Mexico’s Best Places to Live

In Baja, Cancún, Live, Live, Live, Live, Live, Los Cabos, Playa del Carmen & Tulum, Puerto Vallarta by Suzanne Koch

These are Mexico’s dreamiest developments featuring the most insane real estate, over-the-top amenities and best locales.

El Dorado Golf & Beach Club

Situated in between One&Only Palmilla and Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, El Dorado Golf & Beach Club spans 520 acres and features more than one mile of coastline with custom homesites, ocean-view bungalow-style casitas and villas. Casitas are offered in two-, four- and six-bedroom floor plans with the highest quality of custom finishes and architectural details. World-class architects were handpicked to craft the community’s villas which include three-, four- and five-bedroom options. Those looking to build their dream home can shop exclusive custom homesites ranging in size up to one acre with ocean, golf and desert mountain views. 

The Hilltop is the community’s newest neighborhood, home to four-, five- and seven-bedroom units ranging in size up to 8,500 square feet. Units are distributed across five buildings located near the 15th and 18th holes of the golf course. Residents here can enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows in every unit plus indoor-outdoor living spaces, a private pool or spa and southwest-facing views. 

The community’s private, award-winning 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course showcases the best of the coast and desert landscape with Discovery Land’s iconic luxury comfort stations sprinkled throughout. A member’s-only beach club features a spa and fitness center, multiple dining outlets, a movie theater and kids’ club. There’s even a market located within the gates and stocked with groceries, gifts and more to make living even easier.

For outdoor fun, residents can dive into resort-style pools or spend a day at the family-friendly Park which features two tennis courts, pickleball courts, a full-length basketball court, playground, event lawn and a comfort station. Discovery Land Company’s signature Outdoor Pursuits team helps members plan adventurous activities like kayaking, sailing and more, both in and outside of El Dorado.

eldoradobeachclub.com

Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club

Just 30 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport is Discovery Land Company’s second Los Cabos community, Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club. Boasting 1,260 acres of desert mountain settings and coastal and beach frontage, the private community offers something for every type of homebuyer with 400 residences ranging in size from 1,200 to 19,900 square feet. Home types include custom homes and homesites, haciendas, villas and casitas. No matter which you choose, each residence has either ocean frontage or ocean views with a close location to the beach. Additionally, the community emphasizes security and privacy with 24-hour, guard-gated security and neighborhood patrol. 

Community amenities are as varied as the residences, offering a way to play at any time of day. Amenities include an 18-hole Tom Fazio signature golf course with ocean views at every hole; a private oceanfront beach club with full-service spa facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a yoga and pilates studio and juice bar, three resort-style swimming pools, dining options and a member’s lounge with rooftop terrace; and the multi-acre Park that features grass turf fields, a waterpark, movie theater, playground, sporting courts, indoor-outdoor kitchens and the Kids’ Club Program. The community also offers Discovery Land Company’s signature Outdoor Pursuits program which assists members with a variety of recreational activities like surfing, boating and more.

The community is also home to Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection and has a safe year-round swimming beach on Cabo San Lucas’ only coral reef. Buyers looking to embrace the resort life will be pleased to find an assortment of villas here part of the Auberge Resort Collection.

Prices available upon request.

chilenobayclub.com

The Enclaves, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence

Located in the 2,000-acre master-planned community of Puerto Los Cabos, The Enclaves is an ultra-elite destination for those looking to live in paradise. Residential options include The Enclave Condominiums, perched atop a bluff and offered in three-bedroom floor plans and a four-bedroom penthouse; and the West Enclaves, featuring four- and five-bedroom single-family homes. While the West Enclaves has only one remaining residence available for sale at the time of print, a second phase is currently in the works and will launch more options. 

The final abode up for grabs, Residence 26, features more than 6,000 square feet of living space and will be completed just prior to the opening of the resort. Highlights include a private swimming pool and a master and VIP suite, each with their own massage garden. A chef kitchen has Caesar stone counters, Hansgrohe faucet, Asko dishwasher and Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. Bathrooms include marble floors and walls, American oak vanities, Toto undercover sinks and Hansgrohe fixtures. The master bath also has a stunning Davinci bathtub. Outdoors, homeowners can relax in the private swimming pool and spa or on the terrace, featuring a dining area with a fireplace, a fully equipped BBQ area, bar and fire pit. 

Homeowners at The Enclaves can also enjoy the amenities Puerto Los Cabos has to offer including a private beach club, a world-class marina with 200 slips, two signature golf courses by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, a 12-acre botanical park and three miles of beach. Residents will also have privileged access to Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel, slated for a fall 2019 opening. 

