One of Mexico’s first luxury beach resorts is still operating — Mexico News Daily
Hotel Mocambo is still operating in the Mexican city of Boca del Río — a beach resort that opened in 1939 and is considered one of the country’s first major luxury resorts. The building was constructed on Mocambo Beach on the Gulf of Mexico coast, near the port of Veracruz.
As Mexico News Daily reports, construction of the hotel began in 1938. The establishment’s name comes from Mocambo Beach; the word has Afro-Portuguese roots and is connected to the region’s history as a refuge for Africans who escaped slavery.
Architecture and expansion
The hotel project was led by Spanish architect Jesús Martí Martín, who was expelled from Madrid after the Spanish Civil War. He was invited by Governor Miguel Alemán Valdés, who later became president of Mexico. The complex was built on Boca del Río’s highest coastal hill, near the Jamapa River.
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Initially, Hotel Mocambo had 15 rooms, open terraces, large staircases, arched corridors and open courtyards. The complex also included an outdoor pool and a bar. Two years after its opening, the hotel’s first expansion was led by another Spanish architect, Enrique Segarra. At one point, the establishment had 110 rooms; it now has 70.
A venue for Mexican cinema
In the mid-20th century, Mocambo was popular among Mexican actors, musicians and celebrities. The publication names Agustín Lara, Chavela Vargas and Pedro Infante among its regular guests. In 1943, the film “María Eugenia,” starring actress María Félix, was filmed at the hotel; Veracruz singer Toña la Negra also appeared in the film.
Today, the establishment operates under the name Collection O Hotel Mocambo and retains classic architectural features, including maritime decor and Moorish elements. At the same time, the historic building has been surrounded by modern structures, wide avenues, parking lots and multi-story residential complexes.
