Concrete, Conviction, and the Long Left Wave
Casa NU was born from an intimate conversation between its owners—a shared vision of creating a quiet place to gather, rest, and reconnect.
The ground floor holds an open kitchen, living area, and a thoughtfully split bathroom that separates the toilet from the shower. Above, a double-height loft with views of the mango canopy accommodates one king bed. Throughout, the material palette is rigorously edited: slatted-formwork concrete, polished concrete with brass joints, pre-oxidised and varnished metalwork, and patterned textiles. All services and wiring are concealed.
The enclosed courtyard functions as a second living room. Shaded by the property's ancient mango trees, it holds an outdoor dining area, a barbecue station, and a row of open-air shower cubicles with sky-cut ceilings. A dedicated surfboard rack with lockable storage occupies one corner, and a laundry area and utilities room are integrated discreetly within the courtyard walls. The arrangement rewards the architect's stated goal: to make the exterior as considered as the interior, with no function left outside the design.
What we love
This is a house that grew out of a genuine friendship between owners and architect, their years of conversation finding physical form in slatted-formwork concrete, brass-jointed floors, and a corner lot resolved around the mango trees rather than against them. The name itself — NU, from the French nous, meaning “we” — suggests both a collaborative process and a space conceived to build community, to be shared with those closest to you: as a couple, with friends, and with family. And then there is the small, telling detail of the outdoor shower cubicles, their ceilings open to the sky. It's a reminder that at Casa NU, even the most utilitarian moment of a surf trip has been thoughtfully considered.
Layout
This vacation home for rent in La Saladita, Guerrero, Mexico sleeps up to four guests. Casa NU is a two-storey bungalow of 104 square metres on a corner lot. The ground floor holds an open-plan kitchen and living room, a split bathroom (separate toilet and shower), and direct access to the enclosed courtyard. A staircase leads to the upper-level loft bedroom, which contains one king bed and a modular wardrobe. The living room can accommodate two additional guests via a sofa bed. The courtyard connects the bungalow to the outdoor dining area, showers, and surfboard storage.
Experiences
Surfboard rentals are available at Lourdes Surf Shop and Chucho Surf Shop, both beachfront. In-house massage is bookable on request via the host. Yoga classes are available locally. Turtle-watching and whale-watching excursions are seasonally available nearby.
Good to know
Casa NU operates self-check-in via smartlock. The kitchen is stocked with basics — oil, salt, spices, local ground coffee — and a welcome kit of sparkling water, beer, and Nespresso pods is included. A drinkable water filter means there is no need to purchase bottles. There are no ATMs in La Saladita, and the nearest are in Los Llanos (5km) or Zihuatanejo. A car or pre-arranged taxi transfer is essential as public transport does not reach the property. Grocery shopping is best done at Soriana in Zihuatanejo before arrival.
Amenities & services
Fully equipped kitchen, open-air outdoor showers, outdoor dining area, barbecue grill, surfboard rack with lockable storage, drinkable water filter, wifi, air-conditioning, free on-site parking, smart lock self check-in, Nespresso machine, welcome kit
Around
La Saladita sits on the Costa Grande, a stretch of Guerrero's Pacific coast that remains genuinely unhurried — no resort sprawl, no chain restaurants, no traffic lights. The surf culture here is its own social world: a global community of longboarders who have quietly made this left-hand point one of the most loved waves in Mexico. Beachfront restaurants such as Lourdes and Marea sit directly opposite the break. Troncones, a more developed surf village with its own point break and beach market, is a 20-minute drive south. Zihuatanejo, with its fish market, open-air restaurants, and the clifftop Parthenon cultural centre, is 45 minutes by road. A car is necessary for anything beyond the beach strip.
Location
La Saladita, Costa Grande, Guerrero, Mexico. Nearest airport: Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo International (ZIH, 45 minutes)
Best time to visit
November through April for dry-season sunshine and consistent, beginner-friendly waves, May through October for stronger southern swells and a quieter lineup
