When the two of us entered The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo, past the backlit boutique items and local artisan-painted wood carvings, the place wrapped us in a feeling of tranquility. Its stone walls, earth tones, woven wall hangings and furniture made of natural materials reminded us we are part of nature’s spectrum, the abundant windows showing native plants and trees outside.

The design facets here are intended to be meaningful but subtle, an enhancement rather than elements screaming for attention. A giant boulder unearthed during construction marks the entrance, and a line of water runs directly from there to the back of the complex where the half-sphere sweat lodge sits. This journey is meant to symbolize the journey of birth and the cycle of life, with the mix of water and fire.

The spa occupies a separate building with few outside noises penetrating, so we found it easy to let go of outside distractions and loosen up both the mind and body in this calming getaway space. After we changed into bathrobes and slippers, our dual masseuses led us into a couple’s massage cabin, and we surrendered to their expert kneading for the next 50 minutes.

Some resorts lie just a quick hop from a big-city airport. With others, the point is to get far away from the urban bustle to truly relax in a location where you’re just a speck on nature’s landscape. That’s the case with Four Seasons Tamarindo. The resort of 157 rooms occupies just 2 percent of the 3,000 acres it inhabits on the wild Costalegre Pacific Ocean coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo in Mexico.

Here a golf course designed by David Fleming and carved out of the jungle runs along the coast, a legendary links course in place long before Four Seasons started building. Plus, the resort boasts two long private beaches that wouldn’t be crowded even if every guest headed to them at once. The jungle beyond those oceanfront stretches is so extensive, five of Mexico’s wild cats have been spotted on camera traps, including jaguars, and much of it remains in the same natural state it was in the 1400s, long before any Europeans set foot in the region.

© Four Seasons Tamarindo

The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo is extensive, featuring 32,000 square feet of space. Each of the eight treatment cabins offers an outdoor shower, and two massage rooms are designated for couples. The spa uses locally sourced ingredients for the massages, facials and body treatments … not a difficult task since the resort operates its own organic farm. It’s no mere garden patch with a few microgreens, either.

The 35-acre working farm grows herbs, vegetables, aloe and agave, plus extensive tropical fruits that thrive in this environment. From the surrounding jungle come copal and beeswax. That burning copal resin and other medicinal plants factor into the experience in the spa’s own temazcal, or sweat lodge, where the ceremony includes rituals meant to cleanse the mind and expunge all demons as well. Many guests book a complete package here to make a full morning or afternoon of it in the spa. An outdoor pool enclosed by walls made from locally quarried stone adjoins a minimalist terrace with comfortable pool lounge chairs to sink into while drinking tea or cucumber water.

Inside, guests enjoy saunas, steam rooms and a relaxation area, while the spa also offers manicures, pedicures, facials, hair styling and makeup for a photo shoot or wedding.

After all the pampering, guests can return to rooms to take in views of the Pacific Ocean from their balcony, many of which include their own private pool. If they have worked up an appetite, they can head to one of the two restaurants led by Executive Chef Elena Reygadas of Rosetta restaurant in Mexico City. She often appears on best restaurant lists as the top female chef in the world. Culinary director Nicolas Piatti hails from Argentina originally and also oversees the resort’s Rancho Ortega Farm.

This resort is emblematic of modern Mexico, with the architects and interior designers drawn from within the country. In 2023 it was one of 21 properties from around the world that received Architectural Digest’s Great Design Hotel Award. Guests can make an advance reservation at The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo any time after booking a stay. Alternatively, a concierge is assigned to each guest, reachable by phone or the Four Seasons app, available at any time to make spa reservations or discuss treatment options.