My wife and I just got back from 2 glorious weeks in Mexico. Our intention was to travel overland from the Pacific coast to the steaming, throbbing heart of Mexico City. 2 weeks is not long, but the outcome of any trip focuses on quality, not quantity of sites visited. With this in mind we decided to ease into our Mexican adventure by hopefully discovering that paradises of paradises; a lovely, isolated, self contained refuge that faced a virginal, golden beach...and we found it!
There still exists that unspoilt haven we all dream of.
It can be summed up in two words..."Playa Viva".
Playa Viva is the name of an incredible "eco-resort" that lies about 40 minutes south of the humble international airport of Zihuatanejo, on Mexico's Pacific coast. David Leventhal and his team of architects and ecological experts have created a sanctuary that not only defines everything a self sufficient, sustainable resort should be but takes it to another realm that all visionaries should follow.
Barely established for a year, the 200 acre retreat sits on a beautiful, wild stretch of coast that literally takes your breath away. Our late afternoon arrival allowed us to pause, kick off our shoes and gaze stupefied as a glowing red disc melted on the horizon over an endless ocean. Playa Viva's kind hosts led us to our rustic palace, a large bedroom with attached bathroom constructed of local materials in the most...My wife and I just got back from 2 glorious weeks in Mexico. Our intention was to travel overland from the Pacific coast to the steaming, throbbing heart of Mexico City. 2 weeks is not long, but the outcome of any trip focuses on quality, not quantity of sites visited. With this in mind we decided to ease into our Mexican adventure by hopefully discovering that paradises of paradises; a lovely, isolated, self contained refuge that faced a virginal, golden beach...and we found it!
There still exists that unspoilt haven we all dream of.
It can be summed up in two words..."Playa Viva".
Playa Viva is the name of an incredible "eco-resort" that lies about 40 minutes south of the humble international airport of Zihuatanejo, on Mexico's Pacific coast. David Leventhal and his team of architects and ecological experts have created a sanctuary that not only defines everything a self sufficient, sustainable resort should be but takes it to another realm that all visionaries should follow.
Barely established for a year, the 200 acre retreat sits on a beautiful, wild stretch of coast that literally takes your breath away. Our late afternoon arrival allowed us to pause, kick off our shoes and gaze stupefied as a glowing red disc melted on the horizon over an endless ocean. Playa Viva's kind hosts led us to our rustic palace, a large bedroom with attached bathroom constructed of local materials in the most tasteful way. As a builder myself, I could appreciate the subtleties of the solid construction, the thought and effort applied to every detail to attain that perfect blend of luxurious comfort and rustic appeal. To top if all off, the bedroom walls and roof line were separated by a gap so that the warm ocean breeze is always running through the room and the waves and sand are seemingly at your fingertips.
I could write forever about the sensational hospitality of the onsite crew that takes care of you at Playa Viva. I could drive myself crazy with hunger describing how delicious and creative the gourmet food buffets were every day, set out on a communal table for all visitors to satiate themselves on. It would not be an exaggeration by any means to say that we were treated like a king and queen, and every day was an encounter with the most wonderful, sincere smiles. David has a crew that is a treasure. All of them are from the tiny village of Juluchulca, about a mile inland. Maria, Juan, Gloria, Lupe, and the magician of cooks that flitter about the open air kitchen made our stay exceptional. The personnel of gardeners that roam almost invisibly about the grounds seemed an integral part of the family that David has created.
And therein lies the beauty and essence of Playa Viva...It is not only a gorgeous escape from our daily grind elsewhere but certainly a reminder that a more conscious focus on the conservation and nurture of our surroundings is possible. From the organic gardens that supply virtually all of the food, to the rain-trapped water system of irrigation and solar powered energy supplies, Playa V is not only a supreme example of what little impact we can achieve abroad while vacationing but of a philosophy and practical approach to our environment that we should take back with us when we go home.
One of Playa V's star attractions, you might say, is its endeavor to save and spur the growth of the local wild turtle population. Turtles on Mexico's Pacific coast have suffered terribly over the last few decades due to both man made interference and other issues. Playa Viva has created a turtle sanctuary about a kilometer down the coast from the resort itself. Facing the ocean, the haven is tended by locals who act as wardens and caretakers of female turtles until their babies hatch. Once the infants are born, they are assisted to the ocean, a couple hundred feet away, to plunge into the sea and hopefully become one with it for many years. It is a delicate procedure, but the sight of tiny, dark turtles crawling across the sand on that ancient pilgrimage to the water is something you will cherish for many years to come.
And finally, the ocean...what can I say? Playa VIva proper sits on top of a sand bank facing a stretch of golden sand that stretches as far as the eye can see in either direction without a soul or dwelling to be seen...seriously. The only companions we had on a daily basis were our own shadows as we strolled forever down in one direction and then turned and went the other. The perfect temperature and blue sky seemed created just for us. We held our breath when whales breached maybe a hundred yards from shore and dolphins followed behind. It was only when we rushed to describe it to our hosts that they smiled and remarked it was a daily occurrence! Manta rays and fish dove through waves as they arced and crashed all day long, pelicans drifted lazily overhead, and sunsets bled from one to another. Kissed and caressed by the sun’s rays, there is nothing more primal or soothing like the sound of waves as you drift off to sleep each night.
Even as I write this, I can't help but wonder when we will be fortunate enough to make it back down to Playa Viva...
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