Features, Travel

Your Own Private Mexico

Like golf, Mexico has seen its popularity rise during the pandemic.

By Matt Halnan

Features, Travel

Your Own Private Mexico

Like golf, Mexico has seen its popularity rise during the pandemic.

By Matt Halnan

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he country’s agreeable climate, vast coastal spaces and, let’s face it, lack of COVID-testing requirements have conspired to lure travelers to its booming beach destinations in droves. The vacation-home market has subsequently soared, especially in locales where a world-class golf course is involved. For those dreaming of their own private villa on one of Mexico’s best courses, we’ve teed up a few inspiring options at the premier resort communities from the Caribbean to the Sea of Cortez.

Costa Palmas

East Cape

The Community: A tranquilo alternative to Cabo, Baja’s East Cape is a sparsely developed stretch some 60 miles north along the Sea of Cortez. At Costa Palmas, a 2.5-mile-long swimmable beach flanks a Four Seasons resort, a marina fit for super yachts, and a sports complex complete with a baseball diamond. Residential options include 24 villas at a soon-to-open Aman resort.

The Course: Billed as Baja’s only walkable course, Costa Palmas’ Robert Trent Jones II layout embodies the East Cape’s mellow mindset. Three six-hole loops—conducive to casual rounds when time is short—meander along the marina, past an estuary, and over coastal dunes. A 30,000-square-foot putting course is made for family fun.

The Home: Beach Club Casita 8 ($14.95 million) is a contemporary retreat just steps from the Sea of Cortez. The 5-bedroom spread spans more than 7,000 square feet inside, plus some 2,000 feet more of pool, patio, dining, and grill-station space. Costa Palmas’ beach, yacht, and golf clubs are all a short walk or cart ride away.

costapalmas.com

Punta Mita

Riviera Nayarit

The Community: A 1,500-acre haven of sun, surf, and sand set just north of Puerto Vallarta at the tip of Banderas Bay. Nearly 10 miles of shoreline wrap this private peninsula, where you’ll find five beach clubs, 19 residential neighborhoods, and hotels from Four Seasons and St. Regis.

The Course: Punta Mita’s two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses consistently rank among Mexico’s best. The original, Pacifico, features the oft-photographed “Tail of the Whale,” a bonus 180-yarder that plays to an offshore green on a natural island.

The Home: Good times are guaranteed at Casa Mia Kupuri 12 ($6.8 million), which comes equipped with a home theater, a bocce court, two Polaris ATVs, and three golf carts. The ample 6-bedroom estate accommodates
18 guests, who can also avail themselves of an ocean-view pool, a gym, and concierge services.

puntamita.com

Danzante Bay

Loreto

The Community: Baja’s rugged desert and sparkling Sea of Cortez converge at Danzante Bay, a 741-acre community outside the resort town of Loreto. A hub for land and sea adventures, the resort offers a range of beach-, mountain-, and course-view residences priced from $1.7 million.

The Course: Rees Jones’ TPC Danzante Bay is as dramatic as its setting, following the chaotic contours of the Sierra de la Giganta mountains as they spill down toward Loreto Bay National Marine Park. Grab a cart—this is definitely not a walking course—and enjoy an adventurous round that peaks on the clifftop tee of the par-3 17th.

The Home: Danzante Bay co-owner Owen Perry snagged the prime lot—an elevated expanse above the 18th hole—for his personal home. He’s now listing the 6-bedroom villa, dubbed Danzante Casa Uno ($7.2 million), with its 6,100 square feet of living space, infinity pool, game room with pool table, and two-story fountain.

danzantebay.com

Chileno Bay

Los Cabos

The Community: Chileno Bay stands apart for its swimmable coves, Auberge Resorts hotel, and Tom Fazio course. Members at this Discovery Land Company property also enjoy a private beach club, a sprawling sports complex, and an extensive outdoor-pursuits program.

The Course: Fazio has designed more than 15 courses for Discovery communities from Nashville to Portugal. His Chileno Bay effort soars high, offering ocean views from
every hole. Discovery’s beloved “comfort stations”—on-course eateries stocked with gourmet snacks and cocktails—and come-as-you-are club rules (playing barefoot is perfectly acceptable) round out the superlative experience..

The Home: Ballena Bay ($60 million) is the ultimate Cabo estate. Set above a cove where whales (ballenas) gather in winter, the 20,500-square-foot contemporary palace is a sanctuary for escapists and entertainers, with 8 bedrooms, infinity pool with island, media room with golf simulator, and ballroom for as many as 120 guests.

chilenobayclub.com

Tamarindo

Costalegre

The Community: A brand-new Four Seasons hotel anchors this reinvigorated resort area on a stunning stretch of the Costalegre, just north of Manzanillo. Tropical jungle and tranquil coves make up most of the private 3,000-acre peninsula, only 2 percent of which will be developed. Amenities include a pair of clay tennis courts, a dock for fishing and diving trips, and El Tamarindo Golf Course.

The Course: Opened in 1995, this David Fleming design is a remnant of the site’s old El Tamarindo hotel and club. Now under Four Seasons’ management, the course has persevered for good reason—most notably the beauty of its out-and-back layout that cuts through the jungle from cove to cove and offers ocean views from half the holes.

The Home: Four Seasons is keeping quiet about the resort’s residential options, planning to announce details sometime in 2023. What’s known is this: There will only be 23 Four Seasons residences, they will occupy one of the best sites in Mexico, and they promise to go fast.

fourseasons.com/tamarindo

Mayakoba

Riviera Maya

The Community: Mexico’s top Caribbean community spans more than 600 acres of mangrove forests, lagoons, and white-sand beach. The verdant swath is shared by four hotels—from Rosewood, Banyan Tree, Andaz, and Fairmont—and a combined 25 restaurants, four beach clubs, a dive school, a cooking school, and more.

The Course: Even among the many diversions at Mayakoba, the development’s El Camaleón course is not to be overlooked. The Greg Norman design—which hosted Mexico’s first PGA Tour event back in 2007—is flatter than its Pacific-coast counterparts, but it does not lack for variety, with holes alternating among mangrove, jungle, and beach backdrops.

The Home: Mayakoba’s Fairmont and Rosewood hotels offer private residences starting at about $1.7 and $4.5 million, respectively. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2023, the newest at the Fairmont will feature six three- and four-bedroom fairway residences with an all-new interior design package. Only three villas remain at the Rosewood, including the 4-bedroom, lagoon-front Casa Coral.

mayakoba.com

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Masters that changed golf

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Your Own Private Mexico

Your Own Private Mexico