Verana

You could say that Verana has a thing for dramatic
entrances. First, the ride to Yelapa is an experience on its own. It’s a
45-minute bumpy speedboat ride, past miles of untouched jungle along the coast.
When you reach Yelapa, the water taxi turns into a wide, colorful bay lined
by houses and filled with boats. On one side is the beach, on the other, a
small village nestled into the steep hillside; the backdrop to all are jungle-covered
mountains shrouded in a wispy mist, floating down towards the bay.As you approach the shore, your boatman will point out the
buildings of Verana, high up on the hillside, a few unassuming rooftops peeking
out of the trees. Then you arrive at the Verana pier, built out over rocks on
the side of a small cliff, where the next leg of your journey begins. A member
of the staff will guide you up a trail of stone slabs that ascends the
hillside, winding its way through the jungle, lined with bamboo groves. It’s about a 15-minute hike, straight up hill,
to reach the property. The hotel offers rides on the back of a mule for guests
who are less mobile. When the path takes you through a grove of agave plants,
you are almost there. And once you reach the top, it’s all worth it for the
amazing views.The small front desk of the property is on a patio next to
the outdoor bar and restaurant, where bright orange umbrellas and tablecloths, Verana’s
signature accent color, make a fantastic contrast against the backdrop of the
blue ocean and the deep green jungle-covered hills. This majestic, upscale
boutique property is built in the hillside to help guests appreciate the magic
of the nature that surrounds them. Several of the eight unique rooms, or houses, as
they’re called, have fully open walls that capitalize on the sweeping views in
every direction. The atmosphere of the hotel is stylish and chic, with many
rustic touches such as the stone-slab sinks and thatched palapa roofs. A
popular spot for weddings and honeymoons, Verana maintains a very romantic
ambience, and children under 16 are not allowed. The property is on a steep
hill, and there are lots of steps to get around, to the rooms and restaurant -- so it might not be the best choice for less-mobile guests.

Yelapa is a small village and beach destination on the coast
of Jalisco in a picturesque bay. It is surrounded by dense jungle in a largely
uninhabited part of the country that is not accessible by road. There are no
cars in Yelapa, which makes it very quiet and old-fashioned, and the only ways
to get around are by boat, on foot, or on the back of a donkey, when needed. The
town can be reached by water taxis that originate from the beach in Puerto
Vallarta or further south from Boca de Tomaltan; several boats run each day -- or you can arrange for a private boat with Verana. The bumpy speed boat ride
takes about 45 minutes.This is where the resort’s unique, secluded location
actually becomes a bit of a setback: It’s not an easy task to get anywhere outside
of the resort.  It’s a long, hot
40-minute walk on footpaths to reach the village and even farther to the get to the nice beach of Yelapa from the hotel; you can arrange to take a boat taxi for a small
fee if you'd prefer. In the village, there are a few restaurants and a small waterfall a short
hike away. Guided jungle hikes can also be arranged.

Each of the eight romantic rooms at Verana is completely
unique -- in concept, layout, and decoration. The Pool Suite is entirely outdoors, perched on the side of
the mountain. It contains two open-air “bedrooms” with king beds, a living room
with a day bed and swinging chair, and an outdoor bathroom. Each room is its own
little gazebo with a thatched palapa roof and no walls whatsoever. The toilet
is the only thing that’s enclosed. The second bedroom is set further back from
the hill and is next to a small private plunge pool. The bathroom sink is a
stone pedestal with an industrial-style faucet. Next to the outdoor shower and
large stone outdoor bathtub, luxe spa products are laid out, including a sea-salt
bath scrub.All off the rooms offer plush beds, mosquito nets, dark wood furniture, and rustic furniture that doesn't quite qualify as upscale. There are no TVs or mini-fridges in the rooms. The Tea
Suite has a Balinese/Asian theme, complete with Buddha statuettes. There’s an
open-air, palapa-covered living room with no walls, open on all four sides and perched on the edge of a cliff. The views are amazing. The outdoor bathroom has
a copper sink and an outdoor shower. There’s also a small private pool area
with padded loungers.The Jungle House includes two or three bedrooms. It’s set in
the forest, with one wall that opens up completely to the jungle -- creating a
true jungle living experience. The colorful living room and second bedroom are
enclosed. There’s a large bathroom with rustic stone-slab sinks. The Palapa
House consists of a large living room, dining area, and bedroom under one huge,
open-air palapa -- containing multi-levels with a hammock and large sundeck
area. The Studio is a large enclosed room with concrete walls and big glass
windows facing out towards the view. It’s draped with elegant white curtains
and pops of sunny yellow. 

The main common area is the patio around the restaurant and
bar, next to the reception desk, punctuated by bright orange umbrellas. The
views from here are spectacular -- on a clear day you can see all the way back
to Puerto Vallarta. The restaurant has all outdoor seating, with lovely strings
of lights in the evening. Breakfast can be ordered to the room and placed in
the little birdcages situated by the room’s gate.There is an outdoor spa, called The Jungle Spa, built into the hillside. The
small spa has two outdoor treatment areas with massage tables that have views
of the bay. There’s an outdoor shower and a double sized stone bathtub where
guests can book a romantic starlight aromatherapy bath.The large common pool area consists of a multi-level pool
with several decks and seating areas with the signature orange padded lounge
chairs and umbrellas, creating many quiet, private places to lounge. Next to
the pool, a large open gazebo is used as yoga room and hammock lounge. It is
perched on a hillside that peers out over the jungle. There’s also a small
library room with lots of books and some games and a small gift shop. There is no gym.