717 Best Hotels in Mexico

All the rooms (two per bungalow) at this simple hotel have beautiful ocean views and well-thought-out decorative details like stone floors in the bathrooms, vibrant colors, and hammocks on private terraces. The buildings themselves are arranged like a small village on the beach, and there's a small restaurant, where Claire and David, the French couple who run the place, make you feel right at home. The family-size bungalow has two bedrooms and sleeps five.

A large natural pool forms in a bend in the Río Nututún, which runs through the grounds of this hotel. The rooms in the low-slung main building are plain but ample. Book a suite and you'll have a terrace overlooking the gardens.

This stunning hotel is at the foot of a lush hill on exclusive Playa Pichilingue, far from the typical beach crowds. All rooms are done in pastels and have tile floors, luxurious baths, and up-to-date amenities such as laptop-size safes outfitted with chargers. All rooms also have balconies or terraces with a view of peaceful Puerto Marques Bay. Eleven extra-spacious club rooms have their own concierge and extra amenities.

A cheerful, yellow colonial building—just three blocks from the zócalo—houses this inexpensive hotel. Rooms are centered around an interior patio, and are simple but cheerful with bright paint schemes and fabrics. All rooms have TV and Wi-Fi.

Every detail at this outlet of a trusted Mexican chain has been well planned—from the oversized arch windows and entry to the marble floors and dark-wood furniture—and the service is exceptional. Suites have a minimalist style and two or three bedrooms, so they're perfect for families. Note that the beach here has rough sand and a strong current; the water isn't suitable for swimming, but it's lovely to look at from the pool.

About the size of Teotihuacán's Pyramid of the Sun, this sleek, low-slung, 8-acre megalith was designed by Mexico's modern master, Ricardo Legorreta. Mostly used by business travelers, the whole place is one big sculpture punctuated by fountains, splashes of canary yellow and electric pink, and impressive artwork that includes Rufino Tamayo's mural Man Facing Infinity and a Calder sculpture. Rooms have gorgeous marble bathrooms and pops of vibrant color. For dinner, consider the popular steak house, BeefBar or teppanyaki at Marimoto. After your meal, have a drink in the cool Blue Blue, where one area is perched over water and has transparent floors. 

Complete with furnished canvas tents, this glamping experience on Isla Espíritu Santo has had to take the glam down a notch thanks to new (though hopefully temporary) government legislation that forbids any permanent island encampments; this new need to break down and rebuild twice weekly has resulted in a simpler overall setup, but guests are hardly "roughing it." Every tent at Camp Cecil comes with a real (and comfortable) bed, and a quite sophisticated, environmentally friendly bathroom set up so guests may comfortably shower and do their business while leaving no trace. A bilingual naturalist tour guide is on hand 24/7 to take you around the island by boat or on foot and provide good company. At the camp, kayaks and paddleboards are available for leisurely use, as is a tented sitting area stocked with refreshments. There's even daily housekeeping. Most surprising is the impressive quality of dining that comes from the mess tent three times a day; you would think the chef was preparing each course in a gourmet kitchen and not over a portable, three-burner stove.

Shopaholics will love staying at this luxury lifestyle hotel overlooking Laguna Nichupté and with direct access to the trendy shops of La Isla Entertainment Village. Although it's part of a chain, it eschews cookie-cutter decor in favor of local flavor, as evidenced by the lobby where Mexican textiles and folk art complement a modern design. Head to the rooftop pool and bar to enjoy panoramic city views, or head to the open-kitchen restaurant to enjoy artisanal dishes that incorporate local ingredients. Although the hotel isn't on the beach, it provides free transportation to the Mandala Beach Club.

Of all the draws of this Thompson Hotel—from the architectural masterpiece by Javier Sanchez to the breathtaking views of El Arco—perhaps the greatest appeal is the integration of nature, such as the spa set in natural rock formation or the boulders, cacti, and native plants that dot the grounds where two black buildings house sleek, modern rooms. Standards have copper tubs, propeller ceiling fans, handmade tiles, and artwork reminiscent of 1960s Guadalajara. Ultralow beds have stunning leather headboards, and balconies have swinging mattresses for a breezy nap. The two restaurants, Ledge and Manta, are popular with nonguests, as are the sunken lounge bar and rooftop beer garden serving local brew. The saltwater pool is a great spot to watch surfers in action. Throughout the property are local works of art including The Whale by Marcos Castro. The 42-foot wooden sculpture was constructed entirely of driftwood from the 2014 Hurricane Odile.

