Hotel Terrestre

Puerto Escondido, on Mexico’s Oaxacan coast, is a well-established destination — but it’s never seen anything like Hotel Terrestre. Then again, neither has anywhere else. Set between the mountains and the sea on the verdant coast just to the west of town, it’s a dramatic structure, a spaceship made of humble, locally sourced brick and concrete by architect Alberto Kalach. No surprise that it’s Grupo Habita that’s behind this hotel; the most innovative hoteliers in Mexico continue to push the boundaries.

It’s as sustainable as can be, not just in construction but in operation as well — it’s self-sufficiently solar-powered, entirely off the grid. Its fourteen villas’ various spaces are, to varying degrees, open to the air, from wide-open terraces for lounging to living rooms and bedrooms with slatted walls that let the breeze pass straight through. Low-tech, yes, but no less comfortable, and supplied with king beds, plunge pools, rain showers, and oversized bathtubs.

The low-tech approach is entirely intentional — this is a place for living slowly. Rooms are supplied with books rather than televisions, and more are available in the hotel library. Wellness offerings include a hammam, a bathing pool, and not much else; here, a TechnoGym would feel out of place. And the restaurant, Terrícola, takes the same approach as the rest of Terrestre, paying careful tribute to the land via locally sourced produce.