I stayed in one of the world’s biggest Four Seasons resorts — it was the ultimate reset

‘Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu’ – may all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Listening to the lilting mantras of yoga instructor George, I looked out over the pristine ocean from the Tamarindo shoreline. Breathing deeply, I felt zen – something I thought wasn’t possible.

For the past six months I’d been bombarded with stress. My family had fallen apart, I was operating with high functioning burnout, moving house – and that wasn’t even the half of it.

So, when I made the 24-hour trip to the Four Seasons Tamarindo in Costalegre, Mexico, for just three nights, I feared it would leave me more burnt out than before.

Instead, it was the ultimate reset. The hotel, nestled deep in 3,000 acres of private nature reserve, is often named the best beach resort in the country.

And, until the start of December, every fourth night is free. If that hasn’t convinced you, here’s what’s on offer…

First impressions

While Mexico was the eighth most Googled destination of 2024, Costalegre is usually overlooked in favour of Cancun, Tulum and Mexico City. It’s hard to reach, but that makes it feel like another world.

That’s the sense you get as you pull into the entrance of the hotel and make the 15-minute drive through the nature reserve to the open air lobby.

If you look hard enough, you’ll see iguanas, maybe a boa constrictor and five of the six native big cats. There’s no need to worry though, as nothing ventures near the hotel (apart from the occasional racoon if you leave your door open).

To beat the jetlag, book yourself in for a tailor-made spa experience – a full body massage including a facial and lymphatic drainage. My masseuse Jasmine worked knots out of my shoulders that I thought would be there for life, and I left feeling wide awake.

The room…

I stayed in the ocean-view cliffside panoramic suite (£1,161 per night), which was the same size as my flat back home.

Complete with a living room, private pool, indoor and outdoor showers, a sunken bathtub and a dressing room, you’ll want for nothing.

The lighting in the suite is dimmer than usual, so as not to disturb the abundant wildlife.

Blissful evenings can be spent on the terrace, reading in a hammock, or sunbathing on a lounger before soaking into a bubble bath as the sun sets.

If that’s not enough, there’s also a secluded £11,000 per night six bedroom villa, which comes with its own private chef and butler. I was lucky enough to tour it and between the 30 second walk to the beach and immaculate views – if I had the money, it would be worth it.

Experiences at the Four Seasons Tamarindo

The Tamarindo is one of the world’s biggest Four Seasons resorts, and this is reflected in the experiences.

My personal favourite was Rancho Lola. Wake up early for a private traditional Mexican breakfast in the forest, on the site of a small farm. You can expect fresh corn tortillas, paneer, fruit and freshly made guac.

A highlight is the heavenly café de olla, coffee brewed with orange and cinnamon.

You’ll get to meet the animals including chickens, goats, pigs, donkeys, and gorgeous Great Pyrnees puppies that guard the livestock.

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You’ll also be treated to fresh honey from the melipona bees. If you visit the hives you’ll discover they don’t buzz, they hover silently and don’t have stings.

If that’s not your thing, book into a therapeutic floral arrangement class (£46pp) and try your hand at making a cacti display in the lovingly cultivated greenhouse.

Elsewhere in the resort, you can unwind with oceanside yoga (£91pp) and sound baths, or hike some 26 miles of track, encountering wildlife and learning about flora and fauna along the way (£46pp with guide).

You’ll spot 200-year-old cacti and learn love lessons from the parrots who always fly in couples and are monogamous for life.

Other culinary offerings…

The restaurant worth shouting about here is Nacho, and yes, it does sell them. Think authentic Mexican, with a vast array of tacos including steak, pork, goat and octopus.

The guac is divine, though I can’t say the same for the grasshoppers on offer. It may be a delicacy, but it’s not something I’ll be rushing to eat again.

If you’re after something fancier, head to Coyul. It’s Mexican with Italian influences and does a stunning Lobster pasta and burrata.

Another option is Sal, which serves steak, plenty of ceviche and raw fish, and rum-based cocktails.

Every restaurant has an ocean view. What’s not to love?

Immerse yourself in Mexican culture with a Temazcal ceremony

While staying at the Four Seasons I embarked on a cultural experience called a Temazcal (£174pp), and while I must stress that it’s not for the faint of heart, it was incredibly eye opening.

It’s all about putting yourself through pain to experience rebirth. After kissing the floor, you file clockwise into a narrow blacked out igloo, which is then filled with white hot boulders.

With the boulders at the centre, ceremonial masters splash holy water and sing cultural songs, to the beat of bones on a drum. Throughout the two hours you’re in there, it gets hotter and hotter, like a steam room on steroids.

There are no breaks, no fresh air, and you can feel yourself sweat from pores you didn’t know you had. It’s hard to breathe, so this is definitely not for anyone with claustrophobia.

If you can handle it, though, it is truly liberating.

Alice Giddings was a guest of Four Seasons.

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