One&Only Palmilla
San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, MexicoIconic luxury on the shores of the Sea of Cortez
One&Only Palmilla
One&Only Palmilla is an iconic luxury resort on 250 acres of the Baja Peninsula's southern coast, where Jacques Cousteau once explored the Sea of Cortez. The 27-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Palmilla Golf Club features dramatic ocean and desert views, and the resort's unparalleled service has made it a favorite of the world's most discerning travelers.
- Jack Nicklaus's first Signature design in Latin America — a 27-hole layout with Ocean, Mountain, and Arroyo nines of distinctly different character
- One of the few genuinely swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, with calm protected cove snorkeling
- Resort founded in 1956 by the son of a former Mexican president — retains an old-world hacienda atmosphere no modern build can replicate
- Deep-sea fishing access from the "Marlin Capital of the World" — over 800 game fish species in the local waters
- Yoga pavilion and spa oriented toward the Sea of Cortez, with butler service across the property
The Course
- Palmilla Golf Club — 27 holes, par 72, designed by Jack Nicklaus
Palmilla Golf Club · 4th (Ocean Nine) (Par 4)
The par-4 fourth on the Ocean nine drops sharply to a broad fairway that runs directly along the beach, with a beachfront green framed by tall palms and the Sea of Cortez filling the entire left horizon — the most scenic approach shot on Jack Nicklaus's first Signature design in Latin America.
Restaurants & Bars
- SEARED by Jean-Georges
- AQUA by Larbi
- Agua by Larbi
On Property
Spa
Beach- Pool
Fitness Center- Water Sports
- Yoga Pavilion
October - May
The Pacific dry season delivers warm, sunny days with calm seas; October through November also brings peak striped marlin season — Los Cabos consistently earns the Marlin Capital of the World designation.
One&Only Palmilla sits on one of the very few swimmable beaches in the Los Cabos corridor — most are subject to dangerous shore break. Request a guided snorkel at the protected cove directly in front of the property for the best visibility on the Sea of Cortez side.
Joining One&Only Palmilla
Resort golf club (members + resort guests). One&Only Palmilla operates a private golf club (Palmilla Golf Club) with 27 Jack Nicklaus Signature holes. As of January 1, 2025, the Mountain and Arroyo courses are exclusive to members and One&Only resort guests; the Ocean 9 has limited public access. The resort also launched the Palmilla Social Club, a community-oriented social hub open to members, locals, and resort guests — not a traditional paid membership program. Golf club membership fees are by inquiry only.
Membership Categories
- Golf Club Membership (Mountain & Arroyo course access)
- Family Membership (noted as available; details by inquiry)
Member Benefits
- Exclusive access to Mountain and Arroyo courses (as of Jan 1, 2025)
- Access to forthcoming new clubhouse with restaurant, bar, café, infinity pool, and lounge
- Redesigned driving range and tennis complex (under development)
- Palmilla Social Club programming: golf clinics, wellness workshops, art collaborations, community events
- Initiation: By inquiry
- Annual Dues: By inquiry
- How to Join: Complete inquiry form at palmillagc.com/membership/ or call +52 624 146 7001
Membership details → · +52 624 146 7001
One&Only Palmilla
Features &
Amenities
Opened in 1956 as a 15-room retreat reachable only by private plane or yacht, One&Only Palmilla sits on a cliffside above a protected swimming cove on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja peninsula, where the calm bay water and resident marine life make it functionally distinct from the rougher Pacific-facing beaches at the Cape. A $90 million refurbishment in 2004 expanded the property to 173 suites while preserving the hacienda-style architecture that attracted John Wayne, Ernest Hemingway, and Bing Crosby in the first decade.
Jack Nicklaus 27-Hole Golf Club
The Palmilla Golf Club was the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Design in Latin America, built in 1992 (Arroyo and Mountain nines) with the Ocean nine added in 1997. The three loops -- Arroyo through desert canyons lined with cardon cacti, Mountain through elevation shifts with cliffside views, and Ocean along the Sea of Cortez -- play to a combined 27 holes and hosted a 1997 PGA Senior Tour event.
One&Only Spa: 13 Private Villas
The 22,000-square-foot spa is organized around 13 private spa villas rather than a standard treatment-room corridor, each with an open-air garden pavilion, outdoor soaking tub, and daybed cabana. The Mayo tribe-influenced Sunset Purification Ceremony (90 minutes) uses copal incense and medicinal herbs drawn from the indigenous healing traditions of Baja's Pacific coast.
Sea of Cortez Private Beach
Pelican Beach is one of the very few swimmable beaches in Los Cabos: positioned on the Sea of Cortez in a protected bay, it offers calm-water access for snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and Hobie Cat sailing included for guests. The surrounding reef draws manta rays, sea turtles, and tropical schooling fish in concentrations unusual for a resort beach.
One Membership.
Dozens of Destinations.
Your visit to One&Only Palmilla is coordinated by the LXV concierge — preferred tee times, dining reservations, room upgrades, and personalized welcome amenities, arranged before you arrive. One of more than 55 properties in the LXV network.
Getting
Here
One&Only PalmillaCarr. Transpeninsular, Tourist Corridor, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico 23400
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
Approximately 17 miles from the resort; roughly 20 minutes by car. Palmilla sits north of San Jose del Cabo at Km 7.5 on the Transpeninsular highway, making it one of the closest major Los Cabos properties to the airport.
Private ground transfers in Escalades and Sprinters arranged through the resort. The resort sits closer to SJD than Cabo San Lucas-area properties, reducing transfer time considerably.