Whitewashed walls provide backdrops for cacti and frame ocean views at this boutique hotel in Mexico, by Austin architecture firm Lake Flato and designer Liz Lambert.

Hotel San Cristóbal Baja overlooks the white sand beach on the coast of Todos Santos, in Mexico's Baja California Sur state.

Located a three-mile bike ride from the town, close to a rocky Punta Lobos promontory, the hotel has access to good surf, fishing and hiking, as well as eating spots and art galleries.

It is the first property outside of the US from hotel company Bunkhouse, which the Standard International group recently acquired a majority share in.

Designer and Bunkhouse founder Liz Lambert collaborated on the project with San Antonio studio Lake Flato, which lists a spacious waterfront retreat and a wooden education centre among its projects in Texas.
For Hotel San Christóbal, the team aimed to use the natural surroundings to create a laid-back atmosphere.

"Inspired by the town's historic designation as a 'pueblo mágico' village, a place considered to offer a magical experience, the hotel's vibe is minimal and beachy, reminiscent of a laid-back Baja in the 1970s," they said.

The two-storey buildings are all pale-coloured, creating a stark backdrop for cacti and other flora planted close to the walls.

Wooden shutters and partitions allow light and air into the buildings, and timber verandahs provide shade.

The hotel has 32 guest rooms that vary in size, from poolside kings to a mo...