Mexico · Riviera Nayarit
One&Only Mandarina: How to Choose a Treehouse in the Mexican Jungle
I spent a few days in a treehouse in the rainforest of Riviera Nayarit, and I am still jet-lagged — the emotional kind. One&Only Mandarina may be the most unusual hotel I have stayed in: the whole jungle is its garden, and every room sits up among the treetops.
Choosing the room is the decision that matters
Mandarina has several tiers. I stayed in a Casa Atura, which was running above $2,500 a night; the next tier up, Casa Caracol, above $3,000. The room decides the whole experience, so weigh three things: how high the room sits in the canopy, how big the pool is, and the angle of the ocean view. If the budget stretches, the Casa Caracol’s terrace view and privacy justify the premium.
The arrival
You are met by an enormous gong and a reflecting pool. The room is a glass treehouse: at dusk you lie in bed and watch the sun drop into the sea while the pool fills with the reflection of the sky. The bathroom — black marble twin sinks on an industrial iron frame — was so good-looking I washed my hands twice more than I needed to.
The food is the hidden bonus
The main restaurant is on top of the cliff, tables set between two great trees, an infinity pool facing the ocean. The evening margarita, Tajín-rimmed and made with Volcán Blanco, taken with the sunset, will make every margarita after it feel a little short. Once the woven lanterns come on after dark, the whole scene stops feeling real.
The private cove
A quiet beach — wine-red loungers under white umbrellas, a gentle surf — made for switching off completely.
A few things most people do not know
- Booked through the preferred-partner channel, the stay includes breakfast, an upgrade and a spa credit; the difference from booking on the website is large
- In high season (December to April), book at least two months out — the popular rooms go in moments
- The drive from Puerto Vallarta airport (PVR) is about an hour; arrange the hotel transfer
- The rainy season (May to November) is cheaper, but it rains every day, and I would not recommend it
I book hotels like this through the preferred-partner channel every time. A treehouse, a beach villa, a cliff hotel — which would you try first?
The benefits list for this hotel is here. If you want a specific room category, write to me with your dates.
Photographs are my own. Rates quoted are what I saw for a March 2026 stay; check live rates for your dates.
Jay Yan · FlyBest
