Mexico offers two very different kinds of golf trip. On the Pacific, Los Cabos packs Nicklaus, Weiskopf, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods into a 30 km stretch of desert coast, where cactus-lined fairways run down to the sea. On the Caribbean, the Riviera Maya trades desert for jungle, mangroves and cenotes, with El Camaleón at Mayakoba as its best-known course. Further up the Pacific coast, Punta Mita has two Nicklaus courses and a natural island green. The thing to understand before you book is access. Several of Mexico’s best courses only take guests of particular resorts or members, so where you stay often decides where you can play. Green fees are almost always quoted in US dollars. Carts are standard, and many fees include food and drink on the course.
Nicklaus and Weiskopf courses in the jungle foothills above Banderas Bay.
Destination imagery
Where to base yourself.
Los Cabos Corridor
The 30 km highway between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is the most flexible base. The Cabo del Sol Course, Tom Weiskopf’s desert layout with six new Fry/Straka holes, takes visitors by phone or email. Palmilla, Cabo Real and Puerto Los Cabos are all nearby. Hotels range from the Four Seasons at Cabo del Sol to family resorts in San José.
Cabo San Lucas, Pacific side
West of town, the golf is spectacular but private. Quivira, Nicklaus’s clifftop course, is only for Pueblo Bonito guests and owners. Diamante’s Dunes Course and El Cardonal, home of the PGA Tour’s World Wide Technology Championship, are only for people staying inside Diamante. Choose this base if one of these courses is the reason for the trip.
Riviera Maya
Mayakoba, between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, is home to Greg Norman’s El Camaleón, which hosted Mexico’s first PGA Tour event in 2007. Its holes wind through jungle, mangroves and limestone canals to the beach. Guests at the Rosewood, Fairmont, Banyan Tree and Andaz hotels on the estate can book easily, and outside golfers can book through the course.
Punta Mita & Riviera Nayarit
North of Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita’s two Jack Nicklaus courses, Pacifico and Bahia, belong to a private club. Guests of the Four Seasons and the St. Regis, and villa residents, can play. Pacifico has the optional hole 3B, a par three to a natural island green that you reach on foot at low tide or by amphibious cart.
When to go.
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The core season runs from November to April across the country, with dry air, reliable sun and the highest green fees. In Los Cabos, October and May are fine shoulder months, warm but with fewer crowds. June to September is very hot on the Baja coast, so courses such as Quivira cut their summer rates by around 15%. The Pacific hurricane season runs from mid-May to November, and the Atlantic season, which affects the Riviera Maya, from June to November. On both coasts the greatest storm risk falls between August and October. The PGA Tour comes to El Cardonal at Diamante in early November. From December to March, humpback and grey whales pass Los Cabos and Banderas Bay.
Getting around.
Each region has its own airport, and flying between them usually means connecting through Mexico City or a US hub, so treat them as separate trips. Los Cabos International (SJD) sits at the San José end of the Corridor, 30–50 minutes from most Cabo courses. Cancún (CUN) serves the Riviera Maya, and Mayakoba is roughly 45 minutes south by highway. Puerto Vallarta (PVR) is about 45 minutes from Punta Mita. Hire cars are easy in Los Cabos, where the courses are spread along one highway. Elsewhere, resort transfers and taxis are usual, and the gated courses expect your name at the security gate.
Plan it well.
Start with access rules, not course rankings. Quivira, Diamante and Punta Mita only take golfers staying at particular hotels or villas. Book the right room first, then request tee times through the resort or golf shop. Open courses such as Cabo del Sol, Palmilla and El Camaleón take direct bookings, usually with a credit card to guarantee the time. Ask about the cancellation window, which is often strict. Handicap certificates are rarely asked for. Carts are normally compulsory and included, and many Cabo fees include food and drink stations. Check whether tax is included in the quoted price. Book early for Christmas, New Year and US spring break, when tee sheets fill fastest.
Questions golfers ask.
Where is the best golf in Mexico?
Los Cabos has the deepest collection, with Quivira, Diamante’s Dunes Course and El Cardonal, and Cabo del Sol within half an hour of each other. The Riviera Maya’s El Camaleón and Punta Mita’s Nicklaus pair are the strongest alternatives, each in a very different setting.
Can visitors play the top golf courses in Los Cabos?
Some, yes. The Cabo del Sol Course, Palmilla and Cabo Real take outside bookings. Quivira is limited to Pueblo Bonito guests and owners, and Diamante to people staying inside its gates. The Cove Club, formerly the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course, is members only.
When is the best time for a golf trip to Mexico?
November to April gives the most dependable weather on both coasts, with October and May good value in Los Cabos. Avoid August to October if you want to minimise hurricane risk. Summer brings lower green fees but very hot afternoons.
Are green fees in Mexico quoted in pesos or dollars?
At the resort courses, almost always US dollars. Quivira’s published 2026 rates run from US$306 to US$465 with tax included, while other clubs quote fees plus tax. Card payment is standard, but carry some cash for caddie and staff tips.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play golf in Mexico?
Generally not. Mexican resort courses rarely ask for one, and stay-and-play operators for Diamante state that no handicap is needed. Clubs may still assign tees according to ability, and pace of play is closely watched on busy winter mornings.
