Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo Redefines Eco-conscious Luxury

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Travel

Along Mexico’s Pacific coast – south of Puerto Vallarta and well beyond the country’s better-known resort corridors – lies Costalegre (which literally translates to “Happy Coast”). It is a landscape shaped by cliffs and jungle, long beaches broken only by coves and towns that have resisted the pull of large-scale development. Instead of mega-resorts and crowded shorelines, the region offers lush jungles, mangroves, hidden inlets and wide stretches of sand ideal for whale-watching, deep-sea fishing and world-class surfing.

For years, access has been both part of Costalegre’s appeal and its limitation. That is beginning to change with seasonal nonstop flights from DFW into Manzanillo-Costalegre International Airport on American (via Envoy), making the region far easier to reach for travelers.

Nestled in the midst of this lush landscape is Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, pure eco-conscious luxury property designed to feel like it’s a part of the land rather than imposed upon it. The resort occupies a 3,000-acre private nature reserve, with development limited to just two percent of the terrain. Buildings are tucked into the contours of the landscape and connected by paths that move through forest and open toward the Pacific. 

“Four Seasons Tamarindo is a place that invites stillness and discovery,” says general manager Felix Murillo. “Our intention has always been to respect the scale and heritage of this land, and to let the environment shape the guest experience.”

That philosophy is clearly expressed at Rancho Lola, the resort’s working farm and one of its central anchors. Recently reopened, the farm supplies ingredients for the resort’s kitchens while offering guests a closer connection to regional agriculture. Mornings begin with communal breakfasts prepared in an open-air kitchen using freshly harvested produce. Later, guests can take part in seasonal cooking classes, join guided tours through the ranch, assist with tree-planting efforts that support the local Tamarindo International School or learn about honey harvesting through the resort’s meliponary.

Dining across the resort reflects a similarly grounded approach. Among the three culinary concepts is Coyul, led by famed chef Elena Reygadas who was named The World’s Best Female Chef 2023. Focused on cooking rooted in indigenous ingredients and seasonal sourcing, the menu favors subtlety and quality ingredients, with dishes such as octopus carpaccio, softshell crab with mango and habanero, green mole with local vegetables and sea bass baked in a salt and dried chili crust stealing the show. Desserts follow the same philosophy, often letting the delicate simplicity of citrus, yogurt and nuts shine in expertly balanced combinations.

Wellness at Tamarindo is woven into the natural setting. The spa centers on ancient practices, including a temazcal (a traditional Mesoamerican sweat lodge) and treatments infused with copal resin. Guests are also encouraged to explore the reserve itself, whether through guided nighttime walks with resident biologists, meditation along forest paths or even through quiet afternoons spent overlooking the ocean from the resort’s cascading three-tier pool. An 18-hole championship golf course designed by David Fleming is similarly integrated into the landscape, shaped to follow the natural contours of the land and provide a world-class experience.

The property welcomes families as part of its natural rhythm. Children and teens have dedicated spaces focused on exploration and creativity, while certified babysitting services give parents the freedom to spend time at the spa or linger over an unhurried dinner. Family life is woven into the experience, with guests of all ages encouraged to engage with the surrounding landscape and discover the reserve together. 

“There is a wide range of experiences here, but they are all rooted in the same idea,” says Hervé Fucho, resort manager. “We want guests to feel a connection to the land and to leave with a sense of having discovered something meaningful.”