What began as a hilltop home has slowly become an amalgam of unusual rustic but luxurious suites with indoor and outdoor living spaces. The higher up your room, the more beautiful the view of Sayulita's coast. Accommodations, managed by different owners, range from basic to honeymoon suites with terraces and plunge pools. Details like recessed color-glass light fixtures, Talavera sinks in bathrooms, brick ceilings, wrought-iron table lamps, art in wall niches, and colorful cement floors add a lot of class. The property overlooks a rocky cove where you can fish from shore; a beautiful sandy beach is a few minutes' walk. The staff lends out kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear.

Gracious gardens, tinkling fountains, bright colors, and arched windows give the traveler a sense of sleeping in a Mexican hacienda while also enjoying the comforts of home. The hotel's basic rooms are cheerful and tastefully decorated with blonde-wood furnishings, and the grounds include two patios for guest use. A small, upscale bar provides drinks, quick food options, and flat-screen TVs for watching sports. Continental breakfast is included, and four of the eight rooms have a kitchenette.

This fishing lodge is on a rocky outcrop on remote Punta Pájaros Island, reputed to be one of the best places in the world for light-tackle saltwater fly-fishing. The almost all-inclusive stay includes your charter flight from Cancún, a fishing boat and guide, and all meals but not drinks for $6,649 per person per week. An open-air, thatch-roof bar welcomes anglers with drinks, fresh-fish dishes, fruit, and vegetables at the start and end of the day. Cheaper nonfishing packages are also available. A 50% prepayment is required.

In a colonial house with most rooms facing the large central patio, complete with plants and bubbling fountain, this family-run pension offers excellent location and a homey atmosphere. Rooms are good-sized, but the furnishings are a bit on the basic side. Prices include a full breakfast plus a family-style three-course luncheon—nothing fancy. In the library check your email or select a book and enjoy a complimentary morning coffee, afternoon tea, or postprandial tequila.

An oasis of home-style tranquillity wedged among Zona Dorada's high-energy high-rises, Casa Contenta consists of two buildings: one with seven one-bedroom apartments (some with waterfront terraces) and the other a house that can accommodate up to eight people with its three bedrooms, three baths, and living-dining room. The live-like-a-local quality is authentic down to the cheerful Mexican furniture, well-stocked kitchens, and meticulously tended gardens.

This popular, up-to-date boutique hotel is located a 10-minute walk from the beach and the Zona Romántica, catering largely to an LGBTQ+ clientele. Most guest rooms have terraces with wonderful views of the sea and the surrounding neighborhood. Suites have kitchenettes, washer-dryers, separate living and sleeping quarters, and a home-theater system. All the rooms are classy, restrained, and individually decorated. The airy, shared dining room–lounge is comfortable and welcoming; the rooftop terrace with infinity dipping pool is lovely.

Owned by Canadian expats, this small guesthouse directly on the beach has accommodations with fully equipped kitchens, purified water, Wi-Fi, and ocean views. Although there's no air-conditioning, oversized windows and ceiling fans keep rooms rather cool. Guests have access to numerous amenities including bikes, kayaks, hammocks, a library, and an outdoor kitchen. The eco-friendly owners recycle rainwater and have bathrooms equipped with low-consumption flush toilets and water-saving showerheads. Meals, prepared by a Swiss chef, are available upon request.

Both this attractive B&B and its resident restaurant, La Olla, are run by chef-personality Pilar Cabrera. In Las Bugambilias, one of three houses that make up this B&B, every room is different, but they're all brightly painted and comfortably outfitted. Some rooms have little terraces or patios. All rooms are no-smoking. Guests get both free Wi-Fi and some international calls (including to the United States and Canada).

You can sign up for surf lessons at this casual but hip boutique hotel overlooking Playa Zicatela's best surf break. Rooms are decorated with simple Mexican crafts; some have cute outdoor patios with small log bridges leading up to them, while others have balconies and hammocks. The Calaveras & Diablitos bar is a fun spot to party and chat about surfing with other guests.

