Our Top 5 Hotels for Nature-lovers

One&Only Mandarina

Nestled at the heart of the Riviera Nayarit, surrounded by the lush rainforest on one side and the cliffs on the other, the One&Only Mandarina invites guests to explore an oft-unexplored side of Mexico.

Spread across a 30-hectare estate, the hotel’s 105 rooms and suites were designed by Studio Rick Joy and inspired by Mexico’s landscape and natural materials. The treehouses and villas all feature dark wood or volcanic stone interiors with beautiful contrasting textures and materials, and minimalist decor. The floor-to-ceiling windows and openings offer a breathtaking view of the rainforest and river, while the green wall provides perfect privacy.

With 4 distinct restaurants and bars, One&Only Mandarina invites guests to discover Mexico’s rich culinary heritage. Carao is the headliner of the hotel’s F&B offering. Thanks to the talent and vision of celebrity chef Enrique Olvera, this restaurant perched on a hillside overlooking the sea offers a menu that reinterprets classic Mexican dishes. L’Alma, meanwhile, offers a Pan American and Mediterranean menu, cooked with fruits and vegetables from the garden. The Jetty Beach Club, located on the beach, features the catch of the day, while the Treetop, on the heights, offers a breathtaking view of the ocean, ideal for sunsets.

Located in the volcanic garden, sheltered by higuera trees, the One&Only Spa offers treatments and massages inspired by Mayan healing practices, exclusive Tata Harper products and meditative journeys alongside spiritual guides. One experience not to be missed is the Temazcal. From the Nahuatl language, the Temazcal means the “house of heat.” In this small hut, the Maya practiced purification ceremonies by heating stones on the fire and regularly sprinkling water on them. The steam and heat made the people around them sweat and purified them.

In addition, the hotel offers a wide range of activities: diving, kayaking, fishing sessions, hiking or zip-lining at high altitude in the heart of the lush Mayan jungle.

Chablé Yucatán

The Chablé Yucatán is located a few kilometres from one of the most important sites in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the Chicxulub crater, where a large asteroid hit the Earth some 66 million years ago.

The hotel was created on the site of a former sisal factory, abandoned 80 years ago and left completely to nature. And it took more than 10 years of work to restore this 19th century hacienda to its former glory and transform it into a hotel.

Now spread over a 300-hectare estate, the 40 cabanas and villas were designed by architect Jorge Borja and designer Pauline Moran, who were inspired by the property’s natural landscape, which includes a cenote (natural chasms partially or completely filled with water) and an underground freshwater lake. With their walls and large stone slabs on the floor, the rooms seem to be nestled in the rock and the lush vegetation offers the utmost privacy to its residents. Inside, the décor blends rustic charm with contemporary furnishings. With their white, cream and taupe tones enhanced by hints of blue, the rooms have the feel of a seaside holiday home. All are decorated with wooden carvings, sometimes even a dead tree as a headboard, but also with local abstract artworks. Even the entry-level accommodation is spacious and has a large terrace and hammocks.

Chablé Yucatán’s impressive culinary offerings are led by Mexican chef Jorge Vallejo and executive chef Luiz Ronzon, who prepare dishes using ingredients found in the resort’s Mayan gardens, Ka’anches. With no less than 6 restaurants and bars, the Chablé Yucatán’s F&B offerings range from traditional Mayan cuisine at the rustic Casita Maya to modern Mexican reinterpretations at Ixi’im’s, the poolside Ki’ol and the Casita Club, the golf clubhouse. Meanwhile, Casita Principal and Sikar invite guests into two very different settings – the former rustic and vintage, the latter elegant and intimate – to enjoy a wide selection of spirits and handmade cigars.

Finally, the spa, celebrates the rich healing traditions and philosophies of the Mayan culture. Surrounded by lush vegetation and open to the elements, the spa offers complimentary fitness classes, access to the ancient cenote, and visits from shamans who practice ancient Mayan healing traditions. The hotel has 12 treatment rooms and a wide range of massages and treatments, ceremonies and journeys, while enjoying the surrounding nature.

One&Only Nyungwe House

Nestled in the heart of Nyungwe National Park, in the middle of a tea plantation, One&Only Nyungwe House invites guests into the lush nature of Rwanda, just a stone’s throw from the home of the mountain gorillas.

