Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Map (Most Up-To-Date)
Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas is a U-shaped, all-inclusive resort at the quieter end of Medano Beach, framed by Riu Santa Fe and Riu Palace Baja California. Key decisions involve choosing between the livelier west wing or quieter east wing, planning the lobby-to-beach walk across sloping grounds, and balancing ocean-view pools and powerful surf with transport needs for downtown Cabo and the marina.
| Area / Zone | Best For | Key Tip | Watch Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Building and Lobby Terrace | Quick dining access, central check-in, evening bars and sunset views. | Use elevators and ramps here to bridge elevation between lobby and pools. | Furthest point from beach; expect a longer walk back after pool time. |
| East Wing (Baja California side) | Quieter stays with lateral ocean views and easy access to Baja California. | Request east-facing rooms to reduce noise drift from Riu Santa Fe parties. | Less direct sunset exposure; longer walk to Santa Fe water park entrance. |
| West Wing (Santa Fe side) | Families using Santa Fe water park and high-energy shared entertainment. | Lower floors facing gardens temper party noise while keeping short Santa Fe walk. | Late-night DJ and foam party sound can carry strongly into upper rooms. |
| Central Gardens and Pathways | Shaded strolling, photos, and smoother wheelchair or stroller movement downhill. | Follow center paths to minimize slope and sun between lobby and pools. | Distances add up; plan breaks if mobility or heat tolerance is limited. |
| Beachfront Pool Deck and Swim-up Bars | All-day lounging, infinity pool views of Land’s End and Arch. | Pick the quieter pool for reading; activity pool hosts games and music. | Very limited shade and chair saving culture; arrive early for prime spots. |
| Medano Beach Frontage | Wave watching, sunbathing on sand, long exercise walks toward town. | Use beach walk to reach livelier Medano sections like The Office area. | Surf and undertow can be strong; swimming often restricted by red flags. |
2025 Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Map + Printable PDF
Recent descriptions show the resort operating with the same U-shaped footprint, with two large infinity pools anchoring the beachfront and the main building uphill holding the lobby, buffet, and specialty restaurants. Riu Santa Fe still borders the west side and Riu Palace Baja California the east, with shared-path access. Guests continue to rely on paved internal routes, taxis and Uber for town access, and flag-based surf warnings along this exposed stretch of Medano Beach.
2025 Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Map Guide
Use the map by thinking in layers: uphill is the lobby and restaurant hub, mid-slope are the garden paths and room wings, and at the bottom sit the pools and beach. Decide first whether you want quiet (east wing, gardens) or energy (west wing, Santa Fe side). Then plan movement: walking the slope, pushing a stroller or wheelchair, or using taxis and water-based outings to reach the marina, Arch area, and central Medano nightlife.
What is the overall layout of Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and its main zones?
The resort uses a sloping, U shaped layout, with the lobby uphill, room wings along both sides, and pools and beach at the open end.
The main building sits at the top of the slope and forms the base of the U shape. It holds the lobby, reception, buffet, specialty restaurants, and lobby bars, so it functions as the arrival and evening dining hub. From this hub, two long accommodation wings run downhill toward the sea, enclosing central gardens and fountains.
At the open end of the U, the grounds transition into the main pool terrace. Two large infinity pools and their swim up bars sit just above the sand, with the El Medano grill and steakhouse beside them. Beyond the pool deck lies the Medano Beach frontage. The west wing borders the livelier Riu Santa Fe, while the quieter east wing borders the adults only Riu Palace Baja California.
Where exactly is Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas located within Cabo and along Medano Beach?
It sits at Km 4.5 on Camino Viejo a San José, on the outer Medano Beach hotel strip about 3 miles from the Cabo marina and downtown.
Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas stands in the El Medano Ejidal area at Camino Viejo a San José Km 4.5, on Cabo’s main Medano Beach. The resort occupies the eastern end of the dense hotel strip, with Villa-style resorts and livelier beach clubs like The Office and Mango Deck located farther west toward the marina. This places it inside the hotel zone but outside the compact, walkable city center.
The property fronts the same continuous stretch of Medano sand yet feels more separated from town activity. It sits directly between Riu Santa Fe on the west side and Riu Palace Baja California on the east, facing toward Land’s End and the Arch, with desert and corridor coastline extending beyond it away from downtown.
What are the main route options from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) to Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas?
Typical routes are private SUV or van, shared shuttle, rental car, or cheap corridor bus, with Uber and taxis only after leaving the airport.
From SJD to the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas you choose between comfort, cost, and time.
- Private SUV or van takes about 35 to 45 minutes, runs direct to the lobby, and is the fastest but priciest option, often around 80 to 100 USD.
- Shared shuttle usually runs 60 to 90 minutes and costs roughly 25 USD per person, with multiple hotel stops on the way.
- Rental car takes 45 to 50 minutes and suits guests wanting flexibility, with free hotel parking but higher Mexican insurance costs.
- Ruta del Desierto bus is very cheap, about 4 to 5 USD, but drops on the highway and requires a hot walk with luggage.
- Uber cannot legally collect at the terminal; you use it only once at the hotel or after leaving the airport zone.
Where are the pools, adult-only pools, and restaurants located within Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas?
Pools cluster along the beachfront, while all main restaurants sit in the uphill lobby building, with one grill beside the pools.
Most water and dining areas line up on a downhill axis from the lobby toward the sand.
- Two main infinity pools sit on the lowest terrace directly above the beach, forming the central daytime hub.
- Swim up bars Baja Sur and Baja Norte are built into these pools; the bar sections are adult only even though the pools are family zones.
- There is no separate walled adult only pool; fully child free pool time requires visiting neighboring Riu Palace Baja California.
- The El Medano grill and steakhouse sits at pool level near the beachfront, serving buffet lunch and steakhouse dinners close to the water.
- The main buffet Mar de Cortés is inside the lower level of the main building, uphill from the pools.
- Krystal, Misaki, Bombay, and San José specialty restaurants are grouped in or near the lobby building, concentrating most evening dining there.
- Capuchino café is also at lobby level, handy for coffee and snacks before walking down to the gardens or pools.
How does Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas’s location compare to other Riu and 5-star resorts in Cabo?
Riu Palace Cabo sits on quieter, more exposed Medano sand, trading swimmability and walkability for grand views and a self contained complex.
The key differences are where each resort sits along the bay or corridor and how easily you reach town, swimmable water, and nightlife.
| Resort | Position in Cabo | Beach and water profile | Access to town / vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas | Eastern end of Medano, between Santa Fe and Baja California | More exposed surf, swimmability hit or miss, huge pool focus | Short taxi or Uber to downtown, walkable only via long beach hike |
| Riu Santa Fe | Directly west of Palace on same strip | Same exposed section of Medano, loud pool scene | Very similar distance, but more party focused, less refined base |
| Riu Palace Baja California | Directly east, adults only neighbor | Shares general surf conditions, adult oriented pools | Same taxi time; best for adults wanting child free spaces near Palace |
| Villa del Palmar area | Closer to marina on Medano | Calmer, more reliably swimmable bay water | Easier walk to beach clubs and marina, stronger in town feel |
| Hyatt Ziva (San José) | Near San José del Cabo, not Cabo marina | Different coast, not on Medano, strong resort pool and beach setup | Far from Cabo nightlife, better for a quieter, food forward stay |
Which room buildings or sections at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas offer the best direct ocean views?
For true direct ocean views, prioritize upper floor rooms in the beachfront tips of the U, especially on the quieter east wing side.
Direct, “blue water” views line up at the open end of the U nearest the sand and higher up the slope.
- Beachfront tip buildings give the most frontal ocean exposure, with minimal garden or pool in the frame.
- Upper floors in these beachfront sections clear palm trees and pool structures, widening the horizon and Arch sightline.
- Inner-facing rooms at the tips look straight over pools to the sea, combining activity views with strong ocean focus.
- East wing beachfront rooms reduce noise bleed from Riu Santa Fe while still keeping that direct ocean orientation.
- West wing beachfront rooms share the same view quality but risk more party sound drifting from Santa Fe’s pool zone.
What are the walking times from Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas to the marina, the Arch, and The Office?
Expect about 35–45 minutes on sand to The Office, 50–60 minutes to the marina, and boat only to the Arch in around 15 minutes.
Walk times depend on pace, heat, and whether you stick to the sand or use taxis for part of the route.
- To The Office / Mango Deck, the distance is about 3 km along sloped Medano sand, usually 35–45 minutes at a steady walking pace.
- To the marina and Puerto Paraiso area, the distance is roughly 5.5–5.6 km, often 50–60 minutes on foot, so it feels like an excursion rather than a quick stroll.
- By taxi or Uber to The Office or the marina, typical drive times run about 10–15 minutes from the hotel lobby.
- To the Arch, walking is not practical; most guests ride a water taxi from Medano or the marina, which takes about 15 minutes each way on the water.
How convenient is Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas’s location for nightlife and overall access to downtown Cabo?
The Palace sits a taxi ride from downtown, giving easy 10-15 minute access to nightlife while keeping on site evenings quieter than marina hotels.
Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas stands about 3 miles from the marina and bar district, on the outer stretch of Medano Beach. That means downtown is not an easy walk, especially at night or in heat, since the beach route can take 50-60 minutes. Instead, most guests rely on taxis from the lobby or Uber, which typically reach downtown in about 10-15 minutes and cost less than marina-area stays.
The result is a split personality: quieter, more resort-centered nights on site, with nightlife close enough for planned evenings out rather than spontaneous bar hopping.
Is the beach in front of Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas swimmable, and what are the usual water conditions?
The beach is technically swimmable but often red flagged, with strong shore break, so most guests wade or use the pools instead.
The resort sits on a steeper part of Medano Beach, so the seabed drops quickly and waves hit with more force than near the marina. This creates a strong shore break and frequent red flag days, when currents and surf are considered hazardous. Guests can still enjoy loungers on the sand and short wades at the edge, but relaxed swimming is unreliable.
On calmer yellow or green flag days, confident swimmers sometimes go in, yet many guests treat the ocean as a dramatic backdrop and use the large infinity pools for real swimming. For gentler, more predictable water, people usually head closer to the marina end of Medano where the bay is more sheltered.
What are the best ways to get around Cabo from Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas, including nearby public transport options?
From the Palace, most guests rely on taxis or Uber, with corridor buses and beach walks as backup options for budget or scenic trips.
From the hotel you choose between speed, cost, and scenery.
- Taxis from the lobby give door to door rides to the marina or clubs in about 10–15 minutes for a flat zone fare.
- Uber usually costs less than taxis and can pick up and drop at the hotel, with short typical wait times.
- Ruta del Desierto corridor buses run along the main highway and are very cheap, but require walking from the stop and are inconvenient with kids or beach gear.
- Beach walks toward The Office or the marina work as scenic exercise, not fast transport, taking 35–60 minutes on sand.
- Water taxis from central Medano or the marina are best for reaching the Arch and nearby beaches rather than general in town travel.
What wheelchair-accessible routes and step-free paths are available around Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas?
Step free routes link lobby, restaurants, rooms, and pool decks by ramps and elevators, but loose sand blocks wheelchair access to the shore.
Most key areas connect on paved, ramped paths, with a slope running from the lobby down toward the pools.
- Elevators in the main buildings bridge level changes between lobby, guest floors, restaurants, and lower garden areas using door widths around 90 cm.
- Ramps with handrails link the elevated lobby terrace to the mid level gardens and onward toward the pool deck, avoiding stairs on main circulation routes.
- Wide, mostly flat paved walkways through the central gardens suit wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers across the 32,000 square meter grounds.
- Adapted ground or first floor rooms sit on accessible routes to the buffet and pool zones, with roll in showers and grab rails for bathroom use.
- Pool decks are step free from the main paths, but entering the water usually requires assistance, since pool lifts are not consistently available.
- Beach access is the main gap, as there is no paved path across the soft sand, so wheelchairs can approach the view but not reach the shoreline.
Archive Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Maps
Below are all official map versions released for Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas between 2022 and 2021.
2022 Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Map
2021 Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Map
