The Best Hotels in Mexico

Los Cabos

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal sits on a cliff in Cabo San Lucas and is reached by a private tunnel through the mountain. Its ocean-facing rooms have private plunge pools, and whales can be seen from the property. In San José del Cabo, Las Ventanas al Paraiso lines its suites, pools and gardens along the beach, with butler service and whales offshore. Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos is adults-only and all-inclusive, with butler service and daily spa hydrotherapy. Timeshare sales pitches also take place there, and food and security are problems there.

Riviera Maya

Four hotels lie on the Riviera Maya coast. Grand Velas Riviera Maya, on the jungle and beach edge of Playa del Carmen, has Ambassador, Zen and Grand Class sections and a kids and teens club. Rosewood Mayakoba is set in a jungle lagoon and mangrove reserve near Playa del Carmen and is reached by boat, with villas, suites and a spa. Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is adults-only, lies between Puerto Morales and Playa del Carmen, and has six restaurants and multiple pools. Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, a large all-inclusive resort at Akumal, has jungle gardens, and sargassum is found on the beach.

Pacific coast of Nayarit

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is an all-inclusive beachfront resort in Nuevo Nayarit, with renovated rooms, ocean views and a large pool complex. One&Only Mandarina is set in jungle about an hour from Puerto Vallarta, with private villas built among cliffs and trees. One&Only Mandarina has a protected beach and a spa, but service and bugs are repeated problems.