T+L’s review of Hotel Humano Puerto Escondido Mexico

The short drive to Puerto Escondido in Mexico begins with a section of road that is paved. Hotel Humano, the road hugging an overlook of Zicatela Beach. With a view of fishing boats moored, it reminds newcomers of the boomtown’s origins.

This part of the resort town—Mexico’s La Punta Zicatela, located at the tail end of Zicatela Beach—has recently started attracting international travelers. This cluster of streets, which is filled with boutique beachwear stores and raw wooden counter bars, remains half unpaved.

The 39-room Hotel Humano will open in December 2024. It features distinctive design elements such as lattice brickwork and glossy tile. Travel + Leisure‘s 2025 It List It is rapidly becoming a neighborhood hub. The hotel’s concrete walls allow for a seamless day: enjoy a coconut, lime, soursop-based smoothie at the lobby cafe on the street, relax with your favorite book and micheladas by the poolside cabanas and palm trees, and end the evening at the rooftop bar.

On a recent trip, I began my first day with a lesson in surfing on beginner-friendly waves at the beach. La Punta Beach is ideal for those who are learning to surf. While Zicatela Beach is a surfer’s heaven, with its canyon-powered waves, and international competitions held there, La Punta Beach is perfect for beginners. Angelo Donnanno of Art of Surfing told me why. “The angle of this beach is ideal for the south waves that are heading straight towards the Oaxaca region,” he explained, his finger drawing a diagram.

The next evening, after returning to the hotel, a group of guests had gathered five stories above the ground on the rooftop facing west, where they were enjoying the sunset. The horizon was a vibrant coral.

My full review of Hotel Humano.

The Rooms

The Ocean View Suite was a 600-square-foot luxury retreat. My bedroom patio was flooded with sunlight, so I could use my laptop to work and stretch on the built-in bench. The king-sized plunge pool with its tiled walls felt like a luxurious way to relax in the surf town. Madrid-based Plantea Estudio drew inspiration for the interiors from Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier’s Cabanon de Cap-Martin in France—a simple beach shack featuring clean woodwork, pops of metal, and natural sunlight. Luis Gil Guinea is a founding partner at Plantea Estudio. He said: “It strikes a balance between the holiday home feel and the festive, playful, technical feeling of a surfer’s camper.” Travel+Leisure.

The 39 rooms in the hotel, including the eight suites, all have views of the lush courtyard pool. The majority of furnishings were custom-made in Mexico by Mexican artisans, including quilts made by the Dushill Studio in Oaxaca City and ink drawings created by Lucio Muniain in Mexico City. The bathroom sinks—generous basins made from stainless steel—add a modernist edge to the otherwise earth-toned interiors.

Food and Drink

Although the port of Marseille in France and Puerto Escondido have very little in common, chef Marion Chateau found a way to combine both by offering incredible seafood. Chateau was formerly of Marseille La Relève hotel and restaurant, is in charge of the dinner menu at Humano’s Bistró, the stunning all-day restaurant set inside a soaring poolside palapa. Her cocinero was a white fish, similar to a Sardine, that she grilled with olive oil, and served with pico, lemon beurre blanc and a zesty pico. It was one of my favorite catches.

Breakfast at Bistró features eggs—fried, scrambled, and poached in a variety of Mexican styles—alongside fresh juices. After a day spent in the sun, guacamole is the perfect dish to enjoy.

The lobby cafe has a wide selection of smoothies, pastries and tropical fruits. (Before my surf lesson, I got hopped up on antioxidants with an açai bowl) To unwind, the rooftop bar has cocktails and local beers that perfectly complement the sunset views. Try the primo-spritz to get a Mexico City spin on Aperol-spritz. It is less sweet, and has a burnt orange color.

Activities and Experiences

The main attraction at this hotel is the 46-foot courtyard with royal palm trees, maroon loungers and a Moorish garden. The rooftop bar offers the perfect place to mingle during sunsets and late into the night. Resident DJs set a low-key party vibe every Thursday through Sunday.

The reception can book a lesson with The Art of Surfing. It is a local school that is run by Alonso & Sasha. The session lasted almost two hours and included a half-hour overview of theory on the dunes. I was gliding into shore and popping up confidently by the end of my session.

The Spa

The hotel was able to arrange a great massage for me in my suite, as the wellness spaces weren’t ready yet during my stay. The small spa with two cold plunges and two saunas has been opened at the time this article was published.

Accessibility, Sustainability and Sustainability

The rooms at Hotel Humano do not meet ADA standards.

Hotel Humano’s sustainability efforts are supported by thoughtful architectural choices. Gil Guinea explains that the layout of the hotel, with its double-heighted ceilings, allows for cross-ventilation. This, combined with the concrete used in the construction, keeps indoor temperatures down. Air conditioning is provided in public places using solar energy.

Location

The hotel is located on the main road of La Punta for almost half a mile, which is an ideal spot within this neighborhood. The walk to the beach takes less than five minutes—or less, if you take the hidden exit behind the pool that leads to a backroad shortcut. To reach the hotel you will need to fly into Puerto Escondido Airport located in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The Best Value for Your Stay

Hotel Humano belongs to Design Hotels under the Marriott umbrella and is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program. The guests can earn points that they can redeem for free nights, as well as other perks like free Wi-Fi and late checkout.

Hotel Humano’s nightly rates start at $191 for the Garden View Guest Room, and $300 for the Ocean View Suite.

Each hotel reviewed by T+L is chosen based on its alignment with our values. core values.