Careyes: The Epitome of Bohemian Luxury Living
Careyes is a luxury private estate resort located in the southwestern coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Not your typical resort-style property, Careyes is more of an exclusive hideaway which has earned a renowned reputation for its upscale yet unpretentious Mediterranean-style community. Dotted with surrealist cliffside ocean castles, vibrantly colorful casitas, and large-scale cosmic art installations - all of which are surrounded by a lush jungle forest - Careyes is a visual show-stopper and truly a thing of dreams.
An approximate 3 hour drive from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, or 90 minute drive from Playa de Oro International Airport in Manzanillo, Careyes is relatively off the beaten path and has in kind remained a well-kept secret amongst the international jet set (glitterati guests have included Cindy Crawford, Robert DeNiro, Heidi Klum, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, to name a few). Since its inception, Careyes became a magical enclave attracting a distinguished crowd of wealthy bohemians and creative powerhouses from around the world: most being lovers of nature who value peace, seclusion and privacy.
THE SETTING
Founded by Italian entrepreneur and visionary Gian Franco Brignone in 1968, the 20,000 acre parcel of coastal jungle land forms part of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, boasts an impressive 9 miles of pristine coastline, and is a protected area brimming with hundreds of wildlife species. Deliberate on not overdeveloping the terrain - 93% of the land will always remain protected - Careyes is home to 65 extraordinary private villas, 40 picturesque casitas, and the newly renovated “El Careyes Club & Residences” (an affordable hotel replete with five infinity pools and 50 ocean-front suites). Since Gian Franco’s recent passing in early 2022, the property is now managed by the remaining Careyes founding family members: Gian Franco’s three children Filippo, Giorgio and Emanuela. They continue the family legacy of managing this property with a lot of thought, vision and heart into every aspect of its maintenance and sustainable development.
ACTIVITIES
While visitors and residents naturally feel at peace in Careyes, easily being fulfilled in simply basking within such stunning surroundings, there are also an array of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from while staying there, including partaking in Careyes’ budding wellness program.
Delight in snorkeling and scuba diving adventures, seasonal dolphin and whale watching, turtle conservation tours, horseback riding at sunset on Playa Teopa, paddle boarding, ocean kayaking, fishing, polo lessons, tennis, mountain biking and hiking, yoga and pilates classes, birdwatching, as well as boat tours to the nearby virgin beaches and islands.
A central social gathering place for all is Careyes’ own town square: the “Plaza de los Caballeros del Sol”, an homage to the communal plaza of a traditional Mexican village. Here you will find an art museum, cinema, clothing and jewelry shops, two restaurants, a small hospital, and the non-profit Careyes Foundation.
The Careyes Foundation is a recent addition to the Careyes conception and one close to its heart and soul. Brignone’s youngest son Filipo strove to make it paramount for the Careyes community to give back to and uplift the neighboring Mexican communities of the area, thereby creating the Careyes Foundation. The Foundation is run by donations and focuses on educating children from over 10 local villages. It grants employment opportunities, offers language lessons, provides vocational training, a music school, hosts movie nights, recreational biking, art projects, leads sea turtle and environmental conservation efforts, and more. It notably counts with a consistent influx of new teaching staff members by exceptional volunteers from around the world.
CULINARY SITES
At Careyes there are 7 al fresco restaurants in which to eat, drink and socialize.
Playa Rosa Beach Club is a casual yet stylish beachfront dining space which offers Mediterranean Mexican cuisine. La Duna is the poolside restaurant of El Careyes Club & Residences, offering healthy cuisine and locally-sourced products. Pueblo 25 is globally inspired cuisine whose menu-less servings change every day based on what the fishermen bring in and what’s freshly picked from local organic and hydroponic farms. Casa de Nada is a cozy, rustic, elevated beach shack with a striking view of Playa Teopa. It offers Mediterranean, Mexican and vegetarian tapas-style dishes, all homemade, organic, fresh and healthy. Punto Como is a trattoria wine bar located in Careyes town square that specializes in Italian dishes with a Mexican flair. La Coscolina is a cafe and terrace lounge also located along Careyes town square that offers delicatessen specialties, vegetarian-friendly cuisine, local coffee, fresh smoothies and juices, as well as an evening wine scene.
Notable
A landmark that cannot go without mention and that will be permanently imprinted into your cells’ memory banks upon visiting is the behemoth and otherworldly “Copa Del Sol,” which could easily be mistaken for one of the wonders of the world. A monumental concrete hemispheric shell that stands at the edge of an ocean cliff overlooking Playa Teopa, the majestic Copa Del Sol is used for sound healings, meditation and mystical communions with the cosmos and Mother Nature, materializing into somewhat of an energetic tattoo of your visit to Careyes.
Another rarity of this masterfully curated property experience is the Costa Careyes Polo Club, the pride and joy of creator Giorgio Brignone. Inaugurated in 1990, the club has 2 regulation Bermuda-grass fields and stables for 150 horses. It hosts the professional Agua Alta Polo Cup in April and houses 60 ponies for every level of play.
EVENTS
The Chinese New Year Celebration is based on the lunar calendar and is celebrated on the first new moon of spring. In Careyes, a Mexican poncho made by artisans and symbolizing the fortune of the Chinese zodiac animal of the year is given as a present to the guests attending the event born in the years of that specific animal.
The Arte Careyes Film Festival is a Mexican and Latin American film festival which includes music and contemporary art. It is a by-invitation only event and is hosted annually (although due to the COVID-19 health outbreak, the date for the next festival is currently postponed).
Ondalinda is an art, music, culture and wellness festival held annually and is also a by-invitation-only event. Touted to be a Careyes version of Burning Man (with five-star accommodations), it is a tribal gathering of creative minds and hearts.
Copa Agua Alta is the popular polo tournament held at the Costa Careyes Polo Club that brings players from all over the world to Mexico and is one of the most renowned polo events in Mexico. It takes place annually during Easter.
WHEN TO VISIT
The weather in Careyes seems too good to be true. Blue skies and sunny days, not a cloud in sight, for days on end. Warm enough to don a bikini, cool enough to have no need for air conditioning, its geographical coordinates seem blessed. Careyes weather is mild all year round, with an average annual temperature of 22° and 27°C (72° - 80° F). Its dry season runs from November - June (an abundance of sun-kissed, blue sky days), and the rainy season from June - October.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Carr. Melaque - Pto. Vallarta Km. 53.5
Careyes , Jalisco, México 48894
+ 52 (315) 351 0320 | (315) 351 0322