The 7 Most Beautiful Resorts on Mexico’s Pacific Coast

This truth is undeniable: Mexico is always a good idea. And the resorts in Mexico are equally enticing. With so many distinctive cultures, styles, cuisines, and beliefs, the United States’ southern neighbor is gloriously diverse and endlessly exciting. That even applies to a narrower zone: mainland Mexico’s long Pacific Coast. There, destinations such as Careyes are the epitome of imaginations running wild to build—over half a century—one of the most original and vibrant beach communities in the world. Elsewhere, recognizable luxury brands have created resorts that turn fantasy into reality. Here, the seven most spectacular resorts in Mexico stretching up and down the Pacific coast, with views for days, not to mention, at certain times, sea turtles and humpback whales.

Careyes

Mexico’s best-kept secret is a bit less confidential these days, since quite a few notables flocked to its flamboyant villas during COVID-19. Still, the paparazzi-free enclave known for unorthodox architecture and design—curvaceous and bold, the palapa-roofed villas include collaborations between Italian and Mexican creatives—is decidedly boho in spirit. Artistic festivals and installations are just some of the draws of the 20,000-acre destination founded in the late ’60s; naturalists thrive off the unspoiled wilderness, tiny islands, and miles of virginal beach that are home to nesting sea turtles. Beach clubs, locally sourced restaurants, and wellness exploits are a few other elements lending to Careyes’s idyllic energy.

And while the brick-clad El Careyes Club & Residences is a flawless place to stay—see spacious suites with ocean-view balconies—it’s Careyes’s legendary fully staffed private villas that are where the magic lies. The newest is the flamingo-pink Casa Mirador, designed by husband-and-wife architects Alex Possenbacher and Lorena Contreras and designer Veronica Peyrelongue, and featuring work by local artisans alongside a curvilinear infinity pool and signature stark white interiors.

careyes.com, Expedia, Tablet

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo

This forthcoming Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is another reason for a pilgrimage to Jalisco’s Costalegre (translation: joyful coast), this year. When it opens mid-2022, the property, an hour south of Careyes, is bound to seduce design buffs well versed in Mexican aesthetics. The project—157 camouflaged rooms meant to disappear into the natural landscape of the 3,000-plus acre private reserve—was designed by five revered firms: Victor Legorreta, Mauricio Rocha, Mario Schjetnan, Uribe Krayer, and NODO Taller. The concept of rewilding was top of mind when they devised a palette of authentically regional materials (think lava rock, cement, and wood) as well as textiles that intuitively follow the natural terrain’s curves. Though it’s thoroughly modern, the resort is in many ways an ode to Mexican heritage, with abundant fabrics and art harking to pre-Hispanic culture plus experiences and activities meant to rebalance and inspire.

fourseasons.com

Casona Sforza

With just 11 lofty suites, this adults-only Puerto Escondido beach property is petite in size, but grand when it comes to architectural impact. Designed by Mexico City–based architect Alberto Kalach, it’s a marriage of ancient but airy arches and vaults with contemporary bohemian flair. Sun-bleached and breezy, the hotel is an ode to sustainable luxury. It’s a stunner, from the silhouette of its shells to the beautifully crafted Veracruz palm lamps, Yucatán chairs, Teotitlán del Valle rugs and other Oaxacan textiles, and the aquamarine pool with concentric circles. Ecological and social responsibility spills into the dining, while holistic massages, private surf sessions, and whale watching aim to celebrate the pristine natural environment, too.

casonasforza.com, Expedia

One&Only Mandarina

Designed by Rick Joy, a collaborator on Amangiri, this newish jungle-y gem on the Riviera Nayarit feels like the most luxurious adventure imaginable. Even the wood, clay, precious metal, and stone villas that aren’t proper treehouses seem to float in the rainforest canopies, embraced by tropical foliage—plus colorful birds and butterflies—peeking through wide expanses of glass, outdoor showers, massive tubs, and overbed skylights. Private plunge pools plus impressive cantilevered creations offer aquatic perches with inimitable views of the Pacific. Multiple unique dining outlets, including Enrique Olvera’s Carao, plus numerous land and sea experiences and spa offerings focusing on well-being, serve to further excite, indulge, and disconnect.

oneandonlyresorts.com, Expedia, Tablet

Thompson Zihuatanejo

No two rooms in this 56-room resort—including the 11 swim-up suites and others with plunge pools—are identical, making it an excellent showcase for regional design and Mexican art. A midcentury-modern attitude melds with artisanal decor in the form of wood totems, cement mosaics, handwoven rugs, vivid tapestries, and barro negro pottery—much of it within view of the turquoise beach. The newest addition to the resort’s rich local palette is a mural by Mexico City artist Oscar Torres incorporating the surrounding paradisiacal landscape.

thompsonhotels.com, Expedia, Tablet  

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

Having completed a total renovation in 2021, this longtime favorite of the many resorts in Mexico is more beautiful than ever—not only in terms of refreshed rooms and suites with a luxe take on traditional hacienda styling and the rejuvenated free-form infinity pool, but also in soul stirring experiences that range from sunset sea turtle releases to workshops on Huichol traditions. An expansion planned for late 2022 is set to be a game changer. Naviva, a sustainable 15-tent property beside the main resort, was designed by Luxury Frontiers with a butterfly-inspired aesthetic that evokes total integration into the untouched forest environment. The intimate, adults-only resort is highly customizable in nature, with thoughtful wellness and culinary offerings that reflect the Riviera Nayarit.

fourseasons.com, Expedia

Cuixmala

From flourishing jungle and coconut groves to grasslands and lagoons, this 30,000-acre nature reserve and elegant private estate boasts five kilometers of coastline and a number of opulent accommodation options. Architectural influences look to span from the Middle East and Morocco to ancient Aztec in the 40-room Costalegre property with a bamboo yoga shala, beach massage palapa, three eateries served by a biodynamic farm, and even roaming zebras and eland.

cuixmala.com