downtown, but once inside the resort is serene, expansive, and entirely its own. Upon arrival, I was offered a cool towel and a cold drink, setting the tone for a more than hospitable stay.
The property, open since 2011, spans 244 ocean-view suites—all of them positioned to take in the crash of waves and sweep of horizon. The design leans traditional, with terracotta tones, arched corridors, and lush gardens framing it all. Rooms and suites are thoughtfully designed, featuring woven textiles, artisan tilework, and clean-lined furniture and breezy terraces. Kitchens are well-outfitted with all the necessities. Layouts range from open-plan studios to sprawling four-bedroom penthouses, many topping 1,200 square feet.
Seven pools offer variety without crowding. There’s a sunrise deck, a family-friendly option, adult-only spaces, and swim-up bars, all arranged to preserve views of the Pacific. Dining options are plentiful and my dinner at La Roca was memorable: crafted cocktails, fresh peach and burrata salad, and cooked-to-order wagyu filet.
The concierge can arrange private boat outings with Solmar’s dedicated fleet. My charter to Cabo’s iconic El Arco was a highlight; music of my choice, cocktails and nibbles, and a dip in the Sea of Cortez were included with the beautiful views.
Playa Grande Resort: Family-Friendly and Warmly Welcoming
Playa Grande Resort sits between Land’s End and the marina, with walkable access to both. It’s the most casual of the three, but in the best way. Families gather at the expansive main pool. Multigenerational groups linger over exceptional dinners at Brigantine Steak House. There’s color, life, and movement here.
Built in 1997, the 260 suite resort has a livelier tone than its siblings. It’s close enough to walk into town, yet far enough to feel like a retreat. The vibe is classic Cabo—cheerful, social, and unmistakably welcoming. You’ll hear laughter from the pool bar and catch sunset views from the upper terraces. For many returning travelers, it feels like a second home.
By day, activity centers around five pools. One has a swim-up bar. One is adults-only. The entertainment team leads bingo games, ping-pong tournaments, and poolside trivia. Kids dart between the splash pad and snack bar while adults drift between loungers. The social pool hums with cocktails, music, and impromptu dance-offs. At night, the energy shifts but never slows. Live music echoes from the deck.
The resort’s Playa Grande Spa is another reason to choose this particular Solmar property. Quiet, cool, and expansive, it features ten treatment rooms, a full service salon, and an immense hot tub with views of the cliffs. For the more adventurous, the traditional and healing Temazcal ritual is a must. The ceremony includes the singing of mantras, sensorial rituals, and moments of self-reflection during which the Temazcal is heated with volcanic stones. Aromatic water is poured on the stones to create detoxifying steam that rises slowly, allowing the body to gradually adapt to the temperature. It’s a deeply restorative and emotional wellness journey that is great for those who are open to a spiritual, life-changing experience.
It’s all About the Hospitality
What sets Solmar Hotels & Resorts apart isn’t just its impressive resort locations. It’s the hospitality: warm, genuine, quietly anticipatory. That sense of welcome is matched by an almost obsessive attention to detail. Rooms, suites, and common spaces are pristine. There’s a sense that every corner, every suite, every surface has been readied with care. After more than 50 years in Cabo, Solmar continues to refine on its founding spirit. This is hospitality rooted in family, elevated by time, and delivered with grace.
Photos courtesy of Solmar Hotels & Resorts