Top 15 Resorts to Experience in Mexico

Mexican resorts have become a favored getaway for many in North America, thanks to the appeal of a beach escape, the delicious cuisine, and the rich variety of cultures—all just a short flight or drive away.

Seeking a paradise enveloped in jungle? Or perhaps the vibe of a beach town? Explore this expertly curated list of the 15 finest resorts in Mexico for 2023, compiled by our travel specialists, and presented below in no particular order as part of our Hotels We Adore series showcasing the best accommodations of the year.

These 15 resorts, located in destinations like Baja California, Oaxaca, and the Riviera Maya, excel in integrating local talent into their experiences through partnerships with regional artisans, renowned architects, and top chefs from Mexico City, all while providing the warm hospitality that has made Mexico a cherished destination.

1. Rosewood Mayakoba

Nestled on a collection of private islands and surrounded by a mangrove forest in the Riviera Maya, this all-suite resort offers guests a unique experience where they travel to their accommodations by electric boat. With 129 spacious suites, each equipped with butler service, outdoor terraces, and private plunge pools—many featuring outdoor showers—guests can immerse themselves in luxury. Daily eco-tours provide insights into the local flora and fauna, which the resort actively works to preserve through its sustainability initiatives. Its commitment to conservation, from energy and water efficiency to locally sourced culinary practices, has earned recognition from the NGO Rainforest Alliance, which evaluates businesses based on their social, economic, and environmental impact.

For those looking to relax, there are four pools and a pristine beach available, while the expansive 17,000-square-foot spa, situated on its own private island, features a hydrotherapy circuit, meditation platform, and 12 treatment rooms that highlight locally sourced aloe and agave.

2. Susurros del Corazón, part of Auberge Resorts Collection

Nestled on a pristine white-sand beach between Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita—far from the bustling luxury resorts—the 59-room Susurros del Corazón promises genuine seclusion. In the bungalow-style accommodations, each featuring a patio or balcony, Dallas-based designer Paul Duesing highlights the artistry of local artisans, including hand-carved whitewashed wooden headboards and oversized dream catchers crafted from driftwood and seashells. The bohemian-chic dining spots, such as Casamilpa and La Boquita, honor the bounty of local fishermen and farmers, serving dishes like organic pork shank paired with sweet corn puree. While guests unwind by the three-tiered pool, spa, or ocean, they can also enjoy a variety of activities, including daily yoga classes, drumming sessions, hat-decorating workshops, and master classes in raicilla, a traditional agave spirit from the region.

3. Chablé Yucatan

The Yucatan is famous for its ancient ruins, ranging from Mayan temples to decaying structures built in the late 18th century during the henequen boom, a fibrous plant used in textiles. At Chablé, guests can immerse themselves in this history within the hotel’s main area, located in a beautifully restored turn-of-the-century hacienda on a sprawling 750-acre estate. The 40 guest rooms offer a more modern touch, featuring glass-fronted standalone casitas with terraces filled with hammocks that seamlessly connect to the lush Yucatecan jungle. Here, nature takes center stage—even the spa is positioned beside a cenote, a natural limestone sinkhole.

4. Our Habitas Bacalar

Located a four-hour drive south of Cancun International Airport, Our Habitas Bacalar features 34 A-frame accommodations, a restaurant, and a wellness center, all nestled within nearly 20 acres of Mayan jungle along the stunning Bacalar Lagoon. Constructed with locally sourced materials and designed to minimize environmental impact, the guest rooms come with private decks and outdoor showers, perfect for rinsing off after swimming or engaging in activities on the lake, such as SUP yoga, crystal kayaking, and eFoiling.

Wellness is a key focus here, offering daily yoga sessions at the yoga shala, sound healing, Janzu water meditation, temezcal ceremonies, and a spa that hosts workshops on the healing benefits of medicinal herbs, cacao, coconut, and honey. Our Habitas RISE, the hotel company’s global initiative, provides support to the local community through educational programs on micro economies and works to protect the lagoon’s stromatolites, microbial reefs recognized as living fossils.

5. Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Nestled along the stunning coastal dunes of San José del Cabo, the 20-acre Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, features 113 expansive guest rooms and the two-story oceanfront Grand Reserve Villa. The interiors were crafted by the Mexican design firm uribekrayer, which partnered with weaving communities in Oaxaca to produce handwoven textiles and engaged ceramic artists Monica Bizzarri and Raquel Charabatti to add sculptural touches throughout the property. Guests can easily spend a leisurely afternoon at the 30,000-square-foot Spa Alkemia, which includes the Savasana Sound Room for sound therapy, the Mindful Movement Studio for group fitness and mind-body classes, and the Alkemia al Fresco garden, where they can create and blend their own custom body scrubs.

