Hotel Spotlight: One&Only Mandarina

Embracing the Rise of Wellness Travel

In the wake of the pandemic, the trend of wellness travel has gained immense popularity among luxury travelers who learned the value of prioritizing their physical, mental, and emotional well-being during a period of extreme isolation. One&Only Mandarina is one of the latest resorts to wholeheartedly embrace this trend, making it the center of its design in the middle of the jungle and through its long list of exclusive wellness-focused experiences offered to its guests. One&Only is part of an impressively expansive compound with the world-class Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club and soon-to-be Rosewood Mandarina, opening in 2024.

Found in the world’s most inspiring destinations, One&Only is part of an exceptional collection of one-of-a-kind resorts and private homes. Woven seamlessly into Mexico’s most awe-inspiring coastal rainforest, One&Only Mandarina balances unparalleled seclusion with its signature One&Only atmosphere. Experience a unifying environment amidst the palm-fringed sands and emerald cliffside, punctuated with lagoons and estuaries encouraging you to reconnect with yourself, those you love, and the natural world— a sanctuary of unspoiled nature, open space, and cultural heritage in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

Angela from Team O recently visited and has her top recommendations for the best rooms to select based on your travel goals, her favorite activities, and an overall recap of her stay at One&Only Mandarina.

Luxury Services the Moment You Arrive in Mexico

Travel time to One&Only Mandarina has recently been reduced to under one hour. Guests arriving at Puerto Vallarta International Airport and traveling to One&Only Mandarina will now experience a reduced journey time to the resort with the opening of a new highway that connects Bucerias to El Monteon – the town closest to the resort, making the journey shorter and safer. The travel time from the airport has been reduced from approximately 1.5 hours to 45 minutes. Clients of Ourisman Travel will be escorted from the airport to the resort in one of the hotel’s luxury Mercedes-Benz V-Class vehicles.

Upon arrival, guests are immediately greeted by friendly staff. During check-in, guests are also assigned their dedicated butler and an assistant butler who will cater to them for the duration of their stay.

One of the first things you may notice is just how widespread this resort is. Depending on where your villa is located, it could take around 10 minutes to get somewhere by escorted buggy, but the roads are well-paved through the jungle and wind up the hillside. Every turn of every trail reveals another Insta-worthy vista deserving of framing. Another part of what makes the resort so exceptional is that all 105 villas are secluded, stand-alone, and built into the stunning rock face of the coastal rainforest. Therefore, you can experience unparalleled privacy with epic views without worrying about treading on other guests.

World-Class Views from Your Private Treehouse

Angela had the privilege to tour and stay in multiple room types, and notes her top three choices:

Ocean Treehouse

Perched within the trees, this adults-only villa starts at 854 square feet, accommodates 3 people, and includes one King bed and one day bed with floor-to-ceiling windows. Grab a coffee and enjoy the view in your private plunge pool on your spacious 301-square-foot patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Cliff Villa

This luxury villa accommodates 2 Adults + 2 Children under 11 years old. It includes one King bed and one Queen sofa bed. The villa is between 893-926 square feet, while the outdoor patio alone is 258 – 409 square feet, allowing you plenty of room to co-exist with your family without feeling overcrowded.

Pro Tip: The Cliff Villa is our top recommendation for families traveling with younger children!

Villa Tortuga

This sustainably designed two-bedroom villa sleeps 8 people and starts at 2,842 square feet. It has everything you need for a group getaway, including a living area, dining room, and kitchenette with a pantry. The bedding options include 1 King bed, 1 Queen sofa bed, and 2 Queen beds. Spend the day by your private pool and then rinse off in your spacious outdoor rain shower before a night filled with creating memories with friends or family that will last long beyond your stay.

Accommodations for Every Traveler Type

We believe One&Only Mandarina is the perfect destination for a wide array of travelers.

For families traveling with younger kids, the resort features a 42,000 square-foot dedicated Kids Only club, where children are immersed in unspoiled nature and adventure, complete with an outdoor amphitheater, live butterfly sanctuary, cinema, game room, jungle tree houses with hanging bridges, and nature trails for exploration. Check out the guided 3-day itinerary crafted specifically for families.

