It is not a secret that Mexico is home to some of the world’s best resorts. Everyone knows about the sultry and sexy beaches of Tulum, the revelry of Cancun and Cabo, and the luxury of Punta Mita and Riviera Maya. Mexico’s lost coast has so far escaped this notoriety, but after our stay at the Four Seasons Tamarindo, I wouldn’t be surprised if the secret starts getting out.
Nestled in a 3,000-square mile private nature reserve, Tamarindo is purposefully secluded; it takes 15 minutes to drive through the lush jungle just to reach the lobby from the entry gate. The open-air lobby, called La Mansion, sets the scene for the rest of the stay, perched on a cliff and perfectly framing the Pacific Ocean ahead. The architecture is modern yet warm, its contemporary angles softened with natural stone and wood tones. This multi-level structure acts as the home base for the property, with restaurants, access to the pools, the spa, and the gym a quick elevator ride away. There is also a Discovery Center, where guests can organize trips into the nature reserve, plan snorkeling excursions, and learn from the local ecologists about its vegetation and wildlife.
Communication is Key
One of my favorite things about staying at a Four Seasons property is the communication. Prior to arrival, the hospitality team reaches out to you about bedding preferences and gives you the option of booking excursions and activities with the concierge team. This is and should be pretty standard with any luxury hotel, but they take it to the next level if you download the Four Seasons app; here, you have a texting service where you can make inquiries and get almost an immediate response BEFORE your trip even begins. I’m talking WEEKS beforehand. I let them know that Jai was coming with us and requested a crib; I didn’t expect them to also bring in a Nuna high chair, correctly-sized daily and swim diapers, a Diaper Genie, baby-safe toiletries and sunscreen, a baby tub, toys, and even his own matching robe. We had a discussion about mixing formula and the safety of their filtered water, and while it probably would have been fine, when I voiced my hesitation, they couriered gallons of distilled water to the room before we even arrived. They even brought in a separate mini fridge to store everything. Talk about service!
The Room of my Dreams
As we were flying in from CDMX, the flight was short and easy. Getting back to California was also surprisingly simple; it’s a direct 3-hour flight from the regional airport, ZLO, to LAX. When we arrived at the airport, we took advantage of their car service to bring us to the resort. While you could have driven yourself, it is pretty secluded with not much other than a few local eateries and farmland in between. As soon as we pulled up to La Mansion, we were greeted warmly with a tequila cocktail, which was much needed after the hour-long drive with a baby that decided to vomit all over himself. Check-in was smooth and easy and we were escorted to our room, a Cliffside Ocean-View One Bedroom Suite, in a golf cart. The cliffside suites are built into the rockface, each with spectacular views. Each room—the living space, bedroom, and bathroom–had floor-to-ceiling glass so you are never not facing the ocean. It oozed barefoot luxury, with wood interiors mixed with contemporary furniture, traditional shutters, and Mayan art. The front living area had a TV, couch, and dining table. They sweetly decorated it with balloons and a decal because they knew we were celebrating our 10-year anniversary. And to top it off, they set aside a nice bottle of bubbles on ice and chocolate cake which everyone knows is the way to my heart. While it may seem excessive to have a whole living room, it was nice to have a separate space where we could watch the Olympics on TV and hang out and have an actual adult conversation without disturbing Jai while he was taking a nap in the other room. This space led into the bedroom with its generous and incredibly comfortable king-sized bed that faced the ocean. From here, you made your way into the bathroom of my dreams, which was the same size as the first two spaces combined. The sunken bathtub held prime position, with a large glass window framing that beautiful ocean view. Just in case you didn’t want to take a shower without an ocean view, there was a second outdoor shower as well. Like other Four Seasons properties, they provided Le Labo amenities and plush robes. The walk-in closet was spacious, so much so we actually set up Jai’s crib inside of it (sorry kid). The pièce de résistance, however, was the outdoor space. The patio extended the living area, blurring the line between the indoors and out. The private infinity-edge plunge pool also spanned the entire length of the suite, melting into the horizon. We spent hours here, relaxing in the handmade hammock, splashing in the pool, and reading on the deck. We never truly had to leave our bubble–we had everything. We never felt confined during nap time, didn’t have to worry if Jai was having a moment, and could just relax.
