144 Best Hotels in Mexico

Sonora's swankest hotel rambles across the grounds of five restored colonial mansions; you'll be entirely secluded from the outside world by the walls of these former haciendas. In gracious courtyards and lining long porticos are centuries-old pieces of religious art and hand-carved antique furniture, all collected by the American owners. The spacious bedrooms also have antiques, as well as fireplaces. A 100-year-old bar brought from Cuernavaca presents for your pleasure 400 different varieties of tequila, and a spa gives massage and beauty treatments. All rooms here are no-smoking.

Situated on 50 acres of jungle, this sprawling estate—once the home of an Italian duchess—has been converted into one of the Riviera Maya's most luxurious hotels. Nestled within the gardens are two-story cottages featuring private pools, enormous living rooms, wooden pavilions with outdoor dining areas, and high-tech entertainment rooms; villa rooms, tastefully decorated with hardwood furnishings and white linens, include a surplus of amenities like a Sub-Zero bottle refrigerator (stocked), and a satellite TV. Not a single detail has been overlooked, so expect everything from double rain-shower heads and Molton Brown bath products to 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. The service is exceptional, as is the food.

This adults-only, extra-luxurious, all-inclusive resort is the only five-diamond hotel in Puerto Vallarta, and you can tell why the moment you step foot on it. This two-tower hotel is sparkling and stylish, with huge rooms, modern sassy decor, and all types of little details such as iPad-operated ambience systems, walk-in rain showers, and smart bidet toilets. The all-inclusive experience is real premium with four top-notch restaurants on the premises, plus two more options at its sister hotel Garza Blanca located within walking distance.

This luxury resort, perched at the very point where Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico meet, caters to families and adults, and manages to do so by keeping them separate. The Turquoize adults-only tower offers such stylish touches as private hot tubs, swim-up suites, and a rooftop pool. An on-site microbrewery gives you options beyond the standard Dos Equis and Corona selections. A stay at the lower-rise family section allows access to the @Moods Lounge and Club and KidZ Club. No matter which part of Ziva you call home, your brightly lit room will have handcrafted furnishings and rainfall showers. 

This resort is great for both families and couples looking for a complete getaway, featuring 591 suites, eight restaurants ranging from French to Italian and Spanish to Japanese, seven bars, four pools (including an adults-only option), and a Kids' Club. The massive property's rooms are equipped with Jacuzzi tubs, microsuede couches, onyx lamps, marble countertops, and thick white duvets. An 18,000-square-foot spa offers plenty of pampering, while the 34 swim-up suites are truly exceptional. Other perks include free room service and Wi-Fi, Spanish classes, pool activities, a sports bar, theater shows, and a piano bar. The food is surprisingly good for an all-inclusive.

At this sophisticated little hotel on the northern end of Soliman Bay, a large stone Buddha flanked by birds-of-paradise greets you in the lobby—which is outfitted with Indonesian carved-wood doors and Moroccan art—and two small swimming pools nestle in a garden of palms just beyond. Elegant rooms have Italian accents, with natural stone floors, luxurious linens, and top-end bathrooms; junior suites have large terraces with private plunge pools. Protected by a reef, the bay here is great for snorkeling or splashing around with kids. Indeed, for a place with such grown-up style, Jashita is remarkably child-friendly—it even has a baby crib-hammock for beach use. Breakfast is served overlooking the water, and if you head to the restaurant for another meal, skip the international portion of the menu and focus on the well-made Mexican classics.

The House That Sings clings to a cliff above Playa la Ropa. All guest quarters have lovely furnishings, folk art, down pillows, and generous patios with bay views, though the decor, especially the pink-marble bathrooms, is beginning to look dated. Suites have outdoor living areas and some have jetted private infinity plunge pools. The hotel's central infinity pool seems to be airborne; tucked into the cliff below, a saltwater pool overlooks the pounding surf. The Mar y Cielo restaurant serves guests breakfast and lunch; dinners here are more formal and are open to the public, offering breathtaking views of the sun setting over the bay. Service is warm, thoughtful, and hardly noticeable (in a good way); the only trace may be the intricate flower-petal mosaic left on your bed each day.

