9 Best Hotels in Oaxaca, Mexico

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.

This oasis of greenery offers charming suites arranged around a free-form swimming pool and lush gardens inside a gated complex near La Punta. The well-maintained, low-rise buildings are decorated in Mexican style with a profusion of locally crafted artwork and hand-painted Talavera tiles. Suites range in size from studios to two bedrooms (maximum occupancy five), all with terraces and fully equipped kitchens. There's a TV lounge, a communal palapa with massage room, and a weekly meet-and-greet. Cribs are available upon request. Smoking is not allowed. Daily yoga and weekly zumba classes are complimentary for guests.

Imagine staying at the stylish beach home of good friends, and you’ll get a sense of the vibe at this small adults-only hotel near the tidal pools of Agua Blanca, the only place to stay near the turtle sanctuary at La Escobilla Beach. Owned by a young couple—he’s American and she’s Kiwi—the property offers a collection of four cheerful casitas, each equipped with a king-size bed and rooftop palapa with ocean views. All meals are included (you preorder from a menu featuring American, Thai, and Mexican cuisine before you arrive) and are served alfresco overlooking the free-form swimming pool. Finish your meal with a chilled shot of coconut-infused mezcal from Los Cántaros mezcaleria. Wi-Fi is free. Time your visit for a turtle arribada or release at La Escobilla, one of the world's most important nesting beaches for olive ridley turtles.

Grupo Habita, best known for its hip hotels in Mexico City, brings its edgy flair to this boutique hideaway that draws a jet-set crowd. In the desert on a stretch of undisturbed beach 30 minutes west of Puerto Escondido, the hotel's 16 thatched-roof cabanas are decked out with luxe comforts such as private plunge pools, handcrafted natural furnishings, portable Bose Bluetooth speakers, and minibars. The beach club's saltwater ribbon pool offers 360-degree views of sky, sea, and sand while an open-air restaurant showcases tropical fruits, fresh-caught seafood, and Oaxacan ingredients. The drink of choice is house mezcal served with chili salt and orange slices. When walking the beach, watch for Casa Wabi, an art gallery–studio designed by celebrated Japanese architect Tadao Ando for Mexican artist Bosco Sodhi.

You'll be in the heart of the action at this popular hotel offering a mix of rooms, suites, and cabanas arranged around a shaded pool area with hammocks and loungers. It's worth looking at several rooms to find one that meets your needs in terms of size, view, and amenities, including a/c, fans, a kitchen, or balcony. The restaurant is a selling point: you can order anything from a simple quesadilla to well-prepared grilled fish. Kids will enjoy the children's playground across the street.

An impressive archway leads you to the Hotel Santa Fe, a gracious grande dame consisting of clusters of colonial-style buildings in pastel shades surrounded by well-tended gardens, quiet courtyard patios, and gurgling stone fountains. A face-lift in 2014 added flat-screen TVs and a/c to all rooms. The restaurant ($$–$$$), well-known for its vegetarian food and award-winning Finca las Nieves organic coffee, is a top spot to sip a margarita, close a business deal, or watch the sun set. The location is prime: you're steps from Zicatela and Marinero beaches and a short stroll to the heart of the dining, surfing, and club scenes.

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.

This sparkling, French country–meets–Spanish colonial hotel, owned by a Parisian interior designer, is pristine and comfortable. Each one- or two-story apartment feels like a private home, with fresh flowers, a sprinkling of carefully chosen antiques, and blue-and-white Mexican tiles. The kitchenettes are sizable, and the shared pool area is a nice place to escape the heat. Wi-Fi is free. The hotel is a five-minute walk from Playa Carrizalillo, a good beach for swimming. Tax is already included in room rates, so they may seem higher than they actually are.

Perfect for those in search of a little solitude, these private, tile-roofed villas cling to a cliff above the gorgeous beach for which they were named; you descend to the idyllic shoreline via a very steep staircase. The villas range in size from a small studio to a three-bedroom apartment with a private terrace. All have a/c, and most have kitchenettes. A favorite, called the Puebla, has bay-view balconies. The road to the secluded property is dark, so you'll need to taxi out. Or, you can just stay in and enjoy the stunning views from the terrace bar.