39 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Mexico City, Mexico

Fragrant gardens, mature shade trees, and a small pond dot the tranquil grounds of this small, sustainably designed eco-resort with six contemporary suites and a quiet location a few kilometers south of Malinalco's village center. The individually decorated rooms have tall windows, wood paneling, and high ceilings. The hotel offers a variety of packages that include up to three meals a day in the excellent restaurant, in-suite massage and body treatments, or excursions to nearby attractions and outdoor recreation sites. 

For the ultimate luxury spa getaway, treat yourself to a couple of days at the supremely cushy Amomoxtli, a hideaway that offers an extensive array of wellness services, including temazcal sessions, yoga classes, cleansing ceremonies, reflexology, and deep-tissue massage. Rooms in this adults-only, sustainably designed resort set in a lush valley a couple of kilometers from town range from standard-size to downright spacious, and all are exquisitely decorated with many locally made crafts and accents. Common spaces are filled with contemporary art, and the outstanding Mesa de Origin restaurant serves artfully plated, locally sourced fare. The pool is one of the prettiest in town, with sweeping views of the surrounding cliffs. 

Set in an affluent, outlying neighborhood, this fashionable adults-only resort is set in a cloistered 1600s Spanish colonial hacienda but has been made over with a minimalist, contemporary Italian flair that extends to its chic bar and restaurant. After treating yourself to a soothing treatment (or several) in the exceptional Maikiki Spa, relax by the angular infinity pool. The staff make every effort to anticipate the needs of guests, many who come to celebrate special occasions. Although expensive, the hotel often offers significantly lower advance-purchase rates and packages that include breakfast and massage.

Set in an imaginatively updated 19th-century building with stone walls, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, this posh and peaceful urban oasis on the edge of Centro Históric abounds with pleasing amenities, including three excellent restaurants, two bars, and a sublime spa offering Thai-style massages and body treatments. Even the standard rooms are spacious and have deep soaking tubs. The rooftop bar is a wonderful spot for cocktails at sunset, with views of Puebla's historic skyline. Some larger rooms can sleep four and are a great option for families. Valet parking is included in the rate.

Occupying a magnificently transformed pair of 17th-century buildings, one of which formerly held a ceramic-tile factory, this plush urban oasis with a rooftop pool and a soothing spa is part of Puebla's new wave of chic—and surprisingly affordable—boutique hotels. The hotel is on a beautiful street in Centro Histórico, just a block from the craft shops of colorful Sapos Alley. Artfully outfitted rooms contain plenty of modern perks, including minibars stocked with complementary beverages. There are two fantastic restaurants in the hotel, including the celebrated Salón Mezcalli. This is a sister property to the exclusive Chablé Resort & Spa, near Mérida in the Yucatan. 

This marvelously renovated colonial building may no longer be a private home, but it still has the same cozy environment, with an enchanting mix of original accents, antique and modern furnishings, and luxe linens. The central patio is home to the well-regarded restaurant, which serves beautifully presented traditional Mexican dishes and interesting international fare. Keeping watch over the dining room is a large statue of the place's namesake: China Poblana, the daughter of a Mongol king who was kidnapped and brought to Mexico.

This chic, contemporary inn located on the lower slopes of Montetaxco contains nine airy, beautifully appointed rooms with large windows, contemporary artwork, and luxurious bathrooms, all with access to a small pool and lawn with chaise lounges overlooking all of Taxco. Rates include a well-prepared full breakfast in the restaurant and bar, where you can also enjoy lunch and dinner throughout the day with those same dazzling vistas. In-room spa services can be arranged. The drawback to staying here is that you'll either need to take a taxi or the funicular to get back and forth between the inn and town.

A colorful history distinguishes this grand hacienda, built in 1529 under the orders of Cortés, now a magnificent oasis of quiet and lush gardens disturbed only by birdcalls, the splashing of a waterfall, and the ringing of a chapel bell. Antiques fill both the public areas and the spacious, beautifully restored guest rooms, which are located both in the main hacienda and several outbuildings. You can bliss out with a treatment in the well-designed spa, which includes a traditional temazcal. Outstanding Mexican food is prepared in an inviting open kitchen close to the pool. The hacienda is about a 40-minute drive southwest of Cuernavaca and an 50-minute drive from Taxco, making it a good base for exploring either place.

