Photos: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Mexico has long been a favorite getaway for the rich and the famous… especially those connected to Hollywood. But where exactly do these A-listers like to spend their downtime?
Three luxury destinations in particular stand out for their reputations as the country’s top celebrity magnets: Los Cabos, Punta Mita, and Tulum. Each offer something a little different, but all share a common thread of privacy, world-class accommodation, and the kind of service that keeps the famous coming back.
But the appeal is as practical as much as it is scenic. Los Cabos is an easy (especially by private jet) two-and-a-half-hour flight from Los Angeles. Punta Mita, on the Riviera Nayarit coast, offers gated seclusion on a 1,500-acre peninsula. And Tulum, once a backpacker stop on the Yucatan Peninsula, has reinvented itself as a barefoot-luxury destination in the Riviera Maya with a penchant for eco-friendly design that’s especially appealing to younger generations of celebrity visitors.
Los Cabos: The Original Celebrity Playground
Celebrity tourism here predates the region’s international airport, which only opened in 1977. In the 1950s, actress Lucille Bremer and her husband opened the 15-room Las Cruces Palmilla, now the One&Only Palmilla. Jennifer Aniston visits so often locals call her the “Queen of Cabo.”
And George Clooney and Rande Gerber built neighbouring beachfront homes in 2009, naming the compound Casamigos and later launching the tequila brand of the same name (it sold for roughly $1 billion).
The Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, co-founded by Robert De Niro, has hosted Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio. Tiger Woods owns a home at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, where he has designed two golf courses with a third in development. For nightlife, Cabo Wabo Cantina, founded by Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, draws musicians like Kenny Chesney.
Punta Mita: The Gated Pacific Hideaway
About 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita occupies a peninsula with water on three sides and a guarded gate on the fourth. The community is home to the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, and two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Bill Gates, Tom Cruise, and Beyonce have all been spotted here. For greater seclusion, the Imanta Resort’s Tree House villa sits on a mountainside above a private beach, while nearby Marietas Islands offer snorkelling excursions to the famous Playa Amor (Hidden Beach).
Tulum: Barefoot Luxury on the Caribbean
Tulum’s appeal is different. The emphasis here is on eco-conscious design, wellness retreats, and a bohemian atmosphere. Reese Witherspoon, Demi Moore, and Drew Barrymore have all been spotted along the beachfront. Azulik, an adults-only resort of treehouse villas with no Wi-Fi or electricity, is a regular celebrity pick.
Habitas Tulum, where Paris Hilton has stayed, takes a similar sustainable approach. For dining, Hartwood, the open-fire restaurant on the beach road that accepts no reservations and has no freezer, remains one of the most talked-about tables on the Riviera Maya.
So… what are you waiting for? Get out there and do some celebrity spotting.