Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.
Describe the property in three words: Striking. Bond-worthy. Expansive.
What’s the deal?
Ruling an ocean-front spot in a sprawling 3,000-acre private natural reserve that covers furrowed cliffs, golden beaches, and thick forest, Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo does not fail to deliver the wow factor. For starters, it takes 25 minutes just to cover the driveway as you wind past an agave plantation and through the hills. Five of the best heads in Mexican architecture and design—namely Victor Legorreta, Mauricio Rocha, Mario Schjetnan, Studio Esterlina, and Uribe Krayer—came together to dream up Tamarindo’s beautiful bones.
Carved into the curves of the terrain, the resort has 157 rooms and 63 suites, merging concrete with rich stained wood and painstakingly hand-placed stone walls. The design harnesses elements of authentic Mexican style, pre-Hispanic heritage, and contemporary flair, and there’s an opportunity to absorb nature at every turn.
The best room:
Hands down, it must be the Tamarindo Villa, which can be converted up to five bedrooms with its connecting suites and comes with utterly jaw-dropping views over the ocean. Watching pelicans swoop by and waves curl on the crescent-moon beach far beneath you from up the top of the cliff is something else.
Does the resort have a standout perk?
Aside from its dramatic architecture—the resort took 10 years to build—and a spectacular location, Four Seasons Tamarindo has a couple of lovely features to tie it to the area. The first is Rancho Ortega, a 19-acre farm on the reserve where seasonal ingredients include corn, sugarcane, beans, barley, and coffee, along with all sorts of fruit and vegetables. Naturally, the produce features heavily on the menu. The resort also has a Discovery Centre to immerse guests in the natural cycles of the local environment, with collections to browse and activities to engage in. Not to be missed is the resort’s impressive spa and approach to wellness, which aims to make health feel more accessible.
Did they greet you by name at check-in?
Yes. It’s a spectacular entrance to the main building—which is appropriately named the “mansion” rather than lobby.
Was a welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived?
Chilled ginger, lemon, and freshly pressed cucumber juice is the welcome tipple—with an optional shot of mezcal if you’d like it (we did, thank you very much).
Is there a private butler for every room?
No, but there is 24-hour support available via the convenient Four Seasons chat service—or you can pick up the in-room phone.
Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?
Yes, the 400-thread-count sheets are smooth white cotton, from the Four Seasons branded collection of linens. If you fall in love with them, or the rest of the bedclothes (or even the mattress), you can order your own set from the website.
Is there a heated floor in the bathroom?
No, but you won’t be needing it in this climate, and the rich travertine floors are silky underfoot.
Are the toiletries full-sized?
Yes. Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap, and body lotion are all from trendy fragrance brand Le Labo’s Hinoki range, which is inspired by the scent of the trees of Mount Koya in Japan and features macadamia, rosemary leaf, and rice extract.
Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use?
While the entry-level rooms don’t come with a plunge pool, the majority of the rest of the rooms and suites do have private infinity plunge pools. Some are bigger than others, all with views either directly onto the beachfront, or higher up in the cliffs (the higher the better, in our opinion). Rooms also come with a hammock, perfect for swaying you into a nap in the salty Pacific breeze. In the communal area, the hotel has three levels of infinity pools layered down to the beach, suiting couples and families alike.
Is there caviar on the room service menu?
No, but you can request it. In-room dining features all the usual suspects such as sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas, along with some Mexican specials thrown in, such as tortilla soup and tacos. Elsewhere at the resort, three restaurants set the stage for a variety of tastes, whether you’re in the mood for tacos inspired by some of the country’s most gastronomically diverse regions, elevated raw cuisine, or freshly caught seafood.
Do you want to spend your Friday night in the lobby bar?
Definitely if the occupancy is high, as the communal spaces here are just as sexy as the suites. You can prop up at Sal beside the beach, or head to Coyul for a cocktail instead—the stark beauty of these large minimalist spaces is swiftly softened by the buzz of the crowd and ambient lighting.
Would you buy the hotel if you could?
If we could wrestle it off its Mexican owner, whom the reserve has belonged to for some 30 years—that’s a solid yes. With the time it took to plan and build this special architectural gem, you’d have your hands on a very unique property. And while the hotel gets plenty of guests from Mexico and America, it is seeing increasing demand from Europe and further afield—no doubt the rest of the world is catching on to this arresting wilderness on the Pacific. At Tamarindo, there are currently two residences that will eventually be up for sale, and plans for more residences in the works, too.
Total: 8
What Our Score Means:
1–3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.
4–6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch.
7–8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms.
9–10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?
All images courtesy of Four Seasons.
