Stories From the Shore Line: Viceroy's Best Beach Escapes
Travel
Soft sand, warm sun, a beach vacation that feels worlds away from the everyday. When you close your eyes and think of that perfect stretch of sand, some elements are a given. A certain predictability sets in. But Viceroy’s beach escapes open your eyes to a different world, each with a distinct soul. Thatch-roofed villas on a secluded Caribbean beach. Poolside cocktails at dusk. Beachfront bungalows on some of the best beaches in the world, with the ocean at your feet. Every Viceroy beach setting is one of a kind, shaped by the destination it connects you to. It’s an experience. But it’s also a particular sunset, a distinct coastal breeze, a deeply rooted flavor, the calming sound of gentle waves. And the unexpected delight when all the elements combine and unfold into a story. We hope you find yours.
As you start planning your packing list for vacation, consider where you’d like your next beach story to begin.
Viceroy Los Cabos
Like No Other Place on Earth? You Decide.
Best For: Design lovers, couples, friends, and families chasing stunning accommodations and cinematic views.
Atmosphere: Architecturally striking, where modern meets timeless on the shores of the Sea of Cortez.
At the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where the desert meets the sea, Viceroy Los Cabos sets a mood that captivates at first glance. You feel it the moment you arrive. Designed by architect Miguel Angel Aragonés, the hotel is a modernist masterpiece with striking details and views as cinematic as they come. It’s an aesthetic, yes. But set along the edge of the Sea of Cortez with miles of white sand beach, this is a place that quietly insists you take your time.
Dining takes you from beach to rooftop. Ingredients are drawn from close to home. The flavors transport you far beyond. Savor seafood from the waters that surround you. Sample homestyle mesa cuisine where Mexican kitchen meets secret garden. Sip beach cocktails by the water, and take in endless rooftop views. Here, dishes and drinks are crafted with a passion for this region and its people. If the dish tastes like a recipe inherited from our chef’s great-great-grandparents, that’s because it is. The best Baja fish tacos in Cabo and a journey through cultural legacies, in equal measure. You unearth a story you can only find in this place, served on your plate.
Incredible architecture blurs the lines between sky, sand, and sea, and encourages exploration. In your room, sunlight streams in endlessly and you are never far from the water. The faint scent of salty sea, fig fresh, freesia and violet leaves wafts through the room and somehow captures our breezy beach setting. The design of the resort’s white buildings feels like high art, each connected by walkways that seem to float over water that flows directly from the sea. But make no mistake, once inside, you’ve reached your own oasis, a pure escape from the outside world.
Better still, you’re moments from the historic town of San José del Cabo, where you can pedal along cobblestone streets through a vibrant gallery district, past well-preserved architecture, with plenty of charming cafés to tempt you. Coffee in the courtyard under the mango trees at Cafe de Lolita is one of our favorites. Catch world-class surfing breaks, chart rugged mountain terrain, or settle into the culture and lifestyle of San José.
A spa that soothes all. Adventures that connect you to the heart of Baja. A tasting journey that uncovers the rich history and distinct aromas of tequila. The lifestyle here will soon have you forgetting why you needed an escape in the first place. Consider your sense of adventure piqued, even if the adventure requires nothing more than lingering over a sunset.
Viceroy Riviera Maya
A Luxury Villa Resort in the Paradise of Playa del Carmen
Best For: Romantic escapes, relaxation, and pure indulgence.
The Vibe: Jungle-framed beachfronts, private villas, and personal plunge pools complemented by fascinating history and the flavors of Mexico.
That warm “hello.” That first mojito. Those first steps into soft sand. Your host leads the way along a lush jungle path to reach your villa. You’re in your own private paradise at Viceroy Riviera Maya, a luxury villa resort, and there’s a plunge pool just for you, waiting on the patio outside your door.
You’re offered your choice of handmade soaps to enliven your stay. A hint of cinnamon in winter, a bloom of lemon in summer. That’s your signal — this is a place to completely indulge. Tucked away in a Mayan rainforest near Playa del Carmen, with stretches of white sand on the edge of the water, Viceroy Riviera Maya asks you to look up, look around, and get lost in the possibilities of your surroundings. With gentle breezes and seven miles of sandy shores, you might expect sunbathing, lounging in a palapa-roofed cabana, or a leisurely swim or snorkel on a classic beach vacation. What you might not expect? Exploring the ancient and mysterious Chichén Itzá, one of the seven new wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gaze up at the magnificent 75-foot-high Kukulkan pyramid and finish with a cenote swim. Browse colorful Mexican handicrafts at the Boutique at Viceroy Riviera Maya. Take a vibrant passage through the fresh flavors of Mexico at one of two restaurants and savor the art of slow cooking. Breakfast somehow tastes better when you’re touched by ocean breezes. We recommend Trout a la Talla taco, a delicate smoked salmon trout served on a fragrant cilantro tortilla, topped with pickled onions and crispy chicharrón. The captivating sunsets are a bonus.
