Beyond the Party Scene: How Cabo Is Becoming Mexico’s Top Wellness Escape

I recently experienced a moment I know will stay with me for the rest of my life. I was standing on the beach, facing one of those breathtaking Baja California Sur sunsets. Wrapped in a cozy blanket to shield myself from the wind, and listening to the sounds of whales and waves through my headphones, I realized something: this moment mattered.

I was traveling with a small group, each of us wearing matching headphones tuned into the same immersive soundtrack as we finished a guided meditation. The setting sun and the ocean felt designed to complement the experience, and I could tell the whole group was touched in a similar way. I was sure of it, even if I had just met all of them the day before.

It was one of many activities I experienced during a SOUL (Savor, Oasis, Unity, and Leisure) Wellness Retreat in Los Cabos — a five-day journey hosted by Los Cabos Tourism Board to showcase the potential of this southern corner of Baja as a destination for travelers seeking something beyond the party scene and bottomless cocktails.

Sitting between the Baja California desert and the Pacific Ocean, Los Cabos has a unique blend of natural beauty, boutique accommodations, and award-winning restaurants. It also had a refreshing lack of tourist crowds that often overrun other beach destinations in Mexico. To me, it felt like it had all the necessary ingredients for a world-class and authentic wellness destination, easily accessible from most major US cities.
All photos by the author

Treehouses, hydrotherapy, and spa rituals: Cabo’s wellness stays

[gallery ids="867841,867840,867833,867842,867844" size="full" type="slider" /] Nobu Los Cabos was my base for the duration of the retreat. It has 200 rooms and 60 residences, blending Japanese minimalism with Mexican warmth. Much of the furniture and stonework is locally sourced, and the design is meant to evoke the four elements through textures and layout. The rooms are also carefully designed around comfort and simplicity; the Japanese-style wooden tub was a personal highlight.

Nobu also has a full suite of wellness rituals through its Esencia Wellness Spa, including healing volcanic stone treatments, blended Asian massages, and a range of classic therapies. In the spa, a complete hydrotherapy circuit awaits, with a sauna, steam rooms, jacuzzi, a cold plunge, and a “sensations” pool with hydrojets. Also available is wellness programming like yoga, sound healing, crafting, and cooking classes for groups, as well as private experiences like chef dinners and even oceanside proposals.

I also visited Acre, a resort set in a lush oasis that makes you forget you’re deep in the desert. This 26-acre property is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and wellness-centered living. Guests can stay in their iconic, adults-only treehouses, where breakfast is delivered via pulley from Fausto’s Kitchen, or in roomier villas.

Acre’s wellness offerings include yoga classes, sound baths, breathwork sessions, holistic spa treatments, and artisan workshops. A highlight for many is meeting the friendly farm animals (and an army of puppies) that have been rescued from neglect or abuse by Acre Animal Rescue.

A culinary scene that blends desert and ocean

Every wellness immersion should be paired with first-class dining, and Los Cabos turned out to be an ideal destination for that. The region’s geographic isolation and the unique characteristics of its soil have transformed it into a hub for organic food production. The farm-to-table and slow food movements have taken root in the local culinary scene, and Los Cabos is quickly gaining recognition on both national and international stages. As of today, Baja has 21 restaurants in the Michelin Guide, with 18 recommendations, three Bib Gourmand designations, and a one-star-rated restaurant (Cocina de Autor). They’re impressive numbers for a region whose largest population center (Los Cabos) is just 350,000 inhabitants.

On our first evening, we visited Monte Cardón, a hilltop restaurant with panoramic views of the desert and surrounding mountains. Chef and owner Ubaldo Martínez shared that the entire concept is inspired by slow food principles, and that nearly every ingredient on the menu is sourced from within a 20-mile radius. The commitment to sustainability is reflected not only in the cuisine, but in the very structure of the restaurant: it’s built using local granite, sand, and clay, and surrounded by native landscaping that integrates naturally with the arid environment.

Dinner highlights included yellowtail in green mole and fresh baby scallops in damiana-infused butter, with the latter bringing out the distinctive herbal flavors unique to Baja. Monte Cardón is open Thursday through Saturday and offers an intimate 12-seat dining experience.

At Acre, I had lunch at Acre Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, where chef David Fajardo told us about the restaurant’s deep sustainability focus — one that has earned Acre a Michelin Green Star for two consecutive years. Most ingredients are grown onsite at its working farm, and the menu evolves with the seasons. I dined in the Citrus Room, an open-air private dining space surrounded entirely by vegetation.

Wellness is an ideal theme for a Los Cabos getaway

A wellness retreat should be more than pampering. It should be an intentional journey designed to restore physical, emotional, and mental balance. These experiences often blend movement practices, mindfulness, natural immersion, and holistic therapies.

My retreat in Los Cabos embodied this approach. Across four days, we engaged in sound meditations, yoga, ancestral ceremonies, breathwork sessions, functional workouts, and even an astrology class. It was a well-rounded program, anchored in the idea that personal transformation requires presence, patience, and a setting that encourages both.

I’m no stranger to holistic experiences. I’ve practiced yoga, found solace in sound baths, and even explored the therapeutic use of psychedelic plants. Still, I was surprised by how much of an impact four days of continuous, intentional practice in a curated environment could have. By the final day, my mind was clearer and my mood lighter. After a breathwork session, I experienced what I can only describe as complete presence: a brief moment of mindfulness and tranquility that may have only lasted a short time, but was meaningful beyond measure.

According to recent data from the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is now worth $830 billion annually, and is expected to keep growing. Los Cabos seems to understand the potential: in recent years, the region has diversified and expanded its wellness offerings, creating experiences that cater to everyone from seasoned practitioners to curious newcomers.

There’s something inherently introspective about Baja’s nature, and its silence, vastness, and stark beauty seem to invite inner exploration. When you combine that atmosphere with a true commitment to sustainability and high-end service, you get more than just a self-care vacation: you get an environment designed for and well-suited for reaching the feeling of being content and mentally strong. That’s not something you find in every tourism destination, but it’s something at which Los Cabos is truly excelling.