T+L's Review of Hotel Humano in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
"This 39-room design-forward property in La Punta Zicatela, which opened in December 2024 and was named to Travel + Leisure’s 2025 It List, sits about a 20-minute drive from Puerto Escondido airport and less than five minutes on foot from the beach. Guest rooms emphasize indoor-outdoor living with tropical wood sliding doors overlooking a lush courtyard and a 46-foot pool; the nearly 600-square-foot ocean-view suite features a sun-drenched patio, a built-in banquette for work or stretching, and a king-sized tiled plunge pool. Madrid-based Plantea Estudio drew on Le Corbusier’s Cabanon for the clean, wood-and-metal interiors, which include custom Mexican artisan furnishings from Dushill, ink drawings by Lucio Muniain, and stainless-steel basin sinks. Dining centers on a striking poolside palapa bistro led by chef Marion Chateau, known for fresh seafood such as a grilled local white fish with pico and lemon beurre blanc, while the all-day program offers Mexican-style eggs at breakfast, guacamole, ceviche and hefty fish tacos for lunch, plus a lobby cafe with tropical smoothies and an açai bowl. The rooftop—with tiered ocean-facing benches, a small pool, firepits and resident DJs from Thursday to Sunday—is the go-to sunset spot, and the concierge arranges surf lessons with local providers (including Art of Surfing) for beginners on La Punta’s gentler breaks. Wellness facilities now include a small spa with treatment rooms, a sauna and two cold plunges (and staff can arrange in-suite massages), while sustainability features such as cross-ventilation, concrete thermal mass and solar-powered AC in public spaces reduce energy use; rooms are not ADA-certified. The property participates in Design Hotels under the Marriott umbrella and Marriott Bonvoy, with nightly rates starting around $191 for garden rooms and $300 for an ocean-view suite." - David Shortell
