From Riviera Nayarit to San José del Cabo, a new breed of luxury resort is marrying artistic heritage with stunning natural beauty
 In partnership with One&Only

Meagan Drillinger 

A journey through Mexico’s coastal art enclaves 

Mexico has long been an epicenter of art and culture, fostering creativity since ancient times, well before the Spanish conquest. It is home to 68 Indigenous Peoples, each with its own unique language and culture, from the Aztecs and the Mayans to the Toltecs, Mixtecs, Zapotecs, and many more.

The Riviera Nayarit, a 192-mile stretch of the Pacific coastline north of Puerto Vallarta, has a rich historical and contemporary cultural heritage. The painter <a href="https://www.artbasel.com/catalog/artist/70303/Roberto-Gil-de-Montes">Roberto Gil de Montes</a>, who recently took center stage at <a href="https://www.artbasel.com/catalog/gallery/1182/kurimanzutto">Kurimanzutto</a>’s presentation at Paris+ par Art Basel, is from the region, and <a href="https://www.artbasel.com/catalog/artist/8343/Eduardo-Terrazas">Eduardo Terrazas</a>,a founding father of the Mexican contemporary art scene, hails from Jalisco, Mexico, just to the south. The renowned Mexican architect Diego Villaseñor has built sustainable and eco-friendly properties there, as has the Mexico City-based architecture practice Palma. Shielded by the Sierra Madre mountains, Riviera Nayarit is celebrated for its unparalleled natural beauty. It’s a multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multilingual region, home to four Indigenous tribes – the Huichol, Cora, Tepehuan, and Mexicanero.

Central to this landscape is the Huichol, or Wixáritari, community. Their artistry embodies a profound spiritual and cultural legacy. Their intricate beadwork often represents the balance of opposites, such as wet and dry seasons or darkness and light. The Huichol artworks, steeped in vibrant symbolism and ancient traditions, are a testament to a civilization deeply rooted in mystical connections to the natural world. Their work is showcased across Riviera Nayarit in towns like San Blas, San Pancho, Sayulita, Punta Mita, La Cruz, Bucerias, and Nuevo Vallarta.

‘The aesthetic of Riviera Nayarit is bohemian, shabby chic, barefoot luxury, Huichol,’ says Zachary Rabinor, a Mexico tourism expert and the founder and president of Journey Mexico. ‘The aesthetic draws from indigenous Huichol handmade wax and string art, sweeping land and seascapes, and bohemian, contemporary, creative class. There is also a tie to the Costa Careyes Mediterranean style and aesthetic.’ 
 Art, culture, and tourism converge not only through programming but also through the broad support and promotion of local artists by hotels and resorts. At the One&Only Mandarina, one of the most exclusive resorts to grace the Mexican Pacific coastline, sourcing local materials for design and decor is part of the brand’s ethos and helps to amplify the local artistic voices of Mexico. 
‘We wanted guests to experience not only the site but also the history of the native culture through some artifacts, which were developed by local artisans,’ says Marybel Rodriguez, Director of Interior Design for RLH Properties, the management company behind many luxury hotels and resorts in Mexico. ‘We encouraged local craftsmanship by having as many locally made items as possible.’

Upon arrival at the One&Only Mandarina, a custom-made cast iron gong sets the tone, sourced from the Grez family of artisans in the state of Hidalgo, in east-central Mexico. The family has been manufacturing bells and religious articles for cathedrals throughout Mexico for over 60 years. Noteworthy is the lobby’s three-piece gold leaf foil artwork by Fervor, a Mexico City-based design studio led by Euri Lorenzo and Arantxa Solis. 
 In the resort’s signature restaurant, Carao, helmed by the renowned Mexican chef Enrique Olvera, Mexican art takes center stage, such as the brilliant popotillo weave by the artist Antonio Cornelio Rendón, sourced from Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan. 
 
