The Best Luxury Hotels in Mexico

Head to the Mayan Riviera, a slice of paradise stretching from Tulum to Cancun along Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Sandwiched between the shimmering sea and thick, lush jungle, the beachfront Belmond Maroma is the perfect place to unwind – stay in an oceanfront suite for an idyllic Caribbean coastline experience.

Part of the Jacada Positive Impact collection, it is committed to environmental preservation, including a partnership with Parley for the Oceans which helps reduce plastic pollution. The resort also champions the area’s cultural heritage, showcasing traditional artisanal designs and authentic craftsmanship. Spend your free time exploring the nearby archaeological site of Ek’Balam or picking out Mayan constellations in the clear night sky with a local guide.

A haven in the heart of Mexico City, Casa Polanco immerses you in a quiet residential neighbourhood with views of Parque Lincoln, while still being within striking distance of the city’s main attractions. One of the best boutique hotels in Mexico, the 19 rooms feel exclusive and intimate, decked out in elegant neutrals and flooded with natural light.

This luxury boutique hotel offers a privileged glimpse into local life in the Polanco neighbourhood, and, as a former private house, it has retained that welcoming atmosphere that makes it feel like a home. Cosy up with a book in the well–stocked library, enjoy a private yoga session in the gym, or sip wine on one of the tree–lined terraces.

Home to one of the best rooftop bars in the city, the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is a destination in and of itself. Gaze out at the twinkling city lights or soak up the sunset over a carefully crafted cocktail at the end of days spent exploring the city’s cobblestone streets, or the nearby hot springs.

Inside, the décor is in keeping with the city’s Spanish style architecture, with traditional dark wood furniture and beams, quiet courtyards and arched doorways. The city is known for its artistic spirit, which dates back to colonial times and today makes it a hub for creatives. The Rosewood seamlessly embodies this atmosphere, allowing you to feel at one with the city while still enjoying modern amenities, including a spa, wine cellar and a kids’ club.

With an enviable address on the city’s grandest boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma, the Ritz Carlton Mexico City punctuates the downtown skyline from its position within a 59–storey glass tower. The 153 rooms face outwards, with balconies offering sprawling views over Chapultec Park and giving you one of the best sunset spots in the city.

Contemporary and stylish, the inside is just as impressive. There’s a Deco–inspired bar decked out in black marble, and a soothing spa to help you unwind after days spent exploring. The best the city has to offer is right on your doorstep, including the top museums and restaurants, high–end shops and electric bars.

Occupying a scenic spot on Mexico’s Pacific coast, hidden amongst Puerto Vallarta’s tropical coastal rainforest, is One&Only Mandarina, one of the best luxury hotels in Mexico. All of the freestanding villas and treehouses are positioned for complete privacy among the 80 acres of jungle canopy. Each one comes with its own plunge pool, so you can relax in your own tranquil enclave.

The hotel is a nature lover’s paradise. As well as relaxing on the pristine beach, there are countless nature trails, paddle boarding, surfing, sailing and whale watching. For children, the on–site kids’ club is a jungle playground of suspended bridges, tree houses, climbing walls and slides, while the nine hole golf course keeps the grown ups entertained.

Drive down the coast from Puerto Vallarta and you’ll come to the Four Seasons Tamarindo, sprawled across a verdant nature reserve on a 3,000 acre peninsula, the glittering waters of the Pacific whispering from beyond the leaves. With natural surroundings this abundant, it’s impossible not to feel profoundly connected to the power and beauty of Mother Nature throughout your stay.

Each of the rooms and suites is housed in its own freestanding structure for maximum privacy, and the interiors pay homage to traditional Mexican culture and crafts with locally–made sculptures, baskets and stone tableware. With so much space, there’s no shortage of things to do, including a Temazcal hut, 18–hole golf course, a 35 acre farm, watersports, diving and whale watching.

Quiet and secluded, Esencia allows you to feel as if you dropped off grid and landed in paradise. Set among 50 acres of private beachfront on the Mayan Riviera, this boutique hotel offers you one of the greatest luxuries of all – escape. Stroll among thatched, palapa style villas and palm tree lined beach, listening to the gentle rush of the waves breaking on the sand.

Formerly the private bolthole of an Italian duchess, the hotel channels elevated simplicity. Carefully chosen art and design pieces pop against the white–washed walls, the catch of the day is served beachside wrapped in banana leaves and the soothing spa offers treatments inspired by Mayan heritage using ingredients grown in the hotel garden.

Just a 30 minute drive from the colourful buildings and tree–lined boulevards of Mérida, hidden within the Yucatán jungle, is one of Mexico’s finest luxury boutique hotels. Chablé Yucatán is a wellness–focused retreat which draws on healing traditions from the Mayan community and celebrates the cultural heritage of its surroundings.

There are 38 casitas with private pools centred around the star of the resort: its own private cenote. Everything here is thoughtfully designed to educate and connect you with Mayan culture, such as the traditionally inspired dining made with local ingredients and restorative spa treatments. The property also runs their own tequila tastings, giving you the chance to understand the intricacies of this much-loved Mexican beverage.

Close to the idyllic Playa del Carmen and you’ll find one of the Mayan Riviera’s best kept secrets. Chablé Maroma is tucked away from the main road within the luscious greenery of Punta Maroma. The 70 thatched casitas are built from local materials, and the whole experience is geared towards wellness and spirituality, with a spa menu rooted in Mayan tradition and shaman–led Temazcal rituals to revitalise body and soul.

One of our favourite parts, not only does it have its own private beach, it’s also just a short boat ride away from the Mesomerican Reef – the second largest barrier reef in the world, stretching all the way to Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Snorkelling and scuba diving experiences are mesmerising, and you can even adopt a coral as part of the resort’s coral restoration programme.