CHECKING IN: PLAYA VIVA
A HOTEL REVIEW BY VICTORIA MALLOY
Photos by AVABLU
Imagine having nearly a mile of untouched beach all to yourself, or a playground of 200 acres of unspoiled nature reserve to explore. Picture having a front row seat to a whale breaching show right from your breakfast table, or having a hand in releasing turtle hatchlings into the ocean. This is just some of the magic that makes Playa Viva something special.
Located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, nestled between the ocean and the Sierra Madre Mountains, Playa Viva is a family-friendly luxury, inclusive property and the ultimate tropical hideaway to slow down and immerse yourself in nature. With its nest-like treehouses that offer an otherworldly experience, what sets the property apart from the rest is just how secluded and remote it is. No neighboring properties within eyeshot, no man-made noise pollution, and hardly any cell signal, allowing you to disconnect in order to reconnect and sync up with the rhythms of nature.
From waking to the sounds of the crashing waves, to nurturing your body with an ocean-side yoga class, curling up in a hammock with a book, or watching the sun set from the beach swing with a cocktail in hand, every aspect of the property has a peaceful, slow rhythm that relaxes the nervous system.
At a Glance
Location: Juluchuca, Mexico
Price: from $320 USD for a Studio for two guests, inclusive of meals, airport transfers, and some activities.
Rooms: 20
Suitable for: Solo travelers, couples, and families, including children of all ages, group retreats, and pets. Currently none of the facilities are 100% accessible.
Nearest Airport(s): Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (ZIH): 40min
Arrive by: Car, cab
Open: October – July (closed for the rainy season in August and September)
Check in: 3:00PM / Checkout: 11:00am
The Hotel
Founded by David Leventhal and Sandra Kahn, the developers behind popular B&B Casa Viva Troncones, their mission with Playa Viva is to transform the hotel experience to one that is built on the highest standards of environmental and social impact, and it definitely shows. The property has been awarded two MICHELIN Keys for an exceptional stay, and recently secured B-Corp Certification with the highest score awarded to a hotel to date. Since opening, David has been leading the resort to where it is today, with support from women in management leadership roles.
From being welcomed with a cold wellness juice and a tour of the property upon arrival, to the warm smiles and high-touch service of the staff, and the immaculately-maintained and well-appointed grounds, every detail is meticulously considered and the hospitality is second to none.
In contrast to the perfectly manufactured beaches you might expect at many tropical resorts, Playa Viva favors the natural, untouched state of their beach. Save for a single plastic soda bottle I picked up on a walk, this is one of the cleanest beaches I’ve ever set foot on. With designated tote bag stations, guests are encouraged to bring one with them on beach walks to collect any plastic waste they may encounter along the way.
Rooms and Design
Built sustainably using renewable materials harvested on site, while incorporating smart water conservation measures, and leveraging unique design fixtures made by local artisans, their 20 eco-luxury rooms are designed to feel like you’re vacationing in a private beach home. The treehouses are works of art with their bamboo architecture and precise attention to detail. The Dune Manta treehouse is suspended in the air by palm trees and is designed to echo the manta rays that can be seen flying out of the ocean. Made up of two buildings, the treehouse is outfitted with details like a king bed with an ocean view, plenty of lounge space including an oversized net hammock, and an upstairs loft with day beds and a desk with mountain views. The newest addition to the property is the Infinity Casita, suitable for up to four guests, and the hotel’s first air-conditioned oceanfront hideaway equipped with a low-energy cooling system.
Food and Drink
A thriving organic garden supplies the farm-to-table cuisine with an abundance of seasonal vegetables, microgreens and seeds for the daily changing menu of Mexican dishes and delights. Guests are invited to tour the on-site farm and pick their own produce while they stroll through the orchard with its bounty of pomegranates, mangoes, coconuts, jackfruit and more.
In the mornings, a light breakfast is available starting around 7am with things like chia pudding or oatmeal, yogurt, fresh fruit, juices and coffee and tea. A full breakfast is available at 9am (perfectly timed for post-yoga) with things like eggs, breads and fruit spreads, and a variety of other savoury delights. In the rotating lunch and dinner buffets, guests can expect dishes like swordfish ceviche, grilled fish, sopes, meat, rice and beans and freshly made tortillas, hot and cold soups, salads, and much more. The hotel can accommodate many diets, including vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, low to no sugar, gluten-free and any other special dietary concerns. You’ll find filtered water available on tap (eliminating the waste associated with bottled water), as well as a variety of fruit and herbal infusions and natural juices to stay hydrated. At Marty’s bar, the cocktail menu leans into what’s grown on site with herbs, spices and tropical fruits prominently featured. The basil margarita is an elevated and refreshing spin on an old classic.
While private meals can certainly be accommodated, part of the atmosphere that Playa Viva cultivates is communal dining at their long dining tables; a great way to enhance your stay by connecting with other guests.
