Selling Mexico's Top Resorts
A sampling of the country's luxury properties

PHOTO: Esperanza is on bluffs in Cabo San Lucas.
In Mexico, luxury resorts take many forms, and with features and amenities that run the gamut. Depending on the resort, guests will find suites with private plunge pools, ultra-luxury bath amenities and cutting-edge entertainment systems; 24/7 butler service; championship golf courses; and over-the-top spa offerings. The one thing all these properties unquestionably share, however, is the delivery of world-class service. And, although Mexico’s luxury resorts are no longer quite the bargain they once were, they nonetheless still offer great value compared to their counterparts around the world. Following is a sampling of 12 of Mexico’s top resorts.
Capella Ixtapa
Shrouded by the Sierra Madre Mountains and set along a majestic rock cliff, Capella Ixtapa features just 59 suites set in five buildings that terrace down toward the Pacific Ocean. Suites feature master bedrooms, living areas and private terraces with infinity-edge plunge pools. The resort offers guests three dining options, including A Mares, its signature restaurant, which focuses on seafood and affords guests with sweeping views of the Pacific. It is also equipped with a spa, whose offerings include outdoor treatment areas mere steps away from the ocean and fitness center. Guests can avail themselves of the services of personal assistants — a signature amenity at all Capella properties — who will arrange spa appointments, cooking classes, sunset cruises and surfing lessons, among other things.
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort
Located four miles from Cabo San Lucas on bluffs overlooking the Sea of Cortez, Esperanza houses a 57-room resort, 60 privately owned villas and 36 private residences. Accommodations, which range from one to four bedrooms and measure from 925 to 4,000 feet, are appointed with handcrafted furnishings and large terraces equipped with infinity-edge hot tubs. A member of the Relais & Châteaux collection, the property features a full-service spa, four swimming pools and private beach, and five diverse culinary options. Guests are also privy to a host of complimentary perks, including yoga classes, breakfast at Cocina del Mar, and hand and foot massages. The property, which has been closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Odile, is expected to reopen in early spring.
Four Seasons Punta Mita
Nestled in an exclusive Banderas Bay development on 100 acres, this Riviera Nayarit property features 173 casita-style guestrooms and 31 suites — each with its own terrace or balcony boasting views of the Pacific — in one-, two- and three-story casitas outfitted with all the latest features and amenities. Its culinary options include three al fresco Richard Sandoval restaurants, all with ocean views. The resort is also home to two Jack Nicklaus golf courses and the world’s only island green, which can be accessed by an amphibious golf cart at high tide. In addition to a spa, fitness center and beauty salon, the property also features 10 tennis courts, extensive watersports options and a 55-foot yacht for excursions and sunset cruises.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, which features a staff-to-guest ratio of three to one, boasts 491 oceanfront suites measuring between a generous 1,184 to 3,767 feet. Suites are equipped with whirlpool bathtubs; stocked mini-bars; Wi-Fi access; Molton Brown bathroom amenities; Nespresso machines; remote-controlled window coverings; DVD, CD and MP3 players; and iPod docking stations. The all-inclusive resort boasts the region’s largest spa, which, at 89,000 square feet, houses 40 treatment rooms and suites. In all, Grand Velas offers guests 15 food and beverage options, including Cocina de Autor, a AAA Five Diamond award winner. It also features butler service; a children’s program; three swimming pools, waterfront plunge pools, a fitness center; and more.
Las Alamandas
This boutique hotel, set on the Cosatalegre coast between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, features 17 suites with shaded terraces, private Jacuzzis and oversize tubs. The property, which spans more than 1,500 acres, serves farm-to-table meals using produce from its own organic gardens. Guests can dine al fresco at the Oasis restaurant and the Oceanside La Palapa Beach Club — or opt for picnics or beach dinners under the stars. The resort also features a pool, rooftop bar and gym. Guests interested in private yoga will find a dedicated palapa to just that a mere stone’s throw from the beach. A team of massage therapists offers treatments in guests’ suites or in ocean-side palapas. A private airstrip allows guests to arrive by private plane.
PHOTO: Las Alamandas is a boutique hotel between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso
The Los Cabos resort, with its Mediterranean-Mexican style architecture, features a winding network of pools, swim-up bars and patios overlooking the ocean. All 83 of the resort’s suites — which measure between 960 and 5,600 square feet — feature butler service, large living areas and wood-burning fireplaces, in addition to panoramic views of the sea. Three main dining options include The Restaurant, serving Baja-Mediterranean cuisine with both indoor and outdoor seating options; the Sea Grill, set by the ocean and featuring cuisine cooked on wood-burning grills; and the Ceviche, Sushi & Tequila Bar. The Rosewood Resort also houses a spa focusing on holistic therapies and treatments, and a 2,900-square-foot fitness center complete with personal trainers and yoga and Pilates instruction.