West Enclave Residence 26 offered at $6.4 million.

theenclaves.mx

Costa Palmas

A short 45 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport, the new beachfront resort community of Costa Palmas is just far enough removed from the hustle and bustle. Located on the East Cape, the area is undiscovered for the most part, something that’s a luxury in itself. The 1,000-acre resort community is home to the Costa Palmas Marina & Marina Village and Costa Palmas Beach & Yacht Club, both enticing amenities to complement its residential offerings which include Four Seasons Residences and Amanvari Residences.

Four Seasons offers both two- to six-bedroom Private Residences (condominiums) and up-to eight-bedroom Private Villas for homeowners who want a contemporary take on the Baja life. Seamlessly blending the indoors with the outdoors, residents can enjoy fireplaces, outdoor showers and inventive furnishings. Potential Private Residence buyers can choose between a golf course, beach or marina location while Private Villa buyers can take their pick of four home designs or opt to build their own. 

Joining the coveted real estate lineup and breaking ground in 2019, Amanvari Residences will incorporate Aman’s unique style through indoor-outdoor living spaces, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, internal courtyards and lounge areas. Floor plans here range from two- to eight-bedroom options and will all be custom-tailored by famed architect John Heah. The first phase will include 25 villas with homesites starting at $5 million. Buyers will then be able to work directly with Heah to create their dream home.

Additional community amenities to enjoy include the Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course, two miles of swimmable beach and 18 acres of orchards and farms. Homeowners of both communities will also have the option to become a member of the yacht club. 

Four Seasons Residences range from $2.25 to $22 million. Homesites for Amanvari Residences range from $5 to $26 million.

costapalmas.com, fourseasons.com/loscabos

The Cape Residences

The Cape, a Thompson Hotel introduces the most anticipated residential project to hit the shores of Cabo San Lucas in years: The Cape Residences. A boutique collection of 32 full-ownership beachfront residences, these new offerings are situated along one of the most desirable stretches of white sand in Los Cabos, the world renowned surfers’ paradise known as Monuments Beach. Near the southernmost tip of the Baja California Sur Peninsula, it is this secluded shoreline and its picturesque environs that inspired the resort’s name. The Cape is the English translation of “el cabo” and a reference to the property’s unmatched location on one of Los Cabos’ (meaning the capes) eponymous seaside points. This bold and visually inspired name is reflective of the hotel’s distinct personality—a sophisticated and stunning concept, set amidst the white sands and ocean breaks synonymous with the locale.

Homeowners at The Cape Residences will enjoy all of the hotel’s luxe amenities, including its two pools (an infinity pool with swim-up bar and a saltwater pool built into a natural rock formation on property), a rooftop lounge and garden with unmatched views of the city and the sea (the best rooftop lounge in Cabo San Lucas according to Condé Nast Traveler), an intimate spa and fitness center with two private outdoor cabanas for treatments with an ocean view, and a diverse array of chef-driven food and beverage destinations. Among the dining destinations on offer is Manta, the hotel’s signature restaurant from award-winning chef Enrique Olvera, whose restaurants have topped San Pellegrino’s “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list and received rave reviews from critics spanning the globe.

Celebrated architects Javier Sánchez and Benedikt Fahlbusch, alongside distinguished Mexican interior  designer Mariana Morales, are the creative force behind The Cape Residences, effortlessly blending the vibrant 1960’s Baja-meets-Southern California vibe of the hotel with a unique, curated modern interior design (featuring contemporary Mexican artists throughout).

Homeowners at The Cape Residences can participate in the full-service rental program managed by the hotel, enjoy 24-hour security, concierge, in-residence dining, and in-house property management services.

Starting in the low $800,000’s.

thecaperesidences.com

Puerta Cortés

Located just 20 minutes from the La Paz International Airport and five minutes from downtown, Puerta Cortés’ collection of residences offer the best in seaside living. The community, formerly named Costa Baja, is currently undergoing a $5 million renovation and rebranding, bringing its luxury lifestyle to a new level. The destination features two residential communities, Las Colinas and VistaMar, along with a marina, Gary Player Signature golf course, dining, water sports, 24-hour security, an on-site concierge and more.

The 72 hillside residences of Las Colinas offer sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Buyers can choose between four layouts ranging in size from 2,000 square feet up to more than 3,300 square feet. Situated between holes eight and ten of the golf course, floor plans range from two-bedroom plus den, two-bath to three-bedroom plus den with whirlpool, three-bath options with prices from $400,000 up to $750,000.

For a more waterfront lifestyle, VistaMar features 60 oceanfront condominiums with eight different floor plans ranging in size from 2,600 square feet up to more than 5,000 square feet. Similar amenities can be found in these residences along with walk-in closets and spacious terraces spanning up to 1,883 square feet. Floor plans range from two-bedroom, two-and-one-half baths to three-bedroom plus studio, three-and-one-half baths two-floor penthouses with prices from $500,000 up to $1.4 million.

