Hidden Treasure

Verana, Yelapa, Mexico

Hidden Treasure

From its perch above the Bay of Banderas, an oasis beckons to those who are romantic at heart and adventurous in spirit. This isn’t your parents’ honeymoon, after all. From Puerto Vallarta a quick taxi ride gets you to Boca de Tomatlan, the last beach you can reach by car. Not to fear, however—a private boat takes you for a half-hour ride to a secluded cove. But you’re still not here yet. A mule train awaits to carry your luggage up to Verana, a rustic yet luxurious treasure carved out of a jungle hillside and embraced by the Valle de Sierra Oriental.

The eight beautifully handcrafted houses all come fully equipped with spectacular ocean views and private gardens. With their easy blending of both sleek and rustic furnishings created from natural materials, each house embodies the Verana spirit of exhilaration and tranquility. The Tea House is a sanctuary of smooth wood with a Japanese-style living room, while the Palapa makes you feel as if you are sheltered beneath a giant palm leaf on a deserted island.

Verana offers a full bar and a swimming pool, but perhaps the biggest amenity is the service. Arrangements can be made for whale watching, trips to nearby islands, fishing and snorkeling. Try a mule ride to the peak of Yelapa Tapa or through the Sierra Madre Occidental to the neighboring town of Chacala. The staff is happy to make recommendations and put packages together for you to make your dream of the perfect wedding or honeymoon come true. Starting with the 2007-2008 season, WiFi will be available at Verana so you can update your wedding blog as you gaze at the blue infinity of the ocean.

Breakfast and lunch are served outdoors on the terrace while dinner is taken in the new poolside restaurant. The three-course meal offers an appetizer, choice of two entrées (one vegetarian) and dessert. The cuisine reflects the local ingredients infused with the creativity of Verana’s chefs for such dishes as seafood pozole and the signature Verana sashimi. Cooking classes are also available so you can learn the secret to your favorite Verana dish. Take home a set of recipe cards for your first anniversary dinner and relive the romance of your honeymoon all over again.

Then there is the spa at Verana. Keeping with the aesthetic of bringing private space to the outdoors, the treatment rooms let you keep in touch with natural serenity through subtle design cues and lush landscaping. The menu offers treatments inspired by indigenous ingredients grown on the property or available in the neighboring coastal jungle, such as volcanic stone, coffee, coconut, avocado and lemongrass. Each spa guest enjoys a footbath ritual while sipping a custom blend of herbal tea, followed by a facial, body scrub or soothing massage. Want the ultimate in romantic bathing? Try the Starlight Aromatherapy bath, a deep-water evening experience with milk-and-honey-infused water, soft candlelight and the endless tropical heavens.

The season begins November 1, right after the rainy season, and runs until June 5. Rates at Verana range from $320 to $750 per night, not including the required meal plan ($80 a day per person). Reservations can be made only for five nights or more; however, last-minute arrangements may be available. Check for further details at verana.com.