TreeHouse Boutique Hotel

The capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán is Mérida, and if all you know about the Yucatán peninsula is the Caribbean coast, you’re in for a surprise: a stunning colonial city, established nearly 500 years ago, right on top of an existing Maya one. The result, needless to say, is a place that’s chock full of historical resonance, and the same can be said for the astonishingly lovely (and adults-only!) Treehouse Boutique Hotel.

It’s not a house in a tree, but rather a courtyard-style house surrounding an impressive amount of greenery, which provides some of the soothing effect of a rural hotel even in the old city center — and benefits from a naturally cool microclimate. With just 15 rooms, it retains much of its private-residence atmosphere, and the interiors combine period architecture, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary design and amenities in a unique and memorable blend.

There’s a plunge pool in the garden, as well as plenty of places to relax or socialize, indoor and out; the hotel’s bar is for guests only, serving modern cocktails featuring local flavors and ingredients. For dinner, you’re at the mercy of Mérida itself, which, in this corner of the city center, is not at all an unpleasant place to be.