Quick Overview: One couple, two courses, two resorts, and two very different priorities. This Los Cabos golf getaway combines stays at Mar del Cabo by Velas Resorts and Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes Resort Golf & Spa, with rounds at the stunning Quivira Golf Club and the architecturally rich Solmar Golf Links. The verdict: even the non-golfer returned home with unforgettable moments.
While a great golf trip is usually measured by the quality of the courses, a great couples retreat is defined by something more subtle: both partners should feel that the trip was tailored to them.
That is what made Los Cabos such a pleasant surprise.
On paper, this trip was golf-centric. I arrived as an avid golfer eager to experience some of Baja’s renowned golf destinations, including Quivira Golf Club and Solmar Golf Links. My wife, Kimberly, came as the non-golfer, curious but not necessarily expecting the game to shape her experience.
By the end of the trip, it became clear that in Los Cabos, golf can be the anchor around which a variety of other experiences unfold: boutique accommodations, oceanfront dining, spa treatments, sunset cruises, coastal drives, and the easygoing vibe of a destination designed for both adventure and relaxation.
The trip was hosted by Mar del Cabo by Velas Resorts, Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes Resort Golf & Spa, Solmar Golf Links, and Quivira Golf Club, creating a version of Los Cabos that felt ideal for couples, especially when one partner seeks tee times while the other prefers time by the water, at the spa, or under the stars.
Enjoying the boutique charm of Mar del Cabo with stunning Sea of Cortez views during an unforgettable Los Cabos getaway.
Enjoying the boutique charm of Mar del Cabo with stunning Sea of Cortez views during an unforgettable Los Cabos getaway.
The Boutique Experience at Mar del Cabo
Our first stop was Mar del Cabo, a boutique seaside retreat situated along the Tourist Corridor between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
My first impression was immediate: we had stumbled upon one of Cabo’s best-kept secrets. In a destination crowded with towering glass-and-steel resorts, Mar del Cabo feels smaller, warmer, and more inviting. Its whitewashed walls, sweeping arches, bougainvillea spilling over terraces, and deep-blue views of the Sea of Cortez give the property a Santorini-meets-Baja character without feeling overly designed.
Mar del Cabo also departs from the traditional all-inclusive resort model. It operates as a European Plan boutique hotel, which significantly changes the pace of a stay. There is no rush for loungers, no crowd energy, and no feeling of being swept into a cookie-cutter vacation. With fewer than 50 suites, it offers a more intimate atmosphere, resembling a private seaside village rather than a large resort.
Aerial view of Mar del Cabo’s oceanfront setting, where beachside lounging, dramatic rock formations, and boutique resort design create a secluded Baja escape.
For couples, that intimacy is important. Mar del Cabo allowed us to settle in, relax, and adjust to the destination before moving into the more golf-focused part of the trip. It also positioned us within easy reach of the broader culinary offerings of Velas Resorts, including Encanto Farm & Sea, Cocina de Autor, and LOTO Robata Grill.
This experience reinforced that a successful golf retreat does not need to begin on the first tee. Sometimes, it starts with the right setting, the right pace, and the understanding that both travelers have room to enjoy the destination in their own way.
Quivira Golf Club, where dramatic cliffs, Pacific views, and elevated tee shots create one of Los Cabos’ most memorable golf experiences.
Quivira: A Memorable Round Above the Pacific
Quivira Golf Club marked my first round of the trip and delivered immediate excitement.
Playing Quivira on my birthday made the experience even more personal, but the course itself would be unforgettable on any day. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and perched high above the Pacific, Quivira makes a grand impression from the moment you arrive. It is exclusive, dramatic, and filled with moments that linger long after the round is over.
The clifftop holes are the highlights, with shots from elevations that create a genuine rush of adrenaline. The wind, the waves, the elevation, and the stunning views all contribute to the strategy.
Quivira Golf Club’s dramatic downhill par-5 12th hole offers one of the course’s most memorable views of the Pacific Ocean.
Quivira Golf Club’s 5th hole pairs dramatic clifftop terrain, elevated tee shots, and Pacific Ocean views in a bucket-list Los Cabos setting.
Quivira is not just a course you play; it is an experience you embrace.
