Commissioned by a Parisian woman who stumbled upon a magical, hidden spot along Mexico's Pacific coast via a dirt road over 25 years ago, Casa La Playa is made up of a series of circular pavilions that cascade down to a sprawling stretch of sand.
An hour north of the Manzanillo airport (Playa de Oro International) and 2.5 hours south of Puerto Vallarta by car, the peachy compound is set against an unmarred natural setting in Costalegre, the southern tip of the state of Jalisco.
For those who would prefer to avoid the long and winding drive, small flyers can also be chartered from Aerotron, which will land guests right on La Playa's lush landing strip.
Designed by world-renowned interior designer and architect Robert Couturier, the 4,500-square-foot palatial villa's stark white interiors—comprised of a dining room, living room, TV room, master bed, plus two guest suites with a shared outdoor living space—are flavored with pops of color meant to reflect the vivid hues of its tropical backdrop, a 25,000-acre ecological reserve that sits on the luxuriant Cuixmala estate, which manages the rental.
To boot, the great escape—which can accommodate up to eight guests for $5,000 a night—is fully staffed, with a butler, chef, laundress, concierge, maids, gardeners.
For adventure seekers who would much rather spend the day on the move than lounging in the cozy palapa by the checkered pool, access to all the amenities offered by Cuixmala opens the door to a range of activities for land and sea venturers alike, from horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking, to snorkeling, paddle boarding, and ocean kayaking.
