Reaching the new Viceroy Los Camposno one is quite sure where the Sea of Cortez begins and the vast pool that surrounds and intertwines between most of the facilities ends. Designed by an experienced Mexico City architect Miguel Angel Aragonésthe water-enclosed complex comprises a series of concrete volumes connected by a matrix of elevated walkways that bypass this large body of water. The spatial sequence—from a half-dozen restaurants, full-service spas and gyms, and various lobbies and lounges to retreat-like private rooms—is cinematic.
Inspired by Luis Barragán’s “poetic modernism” and brutalist principles, Viceroy Los Cabos utilizes light, shadow, water and silence as its main materials. Although grand in scale, the resort unfolds as a series of more intimate spaces. One feels as if they are passing through a series of labyrinths, moving through natural light and darkness at the right intervals. The only welcome interruption, perhaps, are the cocoon-like woven structures that sit just above the surface of the pool.
In the 198 accommodations, a minimalist design sets the stage for panoramic sea views. Some rooms appear to hang over the pool below, framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. It’s a far cry from the overtly maximalist decor that defines other properties in the area. This in no way leaves visitors cut off from the region’s rich cultural and natural offerings. The blank canvas approach really helps make these features and attractions the star of the show.
The Sea of Cortez is one of the most biologically diverse marine environments in the world, and visitors catching a glimpse of a whale is almost certain. Viceroy’s curated experiences include snorkeling, private boat trips, desert excursions and visits to local markets. There is also a rotating program of art installations, musical performances, additional wellness activities and special culinary experiences.
Restaurants include Cielomar, an upscale rooftop hangout serving Mexican dishes. Otro Bar’s sculptural interior complements a menu of rare mezcals, while Casero is the main heart of the resort, serving comfort food for breakfast and lunch. Adjacent to the distinctly beachfront, oval-shaped pool that seems to float above the setting is the Nidito Beach + Poolside Bar, where mezcal and agua fresca flow freely.
The resort’s wellness offering is equally ritual-based, combining ancestral healing traditions with modern wellness science. Includes cold plunge, contrast therapy experience, hydrotherapy suite and private treatment rooms.
Viceroy Los Cabos is defined by a more understated, if monumental, form of luxury—an approach that lets everything else in the area shine.
What: Viceroy Los Campos
Where: Los Campos, Mexico
How many: From $541 per night
Design draw: A brutalist, poetic-modernist complex criss-crossed by a single massive swimming pool, with minimalist interiors accentuating the surrounding natural setting.
Make a reservation: Viceroy Lo Campos
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Photo by Emma Peter.