The hospitality enhances that impression. Breakfast burritos at the driving range set a surprisingly generous tone, while comfort stations throughout the round kept things flowing smoothly. Snacks, cocktails, and exceptional service became part of the rhythm of the day. For high-end golf travelers, this level of on-course hospitality helps explain why Quivira has become such a coveted destination.
However, it is important to see Quivira in context. This was primarily my golf experience, not the couples-resort portion of the trip. Kimberly did not need to be on the course for the day to be a success. That is part of the beauty of Los Cabos: a golfer can enjoy a dream round while their non-golfing partner has access to a beautiful and leisurely destination.
Culinary enthusiasts can delight in the flavors of Los Cabos at Encanto Farm & Sea, Cocina de Autor, and LOTO Robata Grill.
Dining as the Other Main Event
While the golf was spectacular, the dining experience was nearly its equal.
At Mar del Cabo and its sister properties, the culinary program enhanced the entire trip. Encanto Farm & Sea became the most intimate dining experience of our stay, especially on the birthday evening after playing Quivira. Just steps from the surf, the restaurant offered a Baja-Med menu rooted in local ingredients. The atmosphere was quiet, attentive, and romantic, allowing the media-trip structure to fade into the background.
Cocina de Autor at Grand Velas Los Cabos provided a different kind of drama. Part of the same Velas Resorts family, it introduced its own distinct culinary identity. Led by Michelin-starred chef Sidney Schutte, the tasting menu guided us through a refined sequence of globally inspired courses, complemented by wine pairings. It felt less like dinner and more like a culinary performance.
LOTO Robata Grill at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos added another dimension with its open-flame Japanese cooking techniques and sleek, minimalist design. Together, these dinners redefined the concept of a stay-and-play trip. This was not just golf by day with food as a supporting act; the dining experiences had their own destination appeal.
For couples, achieving that balance is essential. If one partner plays golf and the other does not, the trip needs shared highlights. In Los Cabos, dining becomes one of those shared experiences.
Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes captures the Pacific-side rhythm of Los Cabos, pairing resort luxury, oceanfront golf, and sunset cruising in one expansive escape.
The Pacific-Side Shift to Grand Solmar
After our stay at Mar del Cabo, we moved to Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes Resort Golf & Spa, located just north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side.
The contrast was immediate. While Mar del Cabo feels intimate and village-like, Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes offers an expansive and immersive experience. Nestled within an 834-acre oceanfront community, the resort is surrounded by desert dunes and the Pacific Ocean, creating a vast, self-contained escape.
This side of Cabo showcases a landscape that feels larger and wilder. With infinity pools, a massive saltwater lagoon pool, open views, all-inclusive dining, and the presence of Solmar Golf Links, it is designed for full resort living.
Anica and Sunset Bar pair relaxed resort dining with cocktails and Pacific-side views.
Dining at Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes
At Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes, the dining experience continued through the resort’s all-inclusive meal plan, which gave us access to breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and beverages throughout the stay.
Anica served as the resort’s signature restaurant, highlighting local ingredients, traditional Mexican flavors, and panoramic ocean views from its al-fresco terrace. The resort also offered a broader collection of casual venues, including Sports Bar, Lagoon Bar, Aqua Bar, Tide Bar, Sunset Bar, and Deli Café, making the Pacific-side stay feel relaxed, flexible, and easy to enjoy between golf, pool time, spa treatments, and sunset views.
A private terrace at Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes frames the resort’s Pacific-side serenity with open-air lounging, plunge-pool calm, and sweeping ocean views.
For Kimberly, this was where the non-golfer’s side of the trip truly came into focus. While I played golf, she had the space to relax, enjoy the pools, experience the spa, and take in the coastal setting without feeling like she was waiting for my game to end.
Her treatment at The Spa by The Ocean was one of the defining non-golf experiences of the trip. Set against the soothing sound and rhythm of the Pacific, the spa felt grand, therapeutic, and deeply connected to the local environment. It was not just a massage near the water; the natural ambience became an integral part of the treatment.
Solmar Golf Links brings Pacific-side golf into sharp focus, with emerald fairways framed by desert dunes, coastal water features, and sweeping ocean views.
Solmar Golf Links: A Premier Golf Experience
Solmar Golf Links served as the golf centerpiece of the Pacific-side stay.