This 22-room hotel is set on the edge of a forest. The interior of the common areas resembles that of a large wooden villa, open to nature with its large windows. The black wood of the columns and ceiling beams, the dark grey slate of the floor tiles, the ebony of the large African masks are enhanced by the whiteness of the ceiling, and the wall decorations with Imigongo tribal motifs and touches of terracotta colour.
The brighter rooms have walls covered with African Indego wall decorations, natural wood or taupe furniture, thick carpets and light parquet flooring. Four-poster beds open onto private furnished terraces with stunning views of the surrounding forest.

One&Only Nyungwe House invites guests to explore the richness of Rwandan cuisine in its 3 restaurants. The dining room offers a view of the tea plantation and guests can enjoy cuisine created by local chefs Djafari and Jonas, under the direction of Chef Treasure Makwanise. In the tea room, guests can indulge in cakes and hot drinks, while in the Tea Lounge Bar, they can enjoy a wide range of cocktails and spirits.

Designed by Africology, Nyungwe House’s spa wellness programme focuses on eco-sustainability and offers an extensive menu of massages and bespoke beauty treatments.

Relais Borgo Santo Pietro

The Borgo Santo Pietro Relais is located in the heart of the Tuscan countryside in an estate of 120 hectares. It was in this 800 year old villa that Danish couple Jeanette and Claus Thottrup decided to create a hotel that is deeply connected to nature and sustainable agriculture. The 13 hectares of landscaped gardens are home to over 300,000 plants.

Guests can meet the farmers and culinary gardeners who supply the hotel’s restaurant kitchens with fresh produce. The villa’s 20 rooms, suites and houses are a tribute to the opulence of 12th-century Tuscany with crystal chandeliers, carved wooden beds, taffeta curtains with tassels, and large wooden tables surrounded by Louis XIII chairs. The windows and large French windows look out onto the garden with its orchards, olive trees and arbours.

In keeping with the hotel’s philosophy, the culinary offer in the four restaurants and bars is of rustic excellence. Executive Chef Ariel Hagen and his team work with local produce, from meats and fish caught in the morning to herbs and vegetables sourced directly from local gardens and farms.
The Borgo Santo Pietro Saporium is the hotel’s flagship restaurant. It offers a gourmet Italian menu and an impressive wine list. With a giant oak tree in the middle of the room, Trattoria Sull’Albera offers artisanal products and a view of the Valle Serena forest.

Housed in a beautiful stone house, the Relais Borgo Santo Pietro spa offers treatments by expert therapists in the spa or in the gardens. Each session begins with a ritual with organic oils: lavender, neroli, rose, jasmine, essences that are inspired by the Borgo garden. The spa uses the Seed to skin line of products, derived from the flora of the Tuscan countryside.

The estate’s extensive gardens are made up of both manicured gardens and wilderness plots that offer beautiful walks. Couples and families can participate in a wide range of activities such as nature craft classes, flower picking and bouquet making, visits to farm animals, archery, falconry classes and river swimming, among others.

Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley

Surrounded by 2,800 hectares of unspoilt wilderness, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is an invitation to immerse yourself in Australian nature and wildlife.

Designed by architects Turner and Associates, the resort is a blend of mountain chalet and Australian aesthetic. From the central building to the 40 villas, the interiors are comfortable and warm, with turn-of-the-century decor. Stone and wood are prevalent throughout the resort. All villas have a fireplace and an indoor pool. Committed to sustainability, the hotel is CarboNZero certified with water recycling practices, solar panels and more.

With this in mind, the Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley prepares cuisine using seasonal produce harvested from the resort’s gardens. The glass-walled Wolgan Dining Room, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, offers breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains. It offers a menu of Australian classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cosy atmosphere of the Valley Bar & Terrace, combined with the crackling fire in the fireplace, ensures a warm and friendly atmosphere.

At the spa, with its breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, guests enjoy personalised, organic and nature-inspired treatments in the Wolgan Valley. The spa also uses the Sodashi brand of chemical-free facials.

The hotel organises a range of adventures and activities to experience the Australian wilderness, including horse riding, wilderness camping, stargazing and bushwalking.

Hotel Collection for Nature Lovers

Looking for your next luxury stay where you want to feel immersed and connected to nature? Take a look at our recommended hotels or more in our hand-picked hotel collection. We partner with the best hotels across the globe to give you the ultimate experience. Contact us for more details and information.