Villa Bahia de los Frailes

It seems as though Villa Bahia de los Frailes was drawn right onto the Sea of Cortez.

This 5,200-square-foot beachfront home is located five minutes south of Cabo Pulmo on the immaculate curve of Frailes Bay. It’s the kind of place where you wake up to the sound of soft waves, spend the day lounging by the pool and the sea, and go to sleep knowing that tomorrow will be just as peaceful as today. It’s a unique getaway among Los Cabos Villas that offers year-round swimmable water that stays pleasantly warm, typically between 70 and 85°F, along with true “toes-in-the-sand” living.

The water is the main attraction as soon as you arrive at Villa Bahia de los Frailes. Every oceanfront bedroom has a unique personality and is the same size, so nobody feels like they were unlucky. Double sinks and walk-in closets make unpacking feel comfortable rather than cramped, pocket doors slide away on two walls to let in light and air, and cool travertine floors serve as a constant reminder that this house was built for barefoot living. Each room feels private and self-contained thanks to en suite bathrooms with spacious showers, making them perfect for families or couples who value their privacy.

The house’s rhythm can be heard outside on the beachfront deck. The 45-foot infinity pool, which seems to flow straight into the turquoise waters of Frailes Bay, has six specially designed lounge chairs lining its edge. Drinks and snacks by the pool are always only a few steps—or strokes—away thanks to a swim-up bar at one end that leads to a sunken palapa lounge with granite counters, mesquite bar stools, an ice maker, and a refrigerator.

A deck shower makes it easy to rinse off between the sea, sand, and pool, and a ten-person heated Jacuzzi is ideally situated for stargazing or sunset soaking. The fire pit, where the sound of crackling flames blends with the silence of the bay and the stars fill the sky, is a natural destination for evenings.

Anyone who enjoys cooking and sharing meals with others will love Villa Bahia de los Frailes. With a Wolf gas BBQ and rotisserie in addition to a classic wood-fired Santa Maria-style setup, the outdoor granite kitchen is designed for serious grilling, making it easy to prepare anything from just-caught fish to slow-roasted meats.

For al fresco meals, a handcrafted parota wood dining table can comfortably seat ten people. When the group grows or friends join for the evening, there is additional seating close by. Dinners here feel almost cinematic because of the ocean breeze, the mesquite scent, and the carved onyx lighting that warms the terrace after dark.

The kitchen is equally impressive inside. One wall is anchored by a 42-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, and two ovens and an eight-burner Wolf range are available for everything from informal breakfasts to multi-course parties. With its own sink, microwave drawer, and seating for six, one island is used for preparation and informal dining; the dishwasher and large sink are located on another island, which faces the mountains to the west so that even cleanup has a view.

The kitchen’s well-thought-out layout makes it simple for staff to move around you or for everyone to cook together, and wine storage keeps favorite bottles at the ideal temperature. Indoor and outdoor areas blend together as the formal dining room, complete with glass cabinets and a hand-carved table for ten, opens a full thirty feet to the pool deck. Evenings are made cozy and welcoming by the warm, golden light cast by carved onyx fixtures throughout the house.

The harmonious combination of the design and climate is one of the delights of staying at Villa Bahia de los Frailes. Because of the excellent cross-ventilation and steady ocean breeze, air conditioning is frequently neglected and only used in extreme midday heat. There are sunny and shaded areas throughout the day, so depending on how you’re feeling, you can either follow the light or completely avoid it.

From stocking the kitchen before you arrive to setting up private chefs, grocery runs, and meal preparation for an extra charge, an on-site concierge helps customize every stay. Longer vacations are rewarded with extended-stay discounts—stays of seven nights or longer are eligible for a 15% discount, and reservations of thirty nights or more are eligible for a 20% reduction—making it a particularly alluring choice for individuals who wish to temporarily establish this bay as their home base.

Villa Bahia de los Frailes is located on the East Cape, directly south of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. Depending on traffic and route, Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is typically 90 to 120 minutes away by car.

The first portion of the trip is a paved highway; the last portion usually consists of graded dirt roads along the coast, which are picturesque and easy to navigate during the day but are best handled in a sturdy sedan or, ideally, an SUV for comfort and clearance—especially if you’re arriving after dark or during the rainy season. While larger supermarkets and complete urban amenities await further west in San José del Cabo, the closest village services, small groceries, and basic restaurants are typically accessible within a 25- to 35-minute drive toward La Ribera or Cabo Pulmo.

The combination of a chef-grade indoor/outdoor kitchen and bar setup, equal-status oceanfront suites, and true swimmable, reef-protected bay frontage in a serene, low-density marine reserve is what really distinguishes Villa Bahia de los Frailes from the majority of other Los Cabos Villas. This makes it one of the few residences where every guest has the same view, easy access to the sea, and level of comfort.

This villa is ideal for three experiences. One day could begin with an early paddle or snorkel in Frailes Bay, which is right outside your door and offers long swims before breakfast on the terrace due to its clear, warm water. Another can be used to explore Cabo Pulmo, which is just five minutes north. There, you can go diving or snorkeling with one of the healthiest coral reefs in North America before returning to the Jacuzzi to watch the sunset.

A third day could take you further toward San José del Cabo or along the East Cape road to La Ribera for a change of scenery. You could have lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, stock up on groceries and wine, and then enjoy the peaceful pleasure of returning to your private cove, where the only thing left to do is grill dinner outside under the stars.

Read More: Our Luxury Guide: Los Cabos