Casa Barracuda

Tranquil Tropical Retreat

This Pacific oceanfront property lets the waves and coastal vistas invade every space. Covered alfresco living areas are open to the ocean and demarcated by inventive, shadow-casting wooden pillars or crossed by artfully graphic wood boardwalks. Walls are marked by patterned breeze-block sections that create dramatic light and shadow displays on interior walls and floors, and bedrooms offer beachfront balconies and bathroom windows looking out to sea.

The primary bedroom is located upstairs and features a king bed, view balcony, tub and work desk, the bathroom a haven of patterned light from breeze block openings. A second upstairs bedroom also features a king bed and is an independent apartment of sorts, with a kitchenette and in-suite living and dining area that opens to a pool and oceanview terrace. Downstairs bedrooms include a king room with terrace, and two double single bedrooms that could be converted to king beds. One offers an oceanview terrace, the other a desk and interior garden views.

Common areas are alfresco and casual, with bench style couches, a covered outdoor dining portal, and ceiling fans whirring overhead. A circular, infinity-edged pool overlooks the Pacific, and the lushly landscaped courtyard also features a pebbled bocce ball pitch, lounge chairs and chaises, and a wooden boardwalk leading to the ocean.

Around

Troncones is a relatively unspoiled destination on Mexico’s Pacific coastline in the state of Guerrero near Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, with the Sierra Madre mountains as its backdrop. A laid-back coastal town of some 400 to 500 residents, the community is a mix of locals and newcomers seeking surf and escape, without the glitz and hustle of other seafront Mexican communities. Whale watching brings visitors to Troncones between December and April each year, and the lagoons surrounding the town are also home to a wide variety of birds and other species. With its miles of golden sand beaches, the Troncones coastline is popular among surfers who love its left-rolling reef breaks, and the area has become a bohemian wellness mecca, a place where local fishermen coexist easily with yogis, surfers and sunseekers and area restaurants serve the daily catch. Blessed with miles of virgin beaches where pelicans skim the water and endangered sea turtles lay their eggs, this part of the Pacific coast is pocked with tidal pools. Eco tours in the area include sea turtle watching, kayaking in the La Boca Estuary, or volunteering at the local cat sanctuary. Fishing charters leave from La Majahua nearby, seeking game fish large and small, including sailfish and wahoo, bonita and dorada. Guided horseback riding along the beach and into the jungle is a favorite local tour, and the nearby lagoon offers Audubon Society-quality birdwatching. Adventure seekers (spelunkers) can check out the local Cueva de la Majahua, an unlit but stair and rail-lined cave with stalactites, stalagmites and small rimstone pools.

While the town of Troncones is small, there are basic groceries/necessities, a produce stand, and beverage delivery trucks arriving regularly. Pretty handmade goods are available at informal pop-up stands, and one of the handful of small hotels hosts a weekly artisan market. Beachside stands and cute palapas offer fresh-from-the-water ceviche. For outings beyond the Pacific, there are guided kayak tours of the nearby estuary, a haven for birds, wildlife, and freshwater turtles under the coco palms.

Location

Troncones, Guerrerro, Mexico. Nearest airport: Zihuatenejo-Ixtapa (30 minutes)

Best time to visit

Year round