One&Only Mandarina

Hands down the best resort we’ve stayed at as a family. The room, the views, the food, and the service were all incredible. Our hosts Juan and Angelita were so accommodating, making each day better than the last. We will definitely be back.

We loved the vistas and the level of service recieved at the hotel. Everyone was so attentive! The food was good and if you like to steam and use the sauna - theirs was exceptional.

This resort is the most luxury, amazing experience we have ever had. The entire place is immersive with villas and restaurants that are open to the jungle around you. The people are very friendly and accommodating. Best service in the world. The excursions and experiences are so unique, fun, and filled with unexpected details like a private beach picnic following the nature bike tour. If you are looking for an unforgettable, unmatched romantic getaway you must go here!

One&Only Mandarina — A Disappointing Experience (2/5) I’ve traveled to over 35 countries and stayed at some of the world’s most renowned luxury hotels — from Ritz-Carltons to Four Seasons, Shangri-Las, and more — and I feel I can provide a fair and well-informed view on a hotel’s true standard. ⸻ 🔹 Reasons We Gave It 2 Stars: ✅ Amazing accommodations and seclusion: One&Only Mandarina is truly a stunning jungle escape. The accommodations feel private and secluded, offering refuge from the outside world. Additionally, I really enjoyed their cold plunge, steam room, and sauna — a great way to ease stress after a busy day. ✅ Staff were kind and helpful: The team we dealt with were always warm, welcoming, and eager to help — which I appreciate in a luxury setting. 🔹 Reasons We Removed 3 Stars: 1. The food fell far short of luxury standards: We dropped one star due to the food. One&Only Mandarina’s cuisine was underwhelming and massively overpriced — we were dropping $2,000 per meal (with a total dining tab averaging nearly $6,000 per day) for food that simply did not match its price or a Michelin-caliber experience. We even went fish­ing and provided nearly 18 freshly-caught fish, expecting a wonderful meal, but were presented with a $2,600 bill for a few side dishes (rice, guacamole, chips) alongside the preparation — a dramatic let-down. ⚡ 2. Theft from wallet by staff: We kept careful track of our cash and $50 was stolen from a wallet that stayed in our room the entire trip. While the amount might seem small, the violation of trust and discretion is a major concern at a hotel that promises luxury and discretion. ⚡ 3. Transportation issues and room key malfunctions: One major downside to a secluded, golf-cart-dependent resort is its poor logistics. Sometimes we waited 45–60 minutes for golf carts to arrive, making it difficult to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. Additionally, our room keys repeatedly malfunctioned, locking us out more than five times during our stay — adding stress and frustration to what should be a restful getaway. Conclusion: One&Only Mandarina has a lot of potential and a beautiful setting, but it falls significantly short of delivering the standard of luxury service and food that its pricing suggests. The combination of poor food, theft, logistical chaos, and repeated technical problems makes this a frustrating and disappointing experience. While the accommodations and spa facilities were wonderful, the overall experience simply cannot justify its extravagant price tag — I cannot in good conscience recommend it to travelers who are looking for true five-star luxury.

We had the most amazing time at the One&Only Mandarina! Our hosts (Miguel and Alfredo) were extremely prompt and made sure that anything we needed during our stay, we had. They were perfection. I took advantage of the Polo Experience and riding horses on the beach with Andres, who took very good care of me! I felt safe and enjoyed learning how to play Polo for the first time. The Polo Experience was my favorite thing we did at the resort, which I highly recommend. The architecture is next level and the food (and vibes) at Chukker were something you should not miss. 10/10 would stay here.