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Quiet Mexico: Hunker Down in Costa Careyes
Exclusive resort community epitomizes quiet, casual elegance
By Heather Whipps
You'll find Costa Careyes dangling on a cliffside, sandwiched between mountains and the ocean along a 145-mile stretch of under-developed Pacific coastline strung between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. It's a gated resort community, but you can drop any notions of crowds and kitsch you might associate with that concept. This celebrity favorite is known for just how peaceful it is, somehow managing to be both rugged and luxurious at the same time. There's one main hotel here, with tennis, polo and a few casual-chic restaurants, sharing facilities with its real star occupants—the villas.
Most of the villas in Costa Careyes are built in the trademark open-layout "modernist palapa" style of Marco Aldaco. The renowned Mexican architect (who, according to legend, actually lay atop the land for hours on end to get a lay of the land) created his homes with juicy, cheery colors inspired by the Mediterranean and lots of spaces where guests can just enjoy their surroundings. Rooftop lounges are common, as are open-air dining areas looking over the Pacific. Don't expect in-your-face luxury here; they're more for people who prefer to kick off their shoes, wear a bathing suit all day and get lost in mounds of throw pillows.
It's easy to get into a leisurely mood with accommodations like these, but Costa Careyes doesn't stop there: wrapping around the resort is a protected eco-environment filled with flora and fauna. There are lots of trails to hike and mountain bike, as well as little rivers and lagunas that snake inland to explore by boat or kayak. Head out on the water further and there's great surfing. The beaches can sometimes require a little searching, but are well-worth it and generally deserted. When you're actually hankering for some company, visit the main resort beach by the hotel—stylish beach BBQ parties are common in Costa Careyes and last into the wee hours.
These are a few of our favorite villas in Costa Careyes:
Casa Triton :a full staff of nine presides over this stunning four-bedroom home, soaring 120 feet above the ocean. Its infinity-edge pool is 60 meters long.
Casa Infinito :this six-guest villa towers over the jungle. There are ocean views from every room and a dramatic veranda.
Nido de Amor the "love nest" is so named for its many hidden grottoes, but this three-bedroom villa is suitable for anyone who just likes hanging out together. Staff of five.
Sol de Oriente: an infinity pool wraps around the entire villa as do the six bedrooms, so each bedroom has a step going directly into the pool.
The Turtle Coast
Careyes is Spanish for turtle, an animal that is native to this area and fiercely protected. The residents and managers of Costa Careyes even support a turtle-hatching camp on a local beach where guests can visit and participate in the critters' release into nature. |
For more information on these or other villas available in Mexico, please contact us:
Call 1-877-953-7400 or E-mail
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