Hotel Rodavento

The more typical destinations in Mexico have done such a good job selling themselves that it’s quite easy to forget what a three-dimensional country it is. Maybe that’s why it’s mostly travelers from elsewhere within Mexico who know the Valle de Bravo — this lush mountain valley defies all the stereotypes, from sun-kissed beaches to colonial-era haciendas. Instead it’s got the Rodavento, which bills itself as a boutique hotel but is in actual fact quite a bit more than that.

It’s more like a mountain lodge, twenty-eight modern suites in tented-roof hillside villas, each one with a deck overlooking the property’s pine forests and private lake. The look is contemporary but very far from urban — rustic elements make the interiors more hospitable, and the old-fashioned claw-foot tubs are charming.

Don’t expect to take it all with you — this is an escape, first and foremost, with spa and outdoor pool taking the place of any late-night club scene. Instead you’ll kayak, ride horses, or hike the wooded trails — and at night you’ll find yourself making good use of that wood-burning fireplace, as the Valle de Bravo gets quite a bit colder than the Mexico we all imagine.

How to get there:
Rodavento Boutique Hotel is a two-hour drive from Mexico City.