Integrally linked to the essence of One&Only Mandarina is a connection with the local community that extends beyond the curated artworks within the resort. The architectural and interior design, crafted by Studio Rick Joy, stands as a testament to this commitment. Guided by the site’s history, the interior and exterior spaces embrace an eco-conscious approach and serve as a canvas for the artisans. 
‘Tourism has absolutely been a major driver in the art scene [in Riviera Nayarit],’ Rabinor says. ‘Bringing local artisans and their work into the hands of the world’s most affluent and influential consumers reinforces its value and disseminates the work to the most important markets in the world.’

Northward and across the Gulf of California, Baja California Sur has emerged as a burgeoning hub for contemporary art and culture as well. A dynamic arts scene is taking root in the bustling Los Cabos coastal towns of La Paz, Todos Santos, and San José del Cabo. While in La Paz, on the Gulf of California, visitors can enjoy museums, more than 1,300 square meters of public murals, and sculpture-lined walks by the sea featuring works by the likes of Guillermo Gómez Macías, Manuel Salvador Rocha Higuera, and Juan Soriano. To the west, on the Pacific Ocean, Todos Santos reveals a trove of Spanish colonial-era structures dating back to the 1850s. Beneath the carefully restored facades lie foundations from the mid-1700s, offering a tangible connection to the town’s enduring history. There, the Professor Néstor Agúndez Cultural Center, formerly known as the House of Culture, has endured for almost a half-century as a creative hub for performances, exhibitions, and collections of regional works. Todos Santos is a Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town), a special government designation granted to towns that showcase a unique blend of cultural, historical, and artistic attributes. As such, it has become a haven for artists, who, like the Modernist painter Charles Stewart – one of its first international artists in residence – are drawn to its landscapes and community. 
 Yet it is San José del Cabo, to the south, that serves as the heart of the region’s cultural renaissance. Visitors, artists, and gallerists mingle, strolling the cobblestone streets behind Plaza Mijares, the main square. During the weekly Thursday-night Art Walks, spaces in the gallery district open their doors to showcase an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary work.

Steeped in this cultural atmosphere is the One&Only Palmilla in San José del Cabo. The resort, which first opened as a hotel in 1956, fuses old-world charm with hacienda-style buildings, Mexican craftsmanship, and local materials. In addition to Art Walk tours and activities for guests, art is also central at the resort. Most recently, during her 2023 residency at the One&Only Palmilla, the artist Elizabeth Sutton created a painting that reflects the history of the place. Commissioned by the resort, the work subtly embodies the property’s distinctive features – from its traditional Mexican architecture to the vibrant tiles and graceful arches. The details of the Talavera, a key element at One&Only Palmilla, are painted with a nuanced manipulation of depth and perspective. The earthenware tile was originally installed during the resort’s inception and is prevalent across the property, particularly in the historic Casa Tres Palmas guest room building from the 1950s. In these coastal enclaves, art and culture intertwine with the allure of Mexico’s diverse landscapes, creating immersive experiences for visitors while supporting local communities. The commitment to preserving and promoting the region’s artistic expressions is evident – not only through curated exhibits, artist settlements, and designations like Pueblo Mágico, but also in the very architecture and interiors of resorts like the One&Only Mandarina and One&Only Palmilla. 
<hr>
Meagan Drillinger has been writing about travel since 2009. Her journeys have taken her to more than 50 countries, but her favorite has always been Mexico for its rich cultural diversity, food, landscape, and people.
<a href="https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/">One&Only Resorts and Private Homes</a> are havens of outstanding style and service that place you in the heart of every fascinating environment. Located on the secluded shores of Los Cabos, <a href="https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla">One&Only Palmilla</a> is steeped in a world of glamour, combined with beautiful vibrant Mexican culture. Nestled between energetic tropical expanses and the lapping Pacific Ocean on the country’s western coast sits <a href="https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/mandarina">One&Only Mandarina</a>, where mountainous forests and a sparkling beachfront are yours to discover.
Published on November 22, 2023.
Caption for full-bleed image: View from Palmilla.

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