The Cape, a Thompson Hotel and just-initiated Hyatt property, has been turning heads since it debuted on one of the most enviable stretches of coast outside Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2015. From its perch overlooking Monuments Beach, guests can see whales plying the surf and, in the distance, the iconic El Arco rock formation that marks Land’s End.
For years, I’ve dreamt of staying at this property — and soaking in a copper-clad bathtub that’s the stuff of every travel editor’s dreams.
So what happens when you send a travel editor to a hotel she’s been dreaming about for four years? She gets an award-winning sunburn, spends $100 on a dinner for one two nights in a row and takes 1,356 photos, mostly of bathtubs and tacos..
Booking
We booked a deluxe ocean-view room at The Cape for $569 per night directly through Hyatt, as we booked close-in and there unfortunately was no award availability on the dates I needed to stay.
These rooms start at 592 square feet and come with a private balcony overlooking the ocean. Now that The Cape is officially part of the World of Hyatt program, standard king rooms (480 to 498 square feet) at this Category 6 property can be booked from 25,000 points per night. And, since Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, it’s easy to amass the points you’d need for a free stay.
Location
Forty-five minutes from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), the drive takes you along the resort-filled tourist corridor framing Interstate 1. You’ll pass an untold number of golf courses and some of the most well-known resorts in the region, including the One&Only Palmilla; Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort; the brand-new Montage Los Cabos; and Solaz, a Luxury Collection Hotel from Marriott, before arriving at The Cape, which presides over an especially attractive cove overlooking Monuments Beach (a popular surfing spot) and, in the distance, the distinctive rock formation El Arco.
Though you can’t walk into town from The Cape, the marina at Cabo San Lucas is less than 4 miles away, making it easy to take day trips (especially boat and kayak tours) to the southernmost tip of Baja California.
Check-in
When my car pulled up to the open-air lobby of The Cape, I was immediately greeted by hotel staff who helped with my suitcase and led me to the front desk.
All signs pointed to a seamless stay: I was asked to provide my Hyatt number so I could receive points for my stay, which struck me as both unexpected and proactive — the hotel had just been integrated into the World of Hyatt program.
The first thing I saw at The Cape was a true-to-size whale sculpture fashioned from driftwood. But the second may have been the real-life cetaceans. While I waited to be checked in, the employee who greeted me at the entrance pointed out whales splashing in the distance, and I was enthralled by the view of the Sea of Cortez and Land’s End, where the gulf mixes forcefully with the Pacific.
I received a single key to my deluxe king room and was escorted upstairs to the fourth floor.
Room
A narrow entryway opened into a light-filled, 592-square-foot room with an oversized balcony overlooking the beach. Hand-painted cement tiles (fun fact: less slippery when wet) echoed the colors of the sea, and a worn, dark leather headboard wrapped around the king bed, fitted with sateen-woven linens that kept cool in the evening. The room playfully mixed masculine elements, mid-century furnishings and sophisticated beach-club vibes — and totally eschewed any Mexican colonial kitsch.
Bathroom
Yes, I included a separate section for the bathroom.
There are few hotel amenities quite like an oversized soaking tub. After all, how many of us have time to take baths in real life? (Not me.) From the freestanding copper-leaf tub, I could watch television or gaze out through the wall-to-wall windows. Elegant Noken Porcelanosa monoblock taps included an oversized faucet and a handheld shower head. There was also a sliding wood bathtub tray stocked with DS & Durga Bowmaker amenities — a blend of fragrances like amber and walnut — that were also found on the bathroom vanity and in the shower.
Food and Beverage
The Cape felt like a small property because of its compact layout, but it actually had quite a lot of variety in terms of places to eat and drink. For breakfast, the casual restaurant The Ledge spilled out onto a wide patio overlooking the beach, and served contemporary plates with a focus on seafood. (Order the eggs Benedict with either chipotle-spiced lobster or fried soft-shell crab.) Point Break, the swim-up bar with an adjacent terrace, opened at 8am but served all-day lunch fare and snacks, including excellent charred octopus tacos with pico, coriander and jicama ($21). You can also order a blackened fish sandwich ($24), coconut-crusted shrimp ($18) and an array of ceviches and raw seafood ($12 to $38), among other plates. I definitely took cues from the waiters here, who helped me craft not just a great dinner but a fabulous experience. I never would have ordered the avocado, chamomile, lime, sake and white tequila cocktail ($13), but my waiter promised it was a home run. I ordered a second one before my main arrived.
Overall Impression
When I first arrived at The Cape, there was a wedding party getting soggy on bottle service by the pool. And at dinner that same evening, I met a flight attendant who had come to the End of the World (and this hotel, specifically) for a special trip with her husband. And I can’t wait to go back to share the experience with someone else one day. Obviously, it’s not a bad place to go for a solo work trip, but it’s definitely a property best saved for an important occasion. Unlike many of its neighbors, The Cape doesn’t feel all that big — its facilities and restaurant aren’t spread across dozens of acres of beachfront. Instead, it’s compact but still stocked with restaurants, pools and other activities. This property really is perfect for an anniversary or big celebration. But, I would definitely leave the kids at home. I saw a few children, all a bit older, but don’t think most kids will appreciate the Cabo-cool aesthetic and live DJ sessions — though everyone in the family, I’m sure, would look forward to bathtime.
How to Book
We love using Hotels Combined, which is part of Kayak. You can find great rates on hotels everywhere, and it compares across a bunch of sites so you don’t have to.
Another great way to experience Ojai is through VRBO, where you can find a fantastic home to rent and experience all the great restaurants in the area.