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A row of palms rises beside the estuary. Beyond them, sand runs toward the Sea of Cortés, while the brown ridges of the Sierra de la Laguna fill the inland horizon. Baja’s desert appears just beyond the green edge of the property, dry and exposed under the sun.
This is the East Cape of Baja California Sur, a part of Mexico where long beaches, desert terrain, reefs, fishing grounds and small communities still define the story. And earlier this month, one of the world’s best-known luxury hotel brands opened a resort here.
Amanvari is now welcoming travelers at Costa Palmas, bringing 18 private casitas, a large spa, several restaurants and bars, an expansive beach club and a long menu of outdoor experiences to this stretch of the East Cape.
The resort is small enough to keep the focus on the casitas and the landscape around them. Most accommodations are elevated among palms, while others are positioned beside the estuary or directly along the sand. Every casita measures about 82 square meters, or roughly 883 square feet, and each has a heated private pool, an outdoor terrace and an open-air shower.
The opening gives Baja another significant luxury resort, although the appeal here begins well beyond the hotel. Amanvari puts travelers near reefs, desert trails, mountain terrain, fishing grounds and three miles of swimmable beach, with much of a stay designed around getting outside.
Why the East Cape Is the Real Story
Los Cabos has been one of Mexico’s major resort destinations for decades, but the East Cape has always been a different proposition.
The terrain becomes more open here. Long sections of sand replace the busier resort zones around Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Desert plants cover the hills. Small boats head out for fishing. The Sea of Cortés draws divers, snorkelers, sailors and anglers, while the Sierra de la Laguna rises inland.
Amanvari occupies part of the 1,500-acre Costa Palmas estate, which includes 18 acres of organic orchards and farms along with the three-mile beach.
Travelers can spend much of a stay on or near the water. Aman offers sailing, snorkeling and diving, while bikes, horseback rides and hiking provide routes inland. The Sea of Cortés has long been known for marine life, and the reefs and deeper channels off Baja make underwater excursions one of the strongest reasons to come here.
The variety is unusually broad for a resort trip. A traveler can head onto the water, walk through desert terrain, ride on horseback, spend several hours beside the pool or follow trails toward the mountains, all from the same base on the East Cape.
Only 18 Casitas Change the Experience
The accommodation count is one of Amanvari’s most compelling details.
There are just 18 casitas, divided among beachfront, estuary and elevated positions. Instead of conventional hotel corridors and rows of identical rooms, the accommodations occupy separate pavilions among palms and desert vegetation.
The Beachfront Casitas put the sand directly beyond the terrace. Floor-to-ceiling windows face the Sea of Cortés, with two chairs placed near the glass inside and additional seating outdoors. Each private pool runs along the terrace, and a recessed outdoor lounge creates another place to spend time between the casita and the beach.
Other accommodations face the estuary, where palms and dense vegetation replace the wide marine view. The elevated casitas look across the broader Baja terrain, giving travelers another perspective on the desert, mountains and water.
Inside, Aman has kept the palette closely tied to Baja: warm terracotta, wood, stone and sandy neutral tones. Bespoke ceramics and original works by local artists appear throughout the rooms. Large windows bring the exterior view into bedrooms and living areas, while courtyards and terraces add substantial outdoor areas.
The result is particularly suited to travelers who intend to spend real time at the resort. These aren’t simply rooms used between excursions. Private pools, outdoor showers, terraces and separate sitting areas give each casita enough room for long afternoons between trips onto the water or into the desert.
The Pool, the Beach and the Estuary
Amanvari’s central pool is framed by palms, low terraces and the resort’s terracotta architecture. Loungers line the edge, and open views extend toward the surrounding landscape.
Down by the beach, the resort has another gathering point.
The Beach Club puts tables and loungers near the sand, with Baja-inspired food served in earthenware dishes and a more casual atmosphere than the resort’s interior restaurants.
Guests who want to spend the day outside have plenty of choices nearby. Non-motorized water sports equipment is available, and the long swimmable beach makes the area especially useful for travelers who actually plan to get into the sea.
Swimming beaches can be an important distinction in Los Cabos, where currents make sections of the Pacific and Sea of Cortés unsuitable for swimming. Amanvari’s position along Costa Palmas gives guests three miles of beach where swimming is part of the experience.
The estuary introduces another element. Several casitas face palms and sheltered water rather than the open sea, adding a greener side of Baja to a destination usually associated with cactus, rock and desert.
What Eating at Amanvari Looks Like
Food is spread among several distinct venues.
Luma focuses on Baja ingredients and open-fire cooking, connecting local seafood and produce with the cooking traditions of the peninsula. Sesui is the resort’s Japanese restaurant, while Arva brings Aman’s Italian concept to the East Cape.
