Playa Icacos Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Renovated
2022
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Local WellnessOutside the door
Regenerative bamboo lodge
Winding sandy trails weave between native dune flora and open-air bamboo lounges, operating completely off-grid beneath the Pacific sunshine.
“Playa Viva offers total immersion through biophilic design, shielding guests from the elements while getting them viscerally close to nature.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Biophilic bamboo architecture by Atelier Nomadic, engineered to run entirely off-grid.
Remarkable
Sunrise sea turtle hatchling releases paired with tours across the permaculture farm.
Notable
Morning oceanfront yoga in the bamboo shala and traditional Mesoamerican temazcal ceremonies.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, The 50 Discovery and AFAR.
A mere 20 casitas, for starters, is about as far as it gets from mass tourism in the first place.
“The bamboo structures designed by holistic architecture practice Nomadic Resorts are also ill advised for people who need TV or air-conditioning—though relief from the heat comes often via sea breezes.”
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Set along the secluded sands of Playa Icacos near Juluchuca village, the coast sits forty minutes south of Zihuatanejo.
The rooms
Open-air bamboo treehouses shaped like mobula rays perch among coconut palms, with cumaru timber floors looking directly out across the Pacific surf.
The saltwater pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A curved saltwater pool sits along the beachfront, lined with palapas and loungers facing the Pacific sunset.
The spa
Open-air palapas right on the beach host deep-tissue massages, and guests can gather for traditional Mesoamerican temazcal ceremonies.
The yoga pavilion
Complimentary morning yoga classes take place on the open-air bamboo deck, looking straight out over the Pacific surf.
Restaurant
Communal Dining Pavilion
Shared timber tables host family-style Mexican meals crafted with produce from the on-site forty-nine-acre permaculture farm.
There are now 20 rooms and suites, ranging from award-winning treehouses to bungalow-style casitas and studios, built using locally harvested and sustainable materials.
How it began
Founders David Leventhal and Sandra Kahn transformed two hundred acres of degraded coastal coconut groves into an off-grid, solar-powered nature reserve.
Stay here
Playa Viva
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.