The Most Private Beach in Mexico: Rosewood Included

Vogue already covered it. I'm here to tell you what it actually feels like.

If I were sitting across from you at dinner, this is the place I’d tell you about after the second glass of wine.

No one is wondering where you're from, what you do, or why you chose that particular style of Corazón hat. All anyone is there to do is be with their loved ones, watch the sunset, and rest very well.

That’s Mandarina.

This is not the place where you’ll make vacation friends. I would liken it to the equivalent of Forte dei Marmi rather than Tuscany, or Puglia rather than the Amalfi Coast. When you're at Mandarina, you feel like you're in Mexico, not a version of it built for Americans. The sense of place isn't just there; it's in every encounter.

There’s something that rewires your brain when you don’t see people in front of you for a significant period of time. Just the ocean, the crashing waves, the grounding sand beneath your feet. While all beaches in Mexico are public, Mandarina’s is within the gates, so there’s no public on the beach. Vogue noticed. I think that’s what I find so mesmerizing: the privacy.

I first came here in March of 2021. It was my first flight after the pandemic. A window seat on Southwest, arriving in Puerto Vallarta less than two hours after takeoff, sailing through security, hopping into the branded Mandarina car. Back then, it was just a few residences and the One&Only. I was mesmerized by the jungle, the ocean, the sandy beaches, and the general climate of the Riviera Nayarit. I wasn’t sure if it was truly magic or if I was just that excited to be on a plane and in Mexico again.

I had the opportunity to go back earlier this month, and it coincided beautifully with Lolo’s birthday. We stayed at the newly opened Rosewood Mandarina, and I was reminded that I was not in awe just because I had been grounded for a year and a half.

It is truly magical.

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta, sailed through customs, and were in our beachfront suite by 1 p.m. And that suite — truly one of the most special rooms I’ve ever been in. Ample space for a living room, dining room, bar, a powder baths, a full-size closet, a beautiful primary suite overlooking the Pacific, with a plunge pool and patio. Every room at Rosewood Mandarina has the same size pool (larger than most plunge pools), and they offer four different types of views. We were oceanfront — we could walk off our patio and be on the beach. Every morning, breakfast with our toes in the sand, delivered to our suite.

I don’t know anywhere else in Mexico where you’ll find what Rosewood Mandarina offers, thanks in part to their GM from Spain and their chef. There’s a beautiful Spanish influence — Buena Onda serves perfectly cooked paella, Toppu sits up on the hill with some of the most delicious sashimi and rolls we’ve ever had (and gorgeous views), and La Cocina Mandarina, their traditional Mexican restaurant, leaves nothing to be desired.

And when the sun starts to drop, you go up. Barra Peñasco sits at the top of the resort with completely unobstructed views — the kind of sunset that makes the table go quiet for a second. The drinks are excellent, the staff even better.

If Mandarina is calling, you know where to find me. I can walk you through suites, views, and the details that don’t make it into the magazines libby.taft@smartflyer.com.

A few things worth knowing right now: Rosewood is offering a third night free with daily breakfast, and complimentary airport transfers on stays of four nights or more through September. I can layer my own Rosewood perks on top — upgrades, credits, the works. Summer is the move.