A luxury boutique resort hidden in the middle of nowhere, Las Alamandas is a top-notch hotel with tasteful Mexican design and decor. Ample-size suites are colorful and fully equipped with everything expected from a hotel of this category. Two gourmet restaurants and a rooftop bar provide excellent dining options.

A favorite of celebrities and dignitaries, this boutique member of Marriott's Luxury Collection is on Polanco's most exclusive shopping street, a block from charming Parque Lincoln Polanco. Set in a mid-century building that's been breathtakingly reimagined by famed design firm Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel features posh rooms decorated with custom rosewood furniture, state-of-the-art Bose entertainment systems, and roomy baths—some with separate rain showers. 

What is perhaps Cancún's most luxurious adults-only all-inclusive has a chic, modern decor and caters mainly to couples who like to dress their best for evening meals at one of the various on-site eateries, including an impressive French restaurant with a seven-course tasting menu. Every room has an indoor whirlpool tub, a pillow menu, and Bulgari bath products; however, only about 60% of the rooms have full ocean views. The one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio means you're in for some serious pampering. To achieve the highest level of relaxation, pair your complimentary hydrotherapy session with the Kukulcán massage, a four-handed, 80-minute, Maya-inspired treatment.

One of the truly all-inclusive luxury resorts in the area, Le Blanc distinguishes itself by being adults-only and providing outstanding dining and wellness options. Rooms are huge, classy and comfortable, with little details, such as a pillow menu and butler service, that make all the difference. The public areas are stylish and sophisticated, and are home to nine exclusive restaurants and a state-of-the-art spa. This is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway.

Set in a beautiful natural location that blends perfectly with its design, Montage is an idyllic desert-beach retreat that pampers with lavish luxury; plus, there's a touch of local authenticity missed in other properties in the area. The rooms are wide, fresh, and cozy; here minimalism is out of the equation, and everything is designed to make you feel at home. The dining options make the most of Mexico's finest culinary traditions, and the spa easily qualifies as world-class.

For an ultraromantic urban getaway, it's hard to beat staying at this intimate Spanish Colonial mansion on one of the city's most enchanting streets—the knowledgeable and efficient staff pampers guests at every turn, with everything from nightly aromatherapy turn-down service to massage and reiki sessions in a serene spa cabin. The lavishly appointed rooms are abound with cushy touches, including Mexican-made Persea Apothecary bath products, a minibar with wine and gourmet treats, carefully curated art, and gracious balconies.

Established by the designer behind Mexico's acclaimed Octavia fashion line, this intimate, exquisitely designed modern boutique hotel has appeared in international design magazines with good reason---the minimalist-chic rooms convey a deep sense of serenity and harmony, with their geometric angles, earthy tones, soft lighting, and high ceilings. The chic furnishings include pieces from Octavia's own line of housewares. Rates include breakfast, and the helpful hosts can arrange in-room massage and other body treatments from a pair of well-known day spas.

Built in 1956 by the son of the then-president of Mexico, the One&Only was the first resort in Los Cabos area, and it retains an old-world atmosphere and elegance, superior attention to detail and service, and its position as one of the most exclusive luxury resorts in the region. This spacious, leafy, distinguished resort is home to renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Seared restaurant, and another more casual, waterfront spot Agua. Adding to the never-ending amenities are a sushi-and-ceviche bar that looks out onto the Pacific, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, and a top spa. Around-the-clock butlers are at your beck and call to unpack your bags or shine your shoes. Two pools seem to flow over low cliffs into the sea, and the two expansive villas have their own infinity pool, fitness center, cinema, and nanny quarters. Hand-painted tiles edge stairways leading to rooms and suites that have Bose sound systems, flat-screen TVs, illy espresso machines, and handcrafted Mexican accents like studded antique doors, wool rugs, and a gorgeous bar stocked to make any cocktail. Some patios and terraces have daybeds and unobstructed sea views. Guests can soak up the sun, paddleboard, or take a surf lesson at Pelican Beach on the northern shore, one of the area’s few swimmable beaches.

This is one of the world's more curious hotels: it's built around Mexico's first plaza de toros (bullring), which is the second-oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Pastel fabrics complement dark, traditional furniture in the large, bright, and plush rooms. Some of the former bull pens are part of the bar, which is a great place to unwind; candles supply the lighting, and there are cozy corners. Two levels of the spectator area make up an outdoor café. The formal restaurant ($$$) offers Mexican and international cuisine and, from the upper level, an awesome view of the bullring and the aqueduct beyond.

