Mexico is a boutique hotel lover’s paradise, whether you decide to visit the capital or the Caribbean coastline and there’s no shortage of sumptuous options to choose from; hammock loungers to roof terrace lovers are catered for. For the sake of this piece, we’ve excluded Mexico City entries, which you can read more about here, here and here, and instead rounded up the best of the rest boutique hotels across Mexico.
Included on our guide to the best hotels in Oaxaca, we also think Hotel Azul is one of the best accommodation options in the country as a whole. Throughout the 21-room, 19th century compound, the vibe of modern Mexican is palpable with each suite’s attention to detail and vibrant colour pops surpassing the last. Don’t miss the cactus filled courtyard with a Francisco Toledo designed fountain either, or the ground floor art gallery for that matter, as they’re easily both Hotel Azul highlights.
Isla Holbox is the tranquil island retreat on everyone’s lips at the moment, situated just off the coast of Quintana Roo. One of the best boutique hotels to be found there at the moment is by far and away Casa Las Tortugas, which is capitalising on the growing tourist industry despite having opened way back in 2003. Owned by Italian expats, Casa Las Tortugas provides a truly chic, eco-friendly option for overnight visitors to the island, with a reputation for outstanding service.
One of the top boutique hotels (near) Puerto Vallarta, Verana also rightly deserves a spot on this countrywide list for its spectacular views, otherworldly installations and prime spot both close to the big tourist areas but just far enough away to feel blissfully removed from reality. High concept design pays off at Verana, which perches high on the cliff top and showcases a masterfully minimalist but gorgeous interior décor theme throughout. There are only ten individual suites at Verana though, so do book in advance.
This Vogue approved hotel is the epitome of boutique luxury on the Caribbean coastline. Once the estate of an Italian duchess, turned Playa del Carmen hotel, Esencia has all the Mediterranean vibes you’d expect. Scattered over a sprawling 50-acre complex are just 29 rooms in which only in-the-know travellers have stepped foot. You’ll want for nothing with the high-tech amenities provided in each plush two-storey suite, from iPods to plunge pools. Get there before everyone else finds out about Playa del Carmen’s best kept boutique hotel secret.
Gorgeous Mérida is the safest travel destination in all of Mexico and also one of the most charming colonial cities in the country. At Casa Lecanda, Mérida’s top boutique hotel with just seven rooms, you can enjoy the central location just off the Paseo Montejo. Effortlessly combining original features, custom furniture and modern necessities (think iPod docks and free Wifi throughout), Casa Lecanda’s interior décor brings together past and present Mérida beautifully. Don’t overlook the communal patios, gorgeous tiled details or the chance to take a dip in the outdoor pool.
Guanajuato, with its colourful buildings and colonial history, is a traveller favourite on the Mexico tourism scene, so it’s no surprise the city is home to one of the country’s best boutique hotels. The clue is in the name with Hotel Boutique 1850, a slick, centrally located accommodation option with a popular roof terrace offering panoramic views of the city. Boasting just 20 rooms all named after women and featuring modern interior design with well-placed vibrant colour pops, you’ll be left charmed by this sophisticated hotel.
Regularly considered Mexico’s first ever hotel and contemporary art gallery combo, Hotel Encanto in Acapulco is not just an accommodation favourite, but a cultural must in the city with a reputation for hard partying and beautiful beaches. All white walls and sharp angles, everything about this hotel screams contemporary design and includes many well-thought through features, such as the magnificent ability the edifice gives you to soak up 270 degree views of the ocean. Encanto proves simple doesn’t mean sparse.
Situated in Guadalajara’s Zona Rosa is the beautiful boutique hotelVilla Ganz, a 1930s townhouse with many original features and plenty of charm. Each of the ten rooms of Villa Ganz are decorated thematically, each one paying homage to a character from the famed Pedro Páramonovel by Jalisco native, Juan Rulfo. Take, for example, the eponymous Pedro Páramo suite with its invitingly plush furnishings and home comforts. These should easily be anyone’s first port of call in the vibrant city of Guadalajara, book lovers especially!
Better known for the wonderful yoga retreats offered there, hippie haunt Sayulita’s Haramara Retreat is unequivocally one of the country’s best boutique hideouts. Smack bang on the gorgeous Nayarit coastline, the 12-acre spread of Haramara Retreat allows plenty of room for rest and relaxation, especially as you’re only sharing it with a few other residents and the views are, obviously, spectacular. This is the boutique hotel for travellers who really need to switch off and escape from everyday life; electricity is limited and yoga is offered daily.
Cabo San Lucas takes much of Baja California’s international limelight, given that it’s a popular haunt with numerous celebs. However, the second of the ‘Cabos’ is the nearby and much quieter San José del Cabo and there you can find the marvellous Casa Natalia. A 19-room boutique hotel with a fantastic adjoining restaurant, Mi Cocina, artsy Casa Natalia offers jaw-droppingly scenic surroundings and spa services. Cool down in the half moon courtyard pool or wile the afternoon away in a hammock – either way, you’ll never want to leave.
