Marina Cabo San Lucas
The marina that dominates the port of Cabo San Lucas, where each yacht boards at its own dock. It is about 24.2 km from the resort, around 29 minutes by car without traffic.3
Photo of Chileno Bay, on the Tourist Corridor: we do not have a free photo of this hotel yet. HockeyholicAZ, CC BY 2.0, Flickr
Hotels · luxury beach resort
One&Only Palmilla
Fraccionamiento Palmilla · Zone 2 · 24.2 km in a straight line
- Zone
- Corridor
- From the marina
- 24.2 km
- Rooms
- 174
- Swimmable beach
- Yes
The hotel
One&Only Palmilla is a 174-room luxury resort on 55 acres at km 7.5 of the Carretera Transpeninsular, at the San José del Cabo end of the Tourist Corridor. It is about 24.2 km from the Cabo San Lucas Marina, around 29 minutes by car without traffic; at rush hour the drive takes longer. It grew from a 15-room retreat that Abelardo Rodríguez, son of a former president of Mexico, conceived in 1956.
Forbes Travel Guide describes the resort's beach as one of the few swimmable beaches in the region. Next door, Playa Palmilla has Blue Flag status and calm water that the Los Cabos tourism board recommends for a dip and for snorkeling.1
History and curious facts
The story of One&Only Palmilla
Palmilla goes back to the 1950s. Forbes México dates the idea to 1956, when Abelardo Rodríguez, a pioneer of tourism in the region and son of General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, a former president of Mexico, planned it as a small retreat. Discover Baja says Rodríguez, known as Rod, and his wife, Hollywood actress Lucille Bremer, opened the 15-room hotel in 1957, when it could be reached only by private plane or yacht. Its early guests included John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Bing Crosby and President Dwight Eisenhower. Rod also built the Hotel Hacienda in Cabo San Lucas in 1963. Palmilla later joined One&Only, the luxury brand of Kerzner International, which carried out renovations in 2004 and 2008. Forbes México counted 173 rooms, 16 casitas and Villa Cortez in 2013. Today Forbes Travel Guide rates the resort Five-Star.
Things you may not know
- In its first years the hotel could only be reached by private plane or by yacht.2
- Co-founder Lucille Bremer was a Hollywood actress; she and her husband Rod had already opened Rancho Las Cruces together in 1948.2
- The spa offers a temazcal steam bath inspired by the practices of the Mayo people, and rituals led by a shaman.1
- Rooms come with binoculars for spotting whales in season, along with 24-hour butler service.1
- Villa Cortez, the signature four-bedroom villa, has its own gym and spa, a 12-seat theater and an infinity pool.1
Around the hotel
What is near One&Only Palmilla
Playa Palmilla
The closest Blue Flag beach to San José del Cabo, beside the resort, with calm water for swimming and good snorkeling. Facilities are limited, so bring what you need.4
San José del Cabo Art District
Galleries behind the church on Plaza Mijares open late for the Thursday Art Walk, 5 to 9 p.m., from November through June.5
Getting to the marina
From One&Only Palmilla to Marina Cabo San Lucas
One&Only Palmilla is 24.2 km in a straight line from Marina Cabo San Lucas, and the closest boarding dock is Fisherman's Landing. The trip is about 29 min by car without traffic, according to the route OSRM calculates with OpenStreetMap data. At rush hour the drive takes longer, so give yourself a margin before boarding.
We can book a driver who picks you up at the hotel, takes you to your yacht and brings you back. One&Only Palmilla is in Zone 2: Palmilla to Fiesta Americana. The prices below are per vehicle and in USD, and you pay them to the driver on the day, separately from the yacht: the first price in cash, or the second by card on the driver's terminal, which adds a 5% fee.
- 24.2 km
- in a straight line
- 29 min
- by car without traffic
| Vehicle | Guests | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUV | up to 4 | USD 85 cashUSD 90 card | USD 160 cashUSD 168 card |
| Escalade | up to 6 | USD 105 cashUSD 111 card | USD 180 cashUSD 189 card |
| Van (Hiace) | 9 to 11 | USD 90 cashUSD 95 card | USD 160 cashUSD 168 card |
| Sprinter | 19 to 20 | USD 110 cashUSD 116 card | USD 220 cashUSD 231 card |
Boarding docks
Where the yachts board
There is no single dock for every boat. Each yacht boards at its own dock in Marina Cabo San Lucas, and your boarding pass has the exact one with a map link. These are the meeting points and the yachts that use each one:
Your yacht day
A day on a yacht from One&Only Palmilla
Palmilla is at the San José end of the corridor, so the Marina in Cabo San Lucas is about 29 minutes away without traffic. Book the transfer with us, the driver picks you up at the resort entrance and collects the fare, and he drives you back when the boat returns. Rooms come with binoculars for whale season, and from December to April a whale-watching trip gets you much closer than the terrace does. Couples may prefer the sunset sail, and families can choose the family outing or snorkel trip. For a sunset departure, leave early: the afternoon drive toward Cabo San Lucas is slower than the morning one.
Chaparral 28
Up to 10 guests · from $519 for 2 h. See the yacht
Sea Ray 40
Up to 12 guests · from $879 for 2 h. See the yacht
Azimut 45 Flybridge
Up to 12 guests · from $1,249 for 2 h. See the yacht
Sea Ray 55
Up to 15 guests · from $2,129 for 3 h. See the yacht
Pontoon 38
Up to 18 guests · from $869 for 2 h. See the yacht
Charters that fit this hotel
Questions
One&Only Palmilla: what guests ask
How far is One&Only Palmilla from the marina in Cabo San Lucas?
About 24.2 km, around 29 minutes by car without traffic. Plan for more at rush hour.
Can you swim at One&Only Palmilla?
Yes. Forbes Travel Guide calls its beach one of the few swimmable ones in the region, and Playa Palmilla next door is a Blue Flag beach.
Who founded Palmilla?
Abelardo Rodríguez, son of a former Mexican president, with his wife, actress Lucille Bremer. It started in the 1950s as a 15-room retreat.
How do I get from One&Only Palmilla to my yacht charter?
Your yacht boards at the Cabo San Lucas Marina. Book the transfer with us and a driver takes you from Palmilla to the dock area and back.
From your hotel to the water
Tell us your hotel and your group. We plan the pickup and the boat.
A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Sources
- Distances: OpenStreetMap/OSRM (straight line from the hotel to the closest boarding dock in the marina; drive time without traffic with OSRM). Hotel location: INEGI DENUE and OpenStreetMap.
- Pickup prices: our price list by zone and vehicle (data/transport.json), paid to the driver.
Private Charters Cabo is an independent company with no affiliation with One&Only Palmilla. The hotel's name and information are shown for reference only; photos carry their author's credit and license.