Benjamin recently visited Tamarindo, and true to their mantra: stay longer, he indeed, extended his Journey here! Enhanced, I’m sure by our dear Four Seasons pal, Jesus Aguirre Martinez!
Although I love the Four Seasons Costa Palmas partly due to the remote location outside of Cabo, there is another isolated, exclusive sandy paradise, Tamarindo! The Four Seasons brand is an authority on sniffing out secluded locations and creating a beach paradise, before anyone else discovers a serene warm body of water and a private stretch of sandy beach, and here a nature preserve!
Escape to a secluded nature reserve in Mexico’s Tamarindo, the pristine coastline where verdant jungle meets the Pacific Ocean. This rugged and pristine biosphere-protected swath of coastline in western Mexico, about 125 miles south of Puerto Vallarta, is actually quite easy to reach. Tamarindo is located on a sprawling 3,000-acre nature reserve on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, an hour’s drive from the nearest town. The resort is remote but easily accessible, a 35-minute drive from the International Airport of Manzanillo-Costalegre. A destination in its own right, the hotel brings together the richest elements of Jalisco, convincing even the most curious of travelers to plop for a while. Visit the Four Seasons Punta Mita first and take advantage of a private flight transfer!
After winding through the verdant nature reserve for 15 minutes, guests arrive at the main building, which frames impressive, uninterrupted views of the Pacific coast below. Tamarindo is a showcase of five of the most well-respected architecture and design firms in Mexico, who came together to create a resort that blends seamlessly with the peninsula’s topography, supports rewilding and blurs boundaries between indoors and out. Their commitment to authentically Mexican architecture results in a mosaic of pre-Hispanic culture, colonial heritage, and contemporary architecture.
Feel at One with Nature – Start your day by awakening your senses and feeling the rhythm of the nature reserve. Join their team of resident biologists and researchers on a morning hike through hills and winding paths. In a destination where there are more animal footpaths than human footpaths, you’ll gain an intimate knowledge of this tropical seasonal jungle. This walk, a Tamarindo tradition, will present you with an insider’s peek into the biologists’ work to study and protect the reserve’s natural treasures as you experience your natural surroundings with all your senses.
A Journey Through Taste – Led by Culinary Director, Nicolas Piatti, their culinary workshops are immersed in Mexican cuisine and traditions. Learn about recipes passed down by generations and about their unique fresh produce, such as blue agave from Rancho Ortega, their low-impact farm. Piatti and his team also bring organic corn from the Yucatán Peninsula and harvest salt. Each of their on-property workshops serves to tell a story – of a place, traditions and ingredients – and are soulful expressions of Mexico’s culinary heritage, executed by a team of chefs, farmers, fishermen, sommeliers, foragers and mixologists, dining at Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo offers an exploration of Mexico’s cuisine as told through rich flavors and long-standing traditions.
We’ve each taken many cooking classes, and tequila tastings at Four Seasons resorts, including an Indian cooking class in the Maldives – we leave inspired, full and excited to try the recipes at home. Prepare to get your hands dirty, delight your palate and learn culinary secrets that are emblematic of Mexico, as you join the culinary team to prepare an authentic black aguachile dish at Tamarindo.
Pause on the Sea – Head out on an adventure with the local fishermen of La Manzanilla, who have lived on these shores for generations and know the local waters better than anyone. Aboard their traditional lancha (fishing boat), listen to their stories about the ocean and the creatures that live in it, and learn the secrets of hand-line fishing, a sustainable fishing practice, from the very best. As you roll along the ocean, you will gain a unique understanding of local culture, and perhaps a few new friends.
Bring your Clubs – Offering 18 holes of links-style play, El Tamarindo was designed by celebrated golf architect David Fleming. The course weaves through tropical jungle along the rocky Pacific coastline with pristine ocean views.
Perhaps one reason Benjamin couldn’t depart, his Infinity pool cliffside Suite hangs above the ocean, who would want to leave this paradise? Secluded on the cliffside enclave, these one-bedroom suites offer elevated views of the ocean and the natural reserve. With your own 43-foot infinity swimming pool, a hammock and an outdoor shower, you too may never wish to leave!
All 157 rooms and 63 suites are an expression of the region, I always appreciate a sense of place in a hotel property. The buildings were designed using native materials and outfitted by local artisans to create a tranquil space to return to after a day spent exploring. Bathroom accessories are made of Mayan cream stone and cotton hammocks were woven by around 30 women from local communities.
Dining – The three restaurants at Tamarindo showcase the abundant flavors of Mexico, with ingredients sourced as locally as possible, including from the onsite farm Rancho Ortega. The main restaurant Coyul is helmed by Elena Reygadas, who in 2023 was named the world’s best female chef by The World’s Best 50 Restaurants; the menu reinterprets Italian and French classics through a Mexican lens with dishes such as lobster tagliolini with cuaresmeño pepper.
Mosey down by the beach to visit Sal, which serves traditional Mexican fare with a seafood focus. The resort’s very own Taqueria Nacho provides a more laid-back dining experience, serving traditional and innovative tacos packed with flavor. Breakfast is a plentiful buffet of Mexican dishes and Western classics.
Benjamin Highly Recommends – I must go see for myself!
Ring us to ask about stay three for fourth night free for a limited time…
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