T+L’s Hotel Review of La Valise Mazunte in Oaxaca, Mexico

As a child, I’d fall sleep to the sound of waves—pre-recorded ocean tracks, that is. There was something deeply soothing about the rhythmic crashes, even if they were coming from a speaker. And when the sound alone wasn’t enough, I’d imagine where those waves might be landing: distant shores, quiet beaches, somewhere far from the noise of everyday life. That imaginary place, it turns out, exists—and I found it on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

Perched on a cliffside within the protected El Torón Reserve in Oaxaca, La Valise Mazunte feels like the destination my imagination once conjured. With just six suites and a pentagon-shaped villa, this boutique retreat is tucked into the jungle in the small beach town of Mazunte, famous for its untamed beauty and the endless soundtrack of waves echoing against its jagged shore.

“La Valise Mazunte is not only a place to stay. It is an invitation to become part of the landscape,” Yves Naman, the founder of Namron Hospitality, La Valise Hotels’ parent company, told Travel + Leisure. “Every detail reflects the beauty of this protected paradise. It is a complete immersion in the grandeur of Oaxaca’s coast.”

That immersion begins with the design. Conceived by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, the hotel exists seamlessly, as if it’s an extension of the land. Built directly into the cliffs, it feels more like a natural formation than a human-made retreat. “Kalach is a master of creating architecture that does not impose, but belongs. His works are celebrated across the world for their ability to merge with nature, to honor the land rather than conquer it,” Naman said. “Together with architect Ignacio Urquiza, they imagined a design that feels as though the cliffs and the ocean themselves had shaped it.”

The five-year process was as intentional as the design. “No machinery touched this place, only the hands of true craftsmen,” he added. “Every stone, every beam of wood, was placed with purpose and respect.”

La Valise Mazunte is the fourth addition to Namron Hospitality’s La Valise collection, joining properties in Tulum, Mexico City, and San Miguel de Allende. But for Naman, this project feels especially personal. “The first time I set foot in Mazunte, I felt an energy unlike anything I had known before,” he told T+L. “There was a magnetic pull that came not only from the vast Pacific stretching endlessly before me, but from the land itself, ancient and unspoiled. This was not a place to change or reinvent, but a place to honor.”

Mazunte is blissfully free of big-name resorts and commercial sprawl. Staying here feels like discovering an untouched paradise—one that forces you to slow down and listen. I was among the first to stay at this hidden gem. Here’s what it’s like to experience La Valise Mazunte for yourself.

The Rooms

The hotel has six suites and a villa. Nestled in the forest and just a short buggy ride from the main grounds, the one-bedroom Villa Pentágonos is the hotel’s crown jewel—a retreat where nature and creature comforts coexist.

I arrived at the lush, secluded entrance and followed discrete stone steps down to what would be my private oasis. A minimalist lounge area and an pentagon-shaped infinity pool that appeared to spill into the sea were the first things to greet me.

Sliding doors open to the villa’s namesake pentagon-shaped bedroom, outfitted with modern comforts: air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and integrated charging ports. The room has two additional sliding doors that open directly to ocean views. If you’re counting, the fourth side of the pentagon-shaped room is yet another sliding door that opens onto an outdoor terrace with even broader ocean views and access to the villa’s open-air bathroom. Just behind a sleek partition lies cleverly hidden storage for luggage, towels, robes, and a safe.

Villa Pentágonos is ideal for those seeking solitude, serenity, and a deep connection to nature. The immersion, of course, comes with the occasional visit from the local ecosystem (think bugs, birds, and critters)—but during my stay, it remained a peaceful, undisturbed retreat.

Food and Drink

With just one restaurant on-site, the hotel doesn’t overcomplicate its food and beverage offering. Serving breakfast, an all-day menu, and dinner, everything can also be ordered directly to your room or enjoyed in the communal terrace dining space. The menu strikes the perfect balance—not too extensive, not too sparse.

Breakfast brings a rich selection of local flavors, including memelas with eggs, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and chicken itacates. Fresh juices, smoothies, seasonal fruit, coffee, tea, and a daily pastry round out the morning spread.

