Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Character and identity

Set behind the gates of Puerto Los Cabos and built into a hillside above the Sea of Cortez, Zadún spreads 115 rooms and suites across 42 low-slung buildings of neutral stone and cement, so the desert and water do the talking. Every accommodation comes with a plunge pool, terrace and butler (here called a tosoani, or "dream keeper"). Dining runs from the colourful El Barrio for Mexican breakfasts and street-food lunches to Humo's open-flame grill, an omakase raw bar at Equis, and Candil, a lantern-like mezcal bar with one of the strongest agave programmes in Los Cabos. The 29,000-square-foot Sensei spa anchors a wellness register that leans multisensory.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets Zadún apart is the combination of architectural restraint, in-room privacy (plunge pool, terrace, butler) and a food and beverage line-up that genuinely competes in the corridor. Book a Sea of Cortez-facing room rather than a resort view if the vista matters, time a visit to whale migration if you can, and accept the beach is for strolling, not swimming.