The grand, old, Centro Histórico home of a prominent Mazatlán doctor and former mayor is now this excellent bed-and-breakfast. A stay here puts you across from two museums, a block from the beach, and three blocks from Plazuela Machado. Each of its six rooms is dedicated to a different Mexican personage, Pancho Villa and Frida Kahlo among them. Rooms don't have TVs—more reason to head out and explore—but there's a media center with cable TV and a DVD. There's also a central courtyard and a rooftop terrace.

Its architecture may nod to traditional but this small hotel feels every bit as modern as it is. Seven suites surround the open-air restaurant in the hotel's courtyard, which is candlelit by night. Rooms have shiny hardwood floors and bright colors.

This hotel, whose name means the "House of Treasures," is an idyllic and romantic converted 18th-century convent. The rooms were once nuns' cells, but they're no longer austere—they've now got fireplaces, tile baths, antique furnishings, and striking local art. The restaurant is excellent, and the in-house guitar trio provides the mood music.

The central courtyard in this colonial-era mansion is certainly memorable, with lush vines tumbling down over stone arches; rooms are equally interesting, with traditional style and modern amenities. Other touches of note include a wrought-iron gate and leaded-glass windows. Each room is different, so look at a few before you decide; one thing they have in common are the extremely high ceilings. The restaurant in the courtyard offers a wide range of appetizing Mexican and international food.

The theme of this three-story hotel across from La Compania church and just down the street from the University of Guanajuato is clearly maritime, with a light-blue color scheme and blue glass floor tiles in the downstairs lobby. Rooms have a tranquil blue-gray–and-cream color scheme, high ceilings, pleasingly modern wood furnishings, and comfortable beds. Those facing outward have balconies, some with excellent views. Its location just behind Jardín de la Unión puts you right within access of the square's vibrancy, but without the all the noise.

This property just two blocks from Plaza Grande feels more like a home than a hotel thanks to colonial-style details like red-and-white tile floors, wrought-iron headboards, and carved cedar doors, as well as such thoughtful touches as minibars, double-paned windows, and rocking chairs on wide verandas. The lobby area's open central patio is a lovely spot for a meal or a drink. Other amenities include a small pool and guest access to a golf and tennis club about 20 minutes away by car.

All rooms at this diver-oriented hotel are enlivened by simple Mexican artwork, but those with sea-facing balconies are lighter, airier, and don't cost that much more. Bilevel cabanas, which sleep three or four, are a good deal. In addition to a trio of diving associates offering a wide range of tours and services, the property has storage areas for your gear. A narrow beach across the street has palapa-shaded hammocks, a wooden sundeck with lounge chairs, and steps leading into the water.

The only hotel in town on the Río Papaloapan is in a 19th-century house that's considered a historic monument. Rooms are simple, with beige ceramic floors and white bedcovers. The joys here are in the details: linens are high quality, towels are fluffy, and service is extremely attentive. Owners Francisco and Elena speak English quite well; other staffers have a harder time but always make an effort. You can rent bikes and arrange rafting trips through the hotel.

From this hillside hotel's sunny terrace you can contemplate the Iglesia de Santo Domingo and also also catch a glimpse from some of the wrought-iron balconies of the top-floor rooms. Inside are arched doorways, vaulted ceilings, traditional furnishings, and cool tile floors. In secluded courtyards you'll find fountains, gardens, and pools, but the best place in the whole hotel is the terrace, with its amazing city view. The hotel also offers a small coffee shop serving locally sourced coffee and a restaurant where meals can be purchased at reasonable prices.

The House of the Smiling Dolphin was one of the first hotels in Troncones, and it remains a small, family-friendly place with a bright exterior and personalized service. Downstairs rooms are sparsely decorated with Mexican crafts, but each is different. The two upstairs suites have chairs and shelves filled with books; they don't have air-conditioning, but fans and breezes off the water keep things cool. If you like, you can buy produce from the truck that passes in front of the hotel and prepare it in the communal kitchen. There are plenty of surfboards for rent, and it's a good place to take them out, since there can be excellent beach breaks.

With a panoramic view near the church of La Valenciana, this American-owned house is an upmarket B&B—and one of the classiest lodgings in the city. One room has a whirlpool tub, another its own steam room, and all have a terrace with a stunning view. The only downside is its distance from the city, but, on the other hand, it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle.

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.