The all-day menu is equally abundant, offering snacks like guacamole, beet hummus, fries, and baba ghanoush; salads including a house version with pineapple and cucumber, and a Thai quinoa salad; a raw bar featuring shrimp aguachile, fish ceviche in hibiscus marinade, and tuna tostadas; and tacos with octopus, shrimp, or chicken. Desserts range from chocolate tomal and cheesecake to buñuelos and creme brulée.

Dinner expands on the all-day offerings with entrées like the local catch of the day, pescado a la talla, shrimp-stuffed eggplant, and sweet potato enmoladas. As for beverages, it includes a curated selection of wines (with both white and red options from Mexico), beers, and a cocktail list that naturally highlights mezcal, a nod to Oaxaca.

Activities and Experiences

At La Valise Mazunte, the views alone feel like an experience—and worth taking time to absorb. But beyond the visuals, the hotel offers an array of activities designed to help you explore the land and sea. Guests can dabble in sunset yoga, book a mezcal tasting, witness sea turtles hatching, go to a temazcal ceremony, or even horseback ride along the shoreline. Depending on the tides, guest can also access a secluded beach with palapas. (During my stay, a strong flood current had pushed the ocean up toward the cliffs, temporarily reclaiming part of the beach.)

For those eager to explore beyond the property, Naman suggests heading over to Punta Cometa. “At sunset, it’s a wonder few discover,” he said. “The sky burns gold, the sea stretches forever, and time seems to stop.” He also recommends early morning hikes for the views and symphony of bird songs. “These are not attractions,” he added. “These are moments that touch the soul.”

I enjoyed a tasting from Ruu Piiil Mezcal that taught me the past and present of mezcal production in Oaxaca. I also took part in a calming sunset meditation session and witnessed the release of baby sea turtles—an unforgettable experience organized with local eco-tourism center La Ventanilla.

The Spa

The spa menu offers a curated selection of treatments from reflexology to stone massages, plus a facial option—all available en suite. With the natural rhythm of the ocean as your soundtrack, there’s no need for artificial ambiance. What sets this experience apart is its seamlessness: no changing rooms, no transitions—just roll off the massage table and straight into a blissful nap, if you wish. (Yes, I’m projecting and telling you exactly what I did.)

Family-friendly Offerings

The hotel welcomes guests aged 12 and older, which is a conscious decision, according to Naman, to “preserve the tranquility of this sanctuary.” While there are no amenities designed specifically for teens, all offerings are available to guests across the board, including those in the 12 to 18 age range.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of many operations elements of the hotel, from sourcing ingredients from local farms and fisherman to recycling waste and reducing environmental impact. “Our buildings were made with local stone and wood, using low impact methods that leave the land as undisturbed as possible,” Naman said. “Our low-impact construction methods ensure minimal environmental disruption.”

Located within El Torón, a 30-hectare nature reserve dedicated to wildlife protection and ecological restoration, the property was designed to blend in and leave only a small footprint. “We’re not just operating sustainably, we are actively contributing to the preservation of this extraordinary ecosystem,” Naman added.

In terms of accessibility, Naman said that guests with mobility issues should do a little extra outreach before their stay. “The cliffs that make this place so breathtaking also bring challenges,” he said. “We invite guests with mobility needs to contact our concierge so we can provide the best guidance and support for their stay.” (While a golf cart is available to assist guests with navigating the steep terrain, some areas may still be difficult to access for those with mobility concerns.)

Location

La Valise Mazunte sits quietly within the protected El Torón Reserve, a secluded pocket in Mazunte. The journey here is part of the escape: it’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car from Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) and just under four hours from Oaxaca de Juárez. The town of Mazunte itself is a short 15-min drive from the hotel and the nearby village of San Agustinillo is just under 20 minutes by car.

Book Now

La Valise Mazunte is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), a global collection of boutique stays. Guests who join SLH’s complimentary membership program can enjoy exclusive perks, including early check-in and late check-out, special discounted rates, and access to the members-only Club rate. Additional perks include complimentary WiFi, bottled water, and breakfast for two. Singing up is free at slh.com.

Nightly rates at La Valise Mazunte start from $400, and you can book your stay at lavalisemazunte.com.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.