Mexico & Central America
Too often, travelers tend to think of hotels across Mexico and Central America as being limited to beachfront bungalows or sprawling resorts. In reality, there is a vibrant spectrum of hotels across Mexico and Central America that are absolutely unique. In Mexico, a historic mansion houses elegant rooms that pay homage to the culture of San Miguel de Allende. In Belize, guests can live out their luxury fantasies by booking a stay on a private island. While in Costa Rica, you’re bound to have the best morning coffee of your life at a hotel housed on 180 acres of rainforest, including a coffee farm. These five hotels promise so much more than sand between your toes—although that’s an option, too.
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Casa de Sierra Nevada, A Belmond Hotel, San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Casa de Sierra Nevada, A Belmond Hotel, San Miguel de Allende, is a stunning boutique hotel in San Miguel de Allende with 37 sleek rooms and suites spread across six historic mansions. Minutes from the pink hues of Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the hotel is a luxe launchpad for exploring the charming city with its multi-colored ribbons affixed to store windows, belting mariachi bands, and art-filled spaces. For those with a creative flair, the amenity-rich hotel hosts workshops like crafting papier-mâché figures with a resident artist and culinary classes at the Sazón Cooking School.
True to the Belmond brand, service is impeccable and personalized (think framed guest photos placed in rooms). Each casa has its own past and character: Casa Principal was previously the residence of the Archbishop of San Miguel de Allende; Casa Parque once served as a fort; and Casa Limón is listed by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Eco-friendly initiatives include locally sourced ingredients and the near-total eradication of plastic items. Notably, this is the first hotel in the city to offer guest transportation via a fleet of electric Tesla vehicles.
Even if you aren’t lured by the history, artistry, or culinary offerings, at the very least, checking in here will help you harvest your next batch of Instagram likes. There are visual treats everywhere, whether you’re wading in the tree-encircled pool or knocking back tipples at Tunki Rooftop by Handshake, which has a cocktail selection broad enough to satisfy Ernest Hemingway.
Cayo Espanto
San Pedro, Belize
Your journey to the private island resort of Cayo Espanto begins with a flight to Belize City, followed by a hopper flight to San Pedro, located on Ambergris Caye. Then, it’s a seven-minute boat ride to your luxury villa, where you’ll be greeted on your private dock with a delicious green “Espanto Wave” cocktail, a frozen blend of rum, amaretto, curaçao, triple sec, pineapple, and lime juice, and a line of staff waiting to welcome you.
Cayo Espanto is small—you’ll be able to walk around it within minutes—but the offerings are voluminous. Out of the seven villas on the island, no two are the same. While one villa is two-storied, another is over the water; some have alfresco showers, and all have private plunge pools. Each villa has two housemen who are available for your every need with only the push of a walkie-talkie (provided in every villa), and meals are crafted from a daily morning conversation with the chef who considers your personal preferences and creates unbelievable dishes.
Aside from the kayaks, paddleboards, and catamarans available on the island, guests can book memorable scuba and snorkeling trips, fishing excursions, helicopter tours, and so much more. It’s really no wonder A-list celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio frequent the island.
Chablé Yucatán
Chocholá, Yucatán, Mexico
A secluded jungle retreat tucked away in Mexico’s tropical Yucantán peninsula with a mystical cenote at its heart, even the most “basic” villa at Chablé Yucatán boasts a stunning outdoor plunge pool, two bathrooms including a moon shower, and a king-size bed. Cocooned by towering ceiba tree canopies across 750 acres, the impeccably restored 19th-century henequén (an agave) hacienda coexists alongside 40 luxurious villas, whose design plays up traditional Mayan architectural techniques and locally sourced materials. The only sounds are birdsong and rustling leaves, so stays are intimate, ensuring the chance to truly disconnect and rejuvenate at this blissful haven.
No details have been left untouched at this sanctuary: greeted by name on arrival, awake to a Mayan-inspired breakfast such as cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) tacos, before sinking into the hammock hanging temptingly over your private pool. The wellness program pays tribute to the revered cenote sinkhole with relaxing liquid experiences (book a fountains flow water massage), while Ixi’im and Ki’ol restaurants are overseen by the chef of Michelin two-star restaurant Quintonil, Jorge Vallejo; many fruits and vegetables are cultivated at Chablé’s own orchard. Agave lovers, meanwhile, will adore Ixi’im’s impressive 3,400-label cellar, the world’s largest private tequila and mezcal collection. Should you wish to venture beyond Chablé Yucatán, visit vibrant Izamal, a 90-minute drive, to scale the Kinich Kakmó pyramid, before lunching at Kanzé.
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection
Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica
The serene and luxurious Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection is a once-in-a-lifetime destination located in the mountains of Pérez Zeledón in the southern region of Costa Rica. Perched above the cloud line in rolling hills, with sweeping views of the San Isidro Valley and nearby Talamanca mountains, Hacienda AltaGracia offers 50 casitas with modern rustic interior design by New York-based designer Nina Gotlieb. Each one- and two-bedroom casita features picturesque terraces, some with private plunge pools.
The property is made up of 180 acres of rainforest, three miles of hiking trails, two pools, a burgeoning coffee farm, an organic vegetable garden, and equine stables. Guests are transported around the resort in golf carts piloted by outstanding staff members, including a personal “compa,” or companion, for each party. All five dining destinations are exquisite; serious foodies can explore the resort’s culinary offerings through guided workshops. The third location of New York-based brand THE WELL is a 20,000-square-foot mecca that includes the breathtaking Casa de Agua.
Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort
Punta Mita, Mexico
Nestled in a 48-acre forest along the coast of Punta Mita, Nayarit is one of Mexico’s most luxurious resorts: Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort. Touted as a “luxury tented resort,” the 15 tents are more like standalone bungalows with on-call concierges, natural-toned bedrooms, spacious living rooms, and upscale bathrooms with deep tubs, waterfall showers, and cozy robes. Outdoor showers, private pools, and views of the ocean can be enjoyed on the bungalow patios. Naviva informs guests prior to booking that they can arrange virtually anything, and once you’re settled, you’ll quickly be enchanted by the transformational experiences on offer.
Experience a mind-body connection with a cliffside sunrise or sunset offering like a sound bath, reiki, or yoga, and don’t forget to check out the spa menu, where you might book a guided breathwork experience in an ice bath or a cleansing ceremony in a traditional Mexican temazcal sweat lodge where a temazcal guide chants and sings as he pours water over heated rocks and guides you through a ceremony dedicated to the elements as part of a purification ritual. Intended to aid your physical well-being, outdoor activities like jungle hikes, Mexican boxing classes, snorkel safaris, solitude on the private beach, and relaxing moments in the swimming pools are all part of a well-rounded stay here. As are multi-course meals made with fresh ingredients like herbs and seasonal vegetables from the garden, and locally caught fish.
