Mexico has quickly risen to one of my favorite destinations. I visited Mexico for the first time in 2017 and by early 2018 I had quickly visited 10 different Mexico destinations. I love the language and wish I could speak it fluently. The people are warm and friendly but also funny, which is what matters most to me. The food is my absolute favorite (tacos every day please!), the beaches and architecture are gorgeous and I honestly feel at home upon arrival.
Working as a travel writer/editor I’ve had the privilege of staying in some awesome luxury resorts and hotels. The service and hospitality at these resorts is outstanding. The food is on another level and the hotel design and decor can’t compete. Here are my favorite luxury resorts in Mexico.
Imanta Resort in Punta de Mita, Mexico; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
1. Imanta Resort – Punta de Mita, Riviera Nayarit
Imanta Resort is quite possibly the most luxurious resort I’ve ever stayed in. This private jungle reserve sits among 250 acres of trees, mountains and beach and is about 30 minutes from the Pacific Coast town of Sayulita in Riviera Nayarit. I had the pleasure of staying at this Relais & Chateaux resort just one night but I received the full pampering experience while there for work. Nature takes center stage at Imanta. The resort was constructed in 2010 to incorporate the trees and stone that already existed there. Instead of removing large boulders and stones, gorgeous stone walkways were crafted that lead to the beach and a giant stone bathtub was polished into formation inside one of the suites. Imanta is not an all-inclusive and all meals and drinks are at an additional cost.
When I arrived here for work I was given a tour of the hotel and the tour ended at my suite. Nearly every wall of the suite had giant glass windows or doors that opened to a different impeccable view. One side had beach views, another the lush green jungle and yet another view was of the plunge pool below. However, I hadn’t quite realized I was in even in a guest room. I thought this massive room with stone floors and dark wood furniture was another part of the spa maybe. I was presented with four different types of soap chunks on a pretty wooden tray. I was told to smell each and decide which was my favorite. At the time I had no idea why I was being asked to smell soaps. Were these for sale in the spa and they wanted my opinion? I found it odd but did as I was instructed and chose my soap. The woman then sliced off a few smaller soap chunks and placed them by the bathroom sink and in the shower of my suite. This resort was so luxurious, I smelled and chose my own personal soap!!
I ate some of the best tacos of my life at the beach restaurant, and had the most relaxing massage at the spa that was outside under the tall trees and completely submersed in nature. If there hadn’t been a masseuse there I would have though I was just lounging in the jungle with the sound of the ocean waves nearby. Staying at Imanta is like having an entire private beach jungle to yourself. The relaxation is instantaneous upon arrival and the service and hospitality is personal and detailed beyond expectations.
W Punta de Mita Hotel Guest Room in Punta de Mita, Mexico; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
2. W Punta de Mita – Punta de Mita, Riviera Nayarit
Not far from Imanta, the W Punta de Mita also along the Riviera Nayarit, has a luxuriously cool vibe. Everything is colorfully designed down to the finest of details. A low tone of House music can be heard at the pool keeping the vibe mellow while you lounge on the pool chairs with a cocktail. There are amble Instagram opportunities at the W, from a vintage truck at the beachside lunch spot to a blue mosaic that leads to nowhere but the ocean views. Every piece of artwork has a meaning behind it. The Huichol culture and Native American people who first came to Riviera Nayarit are represented throughout the resort and in much of the artwork. The resort-style pools have chair swings and cabana-style beds, and you can take surf or paddle board lessons at the beach. The W is not an all-inclusive, all meals and drinks are at an additional cost. The resort is a bit spread out and it can be a hint of a longer walk from guest rooms to the beach or pool. But guests can call for a golf cart or hop on one of the many Razor scooters that can be found around the resort, free for guest use!
If Imanta is for the nature-loving yogi who wants to disconnect from the world, the W Punta de Mita is for the stylish influencer who wants to be seen. I recommend visiting Punta de Mita and staying at both resorts. They are completely different from each other but experiencing both on the same trip makes for a well-rounded vacation.
Fairmont Mayakoba Hotel in Mexico; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
3. Fairmont Mayakoba – Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
Fairmont Mayakoba is located near Playa del Carmen in the small, private section of the Riviera Maya called Mayakoba. The Fairmont Mayakoba is part of the 240-acre private, gated community of Mayakoba. This luxury Mexico resort is surrounded by lush mangroves, canals, lagoons and white sand beaches. There are a variety of pools to discover around the resort, some more private than others. But the beach was my favorite part of this resort. There are plenty of palapas available for shade, plus beach volleyball, cornhole, water sports, and beachside food and cocktail service. The Fairmont Mayakoba is an all-inclusive optional resort, giving guests the option of pay-as-you-go if you plan to explore outside of the resort or enjoy having all (or some) of your meals and drinks included in your stay.
