W

as it Walt Whitman or the nation of Mexico that said “I am large, I contain multitudes”? It was the poet, of course, but it’s equally true of Mexico — whether your picture of it is the ruined pyramids of the Yucatán or the hip nightspots of the Distrito Federal, you can bet there’s another side of Mexico you’re not considering. In the case of Costa Careyes, it’s the exclusive, relatively undeveloped, upscale yet unpretentious side.

There’s something almost European about it, like a classic Riviera resort town — except there isn’t actually a town. This is still the New World, and there’s nothing on these shores but the fifty-odd villas, casitas, and bungalows of Costa Careyes. The villas aren’t open to the public — they’re private residences, belonging to the hand-picked Costa Careyes members. But you don’t have to be a member to book a casita in the little village that comprises the Costa Careyes hotel.

The sea is your playground here, from the miles and miles of empty beach to any seafaring activity you could ask for, from surfing to deep-sea fishing. As for entertainment, there’s a polo club three miles to the south — hitch a ride for dinner in its Argentinean restaurant on Tuesdays, when the hotel’s own restaurant is closed (avoid the one at the closer El Careyes hotel).

And though it feels as remote as anywhere, it’s not that far off the beaten track: Manzanillo is an hour to the south, and Puerto Vallarta a little more than triple that to the north.

How to Get There: Costa Careyes is approximately a 1-hour drive from Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO).