Chileno Bay Resort Review (2026): Is It Worth It for Families?
Overall: 7/10
Value: 6/10 | Food: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 | Service: 8/10 | Location: 7/10 | Kids' Club: 8/10
We spent three nights at Chileno Bay Resort over Spring Break with our two kids — ages 5 and 8. We came directly from One & Only Palmilla, which in retrospect created an unfair comparison. The resort is spectacular on its own terms. But it didn't make our top picks for family hotels in Cabo, and the value score of 6/10 explains most of why. Read on.
One of three pools at Chileno Bay Resort and Residences
The Quick Version
Comal is one of the best restaurants in Los Cabos and worth a reservation even if you're not staying here. The beach is swimmable — a genuine advantage in the Corridor. The design is excellent. The service is warm but doesn't go above and beyond. The value proposition is the problem: kids' club at $120 per child per day, breakfast entrées mostly over $30, and no complimentary coffee at the front desk. After Palmilla — where breakfast and kids' club were included at a comparable rate — the nickel-and-diming was hard to overlook.
A room with a view (of mostly palmtrees and rooftops and a tiny sliver of ocean)
Rooms
The entry-level rooms are well-appointed and modern — comfortable beds, good design, everything works. The problem is the view. Without a view upgrade, you're looking at palm trees, rooftops, and a thin sliver of ocean that the photo in this article captures accurately. At this price point, guests paying $700+ a night reasonably expect more than a sliver.
The honest advice: book a room with an ocean view or don't book the entry-level category. The view is the difference between a room that justifies itself and one that doesn't.
Beach at sunset
Amenities
Three pools including a dedicated children's pool and two infinity pools overlooking the ocean. The beach directly in front is swimmable — coarse sand and some rocks, but calm water and plenty of water toys provided for both kids and adults. The swimmability is the most important practical fact about Chileno Bay: it puts it in a small category of Corridor resorts where you can actually swim without worrying about current.
The gym overlooks the pools and beach and is well-equipped, though all treadmills were occupied during our visit — a minor note but worth knowing if morning cardio is essential.
The spa offers a hydrotherapy circuit available to all guests by appointment. Worth booking in advance.
Yaya Restaurant had delicous Mediterranean fare
Dining
The 9/10 food score is the highest category rating in this review and fully deserved. The dining at Chileno Bay was the genuine highlight of the stay.
Wonderful dining experience at Comal in Chileno Bay
Comal — The best restaurant on property and one of the best meals we had in all of Los Cabos. Elevated Mexican cuisine overlooking the ocean with genuinely creative cooking and a family-friendly atmosphere that doesn't sacrifice quality for accessibility. Book a reservation even if you're not staying at the resort.
TNT provided a more relaxed dining experience in a beautiful beachfront setting
Yaya — Mediterranean overlooking the pools. The sourdough pita bread and pizzas were particularly good. Worth a dinner for something different from the Mexican-focused options elsewhere on property.
TNT — Casual beachfront bar and restaurant with tacos and Mexican fare. The right choice for a relaxed lunch between swims.
The café — $7 for a coffee when there's no complimentary option at the front desk. At this price point, it lands as a small but telling signal about the property's approach to value.
The public beach just outside the door to Chileno Bay Resort
Service
Warm and friendly throughout, but never exceptional — nobody went above and beyond in any meaningful way during our three nights. The observation that stuck with all of us: staff appeared to be explicitly instructed to speak only in English. Responding to "Hola" and "Cómo estás" in English only is a choice that strips away some of the Mexican authenticity that makes staying in Mexico rather than a US resort worth it. We're in Mexico. A little Spanish goes a long way and its absence was noticeable.
Kids' Club
During Spring Break the resort organized additional kids' programming — a movie night on the beach was a highlight. The kids' club facility itself is well-run but the activities during our visit weren't as thoughtful or engaging as what we've seen at Palmilla, Borgo Egnazia, or the Four Seasons Bora Bora. The significant caveat: every activity including kids' club comes at an additional charge. At $120 per child per day, the kids' club is one of the most expensive we've encountered at any resort. For a family of four using it daily, that's a meaningful line item that isn't reflected in the room rate.
Another pool at Chileno Bay Resort and Residences
Value
The lowest score in this review for good reason. Coming directly from Palmilla — where breakfast and kids' club were included at a comparable nightly rate — the à la carte approach at Chileno Bay was jarring. No complimentary coffee. Kids' club at $120 per child per day. Breakfast entrées almost universally over $30. Living in Aspen means we're not unfamiliar with high prices, but the combination of a room without a meaningful view and a nickel-and-diming pricing structure at this rate is genuinely hard to justify against the alternatives in the Corridor.
Location
Chileno Beach is beautiful and the swimmability is a real advantage — calm water, water toys available, safe for young children. The sand is coarser and rockier than other beaches nearby, which is worth knowing before you arrive expecting powder. The public beach access just outside the resort means the beach can feel less private than you'd expect from a resort at this price point.
Is Chileno Bay Worth It for Families?
It depends on what you're optimizing for. If Comal is the priority and you want a swimmable beach in the Corridor, it's a strong option. If value and kids' infrastructure are the priority, One & Only Palmilla delivers more of both at a comparable or lower effective price once you factor in inclusions. The food score alone keeps this in contention — Comal is genuinely extraordinary. Everything else keeps it off our top Cabo family resort list.
For the full comparison see our One & Only Palmilla vs. Mandarina piece and our Best Hotels in Cabo guide.
FAQs About Chileno Bay Resort
Is Chileno Bay good for families? It works for families — swimmable beach, kids' club, good pool setup. The $120/day kids' club charge is the main caveat. For families prioritizing value and kids' inclusions, Palmilla is the better choice.
How does Chileno Bay compare to One & Only Palmilla? Chileno Bay wins on restaurant quality at Comal. Palmilla wins on value, service warmth, kids' inclusions, and beach quality. Read our full Palmilla review here.
Is the beach at Chileno Bay swimmable? Yes — one of the few genuinely swimmable beaches in the Corridor. The sand is coarser than at Palmilla but the water is calm and safe for children.
Is Chileno Bay all-inclusive? No — meals and kids' club are all additional charges. Budget accordingly.