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 mountain-view suite. They feature colourful textiles from Guatemala, furniture from Guadalajara, and fixtures and accessories made by craftspeople across Mexico.

Most open onto their own outdoor spaces, with patterned tiled floors matching the bathroom surfaces.

The accommodation blocks are arranged around three sides of a central swimming pool, with one end open to the beach. Shaded loungers and table seating circle the pool, while an indoor communal library offers respite from the sun and a bar serves drinks and casual meals.

For more formal dining, the oceanfront Benno restaurant has a mix of Mexican, Mediterranean and Asian foods.

Further guest amenities include two hot tubs, and a yoga deck with views of both the beach and mountains.

The hotel also has its own boutique, which sells local artisan-made products like beachwear, clothing and souvenirs. Rooms start from around $285 (£220) per night.

Boutique hotels are popping up all over Mexico as tourism continues to grow in the country. Just down the Baja peninsula in Los Cabos, Drift San Jose offers guests a design store, food carts and a mezcal bar, while over on the Caribbean coast, Casa Malca provides an art-filled option in Pablo Escobar's former mansion.

Photography is by Nick Simonite unless specified otherwise.