World's Best

The Top 25 Resort Hotels in Mexico in 2020

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Published on July 8, 2020

Cala de Mar Resort & Spa — Photo: Courtesy of Cala de Mar Resort &; Spa

Last year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on Mar. 2, 2020, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope the honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be.

Not every beautiful resort town has it all. Sure, white-sand beaches are a prerequisite, but too often a jam-packed roster of activities and amenities eclipses all traces of the destination itself — the culture, the history, the nuances of cuisine. Tiki drinks may be a given, but a sense of place isn’t always as easy to find.

Not so for the properties on this year’s list of the top 25 resorts in Mexico. As diverse as these properties are, they all share a passion for supporting and showcasing the richness of their communities. Take No. 10 Montage Los Cabos: if you want to laze by the pool all day, attendants will ensure you never want for a margarita or a repositioned umbrella. Those who are itching to discover Baja more deeply can sign up for a spa treatment using local flora or book private excursions to meet with local artists in charming Todos Santos. It’s a similar story just across the Sea of Cortés at our No. 6 resort, W Punta de Mita. The insouciant spirit of the W brand is alive and well, but with splashy décor by makers from nearby Sayulita, design inspired by Huichol folk art, and offerings that include history and architecture tours of neighboring towns.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Related: The World's Best Awards 2020

This year, readers overwhelmingly sung the praises of Mexico’s Pacific coast, with nine of the top 10 winners situated on the country’s western shore. Some of our top 2020 properties will be familiar to frequent World’s Best readers: Last year’s first-place finisher, the Resort at Pedregal, was rebranded the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal and came in at No. 3 this time around. The always-impressive Rosewood Mayakoba held strong at second place — after all, a water-taxi room escort is a pretty incredible way to make an entrance. As for our blue-ribbon property? With its ocean-view adobe suites stacked along the rocky coast, it feels like Mexico’s answer to a Mediterranean beach getaway.

Read on for all 25 of this year’s best resort hotels in Mexico.

1. Cala de Mar Resort & Spa, Ixtapa

Score: 96.69

More information: calademar.com

Honeymooners, look no further. Where other hotels might merely suggest romance, Cala de Mar may as well be singing it from the rooftops with a string quartet playing backup. There’s not a lackluster room in the mix: Each of the property’s 59 suites has a private terrace and a plunge pool overlooking the Pacific. The décor is light and laid-back, with furnishings of wood and woven cane and breezy white linens galore for a beachy, earthy vibe. A designated personal assistant is on hand to book you a romantic dinner à deux in a surprise location, set up a shaman-led temazcal ceremony, or simply weigh in on the best things to do in the area. It’s easy enough to fill your days on site with activities like yoga, meditation, and sitting poolside with paletas, but don’t sleep on the offerings that take you beyond the resort, including tours of the fishing village of Zihuatanejo, biking in the nature reserve, or cooking classes that kick off with a trip to the local market. Just make sure you’re back in time to take advantage of the daily happy hour — cold beers and chips and guacamole delivered to your room. It’s the universal indicator of true luxury: Casa de Mar may be over the top, but in paradise, guac is not extra.