Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1533677
Yuma Casa Escape to PAPERCITY PROMOTION S iri, play "Leaving on a Jet Plane." United Airlines has recently launched the first direct flight from Houston to Puerto Escondido. In less than three hours, you can feel the sand between your toes at the stunning new Casa Yuma oceanside resort on Playa Los Naranjos in Oaxaca, Mexico, situated between a picture-perfect palm grove and the Pacific coast, a short ride from the surf town of Puerto Escondido. Casa Yuma was co-founded by Alpa Investment owner Tim de Belloy, who brings a global perspective to the hotel and travel industry. After growing up in Paris, he attended business school in London and lived in Madrid and Buenos Aires before calling Houston home. "Casa Yuma was my first passion project in the hospitality space," he says. "I fell in love with Puerto Escondido, and the rest is history." He and co-founders Sara Skalli and Camille Lambert worked for six years to bring the magic of Puerto Escondido to life through Casa Yuma. The land fell into de Belloy's lap: He was scouting locations for another project when he stumbled onto the property and inspiration struck: "We need to build a hotel, right here." "Puerto Escondido is a hidden gem," de Belloy says. "With its beautiful landscape in between breathtaking mountains and the Pacific Ocean, with crazy sunsets and wide vegetation, it's unlike any other destination. It still has its undiscovered surf-town vibe, but now there's an emerging art scene led by the Casa Wabi Foundation, architecture, culinary, and culture … It's hard to beat." Casa Yuma's minimalist oceanside design — care of architect Ricardo de la Concha, co-founder of TAAC, and interior designer Sara Skalli — turns each of the 25 guest suites into a private retreat utilizing traditional Oaxacan materials such as chukum, a building material made from the resin of the indigenous chukum tree and limestone-based stucco. Soft pink adobe bricks from Puebla are used for decorative walls, and interiors draw upon locally made objects and textiles. Private terraces, an open-air restaurant with traditional Oaxacan cuisine, expansive ocean views, cultural programming, and more round out the offerings. "We created Casa Yuma to be a unique hotel with beautiful architecture but is still laid-back and open to receive like- minded people," de Belloy says. "Casa Yuma is designed to make you feel at home. It revolves around the idea of connection and creating spaces where you can meet people, whether it's at the beachside bar, taking in the sunset, or in our sunken fireplace on the beach," says de Belloy. Casa Yuma is only minutes from Puerto Escondido; Carrizalillo Bay, where you can learn to surf; and Playa Zicatela, the famed beach for seasoned surfers. There's also yoga, deep sea fishing, whale watching, and more. "The beauty of Puerto Escondido is that there are so many different ways to experience it; you can do it differently each year," de Belloy says. "From relaxing to adventure, wellness to Puerto's nightlife, a new experience awaits each time." Casa Yuma Ventanilla los Naranjos, Lot 10, Ventanilla Colotepec, Oaxaca 70937 casayuma.com; hello@casayuma.com +52 55 9549 4316 90