Romantic dinners on the beach, the fascinating discovery of the regional Melipona bee, sampling Mexico’s beer history, and a sacred Mayan/Mexica calendar reading. A getaway to Viceroy Riviera Maya is an escape and a discovery. It’s a place to close the world out and dive right into it all at the same time.
Viceroy Santa Monica
An Iconic LA Beach Hotel
Best For: Urban explorers who want beach weather, Pacific views, and easy access to LA’s culture.
The Vibe: Iconic LA beach hotel energy — laidback and social, with the city humming just beyond the palm trees.
We would say this is the ideal place to get lost, but at Viceroy Santa Monica, it’s impossible to forget where you are — the cool ease of the California coast, the sight of the renowned Santa Monica Pier, the 3.5-mile stretch of soft golden sand, all framed by that gentle Santa Monica beach weather. Viceroy’s first hotel is a classic that embraces every bit of its enviable Ocean Avenue location. Sunshine and ocean breezes are invited in, and wood-paneled ceiling and a driftwood bench hint to the hotel’s very famous neighbor.
Watch waves crash along the shore from your room, and later, pull up a seat at the stunning wraparound bar. Linger over cocktails by the pool until the sun gives way to the stars. Stay a while, there’s no rush here. This is where your California story is waiting to be told. What will be part of the story? Grab a bike and meander around Los Angeles’ Westside or pedal to the shore, popping into some of our favorite stops along the way. Head down Abbot Kinney Boulevard and grab breakfast at Gjelina, a community staple; browse glassware, made by a collective of Oaxacan artisans at Gjusta; and shop for ethically sourced clothing from Industry of all Nations. Maybe head to the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, go out for a sunrise longboard surf lesson, take a journey through Malibu wine country, or venture to any number of LA museums, landmarks, parks, and of course, world-famous shopping. When you stay at Viceroy Santa Monica, you live like a local: laidback, easy, and fueled by curiosity.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Between the Rugged Piton Mountains and the Caribbean Sea
Best For: Nature lovers and culinary enthusiasts in search of a beach vacation wrapped in rainforest, reef, and ritual.
The Vibe: Volcanic sands nestled between the Pitons — a UNESCO-framed hideaway where one of the best beaches in the world meets the lush jungle and luxurious spaces.
Being in a state of awe never gets old on a Sugar Beach vacation. When you’re tucked into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Piton mountains with the Caribbean stretching endlessly before you, at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, it comes with the territory. We would call it a view, but that doesn’t capture the scale of being in the valley between St. Lucia’s famous peaks. It’s a presence that’s hard to describe but easy to enjoy.
Each day invites you, again and again, to take a step back and shut off the world. There’s plenty to do here, but you may find that your favorite place to be is in your private retreat. A terrace overlooking the ocean, a butler tending to your every need, the wonder of the St. Lucian way ever present in every moment of your stay.
Dining here satisfies craving and connection. Grab a burger hot off the grill at our South Pier Bar. Choose your catch of the day and watch it being prepared on the Argentinian grill. Try the roasted whole branzino. Sip beach cocktails at our open-air bar. Dishes are inspired by St. Lucia and fresh ingredients sourced from local fishermen and farmers. This isn't just about sourcing local ingredients. It's about sourcing local culture and history.
Explore the Best Beaches in the World with Viceroy
You could go anywhere for a beach vacation, but some places warm your soul as much as your salt-tinged skin (maybe more). The kind of places where every day unfolds into a brand new story. The locations you visit aren’t just dots on a map, they touch and inspire you. Places that encourage you to ditch the guidebook, welcome the sunrise, go off menu — and perhaps off any path you had in mind — and allow for the sense of discovery that invites you to look up, look around, and look deeper.
Viceroy offers a world of luxury beach vacations, some of the best in the world. From Los Cabos and St. Lucia to California and Riviera Maya, there are moments where the shore does more than meet the sea — it shapes a story. It’s in the salt in the air, the warmth of the wind over the waves, and the rhythm of a place that moves at its own pace here on the water’s edge. You may find that it’s just the story you were looking for.