Casa Dorada Resort & Spa
Casa Dorada earns its following by doing the location thing better than almost anyone in Cabo San Lucas. Medano Beach is the city's swimming beach, calm, protected and Blue Flag certified, and the resort sits right on it with a direct view of the Arch and a five-minute walk to the marina. That convenience pays off every day of a stay. The property leans into that energy rather than pretending to be a secluded escape: Mango Deck is next door, the beach has vendors and day visitors, and downtown is a stroll away. If you want Cabo's social scene within reach without sleeping in the middle of it, this is your base.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Prime Medano Beach location: the resort's own description is the swimmable, Blue Flag certified beach in Cabo San Lucas, with calm water in the bay and the Arch in view from the sand
- +Every one of the 181 suites has an ocean view, and the resort says the higher the floor, the better the view, so a high-floor request is worth making
- +Five-minute walk to the marina and downtown Cabo San Lucas, so restaurants and nightlife are on foot rather than a taxi ride away like at most Corridor resorts
- +Genuinely pet-friendly: dogs up to 40 lbs for US$100 per stay, nightly turndown treats for the dog, a recommended grooming salon and 24-hour vet service
- +Okianus is a real poolside restaurant and swim-up bar (open 9am to 6pm), so you can order a margarita and a salad without drying off
- +Suites are built for longer stays, with expansive living areas, kitchenettes and balconies, which takes pressure off the restaurant bill
- +Five venues under El Rincon Culinario plus 24-hour room service, and the pizza bar and sushi bar take walk-ins with no reservation needed
- +Babysitting is available on request for all ages, and Wi-Fi is complimentary in rooms and throughout the public areas
Cons
- −Not all-inclusive: the standard rate is European Plan with no meals, and food and drinks are extra unless you add the 'All in one' package, which catches out guests who assume otherwise
- −Noise from the neighbouring Mango Deck bar carries into the pool area and lower-floor rooms through the day, with a DJ on the microphone
- −On-site food and drink prices are steep even by Cabo standards, and the minibar is not complimentary
- −Medano is a public beach, so expect day visitors and vendors selling tours; lively for some, a dealbreaker for others
- −Expedia-group listings show a renovation from December 1 to December 31, 2026 with the completion date subject to change; the resort's own site does not mention it, so holiday-season guests should ask directly
- −No kids club: the children's facilities are a wading pool and a playground, so families with school-age kids will be planning their own days
- −Lounge chairs at the pool and beach are first come, first served and cannot be reserved, and outside drinks and snacks are not allowed in either area
The first thing to know is that this is not an all-inclusive. Rates are European Plan, and meals and drinks are charged unless you add the 'All in one' package. The dining is the five-venue El Rincon Culinario: 12 Tribes for dinner from 6:00 to 10:30pm, with premium cuts, seafood, pasta and sushi and a cellar holding a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence; Maydan for the buffet and a la carte breakfast, lunch and the beach club; Trattoria Medano for pizza; a sushi bar; and Okianus, the poolside restaurant and swim-up bar. Room service runs 24 hours. The two free-form pools, with hammocks and firepits, are open 8am to 10pm, the fitness centre 7am to 7pm, and there is a pickleball court and the Saltwater Spa. The 181 suites are spacious, with kitchenettes and balconies. The resort is cashless (cards or room charge), valet parking is available, and smoking is limited to open public areas. On top of the room rate, Los Cabos has charged an environmental tax of 82.12 Mexican pesos per room per night since January 2025, about US$4.50 and charged per room rather than per guest. Expedia-group listings also show a renovation from December 1 to 31, 2026, with completion subject to change, so check before booking the holidays.
Casa Dorada suits travelers who want to be in the middle of Cabo rather than removed from it: couples, groups of friends using a good hotel as a base for the city, dog owners, and families with younger children who will be happy with a wading pool, a playground and a babysitter on request. Families wanting a supervised kids club should look elsewhere. Against Hacienda del Mar it trades polish and quiet for walkability, and against the Riu Santa Fe it feels more boutique and less of a party. Whale watching from December through March, snorkeling, diving and Arch boat tours are all a short walk or boat ride from the beach, and the concierge books them.
Common Questions
Is this an all-inclusive resort or not?
How bad is the noise from Mango Deck?
Is Medano Beach good for swimming or is it rough like most of Cabo?
Can I bring my dog and what should I expect?
Is it a good pick for families with kids?
Are there extra charges I should budget for?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Maydán |
| Italian | Trattoria Medano |
| Japanese & sushi | Sushi |
| Steakhouse | 12 Tribes |
| International & fusion | Okianus |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
Medano Beach6 min drive · 2.1 mi
Palmilla Golf Club30 min drive · 17 mi
Santa Maria Beach25 min drive · 8.1 mi
8 min walk · 0.4 mi
Marina Cabo San Lucas8 min walk · 0.4 mi
8 min walk · 0.4 mi
More things to do (24)
- Chileno Beach · beach20 min drive · 9.0 mi
- Monuments Beach · beach11 min drive · 3.9 mi
- Playa del Estero · beach40 min drive · 22 mi
- Sunset catamaran cruise · excursion8 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Snorkel cruise to Santa Maria Bay · excursion8 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Snorkeling at Pelican Rock · excursion8 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Sportfishing charter · excursion8 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Cabo San Lucas Natural History Museum · museum3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Iglesia de San Lucas · historic site3 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Cabo Dolphins · adventure park5 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Cabo San Lucas · town5 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Quivira Golf Club · golf13 min drive · 5.7 mi
- Cabo del Sol Golf · golf15 min drive · 6.6 mi
- Cabo Falso Old Lighthouse · historic site15 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Cabo Real Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 13 mi
- Acapulquito Beach · beach30 min drive · 17 mi
- Costa Azul Beach · beach30 min drive · 18 mi
- Palmilla Beach · beach30 min drive · 17 mi
- Club Campestre San José · golf30 min drive · 20 mi
- San José del Cabo · town30 min drive · 20 mi
- San José Estuary · nature30 min drive · 20 mi
- Misión San José del Cabo · historic site35 min drive · 20 mi
- Cerro de las Chivas · viewpoint35 min drive · 21 mi
- Sea turtle release, San José del Cabo (July to December) · wildlife35 min drive · 21 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Cabo San Lucas is not a sargassum destination.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 1,807 reviews
“I would like to recognize the excellent work of Miriam and Erubí 🙏💖. Their dedication and patience made all the difference during my reservation process. See you in March 🏖️, hoping for a room with an ocean view 🌊✨. I’ll be sure to share how ever...”
“I booked a last-minute trip here for NYE and my stay was great! First, I booked the 1-bedroom King suite and the room was HUGE. I had a full kitchen, shower, bathtub, living room, a separate bedroom, and two balconies overlooking the pool and sea....”
“I loved the location right on the beach. Only deterrent was the Mango Deck and The Office right in front with loud music late night. It sounded like it was in my room with me. If you're a partier and up late, you'll probably be there instead of in yo...”
