A Los Cabos villa with a private chef lets your group spend the trip together instead of shopping, cooking and cleaning up. But “staffed” and “chef included” mean different things at different properties, and the price difference is real. This guide explains what every villa includes, when a chef is part of the rental and when it costs extra, how staff hours work, and the exact questions to ask before you book.
What’s included at every villa, and what isn’t
Daily cleaning is included at every villa in our Los Cabos collection. Beyond that, staffing varies by property and season. At select high-end villas a private chef is part of the rental, sometimes only in certain seasons. At most others, a chef, butler or extra staff are arranged for an additional fee. Groceries, beverages and gratuities are billed separately almost everywhere. We confirm exactly what is included, in writing, for your villa and your dates.
The three service levels you’ll encounter
1. Housekeeping only
The villa is cleaned and reset by the housekeeping team, and you plan your own meals or eat out. This is the baseline at every villa in our collection.
2. Housekeeping plus a chef on request
The most common arrangement. Housekeeping is included, and a private chef is booked for the meals you want at a daily or per-meal rate, plus groceries at cost. This is where most confusion happens: a villa can be set up for chef service while the chef is still an optional extra.
3. Chef included
At select high-end villas a chef is part of the rental, and some keep a larger team such as a house manager or butler. Even here, inclusions can change with the season, so the exact team and meals are confirmed for your dates.
The staff roles, and what each one costs
The clearest way to compare villas is by role, and by what is included versus billed separately:
- Chef included in the rental. A small number of villas include a private chef for certain meals within the nightly rate. Where that is the case, it is stated clearly on the villa’s own page. Even then, groceries and ingredients are almost always billed separately at cost, since menus are built around your group.
- Chef available for an additional fee. Far more common: the villa is set up for in-villa dining and a private chef can be arranged at a daily or per-meal rate, plus groceries. This is not the same as an included chef, so always check which applies. Our guide on how a private chef works walks through menus, timing, and cost.
- Butler or house manager. A butler or house manager runs the stay day to day: welcoming you on arrival, coordinating the chef and housekeeping, serving meals and drinks, and handling requests. Some villas include this role; at others it is arranged for your dates.
- Housekeeping. Included at every villa in our collection. It keeps the villa clean and reset; confirm the hours and whether it runs daily for the full length of the stay.
- Concierge services arranged separately. Concierge support covers planning — airport transfers, restaurant reservations, activities, and celebrations — before and during your stay. It is a coordination service; the vendors and experiences it books, such as a yacht day or a private dinner, are paid separately.
A note on gratuities and extras. Staffing costs sit alongside the nightly rate, and gratuities for the team are often expected on top — ask whether they are included or added separately so you can budget accurately. Grocery spend, additional event staff, and specialty requests are usually quoted case by case, which is another reason to confirm the full picture with your specialist before you commit rather than on arrival.
Staff hours: the detail people miss
Villa staff rarely work around the clock. In practice, teams work daytime and evening service hours, arriving in the morning, serving through dinner and leaving afterwards, with the house yours overnight. Many guests prefer this: service during the day, complete privacy at night.
Know the schedule before you arrive, especially with a late flight, early tee times, small children on a different rhythm or a celebration dinner that runs long. All of it can usually be arranged in advance, often for additional hours.
Is a villa with a chef worth it?
For larger groups, a villa with a chef is often comparable per person to eating out every night, with far more privacy, flexibility and comfort. It suits multigenerational family trips, milestone celebrations and groups who would rather relax at the villa than manage logistics. Smaller parties who plan to explore Cabo’s restaurants most evenings may prefer housekeeping plus the occasional chef night. The right level of service comes down to your group and how you want to spend the days.
Examples of Cabo villas set up for chef-served stays
These properties are set up for in-villa dining and a staffed stay. A private chef is arranged for an additional fee unless the villa’s page states it is included:
- Villa Estrella — Pedregal, sleeps 16. Staffed with 24/7 concierge and daily housekeeping; a large-group estate with ocean and marina views.
- Hacienda Edith — Pedregal, sleeps 13. Traditional hacienda with multiple casitas and 24/7 concierge; private chef available for an additional fee.
- Villa Victoria — Pedregal, sleeps 14. Walk-to-town estate with concierge service; private chef available for an additional fee.
- Villa Dos Vistas — Pedregal, sleeps 8. Ocean-view villa with concierge and housekeeping; private chef available for an additional fee.
Browse the full lists of staffed villas and private-chef villas.
Cabo villa rentals with a private chef, by area
Every villa below can arrange a private chef. At select high-end villas the chef is included, sometimes only in certain seasons; at the others the chef is booked separately. Groceries are billed at cost either way. Where we note “full staff”, the owner keeps a larger team at the house; what that team covers in your rate is confirmed in your quote. We confirm exactly what is included, in writing, for your dates. Compare them all on Los Cabos villas with a private chef, see all staffed villas, or read our Private Chef in a Los Cabos Villa guide.