This luxurious, three-story palace of graceful limestone arches and beautiful, locally crafted furnishings opened in 2011 and is especially popular with wedding parties. The vast majority (80%) of the clientele is Mexican, though the rooftop bar draws an international mix. Luxurious rooms and suites have fireplaces, ample bathtubs, and sumptuous beds and bedding. Tasteful furnishings include wool rugs from Guadalajara, velveteen couches, and plump leather armchairs. Amenities include a large gym and full-service—albeit pricey—spa; a beautiful pool area with cabanas and exquisite landscaping; and a kids' club.

Art and antiques from around the world fill the lobby, and streams, waterfalls, and fountains fill the grounds of this 13-acre resort on a stretch of pristine beach. Luxurious rooms with two queen-size beds, sitting areas, and ocean-view terraces are set in two- and three-story colonial-style villas, each with its own concierge. Prepare for some serious pampering; service is second to none.

The newest addition to the luxury hotel scene in Huatulco has an enviable location on photogenic Conejos Bay beyond the main Tangolunda hotel zone. Secrets has done away with pesky all-inclusive wristbands and doesn't require reservations at any of the nine restaurants, which, combined with 24-hour room service, an impressive spa, and spacious swimming pool zones, adds up to an especially relaxed feel. All suites in the six low-rise buildings offer ocean views, but the higher you go up the hillside, the more spectacular they become. Swim-out terraces and Jacuzzi decks are upgrades to consider.

Secrets pushes typical all-inclusive boundaries by including, well, pretty much everything—international calls, gratuities, premium drinks, greens fees at the nearby El Mayakoba Golf Course, plus a laundry list of amenities and activities like gourmet restaurants, 18 swimming pools, sailing, archery, dance classes, and tennis clinics. Six of the eight restaurants are open 24 hours, and reservations are never required—even at the popular French-inspired Bordeaux (request a cellar table); if you'd rather dine in, room service is unobtrusively delivered through Secrets' signature magic box. Guest rooms ooze luxury with their carved rich woods, canopy-draped poster beds, and private whirlpool tubs; Buildings 17 and 27 have unobstructed ocean views, but 85% of the rooms look onto the sea.

Rustic meets five-star at this elegantly landscaped resort, where winding paths leading to thatched-roof, bougainvillea-draped, white-stucco casitas where accommodations have soothing white-and-beige color schemes, artwork done by the owner, wooden beam ceilings, and hand-painted lamps. Each room also has a lounge area, private balcony, and large bathroom equipped with conch shower heads and stocked with organic bath products. Request a room in one of the back casitas—those in the main building tend to pick up noise from the restaurant below. You can lounge at the small pool or head for a beach bed perched on the sand in front of the hotel. The restaurant serves Creole, Mexican, and Cuban dishes, and there's live music on Saturday nights.

The most upscale hotel in Ensenada has a swanky "Mad Men" vibe, right down to the golden pillars, art deco terrace, and paintings of pin-up girls adorning the lobby and suites. Three restaurants pull out the stops, including Acueducto, which serves a sprawling Sunday brunch. Lucerna is the hotel to see and be seen, especially in the lobby where a tuxedoed pianist tickles the ivories at a blaring level, which is fine since the clientele seems to enjoy it while working their way from the bar to the pool deck. Dapper rooms are spacious and comfy with narrow balconies and soft white bedding. Request an ocean-facing room; although there’s no direct beach access, the views are spectacular. A spa, gym, pool, and business center are just a few of the creature comforts that will have you rethinking your checkout day.

Stunning architecture, top-notch facilities, and outstanding service make this luxury resort in the heart of the Zona Hotelera arguably the best resort in San José. Elegant white rooms with soft touches of wood and plenty of sunlight pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows are pleasingly minimalist and make for a relaxing experience. The resort has excellent facilities, including five restaurants and lounges, a great spa, a cinema, a Kids’ Club, and a rooftop adults-only swimming pool.

