Casa CAL

An Elevated Palapa Rises to Meet the Ocean Views

This beach house rental in Oaxaca is a modern homage to the simple Palapas the region is known for. Initially designed in connection with an artist and developers who participated in the creation of the Pritzker Prize-winning CASA WABI house and art center, the house was completed by Mexico City-based firm Baaq and was fashioned from an abandoned pre-existing foundation. 

It's elevated to rise above and capture the spectacular ocean views, with large concrete slabs and breathable lattice work that allows the breezes to cool the spaces naturally.  

The indoor-outdoor spaces have an all-natural ease combined with the muscular concrete design that pairs artistic and architectural vision with traditional Oaxacan flavor. 

With bedrooms housed on the lower floor and communal areas and the pool at the top, the home inverts the eye and defies expectations.

The rugged Pacific coast is a surfing mecca and natural wonderland that has attracted adventurers and nature lovers for years. Grab your board and hit some of the best swells in the world and stop for the fresh catch of the day on your way back to this amazing compound.  

The hardest thing you'll have to decide is pool… or beach.

Located in a small compound of six separate villas with a clubhouse, this beach house in Oaxaca is immersed within the wild and remote coastal beauty of Oaxaca just south of Puerto Escondido.

Constructed of Brutalist slabs of concrete with Palapa roofs and extensive lattice work, the house is a tactile experience.

Its elevated silhouette was designed to take advantage of the ocean breezes and views of the sea and is divided into two distinct parts; one side opens to the ocean and allows for communal activities, and the other is hidden behind a perforated screen which allows ventilation and light into more private spaces. 

There are five bedrooms located on the lower floor and one on the upper floor, a fully-equipped kitchen and a massive dining and lounge poolside with room for 12 guests. The upper room "cube", made of latticed palm bone, is perched atop the structure allowing the trade winds to pass through, and offering beautiful views of the water.

Surrounded by native gardens, you'll have direct access to the beach and share a beach club with a pool, a sand soccer field, and a paddle tennis court.

Additional features

Fully staffed with private chef (optional grocery stocking and menu selections) and housekeeper with personalized concierge services available. Optional services include: massage, yoga and Pilates classes and surf lessons. Wifi throughout, TV, kitchen and bath amenities, laundry facilities. Private parking.

Around

The tiny town of El Tomatal is located along a remote stretch of Pacific coast, a half hour south of the port town of Puerto Escondido. Backed by jungle and situated along the scenic shoreline, there are miles of picture-perfect beaches including surf spot La Grava just in front of the house. Also nearby is the town of Zipolite which has great restaurants and a nudist beach.

Puerto Escondido lies at the end of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range just over 100 miles from the inland capital of Oaxaca. Arranged around a picturesque bay dotted with gigantic rock formations, the area is divided between Bacocho Beach on the north end, the Playa Principal resort area in the middle, and the famous surfing beach of Zicatela on the south end. 

Considered one of the top ten surfing destinations in the world, it’s an action-packed atmosphere where at night the town comes to life with parties until dawn. 

For design enthusiasts, the famous CASA WABI by Pritzker Prize-winning master architect Tadao Ando is an hour's drive north where you can tour the house and art center. 

Be sure to visit the wildlife and mangrove forests of Laguna de Manialtepec, an hour north of the house and the ecological reserve and turtle sanctuaries of Ventanilla. Watch for the bio-luminescent tides at night where you can swim among the sparkling waters. 

Location

Oaxaca, Mexico. Nearest airport: Puerto Escondido (35km)

Best time to visit

Winter and spring for the best weather