Villas and treehouse suites peek out from the jungle-enveloped cliffs of this hotel on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, allowing guests to soak in the views from private plunge pools.
The One&Only Mandarina hotel is situated above a string of sandy coves on the Nayarit Riviera, about an hour and a half’s drive north of Puerto Vallarta.
Designed by Tucson-based Rick Joy Architects and executed by a team of local designers and craftspeople, the complex comprises a collection of communal facilities surrounded by 105 standalone suites.
At the heart of the hotel is an open-air outdoor living space arranged around a black swimming pool.
“Reminiscent of the open porches of traditional Mexican haciendas, the outdoor living area features cosy woven settees and cradling rocking chairs made of Mexican tropical woods, such as Parota and Teak,” said the hotel operators.
Accommodation options are split between Villas and Treehouses, both of which can be booked either perched on the cliffs or nestled into the dense rainforest.
Treehouses are elevated 12 metres off the ground, engulfed by tropical foliage that encroaches their private outdoor decks and plunge pools.
Some have ocean views, and a select few at the highest elevation enjoy panoramic vistas of the coastline.
Walls, floors and ceilings in the Treehouses are formed from local Cumaru wood in an attempt to connect the interiors and their surroundings.
The floor-to-ceiling glazing of the bedrooms can be fully retracted to create indoor-outdoor spaces. Open-air bathtubs are partially enclosed by wooden slats, while showers inside are tiled with dark stone.
“Open structures capture natural light, filtered through the towering trees,” the hotel said. “While traditional Mexican design elements are reimagined, including pitched roofs with large overhangs, a nod to local palapas featuring modern, luxury design.”
The larger villas feature earthen walls that reference historic buildings once constructed on the site by the indigenous Cora people.
Funnel-shaped tiled roofs are lined in tropical wood and narrow to glass skylights, adding to the natural light that pours in from glazed retractable walls.
Sheer curtains help to control glare and privacy, matching the neutral-toned furniture and accessories.
Outdoor showers, also coated with earth plaster, heighten the experience of staying in the rainforest.
Two- and three-bedroom Villas are available for larger parties, families, or those desiring more space. Some of these have private dining rooms, cinemas, hot tubs and fire pits.
Villa One, the property’s most exclusive offering, also has its own wine cellar, spa and gym.
The One&Only Mandarina, which opened 1 November 2020, also offers several dining options for guests that are spread across its expansive site.
Beside the communal pool, the Alma restaurant has a diverse menu of “garden-to-plate” dishes, while Mexican cuisine reimagined by celebrity chef Enrique Olvera can be sampled at the cliffside Carao.
The Treetop bar offers cocktails and light fare to be enjoyed during sunset, while down by the sand is the Jetty Beach Club, named for the semi-circular structure that arcs from the cliff into the water.
This casual restaurant serves seafood to tables and beach cabanas that all face the ocean.
From Baja California to Oaxaca, Mexico’s Pacific Coast has no end of vacation resorts and boutique hotels for visitors to choose from.
Among recently completed options for design fans are El Perdido Hotel in Pescadero, Casona Sforza in Puerto Escondido, and Paradero Hotel in Todos Santos.
Source: Rooms - dezeen.com
