Photography by Eduardo Cerruti and Stephanie Draime of Cerruti Draime.
While a dreary late February rain hits the windows of my Manhattan apartment, I’m vicariously visiting the Coqui Coqui Coba Residence & Spa on the Yucatán peninsula, in the Mayan village of Coba.
One of two green plunge pools is sheltered by limestone walls and archways, adding privacy—and the distinct feeling that it has been there since Mayan times.
Stone coping surrounds a plunge pool, and a backdrop of palms acts as a screen.
A limestone stairway leads through the walled grounds.
Argentina native Nicolas Malleville who together with Francesca Bonato is the landscape architect model perfumer and hotelier behind Coqui Coqui s boutique resorts was inspired...
...by the scents of the Yucatán catalogued at Le Jardins de Bagatelle in Paris the Hanbury Botanical Gardens in Italy and Kew Gardens in the UK
Narrow stairs descend into the water.
The “wild and mysterious” tropical gardens are built into the ancient Mayan city, which surrounds placid green lagoons.
Fringed hammocks hang inside and out.
Woven baskets are a local craft of the Yucatán.
The hoteliers also planted orchards on the grounds, and serve fresh fruit and juices to guests.
Coqui Coqui Coba Residence & Spa can also be booked via Mr. and Mrs. Smith.