Resembling an old castle, this hacienda was made famous as the backdrop for the 1955 film La Escondida. Converted into an elegant and welcoming hotel, it is a true gem seemingly in the middle of nowhere—51 km (32 miles) from Tlaxcala—but a five-minute bus ride from the hotel to the charming pueblo mágico of Huamantla. The stately restaurant ($$), watched over by two stuffed bulls, serves delicious regional fare and has a cozy fireplace to warm up the chilly winter nights. It is a hive of activity on Sunday, when people from around the area come here to lunch. Best of all, the hotel gives tours to other remote haciendas of Tlaxcala State, an eye-opener into the history of the rural region, along with other activities like hot-air ballooning and horseback rides.

Among Tepoztlán's several holistic-minded spa resorts, this centrally located boutique hotel known for its polished service and peaceful setting is one of the best, thanks to its soothing spa and first-rate restaurant, La Veladora, which is worth seeking out even if you aren’t an overnight guest. Set amid carefully tended gardens, Casa Fernanda offers a dozen individually appointed rooms with sleek, uncluttered designs, slippers and robes, and top-of-the-line bath products; many have deep soaking tubs. 

Although the sometimes intense bustle of pedestrians is right outside, along with a slew of fun bars and restaurants, you'll find quiet rooms and an enchantingly tranquil garden at this welcoming, bright-blue-stucco B&B just a block from Cholula's famous archeological site. Though some rooms are compact, they're all smartly furnished with premium bedding and soft lighting, and the larger loft suites are perfect for families. An outstanding breakfast, which you can enjoy in the clustered garden, is included. 

This 1620 converted monastery just a short uphill stroll from Plaza Borda offers simple but pleasantly decorated rooms with traditional furnishings, but the stars of the show here are the inviting restaurant in the tree-shaded courtyard and the expansive rooftop terrace that's absolutely perfect for stargazing or taking in views of Santa Prisca's spires.

A five-minute walk from the Zócalo, this elegant boutique hotel set inside a grand 17th-century mansion with a central patio and fountain was restored (and is now operated) using environmentally conscious practices and with as many of the original materials as possible; the well-stocked library was built entirely from repurposed vigas, or beams. The property is solar powered, and even the paints are naturally derived to match the original colors. Immaculate, spacious rooms have polished wood furniture and floors and high, exposed-beam ceilings. King-size beds are wrapped in luscious, down-filled bedding and supplied with a pillow menu. The outstanding restaurant serves contemporary Mexican fare and is worth a visit in its own right.

The chic, contemporary rooms in this imaginatively transformed mansion in the center of Taxco---just down the hill from Plaza Borda---are decorated with green-tile floors, high beds with plush linens, and soft lighting, and amenities include an excellent shop specializing in locally crafted silver jewelry and a fashionable restaurant and bar. With attentive and friendly service, the well-located hotel is worth the price, which is considerably higher than most of its neighbors.

Although just a stone's throw from central Cuernavaca's museums, restaurants, and bars, this tastefully understated but quite cushy compound feels completely relaxing, with a fabulous spa, intimate pool, lush gardens, and a destination-worthy restaurant. The minimalist contemporary rooms are done in gray, black, and white palettes with ultra-plush bedding and well-equipped tile bathrooms. Deluxe rooms have balconies and skylights.

Las Luciernagas, with its bucolic location off a remote gravel road a few miles from town, is a rare cross between a B&B and a five-star hotel—what other B&B has a wine list? Four of the five rooms have fireplaces, and all have luxury bedding, artisanal toiletries, minibars, and a unique sense of privacy thanks to the rooms being spaced quite far apart, and the helpful but unobtrusive hosts. "La Cima" is an expansive suite with a terrace that overlooks the stunning manicured landscape of giant agaves, calla lilies, and birds of paradise; "Los Encuentros" opens to what is essentially its own private garden, with a stone path that leads to the Jacuzzi. The public spaces include a range of quiet terraces and seating areas, and top-notch dinners (with both Mexican and international dishes) are available by request. There's no better choice in Valle for a romantic getaway, or just a quiet home base.

This former country club morphed into the one of the most upscale resorts in Valle. All guest rooms have fireplaces and great views of the pine forest. If the 18-hole, par-72 golf course doesn't tempt you, perhaps a massage, facial, or yoga class at the high-tech spa will. The property is about 10 minutes from Valle de Bravo, so if you didn't come by car you'll need to take taxis into town.

Sustainably designed and located on a central street just a few blocks south of the pyramid, this hotel set in an updated Spanish colonial house offers plenty of pleasing amenities for a small property, including an all-day restaurant and a small spa offering a good variety of treatments. There are several inviting common spaces, including a patio with a fireplace and an upper terrace that's lovely for stargazing.

This stately 19th-century home contains one of Cholula's most welcoming accommodations, and it's just a stone's throw from the Great Pyramid and a short walk from numerous restaurants and bars. The courtyard has a Talavera-tile-lined fountain and huge laurels for shade, and there is a rooftop terrace with a pool and spectacular views. The high-ceiling rooms are elegantly uncluttered, and many of the smartly designed bathrooms have deep soaking tubs. 

