In

In
2017, it is no longer enough for a hotel to be a gateway into
a destination; it must be a destination in itself. Nobody
understands this better than Nicholas Malleville of
cult-hospitality brand Coqui Coqui.

An Argentinian landscape architect, perfumer and
model, Malleville launched Coqui Coqui in 2003 with his partner
Francesca Bonato. Famous among the jet-set crowd, this is the man
credited with bringing the style tribe (think Jade Jagger et al.)
to Tulum. For a while, Coqui Coqui was the staple of this exclusive
hideaway, where chic, natural interiors – all concrete floors and
handwoven crafts – captured the aesthetic of this high-end beach
getaway.

But Coqui Coqui Tulum was forced to close due to government
scandal, and original Tulum-goers lamented the loss of the hotel,
just as they did the destination’s exclusive nature. Malleville
didn’t waste any time, and began scattering his boutique
accommodations across the Yucatan Peninsula (with Bora Bora coming
soon), setting up a range of signature scents and products
available on Net-a-porter.com.

Malleville was born and raised in the Argentinian countryside,
with what he describes as a “wild childhood in the middle of the
pampas”. His parents’ home, which was filled with pieces of art
collected on their travels, informed his appreciation for interiors
and inspired his passion for exploration. His keen eye for design
and signature style was what got his properties splashed across
every fashion and interior magazine under the sun.

Every piece of the furniture found in the Coqui Coqui
residencias has history of its own – “an emotional connection with
my roots, family and friends” – or is rooted in the local
handicrafts and traditions of the Yucatan. Each destination has its
own scent, which is inspired by the aromas of its surroundings
(flowers, herbs, woods) and is spritzed in every corner.

In Coba, Coqui Coqui’s five-bedroom hideaway sits within Mayan
ruins, quite literally putting you (and your bed) back in time. In
Merida, the vibrant capital of the Yucatan, their one-bedroom suite
sits inside an old French townhouse above an old-fashioned
perfumery. With a four-poster bronze bed, two standalone baths and
sweeping gold curtains, guests are immersed into the town’s
colonial history from the moment they wake. Soon, Malleville will
open his first property in Bora Bora (the first time the brand has
left its native Mexico) in a botanical garden on top of Matira
beach. Malleville describes it as “an Eden which has remained
unchanged”.

With every corner, surface and scent designed to enhance the
guest’s experience and every location putting you at the heart of
the destination, a stay at Coqui Coqui is one of those truly
magical travel experiences which leaves you wondering if you’ll
ever find better.