Options Options Options
When we did decide to leave our enclave, it was for 2 things: beach and food. Given the sprawling nature of the resort, the only way to really get around was with a golf cart. Using that app on your phone or the tablet they provided in the room, you would just text them for one to come get you to do your activities. Oftentimes we would get the same driver (shout out to Memo!), so you did get to know everyone at the resort. There are 3 swimmable beaches to explore, each with chair-side service. To be honest, we didn’t spend that much time at the beach, mostly because we were too lazy to leave our room. However, for those who have more energy, there are plenty of things to do. For those who golf, El Tamarindo Golf Course is apparently one of the most scenic courses in the world. There is also a weekly activity calendar of options ranging from cooking classes to birdwatching to coffee extraction workshops. The gym, which was designed by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak, features state-of-the art equipment and is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows to capture those incredible views so you almost forget that you are working out. Neal said it was great; I was too lazy to even try. The spa, something I wish I took advantage of, had some unique experiences that pay homage to pre-Hispanic rituals. Something else I will take advantage of the next time we go is Caramelo, the kid’s club that caters to children between the ages 5 to 12. The kicker–it is from 9AM to 9PM; if only daycare could have those hours! We did have the option to use their babysitters, as Jai was over 6 months old, but we wanted to cart him around with us. If your kid is in their teen years, they have a separate area called Escondite, where they can be their creative and angsty selves away from their parents but with some adult supervision.
Nosh
After you worked up your appetite from all the activities (or doing nothing like me), you had 4 unique options to try, and truly, the food really was fabulous. And I’m saying this after spending 5 days in Mexico City. Coyul, the largest and “fanciest” restaurant on the property, is a partnership with celebrated Mexican chef Elena Reygadas. I put “fancy” in quotes because it was not stuffy by any means. Its ethos is using local ingredients to create an upscale and modern version of traditional Mexican dishes. Their wine program is fascinating, with a fairly large contingency of Mexican wines that were fun to explore. Teresa, the sommelier, did a fantastic job and was gracious enough to host a private wine tasting for us the next day to learn more. Breakfast is also served here, which hosts one of the largest selections of food I’ve seen in a minute between the buffet and made-to-order options. Sal, which is literally steps from the Majahua beach, celebrates just that: the sea. In my opinion, it has one of the best views of all of the property, especially at golden hour. Nacho has a whole different vibe, a casual taqueria by one of the 3 infinity pools that serves a mean margarita. Competing for the best restaurant views is Nueve, which is perched up on the resort’s golf course’s ninth hole. While we didn’t eat here per se, we did have a private dinner there for our anniversary. One of the many options for a fun, private experience, I was able to work with the team to create a multicourse dinner, paired with tequila, mezcal, and wine, for us to celebrate our anniversary. It was truly one of the most memorable and special experiences; Daniel was such good company (and great bartender) while Neal and I got to just hang out with an amazing view of the ocean. Normally, the dinner would have been set right at the ninth hole, but due to thunderstorms in the area, we moved under the safety of the palapa. It was magical, sipping on mezcal and watching the storm blow in and out, the distant booms of thunder accentuating the roar of the sea, and with lightning creating a spectacular show over the ocean.
Some have said that the service was too slow; I didn’t think so. What could you possibly need RIGHT NOW when relaxing by the pool or on the beach? It is a clear reminder that you just need to unplug and slow down. The staff were all so gracious, putting up with our attempts at practicing Spanish, especially when you think you are all-of-a-sudden fluent after a few rounds of mezcal. Even more important, they were all so personable; by the end of the trip, we knew their backstories, their hobbies, and they felt like friends. This is what the Four Seasons Tamarindo is about: luxury without feeling formal, private while still familiar, secluded but still accessible, all done tastefully with jaw-dropping views to set the scene.
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