What Stunned Me on My First Keep at a 4 Seasons Resort in Mexico

With 129 properties worldwide, a 4 Seasons keep can characteristic a personal island within the Maldives or a luxurious safari within the Serengeti.

Spectacular places go hand and hand with the model, so I figured the Tamarindo property can be lovely — particularly contemplating the place the property is located.

The 4 Seasons Tamarindo is a hidden gem on Mexico’s Pacific Coast and isn’t straightforward to achieve. The resort is about 4 hours south of Puerto Vallarta and one and a half hours northwest of Manzanillo.

When visitors arrive, all of it begins with a dramatic entrance. I nonetheless had a 15-minute drive from the doorway gate to the resort. I navigated winding roads surrounded by thick jungle. There wasn’t water in sight as I handed rows of agave and noticed birds singing from close by bushes.

Then, the property got here into view. An open-air foyer featured infinity swimming pools that stretched out to a rocky shoreline.

For the subsequent two days, I found hanging ocean views at virtually each a part of the resort, from the golf course to the on-site eating places.

It was clear that the situation was a spotlight of the property.

It was tempting to jam-pack my day with actions on the 4 Seasons. I eyed a morning snorkeling tour and debated if I might make it again in time for a farm tour. Later within the afternoon, I deliberate to hitch a workshop on fermented drinks. The following day, my schedule included a cooking class.

The very best half was that each one these occasions had been complimentary. Whereas the luxurious resort comes with luxurious costs, it was refreshing to know that I might fill my day with experiences that would not add to my journey funds.

That appears to be a standard theme throughout a handful of different 4 Seasons properties. 4 Seasons Resort Hualalai affords ukulele classes, lei-making lessons, and Hawaiian quilting. At 4 Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, visitors can be part of winery yoga classes and cocktail-making lessons.

Alba Garcia, the director of rooms on the 4 Seasons Tamarindo, and Barbara Cervantes, the property’s advertising supervisor, informed me that the resort is designed to supply an genuine Mexican expertise with no need to depart the resort.

There are Mexican menus created by award-winning cooks, actions diving into conventional drinks like tepache, a fermented drink made out of pineapples, and actions that discover the encircling nature.

Whereas I would nonetheless argue that a day journey to the seaside city of Barra de Navidad — 40 minutes away— is definitely worth the trek, the 4 Seasons made it onerous to depart, providing each expertise I might have wished proper on the property.

A spot with hanging infinity swimming pools, pastel sunsets, and personal rooms screams romance.

Each Garcia and Cervantes agreed that the perfect vacationer for 4 Seasons Tamarindo is probably going a pair, however I used to be shocked by how a lot thought had additionally gone into creating an expertise for households.

One of many three infinity swimming pools is devoted to households with large pool floaties. There’s additionally a day by day arts and crafts session and an unique occasion for teenagers every night.

No matter age, it appeared onerous to not get pleasure from a day on the resort.

Alan Reyes pulled over on his golf cart to indicate me a calabash tree, which grows fruit used for maraca devices. Twenty minutes later, we had been tasting honey from Melipona stingless bees.

As somebody who loves the outside, it was thrilling to have resort workers wanting to reply my pesky questions concerning the crops and animals residing and rising on the three,000-acre property.

Hours later, it was surprising to look at Garcia share a lot pleasure behind her job as rooms director.

When my rental automotive’s tire was flat, a crowd of employees arrived with an air compressor to get me again on the street.

Whereas I count on lodge workers to be form and welcoming at a luxurious resort, I appreciated how the staff on the 4 Seasons went past expectations.