Puerta Cortes homeowners also get the luxury of enjoying the abounding community amenities like Mexico’s only Gary Player Signature golf course, home to one of the longest par fives in the country, and the signature Blue Cortés beach club. Those with nautical toys will enjoy the world-class Pueblito Marinero, featuring an inner and outer marina able to host vessels up to 225 feet, dockside dining, on-site adventure companies and more. Those looking to explore the area by boat can sail to Isla Espiritu Santo, a short 35 minute ride away, or set out for the stunning Balandra or Pichilingue beaches, both just 20 minutes away.

Las Colinas priced from $400,000, VistaMar priced from $500,000.

puertacortes.com

Loreto Bay

Off-the-grid living takes on true meaning in Loreto Bay, a master-planned community of 700 homes nestled between the Sea of Cortez and Sierra de la Gigante mountain range on the Baja Peninsula on the Gulf of California. While the area is still relatively undiscovered (think Cabo or Punta Mita 15 years ago), those looking to make it home will find a vibrant, family-friendly lifestyle. The community is just eight minutes from the international airport and 10 minutes from the town of Loreto. Its unique pedestrian-style village makes getting around extremely convenient, with a number of restaurants, shops, spas and services all within walking distance.

The community of Loreto Bay is made up of small clusters of homes built around communal green spaces with large fountains, beautiful gardens and seating areas. Each individual home is designed around an interior courtyard with gardens and water features. Homes are offered in a variety of sizes and all are built and designed with sustainability in mind, something Loreto Bay prides itself on. On top of boasting their own recycling program, its residents don’t even need a car. Gas-powered vehicles are only allowed on the main street, while the community remains golf cart-, bike- and walking-friendly. Since there’s so much within Loreto Bay, there’s not much reason to leave. There’s even weekly farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture programs for fresh produce and products. Whether buyers are looking to purchase a second home or simply invest, offered rental programs provide added flexibility.

Residents will find a very active, unique lifestyle waiting for them with amenities encouraging outdoor exploration. Perks include community pools, an 18-hole golf course, hiking and fitness classes like yoga, Zumba, bootcamp and Pilates. There’s also the opportunity for snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking, plus boat trips to nearby islands with white beaches and turquoise waters. The community’s great location means boats can pick up residents right on Loreto Bay’s beach. 

While Loreto may still be flying under the radar, a few nearby developments offer exciting additions to the area. Just 10 minutes south of Loreto Bay is a new marina project, Waicuri Puerto Escondido. Travel another five minutes south to reach the new Villa Del Palmar development, home to a resort and world-class TPC Danzante Bay golf course. 

Homes starting in the low $200,000s.

buyloreto.com

Punta Mita

Known as the “Crown Jewel of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit,” Punta Mita is one of the most coveted addresses for second-home owners. Boasting 17 residential communities, buyers can take their pick from boutique condos to oceanfront estates and everything in between. Spanning nine-and-one-half miles of Pacific Coast, the safe, gated community is just 28 miles north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Those flying private however, can take advantage of the community’s private terminal, a luxe feature that’s just the start of the impressive amenity lineup.

Residents here have everything at their fingertips. Amenities emphasize an outdoor lifestyle with multiple beach clubs, a tennis club, spas and the Punta Mita Golf Club, the community’s centerpiece that’s home to two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and recently opened Club Punta Mita Golf Academy. Five surf breaks can be found in Punta Mita alone and the surrounding warm water is ideal for whale watching, sailing, spearfishing and snorkeling. Complementing the aqua lifestyle, Punta Mita is home to four beach clubs including the new Kupuri and Sufi Ocean Clubs, plus the recently renovated Pacifico Beach Club.

Along with an array of activity offerings, residents can rest easy with the recent addition of the state-of-the-art Punta Mita Hospital, offering high-level emergency and medical care round the clock. Residents also have access to the community’s two five-star resorts (with a new one to be announced soon!), The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and recently renovated Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. Starting in 2020, the nearby area will welcome even more luxury with One&Only, Rosewood, Auberge and Ritz-Carlton all set to open properties.

The community’s newest real estate offerings include the TAU Luxury Condominiums and Iyari Spectacular Villas, available for sale now.

Prices range from $500,000 up to $26 million.

puntamita.com

One&Only Mandarina (Photo: RLH and Hayes Davidson)

One&Only Mandarina Private Homes

Less than one hour north of Puerto Vallarta and 15 minutes from Sayulita, Mandarina is majestically positioned between the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The new resort and residential community not only boasts an unreal locale, it’s also home to the very first collection of One&Only branded residences. The 55 ultra-private villas will embody everything travelers have come to expect from the brand’s elevated level of luxury.

