Fall Travel Getaways in Hawaii and Mexico

Soak up the off season at these hotels with a generous side of chic

Words by KERSTIN CZARRA

OAXACA
Casa Yuma

If a naturalist, an artist, and a surfer collaborated on a hotel, CASA YUMA might be the result. Located on the shores of Puerto Escondido, close to breaks of Carrizalillo Bay and Playa Zicatela, the minimalist hotel, constructed from a vegetable resin and limestone concrete with accents of worn wood and Oaxacan brick, is the brainchild of architect Ricardo de la Concha.

Glide from the beach’s full-service cabanas to yoga

The 25 guest rooms, dreamed up by co-owner and interior designer Sara Skalli, make up an adults-only destination that lets guests glide from the beach’s full-service cabanas to yoga, meditation, and massage sessions before gazing over the Pacific from the pool. Afterward, the open-air restaurant, serving elevated traditional Oaxacan food like grilled octopus with red sauce and tamales cooked in the kitchen’s tortilla oven, awaits. Skalli says, “Casa Yuma is a place for those seeking tranquility at the end of the world while wanting to feel at home.” casayuma.com.

HAWAII
Kona Village

One of the most storied properties in Hawaii, beloved by Jim Morrison and Steve Jobs, KONA VILLAGE, A ROSEWOOD RESORT reopened in 2023 after a devastating tsunami seven years earlier. Now the 81-acre property is enjoying a renaissance. With oversized lanais and outdoor showers, the hales (“house” in Hawaiian), designed by California’s Nicole Hollis, are modeled after traditional structures with thatched roofs that look out on gardens, a lagoon, mountains, or the ocean. Douglas fir shiplap lines the walls, and much of the decor, like the kapa-printed pillows, are made by local artists.

Look out on gardens, a lagoon, mountains, or the ocean

Work up a sweat in one of the sailing canoes launched off Kahuwai Bay beach before indulging in a mai tai and sashimi from the original Shipwreck Bar (made from a salvaged sailboat). The bar joins two restaurants that cater to guests’ every craving: Moana serves heavenly Hawaiian malasada doughnuts at breakfast, and Kahuwai Cookhouse uses wood fire to prepare barbecued Kumamoto oysters and crispy pork fritters. Preservation is another priority at Kona, which uses only solar power and sources art solely from native Hawaiians. Guests wishing to connect more deeply with the island’s heritage can take hula, lei-making, and fishing lessons. rosewoodhotels.com/en/kona-village.

TODOS SANTOS
Paradero Todos Santos

Framed by the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and the Pacific, PARADERO TODOS SANTOS has long been a popular spot for Californians keen on luxurious adventure. The property’s five acres — including centuries-old Cardon Cacti, virgin beaches, an oasis with 5,000 palm trees, and far-reaching farmland — allows for hiking, surfing, gardening, and sailing aboard a catamaran. Now there’s another reason to visit: its new restaurant, TENOCH, has chefs pairing heirloom corn tortillas with marinated beef and soft-shell crab, pulling from a garden on-site to plate up zarandeado shrimp topped with blistered pepper mayo and togarashi. The all-suite hotel bathes guests in nature with minimalist, muted interiors that echo the surrounding landscape. Book a rooftop suite to enjoy a “star net,” a flat hammock with a front-row seat to the starry sky above. But pack light and pick up a Chihuahua sculpture or gold statement bangle at the new boutique that champions local artisans. paraderohotels.com.

Ideal for those who want a bit of scene with their scenery

RIVIERA MAYA
The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai

THE RIVIERA MAYA EDITION AT KANAI is the first Edition property in Mexico from hotel visionary and Studio 54 founder Ian Schrager. This 620-acre nature reserve on the Yucatán Peninsula is ideal for those who prefer a scene with their scenery. Breeze past the lobby bar with a floor-to-ceiling installation of Mexican sculptures, and you’ll arrive at the large, lagoon-like swimming pool. From here, continue down toward another pool, a beach club, and a floating cabana deck above the turquoise sea. The lush grounds, set within a 400-year-old mangrove forest, boast rainforest plants, tropical fruit trees, and flowers, and are home to iguanas, raccoons, and hundreds of species of protected birds. Inside, the decor is classic Schrager, with the cleanest lines, blond wood furniture, and curved white sofas. At dinner at one of the four on-site restaurants, pair your martini with dishes like chile-spiced grilled lamb with guacamole and salsa verde. Or host your own party at the Sky Rooftop Villa, the largest hotel penthouse in North America at an astonishing 27,000 square feet, with five bedrooms, an infinity pool, and ocean views on three sides. editionhotels.com/riviera-maya.