El Monteón, Mexico

One&Only Mandarina

1 / 10

The takeaway

For travelers drawn to the canopy as much as the coast, Mandarina pairs private-pool treehouses and villas with a swimmable Pacific beach.

About the hotel

One&Only Mandarina occupies 80 acres of coastal rainforest above the Pacific in Riviera Nayarit, with a swimmable beach below. Its 105 standalone treehouses and villas are spread through the canopy and along the cliffs; separately offered private homes add another way to stay. Each treehouse and villa has a private plunge pool, though views vary between rainforest and ocean. Days can move from the beach to rainforest trails, while Carao’s cliffside dining room looks out toward the coast.

Choose it if

You want a standalone treehouse with a private plunge pool; choose your view category carefully, as rainforest and ocean outlooks differ.
You want beach time alongside kayaking, paddleboarding or guided rainforest walks.
You are traveling with children and prefer a villa; the resort has a KidsOnly club, while guests under 10 cannot stay in treehouses.

Skip it if

You want to stay in Puerto Vallarta itself; the resort is in El Monteón, about an hour's drive from Puerto Vallarta airport.
You need a treehouse for a child under 10; the resort's safety policy does not permit it.
You require a fully accessible resort; the hotel says the property is not fully accessible, although it offers an accessible villa and assistance in select areas.

The property

In photographs.

Guest discussion

What real people are saying.

Reddit excerpts · separate from Rex’s editorial judgment

One guest describes an exceptionally private room, though morning birdsong and squawking made white noise useful for sleeping. Other guests report less comfortable trade-offs: insects entering the room, meals costing roughly $170–$350 that sometimes left one diner dissatisfied, and service that felt more attentive than helpful despite kind staff.

“Best room we’ve ever stayed in, and it felt very private. Worth noting that the birds SING (and squawk) in the morning, so we just slept with some white noise.”

r/chubbytravel ↗ · Apr 29, 2026

“We spent between ~$170 and $350 per meal, but there were nights where I went back to the villa hungry because I didn't like anything I ordered.”

r/FATTravel ↗

“What was difficult for us was the size and frequency of the bugs and the fact that they were getting inside our actual room.”

r/chubbytravel ↗ · Sep 16, 2026

“At times it felt like they were bugging me more than they were helping me. It just felt like “flashy” service more than actually helpful service. Everyone was very kind and nobody did anything bad.”

r/chubbytravel ↗

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