MEXICO – vast, vibrant and endlessly diverse – is the largest Spanish speaking country in the world and home to 130 million people. We arrive on a direct flight from London, excited to explore three distinctive landscapes spread across this mesmerising nation through the lens of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Cabo San Lucas: Coastal glamour
Our journey begins at the newly opened Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol. A glamorous yet laid-back retreat with 96 guestrooms and suites on the Baja California Peninsula’s golden corridor, this resort offers year-round sunshine and is a perfect destination for a winter vacation. Visiting between November and April offers the magical bonus of humpback whale sightings arriving from Arctic waters, which can be viewed directly from our ocean-facing patio.
Four Seasons Cabo San Lucas Ocean Front Villa
Each morning gently unfolds, commencing with barefoot beach walks and dips in our heated plunge pool, or simply relaxing on the sun loungers within the privacy of our suite. Afternoons bring us choices: a round of golf at the adjacent Cabo Del Sol golf course, indulgent spa rituals, guided mountain bike rides, sculpture or art classes in the dedicated studio, or peaceful hours spent at the spa’s adults-only ocean-view pool (where the chilled drinks and healthy bites on offer are the only interruptions).
Dining at this Four Seasons resort is always a highlight, from the outstanding Cayao – Richard Sandoval’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion signature restaurant – to Caraluz, a casual beachfront Mexican eatery that becomes our lunchtime favourite.
Four Seasons Cabo San Lucas Spa Pool
Mercado, the on-site market set within the Mexican-inspired cobblestone square and its vibrant bursts of Jacaranda blossoms, ensures the opportunity to order fresh coffee, cold-pressed juices and grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, as well as to browse the resort’s not-to-be-missed boutiques.
Tamarindo: Jungle seclusion
Our next destination is Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, an expansive and secluded hideaway retreat set within sub-tropical jungle spread across a 3,000-acre private reserve on Mexico’s Pacific coast. We’re immediately captivated by the panoramic vista from the clifftop 300 feet above the sea. Every detail of this resort exudes refinement, including the exemplary service from all of the immaculately trained staff, most of whom hail from the local village.
Four Seasons Tamarindo
Our spacious suite’s interior echoes the surrounding palette of the resort – taupe, brown and ocean blue accents – with accessories and coffee table books adding an authentic Mexican touch. Our bathroom is a marble sanctuary, complete with an indoor-outdoor shower and a sunken stone tub, framed by a picture window. Morning coffee arrives, timed perfectly to view the sunrise shimmering across the bay below us, which we follow with laps in our own private 35-feet pool – the most idyllic way to start the day without leaving our suite.
We experience our first paddle boarding class with personal guide George, who successfully gets us standing up. Later we partake in a uniquely transformative Mexican temazcal ceremony at the resort’s spa – a traditional two-hour spiritual ritual dating back to pre-Hispanic times held in a steamy domed sweat lodge and led by a professional temazcalero. This was the most spiritual experience we’ve ever undergone on a vacation anywhere on the planet and we depart feeling peacefully enlightened.
Four Seasons Tamarindo view
Sustainability runs deep here. At Rancho Lola, the resort’s working farm, we savour a Mexican breakfast al fresco one morning, serenaded by Mexican music. From vegetables, livestock, flowers and free-range eggs, this is a perfect showcase of farm-to-table living.
Dining options range from Coyul, curated by celebrated Mexican chef Elena Reygadas, to Sal, the beachfront gem featuring fresh catches of the day and where we toast the sunset over the freshest tuna and pillow-soft house-made mash – one of the best meals of our stay.
Mexico City: Urban elegance
Our final stay is at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, an urban sanctuary wrapped around a courtyard with a water fountain. The recently renovated interiors feature Pan Dulce, a coffee shop offering pastries and snacks, alongside curated boutiques showcasing stylish, locally sourced items. This leads the way to the star attraction: the legendary Fifty Mils bar. A favourite among discerning locals and international jetsetters, it’s currently ranked among the world’s top 50 bars and is an essential stop during any stay in the metropolis.
Four Seasons Mexico City
The hotel is perfectly located for exploring the city, being adjacent to Chapultepec Park, home to the Chapultepec Zoo and nine of the city’s museums, including the outstanding, not to be missed Museum of Anthropology (note: all museums are closed on Monday).
The city’s upmarket neighbourhoods are also in close proximity – from Polanco with its world-class designer shopping and Roma and its trendy art scene to Condesa, renowned for Art Deco buildings and café culture. After an evening dip in the hotel’s rooftop pool, which is adjacent to the 24-hour gym, we head for dinner at the impeccable Il Becco, the hotel’s spectacular Italian fine-dining restaurant, a destination in itself with a separate street entrance.
Our journey through Mexico with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts provides a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion and unparalleled luxury. From the sun-kissed beaches of Cabo San Lucas to the lush jungles of Tamarindo, and finally the vibrant beating-heart of Mexico City, each destination provides us with unforgettable memories that will remain in our hearts long after our last drop of duty free tequila.
by Amanda Bernstein