Fairmont brand hotels are my absolute favorite hotel brand. They know how to do luxury and service extremely well, but many of their hotels also have a storied history. Fairmont Mayakoba is newer to the Fairmont brand but it has invested heavily into being an eco-friendly hotel. The resort sits off the Mesoamerican coral reef, the world’s second largest coral reef, and Fairmont Mayakoba is making efforts to help reforest the coral reef. For a fee you can enjoy a snorkeling activity where you can learn about the coral reef restoration and reforestation while also enjoying a catamaran and snorkeling tour. Or take a free, guided eco-boat tour in a small electric boat through the Mayakoba river canals where you may spot wild birds, fish and possibly alligators, too.
4. Quinta Real Oaxaca – Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
Located in the heart of Oaxaca City, the Quinta Real Oaxaca was formally a 16th century convent and while it has been renovated with modern conveniences it still reflects its former life as home to nuns. The architecture and history behind these hotel walls are what make this boutique hotel so rich. The building was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site and its four-century history and the building’s colonial design will forever be preserved. Located only one block away from Santo Domingo Cathedral, it is said that underground tunnels were once used by nuns and priests traveling between the church and convent.
I did not have the privilege of staying at Quinta Real, which is not an all-inclusive, but I did have the honor of touring it and hearing the hotel’s stories. There are 18 huge “lavaderos” or stone sinks in an outdoor chapel or stone gazebo in one of the courtyards. Today, these lavaderos are merely decor but they once were used by the nuns to wash clothes.
Oaxaca is colonial Mexico city and does not offer a beach but there is much to explore in the city and its surrounding areas. The large pool at Quinta Real Oaxaca sits within one of the many hotel courtyards and is a serene place to unwind after a day of exploring the city.
5. Hotel Xcaret – Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
The Xcaret adventure parks situated along the Riviera Maya are the best in Mexico. I have dubbed the original park, Xcaret, the Mexico Disney World. It is an eco-adventure park where you can spend at minimum an entire day floating down a natural lazy river, visiting animals and sea life, swimming in turquoise waters, or taking a nap in an area filled with a sea of hammocks that I dubbed hammock land. If you’re visiting the Playa del Carmen area, you must visit Xcaret, it’s a requirement!
So when the adventure park finally opened a hotel directly connected to Xcaret it was bound to be outstanding. Hotel Xcaret sits on the Xcaret property and features unlimited admission to any of the nine Xcaret parks or tours throughout your stay. Hotel Xcaret is an all-inclusive that offers unlimited food and drink, access to the parks and fantastic pools and beaches to enjoy. If you want to visit Xcaret or any of it’s spin-off parks while also enjoying exclusive access and service, Hotel Xcaret is the place!
Barcelo Huatulco Hotel in Huatulco, Mexico; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
6. Barcelo Huatulco – Huatulco, Oaxaca
Barcelo Huatulco is a premium, all-inclusive resort on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the state of Oaxaca. The beachfront resort sits on Tangolunda Bay, the largest of the nine bays in Huatulco. It’s a large hotel but the pool, beach and restaurants are only a short walk from most guest rooms. I had the pleasure of staying at Barcelo Huatulco and I could not get over the gorgeous turquoise blue views from nearly any location in the hotel. While this hotel could be viewed as another “typical” all-inclusive chain resort, I would say the hotel amenities and service are at a much more premium level compared to other all-inclusive chain hotels. Huatulco is not frequented much by American tourists just yet, which makes Barcelo Huatulco seem like an undiscovered gem.
Cabo San Lucas Mexico; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
7. Hacienda Encantada Resort and Residences – Cabo San Lucas
Located on Mexico’s Baja California Sur, Hacienda Encantada Resort and Residences is a welcome retreat in Cabo San Lucas. This all-inclusive resort offers outstanding food that is fresh, local and always changing. You won’t find typical buffet food here! Hacienda Encantada Resort and Residences sits atop cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean and while the rocky beaches are pretty to view, they are non-swimmable beaches. There are large rocks and stones situated along most of the coastline in Cabo and the waters are quite deep, making most of the Cabo beaches non-swimmable. However, there are numerous pools to be found throughout this expansive resort. There are activity pools where games and music are played daily as well as quiet and adults-only pools with swim-up bars. Since the resort is quite large and a walk to some restaurants or pools could be long from some guest rooms, golf cart taxis are readily available to take guests wherever they would like to go.
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