The majestic Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal lies on Cabo San Lucas’s most coveted parcel of land––an extraordinary, 24-acre site at the southern tip of the peninsula accessible only through the longest private tunnel in Mexico, a chandelier-lit passage through sheer granite that opens into an open-air lobby backed by gorgeous Pacific Ocean vistas. The ultrastylish rooms, suites, casitas, and villas are design confections featuring open bathrooms and plunge pools on the balconies. Every room has a stone fireplace and ocean views, as well as complimentary perks like a bottle of high-end tequila and daily guacamole deliveries.

Watch migrating humpback whales while you float in the infinity pool at this glamorous eco-hotel made of five thatched-roof bungalows. On a jungle-covered cliff between Mazunte and San Agustanillo, the rooms feel more tree house than hotel, but fortunately there's not too much stair climbing needed. Access to the honeymoon suite and its 360-degree ocean views is via a dramatic suspension bridge. Cabaña No. 5 offers sweeping ocean views from everywhere, including the shower. For the ultimate in escapism, order room service via the hotel's mobile app. An excellent breakfast is served in the sleek restaurant terrace overlooking the water.

Hollywood celebrities have stayed at this new and award-winning resort when visiting Puerto Vallarta for vacation—and it's no surprise why. It's luxurious, nestled between the hills and the clean waters of southern Bahia de Banderas, and offers all the amenities and attention to detail you can think of. Rooms range from "deluxe" to "grand penthouse" suites, all exquisitely furnished, yet without forgetting the hotel's eco-friendly purpose.

Designed by owner-architect Sebastian Sas, this chic beachfront hotel is like a beautifully executed canvas—each room is a pure work of art, with exteriors made from the wood of reclaimed train tracks, peaceful outdoor terraces or balconies, and interior features that might include wicker couches and Brazilian wood floors draped with cowhide rugs. Rooms 16 and 20 have rooftop pools, shady lounge areas, and sweeping views of the ocean and Sian Ka'an Reserve. Meandering through the property is a plank pathway that leads to two pools and a two-story beachfront restaurant with nightly live music. Void of TVs, this peaceful hideaway is all about relaxation. Private yoga lessons and massages at the (expensive) spa can be arranged upon request.

Set under a mangrove canopy, this sprawling luxury resort sets new standards in the Riviera Maya for sustainability and comfort—not only is it recognized for its green practices and community involvement, but it also has biodegradable bath products, a recycling program, rooftops made from recycled tires, and bicycles stationed throughout the 240-acre property. Golf carts pass every five minutes, and wildlife boat tours are offered hourly. All three types of rooms were built within the existing habitat, including standard rooms in the main building, oceanfront suites, and casitas with lagoon or mangrove views. Guests have access to the Mayakoba golf course, tennis, and the spa with its own Melipona beehive for honey treatments.

Rooms are spacious at this hacienda-style Hilton built on one of the Corridor's few swim-friendly beaches. It's a multipurpose, business-friendly, wedding-friendly, kids-friendly hotel, with a loyal clientele that returns year after year. The infinity pool is beautiful, and all five restaurants serve outstanding food. The property's AltaMar Experience, a collection of 65 VIP rooms on the top floors, grants guests all sorts of privileges like personalized check-in, butler service, and a private lounge. Groups and families make up most of the clientele here. Four meeting rooms will accommodate up to 600. In the guest rooms, elaborate headboards, luxurious linens, and L'Occitane bath products are lovely touches to a resort that has an edge on most properties in this price category.

A pair of stone dragons guards the entrance to this eclectic resort, where the spacious rooms—all with sweeping sea and jungle views—are elegantly styled after worldwide destinations, Italy, Mexico, and Bali among them. Manicured grounds feature colorful parrots and wild lizards. All-inclusive really covers everything at Zoëtry resorts, from food and drinks to tips, phone calls, laundry and room service, a sunset catamaran ride, and full access to the thalassotherapy spa. You can also upgrade with a private romantic dinner in the 125-label wine cellar. If you take advantage of all the extras, the expensive property becomes a good deal. Menus in the five restaurants riff on Asian and Mexican traditions, and the three bars offer three very different ambiences: one a quiet, lush, air-conditioned library, another a sunny beachfront pool bar, and another with billiards and a sophisticated atmosphere.