As someone who travels for a living, there is one destination I always find myself returning to: Los Cabos. It may be a no-brainer why this sun-soaked and sand-filled destination attracts travelers worldwide, but for me, Cabo offers something a lot more meaningful. I first lived in Cabo for a month on my digital nomad journey, and the city provided a peaceful retreat where I could focus on my physical and mental wellness.
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
See the Luxurious Side of Los Cabos at the Incredible Casa Maat
When I returned to Cabo this time, I was excited to be back in a familiar place and experience it in a fresh and new way with a weekend at Casa Maat, a boutique hotel located inside the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa. I was there to attend the eighth edition of the Relish the Heritage Festival, which was hosted by chef Thierry Blouet and welcomed Carlos Gaytán, who was Mexico’s first chef to earn a Michelin star. Food from Mexico’s Puebla region was on full display, and combined with the incredible food, Casa Maat proved to be the perfect escape.
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
The name for Casa Maat comes from both Spanish and the language of the Kiliwa, an indigenous people of Mexico living in Baja California, where Los Cabos is located. Casa is Spanish for home, while maat means Earth. I left my time at Casa Maat feeling rejuvenated and reminded of why I set off to travel in the first place: to be deeply connected with myself, others, and the world.
The rooms at Casa Maat
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
Casa Maat is an intimate experience. The boutique luxury hotel has 39 rooms and 6 suites, which rooms starting around $500 to $600 a night, depending on the season. The guest rooms come either with a king or two double beds, with options to look out to the ocean or toward the resort. Each suite is distinct and comes with a living area, balcony, beachfront room, and two bedrooms. Some suites have a fireplace and plunge pool or whirlpool.
The rooms have a modern and smooth design and all the traditional amenities one would expect, from Nespresso coffee machines, to LCD TVs and high-speed internet. I never wanted to leave the rainfall shower in my room or the balcony overlooking the vibrant blue water where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. I also enjoyed the hotel’s personal touches, such as the butler service included in the rate, which helped coordinate activities in town and served as my personal point of contact for my hotel needs during the stay.
Experiences at Casa Maat
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
While the rooms are reason enough to love Casa Maat, there’s no shortage of things to do that adds to the experience. For groups and companies, the hotel has beautiful lounges that can be tailored to suit the guests’ needs. For families traveling to Casa Maat, the boutique hotel offers a game room and a movie room for fun family activities.
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
While there, I spent a lot of time at Jasha Spa, an indoor spa on the property with breathtaking design. A garden welcomes you at the entrance as you walk in. There are 12 intimate treatment rooms, and a vitality pool, private whirlpool, and private jacuzzis within the spa. For my service, I experienced a standard deep tissue massage for 60 minutes. The masseuse used massage and aromatherapy oils infused with natural healing ingredients that reduce stress and allowed for the ultimate relaxation.
While in Cabo, if traveling from December to March, book a whale-watching tour through Cabo Adventures. During those months, the whales are migrating, and you can watch them flipping and jumping through the water.
What to eat at Casa Maat
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
While Casa Maat is an exclusive hotel, guests still have access to the amenities and restaurants at the encompassing JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa, all within a 10 minute walk. For dining options, the main restaurants are located on the JW Marriott side. The hotel has six high-end restaurants: Café des Artistes, Auka Deli, Niparaya Grill and Bar, Nak Grill & Bar, Úa Culinary Artisans, and Kaha Bar, all with different menu offerings. Niparaya Grill and Bar offers delectable cocktails and sushi. Nak Grill & Bar is a poolside restaurant serves both seafood and steak. The pool bar, Kaha Bar, serves fruity cocktails and snacks. My favorite restaurant for the weekend was UÁ Culinary Artisans, a fine-dining experience with an infusion of international cuisines.
On Sundays, the hotel hosts what it calls “the best brunch in Cabo” at Úa Culinary Artisans guests at both Casa Maat and the JW Marriott — and it lives up to this title. The brunch features live cooking demonstrations, an array of food from tacos to sushi to a doughnut wall, and fresh coconut waters.
How to get to Casa Maat
Photo: Casa Maat at JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
Los Cabos is located at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. It encompasses two towns, Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Cabo San Lucas is stereotypically known to have more of a spring break crowd, while San José del Cabo is more on the calmer local side. However, both are great places to spend time in Cabo. Casa Maat is an exclusive boutique hotel inside JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa in San José del Cabo.
Flying into Cabo is simple, with many flights available to the main airport, Los Cabos International Airport. Casa Maat is roughly a 30-minute drive from the airport, and I was able to book my airport transfer from EPIC, a private transportation and shuttle service in Cabo.