It wasn’t until we skinny-dipped in the Mexican jungle that we realized this had been on our bucket list. That’s the thing about travel, the unexpected discovery. Only upon walking into the pale moonlight reflected on the water did we understand why we had our own 43-foot saltwater lap pool overlooking the Pacific. And that was only one of many magical moments we still cherish about our stay at Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, a sprawling hideaway on Jalisco’s sun-kissed coast.
As we swam naked laps in the cool, crisp water, the dawn crept over the twin isles of Iglesias and Tamarindo. Chachalaca birdsong filled the air as sunlight stippled the terrace of our cliffside suite at the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo. When we finished swimming, our biggest quandary of the morning was whether to sink into the hammock slung across the pool, or head down to La Mansion, the hotel’s spectacular open-air centrepiece where the World’s Best Female Chef 2023 Elena Reygadas helms the kitchen at Coyul. The mouthwatering breakfast buffet here includes chilaquiles, plantain enmoladas, hoja santa quesadillas, huevos rancheros, and dozens of other seasonal specialities with ingredients sourced from the property’s own Rancho Ortega.
Actually, that was a no-brainer. Seated at breakfast alongside the various infinity pools that frame Coyul, we realized anew how much water and rebirth are a part of the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo experience, especially in the accommodations which include Beachfront Suites, Beachfront Rooms, and Cliffside Suites, as well as a three-bedroom Beach House, and another five-bedroom Cliffside Villa.
With nearly 150 sqm/1,600 sqft of indoor-outdoor space, the Cliffside Suites are larger than many urban apartments; and they all feature panoramic ocean views. The focus on hydrotherapy is highlighted by an indoor and an outdoor rainforest shower, both with ocean views, as well as a sunken soaking tub that parallels the saltwater lap pool. A water closet adjoins the well-appointed walk-in dressing room, and double vanity sinks feature Le Labo toiletries. Louvred wooden pocket doors separate the king-sized bedroom from the living room, which features a dry bar and dining area, as well as a sofa bed. Curated handcrafted artworks complement handmade textiles and wooden shutters, and the remarkably private atmosphere evokes a contemporary hacienda high above the jungle.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Culturalist | ZLO | GMT -6 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Consider a boat excursion to explore Tamarindo’s 10-kilometre coastline and witness sea mammals up close and at play. Whales and dolphin sightings are not guaranteed, but the secluded bays of Tamarindo are also a popular locale for marine birds and traditional fishing boats known as lancha, where local fishermen of La Manzanilla handline-fish for your lunch. |
Located about an hour’s drive from the airport at Manzanillo, the patrolled entrance to the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is both understated and like a fortress, as are most entrances to the luxury resorts along Costalegre. Once through the gates, the drive to reception takes about 15 minutes along an artfully landscaped drive that cuts through the 3,000-acre protected nature reserve and on through the property’s 35-acre, low-impact farm Rancho Ortega. Don’t be alarmed by the flocks of chickens that wander across the drive and into the pristine fields of blue agave, which will soon fuel the tequila cocktails at the property’s various restaurants. As you approach the open-air lobby, uniformed staff await your arrival with fragrant handcloths and cool hibiscus cocktails – although you’ll probably be equally drunk on the Pacific Ocean views.
As General Manager Felix Murillo welcomed us to the property with his German shepherd Lola, he reminded us that we were in the jungle and that the jungle belonged to the local fauna and flora. ‘This is their home’, he stated, ‘and we are their guests’. That sense of stewardship is a primary operating principle of the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, evident in activities such as the guided ethnobotanical walks with a focus on pre-Hispanic Mexican medicinal flora and local fauna. On a morning walk through the jungle (along a mosaic cobblestoned pathway laid by local artisans), we were casually observed by iguanas, coatis and numerous birds. In keeping with the resort’s commitment to biodiversity and conservation, only 2% of the area will be developed while the rest will remain the home of more than 70 species of flora and fauna, including 16 mammals, 11 amphibians, and 30 reptiles.
Since the company’s inception in 1961, Four Seasons has designated personal service as one of the four pillars of its business platform – and, as expected, the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo responds with alacrity and kindness to each and every client request. A sunset cocktail reception overlooking the Pacific on the 9th hole of the David Fleming-designed El Tamarindo golf course? No problem. A taco tasting at Nacho, complete with lobster and indigenous insects? Consider it done – and delicious, as is a celebratory beachfront dinner at Sal along Majahua Beach. The calendar of daily events at the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo offers numerous water and land activities, as well as golf and wellness and culinary experiences. But then again, there’s also that hammock slung across your private saltwater lap pool. The choice is yours.
Photography courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
