Whitewashed walls provide backdrops for cacti and frame the ocean view at this boutique hotel in Mexico, designed by Austin architecture firm Lake Flato and designer Liz Lambert.
The San Cristóbal Baja hotel overlooks the white sand beach of the Todos Santos coast, in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.
Located five kilometers by bike from the town, close to a rocky headland of Punta Lobos, the hotel has access to good surfing, fishing and hiking, as well as restaurants and galleries. art.
It is the first property outside the United States of the hotel company Bunkhouse, in which the Standard International group recently acquired a majority stake.
Bunkhouse designer and founder Liz Lambert collaborated on the project with the San Antonio Lake Flato studio, which lists a spacious waterside retreat and wooden education center among her projects in Texas.
For Hotel San Christóbal, the team sought to use the natural environment to create a relaxed atmosphere.
“Inspired by the city’s historic designation as a ‘pueblo mágico’ village, a place considered to offer a magical experience, the hotel’s vibe is minimal and seaside, reminiscent of a laid-back Baja in the 1970s,” said they declared.
The two-story buildings are all pale in color, creating an austere backdrop for the cacti and other plant plants planted near the walls.
Wooden shutters and partitions let light and air into buildings, and wooden verandas provide shade.
The hotel has 32 rooms that vary in size, from kings by the pool to a suite with mountain views. They feature colorful textiles from Guatemala, furniture from Guadalajara, and lighting and accessories made by artisans from Mexico.
Most open out to their own outdoor spaces, with patterned tiled floors matching the bathroom surfaces.
The accommodation blocks are arranged around three sides of a central swimming pool, with one end open to the beach. Sun loungers and shaded tables surround the pool, while an indoor communal library provides respite from the sun and a bar serves drinks and casual dining.
For a more formal dinner, the Benno beachfront restaurant offers a mix of Mexican, Mediterranean and Asian dishes.
Other amenities include two hot tubs and a yoga terrace with views of the beach and mountains.
The hotel also has its own boutique, which sells local handicrafts like beach wear, clothing, and souvenirs. Rooms start at around $ 285 (£ 220) per night.
Boutique hotels are popping up all over Mexico as tourism continues to grow in the country. Just down the Baja Peninsula in Los Cabos, Drift San Jose offers guests a designer store, food carts, and a mezcal bar, while on the Caribbean coast, Casa Malca offers an option packed with art in the old manor house of Pablo Escobar.
Photograph is by Nick Simonite, unless otherwise noted.
