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Lately, people have been quick to call almost any up-and-coming vacation destination the New Tulum. Santa Teresa, a small surf town in southern Costa Rica, for example, has been called the New Tulum. Isla Holbox, a sandy island northwest of Cancún, has been, too. Same for Todos Santos and Nicaragua’s Little Corn Island and Playa Maderas. Even Reykjavík—yes, the city in Iceland—has been given the honor at some point.
Of course, several factors contribute to a destination being designated as the New Tulum. For one, the place must possess a certain free-spirited sensibility. It must be somewhat remote, the kind of off-the-beaten-path place that the average spring breaker might deem inconvenient. There is usually—though apparently not always—a beach involved. It is also the kind of place that attracts a certain glittering, nomadic tribe.
While the merits of dubbing any destination the “new” whatever are certainly up for debate, Costalegre on Mexico’s Pacific coast is a place that could easily be added to the aforementioned and ever-growing list of New Tulums. Located between the popular tourist town of Puerto Vallarta and the port city of Manzanillo, the area’s series of secluded coves, pristine beaches, and dramatic capes are just remote enough to keep crowds away. And the resorts, hotels, and villas that dot each shimmering bay have a certain bohemian flourish that, when combined a bit of good old-fashioned decadence, make the area’s appeal impossible to deny.
One of Costalegre’s resorts in particular has been popping up more often in the dazzling, envy-inducing social feeds of models and celebs as of late. It’s called Cuixmala, and though it opened to the public a few years ago, it’s still not widely known outside certain circles. That’s likely because the grand, 13-room hotel is perched high on a cliff above a private, two-mile beach, and has its own airstrip, meaning it is not exactly the kind of place you might just happen by. And, with its own tennis courts, soccer field, horse stables, sea turtle sanctuary, and wildlife reserve (replete with jaguars, zebras, and freshwater crocodiles), it’s also the kind of place that, once checked in, you likely wouldn’t want to leave. No wonder Emily Ratajkowski is a fan, as is Poppy Delevingne, who even celebrated her birthday there last year, in the company of pals like Derek Blasberg and sister Cara.
“People love the wildness and open spaces and the un-manicured, pristine nature that is still in this area,” explains Alix Goldsmith Marcaccini, the property’s owner and the daughter of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, who originally built Cuixmala for use as his own private retreat. “We all love the fact there is none of the usual infrastructure that takes away the sense of adventure and freedom. Visitors can see so much wildlife on land and in the sea that is becoming a rarity in other parts of the world. They also enjoy untouched wild beaches not overridden by plastic umbrellas and chairs, a place where one really feels at home with the elements.”
Below, a look inside and around the dreamy property. Should you decide to go, here’s an insider tip: Be sure not to miss Marcaccini’s other property, the nearby Hacienda de San Antonio, which she says is “set at the foot of Volcán de Colima, an active volcano.” Hmm, sounds remote. Another potential candidate for the New Tulum?
