Hotel Review: Cuixmala, Jalisco, Mexico
An Ultra-Exclusive Mexican Hideaway
There are luxury hotels and then there is Cuixmala. Cuixmala, pronounced ‘quiz-mala’, is a private ecological reserve, and truly sits in its own category when it comes to luxury accommodation. The 30,000-acre nature reserve, located well off the beaten path, somewhere between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, was originally the private summer home for billionaire Sir James Goldsmith and his family, and today is still owned and frequented by his daughter Alix Marcaccini.
Modelled after the Hagia Sofia, its architectural opulence is a stark contrast to its rustic jungle surroundings being set alongside 5km of private rugged and unspoiled coastline. If you weren’t seeking it, you would never even know it exists, as most people don’t, and this exclusivity is part of the allure for its super elite clientele and yours truly.
Its remote setting means guests come here to relax and spend time with the people they are with, however, there is no shortage of activities to keep one busy. Equipped with its own private airstrip, tennis courts, turtle sanctuary, horse stables, multiple private beaches and a wildlife reserve including a lurking jaguar, hundreds of wild zebra, crocodiles, and a plethora of birds, its the kind of place that engulfs you in its natural beauty and bohemian luxuries that you almost forget an outside world exists.
Highlights
What makes Cuixmala standout is its uniqueness, in design, personality and setting. It oozes opulence, while playing effortlessly cool. Its elusive, exclusive, yet made to feel like a home away from home. The staff are attentive and discreet and both nature and hedonism exist in abundance.
The 5000-acre biodynamic farm provides ingredients for both restaurants on the property which are focused on traditional Mexican cuisine. La Luna, located in the main house, is open to guests of the suites and bungalows for daily dining, and available to guests of the casitas for dinner subject to availability. Casa Gomez is the social hub servicing the casitas, with a lounge, bar and restaurant for daily dining for casita guests. Breakfast is mainly taken by guests in the privacy of their private terraces.
Everything done at Cuixmala is done with sustainability in mind, and the wildlife preserve is no exception. Zebras, elands and even a jaguar all roam the properly freely on the protected property. There is also the Cuixmala Turtle Foundation sanctuary on site that guests can visit.
The Rooms
There are four distinct accommodation types on the property. Four suites located in the main house, and six bungalows surrounding the main house, “Casa Cuixmala”, will put you at the heart of the property and allow you access to the main, and most instagrammed, pool, as well as shared access to a variety of living and relaxation areas. Ten casitas, the most affordable accommodation, are set in the backdrop overlooking the Cuixmala River with the option for one, two or three bedrooms. A separate pool and the Casa Gomez service these rooms as guests staying here do not have access to the main house’s pool. The three (massive and stunning) villas on the property offer guests complete seclusion, each equipped with a private pool and a live-in host and chef.
Despite the extreme differences in accommodation types, all rooms at Cuixmala boast a similar ethos when it comes to design and decor, geniously combining accents from its rich and vibrant Mexican heritage with a Moorish whitewashed backdrop. The rooms are simple, open and spacious yet opulent and warming.
The Amenities/Facilities
Cuixmala provides for endless wellness, adventure, and educational recreational activities. All on the property guests can enjoy water sports such as surfing, snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking, take an electric boat down the lagoon to nature watch, horseback ride on the beach or mountainous trails, burn some calories on the tennis court, basketball court or soccer pitch, explore and learn about the surrounding horticulture with a nature walk or visit to the biodynamic farm, or practice mindfulness with a yoga class, meditation session or private spa treatment.
Three private and distinct beaches provides guests with a variety of options to pass the days. The main beach at base of the main house, Casa Cuixmala, is too rough to swim in for the most part, but perfect for mornings walks, yoga or horseback riding, and offers a stunning perspective on just how at one with the nature the property is. Playa Caleta Blanca, accessible only via car via a dirt path about a 30min from the main house, is the main beach at Cuixmala. The calm waters here are ideal for paddle boarding or kayaking with the available equipment and the pristine beach with plush lounge chairs are great for just lounging with a full-service bar and restaurant available for sitting or beach service. Playa Escondida, is a much more rugged experience. To access this beach, you are led by a guide car on a much rougher road for about 30 mins, you will start to question your decision to visit, but once there you will be in awe of what mother nature and Cuixmala will have in store for you. If you arrange a private picnic in advance the staff will ensure you have the entire beach to yourselves, only leaving you with a satellite phone, as there is no available service out here.
For the ultimate experience, you can rent Cuixmala’s 47ft sailboat and head to explore surrounding islands or enjoy a day of fishing on their smaller catamaran boat.
What To Know
Despite being an idyllic sanctuary you won’t want or need to leave, a car is a necessity, number one to get to the property and two, to explore it while there. The property itself is beautiful to drive and the beaches are really only accessible by car. If you prefer not to drive, the hotel has cars available for daily rentals.
Even with the hefty price tag of a room here, with one-bedroom casitas starting roughly around $1000 a night, suites up to $3000 per night and villas up to $7000 per night, the atmosphere is not one of pretention but of calming relaxation and stillness. Despite whether guests come for wellness, relaxation, or adventure, Cuixmala has an uncanny ability to make one feel completely removed from the rest of the world, because after all that’s why you come to a place like this.
There is no comparison or proper way to describe the sort of luxury Cuixmala exudes, but it is one of the most spectacular retreats out there. The only reason why I don’t think we hear more about this property is due to the unassuming personality it embodies. It’s exclusive, it’s elite, it’s discrete and its sheer magic.