From the traditional adobe structure to the use of feng shui, this tranquil, holistic-oriented eco-resort at the foot of the Quetzalcóatl mountains in the village of Amatlán has an expansive spa and has been designed to blend with the environment. Rooms have meditation chairs set in bay-window alcoves where you can absorb the unparalleled views. Rates includes breakfast and some activities, and additional meals are available in the airy restaurant, with its high domed-brick ceiling. The resort is a 15-minute drive east Tepoztlán.

Wandering around the gardens and discovering cascades, fountains, abandoned pillars, and sculptures in this 16th-century former sugar mill that once belonged to the famed conquistador makes for an enchanting experience, especially at dusk. Ask for a room in the old part of the building to fully immerse yourself in the flavor of the place. Rooms have traditional Mexican furnishings and lovely patios or balconies. The restaurant is within old fort walls draped with vines—it's like dining inside a ruined castle. Facials, wraps, and massages are available in the plush spa, which also contains a cedar dry sauna.

This small, moderately priced hotel just down the hill from Santa Prisca has spacious, pleasant rooms with tile floors, colorful fabrics and curtains, and in some cases kitchenettes, but the best reasons to stay here are the superb restaurant and the outstanding views from the pool and terraces.

This small hotel is the best option on Plaza Independencia. There are crafts in every room and hallway, in some of the most unexpected places. The terraced rooms present great views of the plaza. There are tables in the quiet courtyard, where tasty typical cuisine and a range of fruit and vegetable juices are served.

This cheerful hotel on the corner of Plaza Independencia is an excellent option for its location alone. Rooms are cozy, with brightly colored bedspreads and headboards carved by local artisans; some have kitschy hot tubs tucked into a corner. The restaurant ($) is by far the most enchanting on the square and has wonderful views of the town.

This fine hotel, with its sunny, cobblestone courtyard and appealing restaurant, tops the rest. Guest rooms have wood furniture and small balconies for views over the town or of the flourishing, overgrown yard with cackling turkeys. The staff will help you hire guides to the nearby waterfall or Yohualichan. The hotel is less than two blocks from the zócalo.

With a knockout view of town, multiple dining and nightlife options, a pool, Saturday night fireworks, a golf course, a spa, and kids' activities, this modern, upscale resort named for the mountain on which it's perched has the most extensive amenities of any property in town. It's a great choice for families, but the location across the valley from downtown can be a little inconvenient, especially in the evening when the funicular is no longer running. Rooms are comfortably furnished, most with wonderful views, but they're a bit lacking in character.

Centrally located and well established, this cheerful hotel has colorful rooms, a pair of lovely patio gardens, and a busy restaurant. The staff can help organize cave tours and horseback rides to the pyramids and local waterfalls.

Set amid the gardens and weekend homes just south of Cuernavaca in exclusive Lomas de Jiutepec, this sustainably designed member of Fiesta Americana's luxury boutique Curamoria brand offers an array of eco-minded amenities to ensure a relaxing stay, including bike rentals, a good restaurant and bar, a conventional pool as well as a unique “biopiscina” natural swimming pond, an aviary, and a butterfly enclosure. Rooms are a bit cookie-cutter in design, but they're modern and comfortable. The 12 acres of grounds are beautifully landscaped and create a true sense of seclusion and serenity, even when the hotel is full. Standard rates don't include the extensive breakfast buffet, but many kinds of packages are offered.

For an unusual overnight adventure just a 10-minute drive from Teotihuacán's ruins, spend a night glamping under the stars at this small compound of stylishly appointed canvas and geodesic-dome teepees. Units have hardwood floors, plush bedding, and plenty of other creature comforts. Packages featuring romantic champagne dinners and morning hot-air balloon rides over the pyramids can be arranged. This is a fun option for couples or even a small group of friends. Basic tents accommodations—truly camping—are also available at a lower rate. 

Part of the trendy Grupo Habita brand, this striking hotel set in a former 19th-century water-purification plant helped put Puebla on the map with fans of design and architecture when it opened in 2008, and although it's been somewhat overshadowed by even newer and swankier properties in recent years, it's still a memorable place to spend the night without spending a fortune. Ultramodern materials were used for the building's transformation by famed architect Ricardo Legorreta; rough-hewn stone walls are paired with brushed metal and polished glass. The place has a whimsical attitude, with wonderful touches like the glass-sided rooftop pool, which you can view from the hip bar. The restaurant on the ground floor serves very good contemporary cuisine.