The resort’s commitment to sustainability includes on-site composting and a sewage water treatment system for irrigation purposes. Zadún also offers Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, providing guests of all ages with insights into the unique ecosystems of Baja California and the protected marine sanctuaries of the Sea of Cortez.

6. Montage Los Cabos

Swimmable beaches are a rarity in Cabo San Lucas, often due to rough waves, but the private beach at Montage Los Cabos offers guests the chance to swim and snorkel right on-site. Along the shoreline, the 122 accommodations range from standard rooms and suites to spacious open-plan casas with up to five bedrooms. All feature terraces equipped with daybeds and outdoor showers, and some include private pools.

Active guests will find plenty of activities to enjoy here: three pools, a fitness center and movement studio, tennis courts, complimentary use of kayaks and paddleboards, two yachts for charter, and access to a Fred Couples-designed 19-hole golf course. For those seeking relaxation, the expansive 40,000-square-foot spa offers organic treatments inspired by local shamanic traditions. Dining options include four bars and restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, from Mexican (short rib empanadas; shrimp tostadas) to Thai (gaeng kau lobster curry; tiger prawn fried rice).

7. One&Only Palmilla

Situated at the edge of the Baja Peninsula, One&Only Palmilla was originally established in 1956 as a 15-room retreat for Don Abelardo Rodriguez, the son of Mexico's then-president. Today, it stands as one of the region's most opulent resorts, featuring 174 oceanfront rooms and suites, along with two villas adorned in neutral tones with accents of red; many offer infinity pools and patios overlooking the Sea of Cortez.

One&Only Palmilla boasts one of the few swimmable beaches in the area, along with three private rocky coves equipped with floating beds, lounge chairs, and attentive butlers. Guests can engage in activities such as snorkeling, surfing, parasailing, and golfing on the acclaimed 27-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The expansive spa includes a wellness garden featuring a juice bar and 13 treatment villas, several of which come with private plunge pools, rain showers, and swinging daybeds.

One&Only Palmilla is part of EarthCheck, a scientific benchmarking certification program, in recognition of its sustainability initiatives, which include an advanced water purification system that produces and bottles filtered water on-site. The resort collaborates with the Red Committee for the Protection of the Sea Turtle, assisting with daily patrols of nearby nests—a volunteer opportunity for guests.

8. Paradero Todos Santos

Paradero Todos Santos is a hotel located in Baja California that aims to fully immerse guests in the local environment. Unlike many resorts in Cabo an hour away, Paradero offers a cultural retreat rather than a pool party, positioned at the crossroads of the bright desert sun, mountains, and the Pacific coast. It features a working farm and is just a 10-minute drive from the vibrant art-and-surf community of Todos Santos. Founders Pablo Carmona and Joshua Kremer, based in Mexico City, have crafted experiences that extend beyond the ocean.

Guests can enjoy complimentary yoga and fitness classes; participate in a challenging guided nature hike with ocean views; take a guided art walk through the nearby village of Todos Santos, a hub for artists from the U.S. and Mexico for decades; and even learn about gardening and farming right on-site. The hotel itself is designed as an indoor/outdoor sanctuary, featuring 35 suites that harmonize with the desert landscape, complete with rugged concrete walls and handcrafted Mexican furnishings.

9. Rancho Pescadero, the Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Once a quaint beachside retreat with just 12 rooms in Todos Santos, Rancho Pescadero reopened at the end of 2022 after a complete renovation, transforming it into a luxury resort centered on wellness. Now featuring 103 guest rooms, the hotel was designed by Mexican architect Alejandra Templeton, with nearly all furnishings and decor sourced from local Mexican artisans. Accommodations boast private rooftop decks, plunge pools, beds with handcrafted steel headboards, and rugs made in Michoacán. The expansive 25,000-square-foot spa and fitness center include a Pilates reformer studio, dedicated indoor and outdoor yoga spaces, as well as three restaurants and bars that primarily use ingredients from the nine on-site gardens, which include a citrus orchard and native succulents.

10. Four Seasons Tamarindo

At the intersection of jungle and the Pacific Ocean, Four Seasons Tamarindo opened in November 2022 on a secluded peninsula at the southwestern tip of Jalisco. Nestled within a 3,000-acre private nature reserve, only 2 percent of which is developed for tourism, the resort highlights Mexico's design and culinary excellence. The hotel's brutalist architecture, designed by Mexican architects Victor Legorreta and Mauricio Rocha under the name LegoRocha, is inspired by the lines of Mexican pyramids and cascades down from the cliff where the lobby is located. All materials used are locally sourced, including marble from Veracruz and volcanic rock from a nearby mountain.

