Coastal Luxury in the Mexican Jungle at One&Only Mandarina

Overview

One&Only Mandarina is a one-of-a-kind luxury beach resort seamlessly integrated into 80 acres of rainforest on Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. A secluded sanctuary of untouched beauty — where nature meets five-stars and three Michelin keys in the most effortless way.

Transportation: Entering the cocoon

To fully immerse yourself in the One&Only experience from the moment you land, I highly recommend booking transportation directly with the hotel. From the instant the staff greets you, takes your luggage off your hands and whisks you onto your private transport, you feel like you’ve entered a cocoon of comfort and luxury.

Checking in

Arriving at One&Only Mandarina isn’t just checking into a hotel — it’s stepping into another world. Instead of a traditional reception, guests are welcomed into an open-air lounge, where refreshing drinks set the tone for a relaxing stay. Shortly after, we were whisked by golf cart through the jungle to our villa.

Room; Room Interior

The room: James Bond in the rainforest

If James Bond had a hideaway in the Mexican rainforest, this would be it. Sleek, modern and impeccably designed, every villa at Mandarina is a stand-alone sanctuary with its own private plunge pool.

Pool Canopy; Pool Alma

The resort: A jungle paradise

Rather than massive pools, One&Only Mandarina offers a collection of smaller pools scattered across the resort. A personal favorite was the pool near Alma restaurant, tucked beneath the jungle canopy, feeling like a hidden retreat. The beachfront pools at Jetty Beach Club and Canalan Beach Club were equally enjoyable.

Canalan Beach

Special mention: The jetty

The resort’s jetty extends into the ocean, calming the waves and creating the perfect spot for a relaxing sea swim. It is one of the most unique features of the property.

Immersed in nature

Each morning, walking to breakfast through a mango forest was an absolute dream. Mangoes carpeted the forest floor, some with little nibbles from the native coatis (affectionately referred to by locals as “Charlie”).

Dining highlights

• Breakfast at Alma: One of the best complimentary resort breakfasts I’ve experienced. My husband made a big salad from the buffet each morning, my daughter had beautiful fruit with yogurt and I fell in love with their white fish (a play on bagels and lox). They also have an array of Mexican dishes like enchiladas and chilaquiles.

• Lunch at Jetty Beach Club: We enjoyed lunch at Jetty Beach Club. Highlight: soft shell crab taco.

• Dinner at Allora: Allora, located at Mandarina’s Canalan Beach Club, was a favorite for dinner. Delicious Italian food. I don’t usually eat gluten but made an exception on this trip for this pizza and pasta.

• Carao: We were a group of friends, each with our own families, celebrating my sister’s 40th birthday, so a bit too big of a crowd to visit their premier restaurant, Carao. Carao gets rave reviews for the culinary journey curated by celebrity chef Enrique Olvera. It looks incredible.

• The Treetop: The Treetop is their adults-only bar, perched on a cliffside with stunning ocean views. It’s the perfect spot to unwind with a sunset cocktail.

Sunset Rooms Nestled; Treetop Bar

Spa: Jungle bliss

Incredible massage at the spa for my birthday. The spa is beautifully immersed in the jungle. Swimming in the spa’s pool felt incredibly connected to nature. Inside the spa, there is a cold plunge (a must for me on every trip). The spa also has an outdoor mud experience.

Spa; Kids Club

Kids’ club: The best of the best

I thought the KidsOnly program at One&Only Palmilla was unbeatable, but Mandarina has taken it to the next level. This is not your average kids' club. It’s an immersive nature adventure with treehouses, bridges, a maze, an insectary and a butterfly farm. It’s truly the goat of kids’ clubs.

Activities: Staying on property

I’m a firm believer that a resort should be so incredible that you never need to leave. Mandarina makes that easy with zip-lining, jungle courses and horseback riding right on the property.

Checking out: Travel hack

One of our favorite travel hacks is ordering lunch to-go from room service and having it delivered to us in the lobby before departure. Eating high-quality hotel food at the airport makes the journey home more pleasant.

Final thoughts

One&Only Mandarina is a sprawling, jungle-luxe retreat. While the property is vast and not entirely walkable, the golf cart rides were a highlight for my daughter. The natural surroundings — complete with prehistoric-looking insects and birds — add to the wild beauty of the place. The small details that come with a true five-star beach resort experience, like the absence of soaring hotel towers with hallways and elevators, make all the difference.

One&Only Mandarina is a sprawling, jungle-luxe retreat. While the property is vast and not entirely walkable, the golf cart rides were a highlight for my daughter. The natural surroundings — complete with prehistoric-looking insects and birds — add to the wild beauty of the place. The small details that come with a true five-star beach resort experience, like the absence of soaring hotel towers with hallways and elevators, make all the difference.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Mexico page.