Each residence is uniquely designed to showcase the best ocean views while maintaining complete privacy amid the tropical landscape. Offered in four-, five- and eight-bedroom options, the villas are situated along the southern peak. Spanning approximately 5,000 up to nearly 11,000 square feet of indoor space, these abodes definitely don’t skimp on size. Even outdoor spaces wow from 2,500 up to 8,000 square feet of space, decked out with terraces, garden areas and infinity-edge pools overlooking the jungle and coastline.

Community amenities at Mandarina are unique and varied. Most notably, the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club will feature a polo lounge, horseback riding tours and lessons, weekly charro nights and kids’ activities plus host international yearly events. The Outpost will be the go-to for adventures of all kinds from tennis and pickle ball to a Jungle Course and excursions. Family-friendly Canalan Beach Club will feature an infinity-edge pool, water adventures, dining and spa treatments. Residents can also explore the Estuary by waterways via calm waters or head to The Farm, an all-encompassing culinary experience. The Farm features gardens from which ingredients will be used at a farm-to-table restaurant.

Additionally, residents will be able to enjoy access to One&Only Mandarina. The neighboring resort is set to debut in 2020 and will offer a myriad of amenities. The whole family can spend the day at the shorefront One&Only Majahua Beach Club or at The Plateau, a hillside destination with infinity-edge pools, cabanas, all-day dining, a bar and custom boutique. Other not-to-miss features include The Point, an adult-only destination; The Jetty, the starting point for water adventures and a place to moor yachts; One&Only Spa; and an 85,000-sq.-ft. Kids’ Club. 

Starting at $4.5 million.

discovermandarina.com

Mayakoba Residences

Tucked into the Mexican Caribbean jungles in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Mayakoba Residences are a part of the highly exclusive Mayakoba community. Home to four world-class resorts including Andaz Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont Mayakoba and Rosewood Mayakoba, the complex is just 40 minutes from the Cancun airport and the most luxurious in the area. Real estate options include Fairmont- and Rosewood-branded residences along waterways that offer a desirable alternative to classic beachfront living.

Keeping in line with Rosewood’s level of unparalleled service and attention to detail, homeowners here can live out the brand’s A Sense of Place philosophy. Offered in two-, three- and four-bedroom floor plans, residences feature interiors by Bando x Seidel Meersseman that are designed to showcase the surrounding nature. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the lagoon while open spaces, large terraces, private pools and the use of wood and stone accentuate the verdant setting. Full ownership is available and owners not only have access to Mayakoba’s amenities but also the benefits of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts around the world.

Fairmont Residences offer more flexible ownership choices with three- and four-bedroom villas sold in one-twelfth fractions starting at $195,000. Buyers can also choose the whole ownership route with rental program options available. Residences fuse together luxury and nature with design by SB Architects and interiors by RV Design. Along with Fairmont’s pristine service, owners score privileges both inside and outside Mayakoba.

Aside from luxe living spaces, owners at both communities have access to all the fun at Mayakoba’s four resorts, 25 restaurants, four beach clubs and pools, four spas and the PGA Championship El Camaleón golf course.

Rosewood Residences priced from $3.3 million for full ownership. Fairmont Residences priced from $1.4 million for full ownership.

mayakobaresidences.com

Riva

Located just 20 minutes from the Cancun International Airport in the highly desirable community of Puerto Cancun, RIVA offers the best of both urban and coastal life. Direct access to the beach is a major draw here but its high level of construction quality is just as impressive. RIVA is set to become the first residential project in southeast Mexico to gain the LEED sustainability certification. This means lower maintenance costs, increase in asset value, energy and water conservation and more to keep the planet green and owners happy.

Situated within the gated neighborhood of La Laguna 1, the low-density building that makes up RIVA is home to 40 exclusive apartments spread across seven floors. Buyers can shop floor plans ranging in total size from 1,543 to 3,207 square feet in two-bedroom, two-and-one-half bath up to three-bedroom (plus maid’s room), two-and-one-half bath penthouse options. Outdoor spaces feature either a perimeter terrace or front- and rear-terraces with stunning views. RIVA amenities include a rooftop pool and Jacuzzi, a gym, kids’ playroom and access to La Laguna I’s private marina and recreational green areas.

As part of Puerto Cancun’s burgeoning community, RIVA owners will also have access to even more fun including an exclusive beach club with dining, multiple pools, an outdoor gym and volleyball court; a Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course; Cancun’s largest marina with ability to accommodate yachts up to 130 feet and a dry dock able to store boats up to 35 feet; and access to water activities and a sports training center. RIVA is also just a few steps from Marina Town Center, Puerto Cancun’s newest shopping destination, home to more than 122 shops including movie theaters, boutiques, restaurants, entertainment and more.

Starting at $10,373,228 MXN (approximately $540,000 USD).

rivacancun.mx

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