NIZUC Resort & Spa
Situated in a 29-acre reserve 15 minutes from the Cancun airport, Nizuc’s 274 all-suite accommodations are divided into three distinct areas. One area houses 29 garden pool villas, including the presidential and NIZUC suites; another 44 ocean suites with sea views; and 201 residential suites, boasting high ceilings and spectacular views. The property features two secluded beaches, one of which is reserved for adults only; snorkeling, paddleboarding and kayaking; 24-hour concierge service; three infinity pools; six restaurants; a 30,000-square-foot spa; conference and events center; and a kids club. Its restaurants feature everything from Mexican cuisine to Peruvian ceviches to Asian and Mediterranean fare. Guests can enjoy hand-rolled cigars in the Havana Lounge and signature cocktails in Bar A-Kan.
One&Only Palmilla
The Los Cabos resort sits on a 250-acre section of a planned community, that includes a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course. Its 173 rooms comprise 61 oceanfront rooms, 78 junior suites, 16 pool casitas, 17 one-bedroom suites and the four-bedroom Villa Cortez — all of which offer fabulous views of the Sea of Cortez. Its restaurants include Market, designed by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, blending Euro-Asian cuisine with Mexican ingredients, and Suviche, which serves sushi and ceviche Vongerichten style. The resort features a tennis facility with Sea of Cortez views and two swimming pools. The property has been closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Odile and is scheduled to reopen April 20.
Rosewood Mayakoba
Rosewood Mayakoba, which is part of a 1,600-acre Riviera Maya enclave that includes a Greg Normand-designed golf course, offers its guests a choice of 130 suites of varying shapes and sizes. Standard suite amenities include private plunge pools, rooftop sundecks, garden showers and individual docks. Its portfolio of dining experiences offer everything from Italian to Mexican to sushi, among a host of other compelling options. The property recently unveiled La Ceiba Garden & Kitchen, which enables guests to participate in cooking demonstrations in which they use ingredients from vegetation they find themselves. The resort’s spa was designed around a cenote, and along with an adjoining adults-only pool, sits on its own private island. An infinity-edge pool is located beachfront.
St. Regis Punta Mita
Spread over five buildings on 22 coastal acres that front two Jack Nicklaus golf courses in Riviera Nayarit, the St. Regis Punta Mita holds the distinction of being St. Regis’ first hotel in Latin America. The property, with 89 rooms and suites, features three restaurants and two bars, as well as its latest addition, the beachfront Mita Mary Boat Bistro, which specializes in seafood and was inspired by the food truck trend. The resort is also home to the 10,000-foot Remède Spa, three infinity pools and a kids club. From April 30 to May 3, the property will host the Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic, which will combine activities centered on international cuisine, wine and world-class golf.
The Ritz Carlton, Cancun
Located in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, the property features 365 guestrooms and suites, including Club-level accommodations with elevator access to the Club Lounge, where five complimentary food and beverage presentations are offered daily. Standard room amenities include private balconies or terraces with Caribbean Sea views; 400-thread-count, Egyptian-cotton sheets; goose-down and non-allergenic comforters and feather beds; and marble bathrooms with separate showers and bathtubs.
The resort has nine dining options, including its culinary center, which offers cooking lessons and dining in a 12-seat venue with prix fixe menus.
Viceroy Zihuatanejo
Located on pristine, private beach fronting Zihuatanejo Bay, the resort features 46 suites and guestrooms in two-story adobe-style casitas amid a landscape filled with coconut trees, bougainvillea and hibiscus. One of two restaurants features a blend of Pacific-Mexican cuisine, while the other couples Mediterranean with Mexican. The Coral Bar serves ceviche and an array of specialty drinks. The property features a spa with six treatment rooms, and a fitness and yoga program. One of the ways it distinguishes itself is with innovative programming, mostly notably on the cuisine front, offering cooking classes where guests go to market with the chef and then prepare meals beachside; “sushi madness” nights at its beachside bar; and a Mexican street food menu on Monday nights.
More by Claudette Covey
Comments
You may use your Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook information, including your name, photo & any other personal data you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on TravelPulse.com. Click here to learn more.
LOAD FACEBOOK COMMENTS