3 Best Hotels in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

This oasis of greenery offers charming suites arranged around a free-form swimming pool and lush gardens inside a gated complex near La Punta. The well-maintained, low-rise buildings are decorated in Mexican style with a profusion of locally crafted artwork and hand-painted Talavera tiles. Suites range in size from studios to two bedrooms (maximum occupancy five), all with terraces and fully equipped kitchens. There's a TV lounge, a communal palapa with massage room, and a weekly meet-and-greet. Cribs are available upon request. Smoking is not allowed. Daily yoga and weekly zumba classes are complimentary for guests.

An impressive archway leads you to the Hotel Santa Fe, a gracious grande dame consisting of clusters of colonial-style buildings in pastel shades surrounded by well-tended gardens, quiet courtyard patios, and gurgling stone fountains. A face-lift in 2014 added flat-screen TVs and a/c to all rooms. The restaurant ($$–$$$), well-known for its vegetarian food and award-winning Finca las Nieves organic coffee, is a top spot to sip a margarita, close a business deal, or watch the sun set. The location is prime: you're steps from Zicatela and Marinero beaches and a short stroll to the heart of the dining, surfing, and club scenes.

This sparkling, French country–meets–Spanish colonial hotel, owned by a Parisian interior designer, is pristine and comfortable. Each one- or two-story apartment feels like a private home, with fresh flowers, a sprinkling of carefully chosen antiques, and blue-and-white Mexican tiles. The kitchenettes are sizable, and the shared pool area is a nice place to escape the heat. Wi-Fi is free. The hotel is a five-minute walk from Playa Carrizalillo, a good beach for swimming. Tax is already included in room rates, so they may seem higher than they actually are.