For couples celebrating a relationship milestone or simply celebrating their love by treating themselves to an epic getaway, the resort offers a mirage of romantic activities, including a natural wine tasting, horseback rides on the beach, a plethora of spa services, and many more. You can also choose to follow their curated romantic 3-day itinerary if you just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy uninterrupted quality time with your partner.

For those using their stay at One&Only to reset, renew, and rejuvenate, Mandarina also created a custom, curated 4-day itinerary full of their top choices of wellness activities to fully prepare you to return to your busy lives.

As you can see, above and beyond service begins way before arrival.

Enriching Adventures by Nature or by Sea

If the custom itineraries aren’t enough, the resort also conveniently provides a brochure detailing every activity offered, however, here are some of our favorites:

Adventures by Sea

One of the perks of staying in a retreat nestled in nature is the abundance of activities our beautiful world provides. Whether you lean toward more adventurous water activities, such as surfing, deep sea excursions, private scuba diving expeditions, and whale watching or maybe you prefer more relaxing activities, such as kayaking, fishing, or boating. Whatever you desire, One&Only Mandarina provides expert tour guides or rentals for every activity.

Adventures by Nature

The resort has curated a number of ways to observe the incredible surroundings, offering guided biking adventures, nature trails, horseback riding, and an exhilarating jungle course, which includes zip lining through the rainforest if you prefer a birds-eye-view. You can also choose from an array of sports at one of the world-class sports courts on the resort’s property.

Spiritual Wellness

The One&Only spa captivatingly reflects its natural surroundings, and every treatment is inspired by indigenous and pre-Hispanic culture as well as the expansive natural wonders of Mandarina. When you visit the One&Only spa, you are getting treatments that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. To up-level your wellness journey during your stay, take advantage of one of the 9 yoga classes led by professional yogis, be present for a breath-work class, or indulge in a Temazcal, an ancient ritual that has been part of Mexican culture for around 1,000 years and translates to “house of heat”.

Pro Tip: Because of the abundance of experiences, it would basically take a fortnight to experience everything One&Only offers. Therefore, we’d recommend booking no less than 5 nights.

When you book your stay with us, you will be a VIP guest and receive exclusive amenities:

  • Upgrade on arrival (STA)
  • Daily full breakfast for two guests per bedroom, served in the hotel’s own Alma Restaurant
  • 100 USD resort credit
  • Early Check-In / Late Check-Out (STA)

Plus, you don’t want to miss these promotions:

  • Night On Us:
    • Book a four-night stay, and receive the 4th night complimentary
    • Book a seven-night stay and receive the 6th and 7th night complimentary

Valid for stays in Treehouse, Ocean Treehouse, Panoramic Ocean Treehouse, Cliff Villa, Ocean Cliff Villa, Panoramic Ocean Cliff Villa, and Villa Banderas Jungle View.

Offers based on availability and blackout dates apply. Offers cannot be combined with other promotions or packages. Valid for Travel Now Through 17 Dec 2023.

Pack Your Bags!

Nestled amidst the awe-inspiring beauty of Riviera Nayarit, this exclusive resort is a sanctuary that transcends mere luxury, providing a transformative experience for those fortunate enough to visit. Whether you’re in search of a romantic getaway, want to take your kids to a destination they’ll never forget, or escape a busy life for a moment of relaxation and rejuvenation, One&Only Mandarina remains one of our top recommendations for an extraordinary retreat in the Mexican jungle. Prepare to be captivated by the allure of this idyllic paradise where luxury knows no bounds.

Another nearby 5-star compound located in Punta Mita is Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort. During the same trip, Angela was able to visit this tented adults-only sanctuary resort which is conveniently connected to Four Seasons Punta Mita. Just 15 luxury tents spread across the 48-acre property ensure exclusivity in a calm, meditative hideaway in the Mexican jungle. If you’d like to compare One&Only Mandarina with Naviva, you can read our blog post or reach out to us for our expert recommendation based on your travel goals.

Email us at [email protected] to learn more about current rates for your desired travel dates, or fill out a Travel Request Form to get started.

Or, if you want to take a peek at our reviews of other luxury resorts in secluded locations, read here.

We can’t wait to help you curate your journey to One&Only Mandarina today!

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