Image credit Kayla Mendez
The Area
A few kilometers away from the nearest town of Juluchuca, Playa Viva’s acreage includes an estuary, an Aztec archeological site, a turtle sanctuary, and a coastal forest and mangrove ecosystem, which supports an array of wildlife. There’s no shortage of things to do and guests can choose their own adventure with a variety of experiences like adventure and wildlife excursions, and local immersion activities that allow guests to explore the local environment and engage with the community. Don’t skip the farm tour, it’s an impressive display of regeneration of degraded landscapes as Permaculture Manager Amanda introduces you to the ecological design that is increasing food sovereignty. Do it all, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all. It’s the perfect place to just go with the flow. If you’re an early riser, participate in the release of baby sea turtle hatchlings at sunrise, and experience the sense of awe that comes from witnessing them make their way to the water. What was particularly notable was how much young children were enjoying the expansive natural playground the property has to offer, without the need for constant entertainment and stimulation or being glued to screens. They make their own fun with what nature has to offer.
Wellness
Believing that when we feel healthy and well we are better able to serve our planet and ourselves, Playa Viva emphasizes taking care of oneself as part of the experience. Holistic hosts play a special role, serving as guides to help guests get the most out of their stay, by leading yoga classes and providing specialized bodywork and therapies based on their expertise. All bodywork and massages are performed in the beachside palapas, as the sound of the ocean lulls you to complete relaxation. A unique Zen Thai body treatment stretched my body in the most restorative of ways, offering me relief from the physical demands of travel. Morning yoga is offered 7 days a week in the beautiful ocean-side yoga shalas, and is suitable for all skill levels. After a light breakfast, it’s a great way to loosen up the body for the day. For those who prefer to work out on their own, the beach gym (known as the ‘Flintstones’ gym) is well-equipped with free weights and other equipment.
Sustainability in Practice
Playa Viva prides itself on offering a stay that treads lightly on the planet and being a being a leading example of sustainability and social impact:
EnvironmenT
The property is run entirely off-grid, generating 100% of their energy from solar power.
They are advancing its ReSiMar regeneration initiative in the Juluchuca watershed, and together with local communities they are working to eradicate environmental degradation, with a goal of restoring over 350 hectares of land to produce high-value food products, enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and sequester carbon.
Each year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles and dozens of endangered Green and Leatherback turtles come to Playa Viva’s shores to lay their eggs. Through the non-profit organization La Tortuga Viva, a sanctuary run by a marine biologist and a crew of dedicated volunteers, they are helping safeguard turtle species by relocating eggs to the safety of their hatchery. Since 2010, they have successfully released over 500,000 hatchlings.
Culture
Guided by a mission to improve life for people and place in rural Mexico, Playa Viva has engaged the community, empowering local producers in regenerative permaculture practices on their farms in the Juluchuca watershed
Economy
Through their ReSiMar program, they are addressing limited economic opportunities by creating new agriculture jobs for community members, boosting the local economy and supporting a women’s cooperative in producing organic consumer products such as medicinal teas, superfood powders and coconut oil
Why We Love It
There’s so much to love and my visit had too many highlights to name them all. I loved the intimate, family feel. The people made my experience feel so warm and welcoming; from the staff who always have a big smile on their faces and take great pride in their work, to the other guests that I really bonded with through shared experiences. It still blows my mind that I could watch breaching humpback whales while sipping a margarita at happy hour. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about and immersing myself in all of their initiatives that are contributing to positive environmental and social impact, including my time spent at the sea turtle sanctuary releasing hatchlings into the ocean. Best of all, not only did I leave feeling super restored, but I felt good knowing my footprint was small.
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While there are canvas curtain panels and the beds are meticulously protected with mosquito netting, the rooms are quite open-air, so be prepared for the possibility of encountering critters in your room. I found a few frogs in my treehouse bathroom.
Cell signal is almost non-existent and wi-fi is only available in the common area of the property, so Playa Viva encourages guests to “disconnect to reconnect”
As incredible as the ambient sounds of nature are, the crashing waves and nocturnal noises can get quite loud. Thankfully, the rooms come stocked with ear plugs to help you get a restful sleep.
Water used in showers and room sinks is not filtered, so rooms are equipped with a large dispenser of filtered water by the bathroom sink.
As the hotel is 100% powered by solar and electricity is limited, avoid bringing a hair dryer and embrace the air dry!
Bring an ocean-friendly/reef-safe sunscreen (formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) to avoid causing harm to marine life.
VICTORIA MALLOY
Victoria Malloy is a Toronto-based environmental journalist covering a range of sustainability topics. Her work has appeared in TIME, National Geographic, Vanity Fair, Vogue Business, Conde Nast Traveler, Women’s Health, Yoga Journal and more. You can find her on social at @victoria_malloy
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