The 157 guest rooms are divided between cliffside suites with private infinity pools perched above the lobby and beach and garden rooms located near public areas. Rooms are adorned with framed textiles and feature handwoven hammocks on the patios. The terrace showcases three tiers of infinity pools and various Mexican dining options, including a casual taqueria, a beachside seafood restaurant, and Coyul, a collaboration with acclaimed Mexican chef Elena Reygadas, who has been named the World’s Best Female Chef. Guests can also enjoy guided hikes in the nature reserve, where they can spot local wildlife such as lilac-crowned parrots, squirrel cuckoos, and black-throated magpie jays. A biologist leads nighttime excursions to uncover the reserve's creepy-crawly inhabitants, including long-horned beetles, huntsman spiders, and scorpions.

11. Monte Uzulu

Located in the quaint town of San Agustinillo on the Oaxacan coast, Monte Uzulu seamlessly blends nature with local culture. Guests can drift off to the sound of crashing waves and awaken to the delightful sounds of daily life in the community. Positioned at the base of the town and just a short walk from the beach, the hotel features 11 sandy-hued cliffside rooms that embody a minimalist design, built from materials like local macuil wood and cement. Founder Alan V. Favero is an interior designer and artist renowned for his eco-conscious Taller Lu’um design firm, which partners with artisans throughout Mexico.

Monte Uzulu boasts a commitment to sustainability, reusing 100 percent of its water and incorporating a rainwater catchment system. The hotel offers biodegradable skincare products and features retractable walls that allow ocean breezes to cool the interiors instead of relying on air-conditioning.

12. Terrestre

Nestled in the hills of Oaxaca with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, Hotel Terrestre seamlessly blends contemporary design with sustainability. Commissioned by the Mexican hospitality group Grupo Habita, the property was designed by Mexico City architect Alberto Kalach, renowned for his nature-focused, sustainable architecture. Kalach, who also created the Casona Sforza retreat in Puerto Escondido, constructed the hotel’s 14 villas using local materials such as clay, wood, and concrete, allowing them to harmonize with the sandy landscape. Each villa features a private terrace, an outdoor shower, a dipping pool, and a hammock, with custom furniture designed by Mexico’s Oscar Hagerman and crafted by local artisans. Completely solar-powered, the hotel utilizes fans and cross ventilation for cooling, while its landscaping includes native plants like copales and mesquites that thrive in the dry climate.

13. St. Regis Kanai Resort

Inaugurated in May 2023, the St. Regis Kanai Resort features elevated walkways and stilts to protect the adjacent mangrove forest, which runs alongside the two-mile stretch of pristine white-sand beach. The resort's circular design, crafted by the Mexican architectural firm Edmonds International Design, draws inspiration from the Pleiades constellation, significant in Mayan culture, while showcasing local artisans and craftsmen throughout the property.

The resort boasts both adults-only and family-friendly pools, a spa offering hydrotherapy treatments, and eight bars and restaurants, including a location of Richard Sandoval’s Toro and a library where guests can enjoy tastings of Mayan cacao and tea. Each of the 143 guest rooms and suites is adorned with green marble sinks inspired by cenotes, ceramic light fixtures reminiscent of stars, and beautifully carved walnut headboards influenced by ancient Mayan textiles.

14. Cuixmala

Nestled along Mexico’s rugged Pacific Coast within the expansive 36,000-acre Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, Cuixmala is among the country’s most secluded beach hotels. The property features 40 guest rooms, suites, and villas spread across various locations, from beachfront to hilltop. Housed in vibrant tangerine buildings, the accommodations showcase bright white interiors, high ceilings, and vivid bedspreads accented with electric pink and sunny yellow, with views of either the ocean or lush wilderness. Committed to conservation, the hotel supports the Cuixmala Ecological Fund, dedicated to protecting the area's diverse ecosystems and rare wildlife, including jaguars and pumas.

15. Hotelito

Nestled on a tranquil stretch of coast just outside the lively beach town of Zihuatanejo, Hotelito opened its doors in January 2023 as a sanctuary dedicated to conservation and community engagement. Set within Musa, an eco-friendly project created by Mexico City designer Andrés Saavedra and Canadian entrepreneur Tara Medina, the hotel features sleek and minimalist architecture. Comprising 13 guest rooms built from natural materials like stone and locally sourced sustainable hardwood, Hotelito boasts impressive eco-initiatives, including a bio-pool, composting and soil regeneration programs, and systems for rainwater harvesting and gray water recycling that nourish its gardens. Moreover, the hotel actively supports efforts to restore fragile coral reef habitats in the nearby Pacific Ocean.