Xinalani, a secluded eco-resort located 12 miles south of Puerto Vallarta International Airport and accessible only by boat, is one of three Mexican hotels recently awarded Three Michelin Keys, the top category in the renowned travel guide’s new distinction for evaluating hotels worldwide.
Also achieving Three Keys status is the luxurious One&Only Mandarina resort, situated on the Riviera Nayarit coastline near Lo de Marcos, about 30 miles north of Puerto Vallarta.
Xinalani’s natural surroundings are its main attraction. The 33 guest rooms, housed within palm-thatched, open-air cabins, each feature only three walls and a curtain, offering breathtaking views of the jungle and the bay. Meanwhile, One&Only Mandarina is nestled between jungle-covered mountains and the Pacific Ocean, providing stunning vistas and a tranquil atmosphere.
Much like Michelin Stars for restaurants, the Key system has three levels: One Key indicates a “very special stay,” Two Keys denote “an exceptional stay,” and Three Keys signify “an extraordinary stay.” Michelin states that its inspection teams conduct anonymous visits, assessing hotels “independently from existing labels, tourism stars and pre-established quotas.”
Michelin introduced its new “Key” rating in April 2024, starting with 124 properties across seven U.S. destinations: Atlanta, California, Chicago, Colorado, Florida, New York City and Washington, D.C. This month, inspectors expanded their research to all of North America, awarding keys in the three categories to an additional 288 hotels, including 168 in the United States, 87 in Mexico and 33 in Canada.
The third Three Keys award winner in Mexico is the Hotel Esencia, a luxurious boutique hotel located on the pristine Xpu-Ha beach between Playa del Carmen and Tulum on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It was once reportedly the home of a European duchess.