Pedregal and Cabo San Lucas
- Casa de Karma: 8 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Casa Picasso: 8 bedrooms, up to 26 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Mantea Casa Cabo: 8 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Sunrise Villa: 8 bedrooms, up to 31 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Di Mare: 10 bedrooms, up to 22 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Descanso: 9 bedrooms, up to 20 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Casa Stella: 10 bedrooms, up to 20 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Villa Turquesa: 10 bedrooms, up to 24 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Villa Las Flores: 7 bedrooms, up to 18 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Villa Chavez: 8 bedrooms, up to 18 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Villa Aurora: 7 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Villa Finisterra: 4 bedrooms, up to 8 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Maria: 6 bedrooms, up to 12 guests, Pedregal; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Pacific West: 5 bedrooms, up to 8 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Hacienda Edith: 5 bedrooms, up to 13 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Villa Victoria: 6 bedrooms, up to 14 guests, Pedregal; private chef available
- Maison de Cortes: 7 bedrooms, up to 20 guests, Cabo San Lucas; private chef available
- Villa Buena Vida: 6 bedrooms, up to 10 guests, Cabo del Sol; private chef available
- Casa Cardonal 29: 6 bedrooms, up to 14 guests, Diamante; private chef available
Palmilla, Punta Bella and the Corridor
- Casa Elije: 10 bedrooms, up to 20 guests, Palmilla; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- Casa Edwards Palmilla: 8 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Palmilla; beachfront; private chef available
- Casa Mañana: 5 bedrooms, up to 12 guests, Palmilla; beachfront; private chef available
- Villa Paraiso: 6 bedrooms, up to 14 guests, Palmilla; beachfront; private chef available
- Villa Esperanza: 6 bedrooms, up to 14 guests, Palmilla; private chef available
- Casa Edwards Too: 5 bedrooms, up to 12 guests, Punta Bella; beachfront; private chef available
- Villa Captiva: 6 bedrooms, up to 12 guests, Punta Bella; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- Villa las Arenas: 4 bedrooms, up to 8 guests, Punta Bella; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Tortuga: 5 bedrooms, up to 10 guests, Punta Bella; beachfront; private chef available
- Casa Valentina: 5 bedrooms, up to 10 guests, Punta Bella; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Lazul: 7 bedrooms, up to 18 guests, Corridor; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- Casa Hidalgo: 12 bedrooms, up to 32 guests, Corridor; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- Villa Costa Brava: 3 bedrooms, up to 7 guests, Corridor; private chef available
Puerto Los Cabos and the East Cape
- Villa Tranquilidad: 8 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Puerto Los Cabos; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- West Enclave 7: 5 bedrooms, up to 14 guests, West Enclaves; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
- West Enclave 8: 6 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, West Enclaves; private chef available; full staff
- Casa Kay: 8 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Puerto Los Cabos; private chef available
- Casa Primavera: 8 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Puerto Los Cabos; private chef available
- Casa Kokomo: 5 bedrooms, up to 16 guests, Fundadores; private chef available
- Casa Kokomo & Casa Primavera: 13 bedrooms, up to 32 guests, Puerto Los Cabos; private chef available
- Villa Perla del Mar: 5 bedrooms, up to 10 guests, Costa Palmas; beachfront; private chef available; full staff
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Run through this checklist with your villa specialist before you confirm. Our guide on what to know before renting a villa in Los Cabos covers how rates, deposits and terms are usually structured.
- Which meals, if any, does an included chef cover — and what is the rate if the chef is an add-on?
- Are groceries and ingredients billed separately, and what should we budget?
- Is there a butler or house manager, and for how many hours a day?
- What does housekeeping cover, and does it run for the full stay?
- Are gratuities included, or expected on top of the rate?
- Can extra staff — servers, a bartender, childcare — be added for a celebration?
- What does the villa concierge arrange in advance versus on-site, and what is paid separately?
Frequently asked questions
What is included at every Los Cabos villa?
Daily cleaning by the housekeeping team. A private chef, butler and other staff are included only at select high-end villas, sometimes depending on the season, and otherwise arranged for an additional fee.
Is a villa with a chef the same as all-inclusive?
No. The chef’s service covers the cooking; groceries, beverages and gratuities are typically billed separately. A more inclusive package can sometimes be arranged, but it has to be structured and confirmed in advance.
Are villa staff there 24 hours?
Usually not. Teams work defined daytime and evening hours and leave after dinner, giving you the house privately overnight. Extended coverage can often be arranged in advance for an additional cost.
Do I need to tip villa staff?
Gratuities are customary in Los Cabos and normally paid at the end of the stay. The amount scales with the size of the team and the length of the stay; ask for guidance when you book.
Find your Cabo villa with a chef
Tell us your dates, group size and the level of service you want, and we’ll send a shortlist of Los Cabos villas that genuinely match, with what is included confirmed in writing. Request a matched villa shortlist.