Experiences

This spectacularly secluded resort lies in an estate covering 25,000 acres and includes the ecologically important Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve.  Cuixmala was once the private hideaway of Sir James Goldsmith, and is still owned and managed by the Goldsmith family.  Four fabulous fully-staffed villas are here, including La Loma, Goldsmith's former residence.   The villas each have their own stunning swimming pool and feature huge verandas, lavish indoor and outdoor living spaces and breathtaking views.  There are several beaches on the estate, horseback riding can be arranged at the well equipped stables, and there's even a soccer pitch on site. 

Rancho Leonero is situated on Baja's beautiful East Cape and offers charming thatched roof bungalows and the calm, incredibly enticing ocean.

We enjoyed our best off-the-beach snorkeling in Mexico here; the water is so clear that you barely need a mask to see the multitude of colorful fish in the shallow water. And it's spectacularly remote - the Rancho estate includes two miles of pristine coastline and access is via an unpaved road that winds through a spectacular desert landscape.

The virtually uninhabited island of Espiritu Santo plays host to one of the most luxurious of camp-hotels. Five safari-style tents lie on a pristine beach, with a maximum of ten people at any one time to share the starkly beautiful landscape, the spectacularly clear ocean and the breathtaking night sky.

Add to this some of the finest cuisine you'll find anywhere on the Baja peninsula (we enjoyed scallop carpaccio, chocolate clams, delicately flavored seafood pasta and flambéed bananas during our stay) and the genuinely warm hospitality, and the result is close to perfection.

Note: Baja Camp is only open from May to early October.

Basico offers unique and stylish accommodation right in the heart of Playa del Carmen. The hotel has a striking and unusual design in which the designer has blended the motifs of traditional Mexican culture with the significant and far-reaching influence that the discovery of oil has had on the country. As a result the hotel features many unusual combinations of traditional and industrial materials including cotton, wood, concrete and rubber.

The design and simplistic decor of the rooms is basic to the point of minimalism, yet they still manage to ooze style, and feature modern conveniences like satellite TV, DVD player and a cordless telephone.

Spectacular vistas and wonderfully quirky accommodations await those who make the half-mile trek up the hillside to Verana.  This exotic retreat lies on the Bay of Banderas, south of Puerto Vallarta, and you'll leave the crowds far behind as you journey by boat and on foot to reach the hotel.  Your luggage will be transported by mule, but a basic level of fitness and a sense of adventure is required to enjoy this incredible location.  The eight casitas range from the fabulously open Tea House and Palapa to the more conventional Stone House and Casa Chica (the latter two houses can even have air-conditioning).  This is a place to totally relax and enjoy natural spa treatments, yoga, delicious fresh cuisine and great hospitality. Verana is open only from November 1 to June 5.