The Lounge is the more relaxed stop for cocktails, and the Beach Club handles meals closer to the sand.
The surrounding Costa Palmas farms and orchards add a local agricultural source close to the resort. Baja California Sur is often discussed through seafood and desert scenery, although fresh produce has an important role here too, particularly in hotel kitchens along the peninsula.
Amanvari gives both sides plenty of attention: fish and shellfish from the surrounding waters, produce grown nearby and cooking over fire.
The Spa Goes Far Beyond a Treatment Room
The spa is another major part of the resort.
There are six private treatment rooms, along with two Hydro Houses incorporating a banya and hammam. A contemporary temazcal brings in a Mexican sweat-lodge tradition, while a yoga pavilion, multifunctional studio and 24-hour fitness center provide additional options.
Aman has long made wellness a significant part of its resorts, and the East Cape location gives the program plenty of material. Outdoor activities can be physically demanding here. Hiking, horseback riding, diving and long days on the water pair naturally with massage, heat therapies and hydrotherapy back at the property.
Travelers can also join guided wellness activities during their stay.
The resort’s relatively small room count makes the size of the spa especially notable. Six treatment rooms for only 18 casitas gives wellness a substantial presence within the overall resort.
There’s a Lot to Do Beyond a Pool Chair
A trip here shouldn’t be limited to the property.
Baja’s East Cape rewards travelers who want to spend time outside, and Amanvari’s activity program reaches into several parts of the region.
Snorkeling and diving trips head toward reefs and marine habitats in the Sea of Cortés. Sailing opens another way to see the peninsula from offshore. Hiking routes turn inland toward desert canyons and the Sierra de la Laguna, while horseback riding crosses the surrounding terrain.
Cycling is another option, with bikes available to resort guests.
The broader region has long attracted sportfishing enthusiasts, divers and sailors, and those pursuits remain a central part of East Cape travel. Amanvari adds the services of a high-end resort while keeping those experiences close to the center of the trip.
Some travelers will spend most of their time between a casita pool and the beach. Others can fill several days with excursions. Both versions make sense here.
Who Should Stay at Amanvari?
Amanvari is best suited to travelers who want privacy and outdoor time in equal measure.
The 18-casita count makes it particularly compelling for couples who prefer smaller resorts, while private pools and large terraces give each accommodation a substantial degree of independence.
Beach travelers get the strongest argument. Three miles of swimmable sand is a major feature, particularly in this part of Mexico. Divers and snorkelers have the Sea of Cortés nearby. Hikers and riders have desert and mountain terrain inland.
Travelers who treat the hotel itself as an important part of the vacation will also find plenty here. The private pools, large casitas, spa, Beach Club, multiple restaurants and outdoor areas make staying on property an easy choice for several days.
Amanvari also gives longtime Aman guests a distinctly Mexican version of the brand. Terracotta walls, local ceramics, Baja ingredients, the temazcal and the surrounding desert keep the property tied closely to this particular part of the peninsula.
How Do You Get to Amanvari?
The nearest major gateway is San José del Cabo International Airport, with domestic and international service from major cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Aman estimates the trip from the airport at roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car. Helicopter transfers take about 15 minutes.
The resort is located at Costa Palmas on the East Cape, north of San José del Cabo. Travelers arriving by private aircraft can also use PrimeSky private-terminal services at the airport.
Once guests reach the property, the logic of an East Cape trip becomes straightforward. The Sea of Cortés is in front of them. Desert trails and mountains extend inland. The beach runs for miles along Costa Palmas. Boats, bikes, horses and hiking shoes cover most of what comes next.
A New Reason to Look East in Baja
There are plenty of places to stay around Los Cabos, from large beachfront resorts to villas and long-established luxury hotels. Amanvari heads farther east and keeps the room count at 18.
Its strongest features are tangible: private heated pools, 18 large casitas, three miles of swimmable beach, an estuary, six spa treatment rooms and direct proximity to the Sea of Cortés.
Then there is the East Cape itself.
Reefs lie offshore. Fishing boats cross the water. Palms gather around the estuary. Desert extends toward the Sierra de la Laguna. Horses and bikes provide ways to explore inland, while boats head toward deeper water.
Amanvari opened earlier this month, creating a new base for seeing this side of Baja — a part of the peninsula where the resort may be new, but the strongest reasons to visit have been here all along.
What does it cost?
Right now? $6971 per night, based on what we found on Aman’s website. That gets you an 883-square-foot casita with a private heated pool.
The post Aman Just Opened a New 18-Casita Resort in Mexico, With Private Pools and an Estuary appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
