Hotel Escondido

Grupo Habita made its name over the past two decades with boutique hotels of the high-design variety; thanks to Carlos Couturier and Moisés Micha, the Mexican hospitality scene could boast some of the most stylish hotels anywhere. Less polished than its urban sisters — though no less memorable — is Hotel Escondido, a minimal-rustic beachfront boutique hotel on Oaxaca’s Pacific coast.

But recent years have seen a flexing of Habita’s outdoor muscles, to extremely satisfying ends. Escondido is no less visually appealing than any of its city siblings, in its own way, nor is it much less social — though of course the relative isolation breeds a certain intimacy of scale. And the surfing and kayaking, needless to say, are infinitely better than they would be in Mexico City — because of the fact they exist at all, for one, but also because this stretch of the coast is famously well suited to such pursuits.

It’s essentially “barefoot luxe” at its apex, a sort of impossibly stylish version of beach-bum living, its sixteen bungalows smallish and spare but perfectly formed. The restaurant serves can’t-miss local seafood, the bar shows off the Habita talent for hospitality, and the pool lounge mixes modern design with the most primitive of elements, to the greatest possible effect.

Please note: Hotel Escondido does not accept guests under the age of 16.

How to get there:
Hotel Escondido is located 65 miles (about a 90-minute drive) from Huatulco International Airport (HUX), or 19 miles (about a 30-minute drive) from Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM).