One&Only Mandarina, a luxury resort stretching across 33 hectares of coastline along the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, has unveiled a series of new Signature Villas designed by Studio Rick Joy.
Sensitively built to integrate within nature and embrace the dramatic setting rather than reshape it with careful low-density planning, the villas harmonise eloquently with the surrounding environment, drawing the outdoors in with views of rolling green mountains fading into jungle canopies or vistas of the ocean meeting the horizon.
Open structures capture natural light, filtered through the towering trees, while traditional Mexican design elements are reimagined, including pitched roofs with large overhangs that nod to local palapas. Earth-hued walls emerge from the ground with low visual impact, inspired by the historic buildings once constructed on the site by the Cora – an indigenous settlement in the Western Central Mexico, who covered their buildings in earthen plaster. Terraces and courtyards are made from volcanic rocks directly sourced from the location, while the tropical rainforest provides woods including Cumaru, Rosa Morada, and Tornillo.
Locally crafted custom woodwork, stone accents and earthy tones add rich, textural warmth throughout the interiors, complemented by intricate artefacts curated specifically for the space by local artisans. Designed to enhance the interior space, the villas showcase Delos’ Home Wellness solutions with air and water purification, dehumidification and circadian lighting systems to ensure a harmonious inner sanctuary and a wellness-focused living experience that is in tune with its surroundings.
The Signature Villas introduce four- to eight-bedroom residences, with multiple interconnected buildings surrounding a central indoor/outdoor living area ranging from 758-1,725m2 that can accommodate from 12 up to 24 guests in different layouts. Each villa is distinct, offering bespoke amenities with a dedicated host service and preference planner who can arrange everything from pre-arrival shopping to booking private chefs, musical entertainment and more.
Wine studios can be outfitted with premium wines from the region and the world, while TV rooms, cinemas and casino rooms provide a range of entertainment options. Fully equipped gyms also allow guests to focus on wellness in the privacy of their villa, and offices enable them to work remotely too. Bedrooms with walk-in closets and ensuite bathrooms enhance the residential feel, while landscaping brings the rainforest into the outdoor living spaces that include spacious terraces, infinity-edged pools and Jacuzzis. All Signature Villas offer multi-car garages and laundry rooms.
This level of thoughtful design is matched with a personalised service. One&Only Mandarina’s 24-hour dedicated butler service and team of butlers, chefs, fitness instructors and spa therapists can create an experience tailored to each guest’s needs; think a candlelit dining for two, a family dinner under the stars, or an intimate barbeque with friends. Guests of the Signature Villa collection can also enjoy dining at Carao from globally celebrated chef Enrique Olvera, embark on a wellness journey at One&Only Spa featuring exclusive treatments from clean beauty guru Tata Harper, or spend an afternoon at the waterfront Jetty Beach Club. The programming also includes visits to the wider Mandarina community, visiting the Polo & Equestrian Center for weekly matches or soaring through the treetops on a zipline course.
These new villas are the first to join the growing Signature Villa collection at One&Only Mandarina, offering ultra-luxury accommodation for groups of friends, multi-generational families or celebrations. They complement the existing Grand Villa collection – Villa One, Villa Banderas, Villa Tortuga, Villa Jaguar and Villa Pacifico.
Villa One stretches over 1,747m2, boasting two king bedroom suites and one double queen suite, each with their own walk-in closet and terrace with a private hot tub. The living and dining areas include a bar and kitchen with a central island for gathering, as well as wine cellar/humidor. The indoor spa and gym with cold plunge pool and terrace, full screen cinema, family room with games and an entertainment zone complete the villa, while outside are an infinity pool and outdoor covered dining terrace with barbecue grill overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Villa Pacifico is a two-bedroom residence complete with a full kitchen, office space, private cinema and outdoor rain showers and pool, while the two-bedroom Villa Jaguar’s features indoor spaces that transition seamlessly into a terrace complete with BBQ, hot tub and pool. For jungle living, the two-bedroom Villa Tortuga is nestled into the rainforest’s greenery, and for ocean views, Villa Banderas comes in one or two-bedroom configurations, which both comprise living areas and sea-facing terraces.