Opened in 2020, this Greg Norman Signature course is a private, links-inspired design located within the Rancho San Lucas community. The course weaves through coastal dunes, desert landscapes, cactus forests, and oceanfront corridors, with stunning Pacific views visible from nearly every hole.
I had the pleasure of playing Solmar twice, and each round offered a different experience.
During my first round, I was completely in awe. The scale of the dunes, the vibrant color of the ocean, the cactus-lined corridors, and the expansive sky captured my attention. It was easy to get lost in the beauty.
Solmar Golf Links stretches through Pacific dunes at sunset, blending links-style fairways, natural desert contours, and sweeping coastal views.
By the second round, I began to appreciate the course’s architecture. I started to feel the effects of the wind, notice the subtle contours of the fairways, and understand the importance of approach angles. The revetted pot bunkers, inspired by classic British seaside courses, are more than visual features; they significantly influence strategy. Choose the wrong line, and the course quickly reminds you that links golf relies as much on positioning as it does on power.
Solmar Golf Links has also received accolades beyond its stunning views. It has been named Latin America’s Best Golf Course 2025 by the World Golf Awards and is recognized by Audubon International for its commitment to environmental stewardship. This combination is increasingly important, as modern golf travelers seek destinations that offer both beauty and responsibility. Solmar demonstrates that luxury golf and conservation can indeed coexist.
Kimberly’s Los Cabos experience shows the non-golfer’s side of the getaway, with beach time, spa moments, and coastal relaxation beyond the course.
Los Cabos for Non-Golfers
Kimberly’s perspective might be the most valuable part of this trip for couples contemplating a similar getaway.
She discovered that Los Cabos is just as rewarding for non-golfers as it is for golfers. Her days were filled with spa treatments, lounging by pools and lagoons, exploring the Corridor’s bars and restaurants, and enjoying the breathtaking coastline. A highlight of her trip was a private sunset cruise to Land’s End Arch, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.
That experience captured the true strength of this destination. Golfers enjoy world-class courses, while non-golfers can indulge in beautiful scenery, spa services, fine dining, cultural experiences, and activities that do not feel secondary to golf.
This is why Los Cabos works so well as a couples retreat. It allows both partners to engage in their own interests without forcing one to compromise for the other’s hobby.
A well-planned Los Cabos golf retreat balances dramatic Pacific fairways, resort relaxation, and enough variety to satisfy both golfers and non-golfers.
Planning a Los Cabos Golf Retreat
For golfers planning a similar trip, the best advice is to avoid confining yourself solely to the golf resort.
Starting at Mar del Cabo set the perfect tone for our trip. It allowed us to slow down, explore the Corridor, savor the culinary offerings of the Velas collection, and feel connected to the destination before fully immersing ourselves in the golf-resort experience at Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes.
For first-time visitors, this kind of split stay can be ideal. The Corridor offers access to dining, boutique charm, and a variety of experiences, while the Pacific side features dramatic landscapes, seclusion, dunes, and a comprehensive resort experience anchored by Solmar Golf Links.
For golfers, a Cabo itinerary should incorporate variety. Quivira provides stunning scenery and bucket-list drama, while Solmar Golf Links delivers an in-depth architectural experience that becomes more rewarding with a second round. Together, they showcase two distinct aspects of Baja golf: the clifftop spectacle and the windswept challenge of a links course.
For couples, the broader lesson is straightforward: plan for golf, but do not make the entire trip revolve around it.
Land’s End Arch captures the timeless appeal of Los Cabos, where ocean adventure, natural beauty, and unforgettable views complete the getaway.
Why Los Cabos Is Always a Perfect Choice
Los Cabos has long been celebrated as an excellent golf destination, but this trip revealed why it may be even better suited for a couples golf retreat.
It provides avid golfers with enough challenge, stunning scenery, and prestige to justify the journey. At the same time, it offers non-golfing partners ample luxury, wellness, fine dining, and opportunities for exploration, ensuring that the trip feels equally personal for everyone involved. Most importantly, it allows couples to reconnect at the end of each day, sharing experiences: a memorable dinner, a breathtaking sunset, a captivating story, a rejuvenating spa treatment, or even a special breakfast basket filled with conchas and café de olla on a private terrace.
That is the true magic of a well-planned golf retreat. While the game may guide the itinerary, it does not have to shape the entire experience.
In Los Cabos, even if your partner does not play golf, the trip can still be perfectly on par.
