Summary:

El Palmar sits on the sand at Playa Grande, a village of about 300 people on one of the least-built stretches of Oaxaca's Pacific coast, inside a federally protected leatherback turtle sanctuary. Architect Diego Villaseñor of DVA built the five-suite house on one idea: that a building should disappear into its setting. A resident cook and full staff run the estate, so a remote address lives like a home. Sleeps up to 15, 45 minutes from Huatulco



The Space:

The house is the work of Diego Villaseñor, founder of the Mexico City firm DVA, built on one idea, that a building should disappear into its setting. Palapa roofs pitch to draw the sea breeze through every room, doing most of the cooling on their own, while local stone and tropical hardwood carry from the terraces into the suites. Villaseñor is the subject of the 2015 Rizzoli monograph Architecture and Nature, and has been called one of the 100 best architects in the world by La Jornada and Forbes México.



Five suites sleep up to 15 guests across a single level, arranged around the central pool and gardens on roughly 7,000 square meters of beachfront. Each suite has its own full bathroom and takes its name from what grows around it: Palmas, Limonero, Parota, Iguanas, and Mangal. Palmas holds a king, a double, and a single bed; Iguanas and Mangal each hold a king and a single; Parota holds a king and a single plus a mezzanine loft with two singles; Limonero holds a king and a single with an adjoining double room.



The kitchen is fully equipped and run by a resident cook, so meals are prepared to order rather than self-catered. Outside, a free-form pool sits at the center of the plan, terraces step toward the beach, and hammocks are set throughout the walled garden. Air conditioning and ceiling fans cool every room, Wi-Fi covers the shared areas, and parking accommodates four to five cars.



Guest Access:

The villa is located in the village of Barra de la Cruz–Playa Grande, where access and nighttime activities are restricted from 10:00PM, for environmental conservation reasons and per its community governance system.



Guests have full use of the house, gardens, and pool, along with private access to the sanctuary beach below the estate; ten kilometers of the same protected coastline run beyond the walls, and the staff can walk guests down to the beach on their own. Staff greet arriving guests and remain on-site throughout the stay to manage housekeeping, meals, and requests. Parking is available for four to five cars, and the estate is reached by road from Huatulco International Airport, about 45 minutes away. The staff function as the point of contact for check-in, check-out, and anything needed in between.



The Neighborhood:

Playa Grande sits inside one of the emptiest stretches of the Oaxacan coast, a run of cliffs, wide beaches, and open horizon with almost nothing built on it. The point break at Barra de la Cruz, rated among the best waves in Mexico, breaks just along the shore. Bahías de Huatulco, 45 minutes west, is the nearest town, with nine bays and the marina at Santa Cruz. Puerto Escondido, home to the surf at Playa Zicatela and the mezcal bars of La Punta, is 2.5 hours further on. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec, known for its pottery, weaving, and embroidery, lies the same distance east. About 3 hours away, Casa Wabi is the art foundation Bosco Sodi built with Tadao Ando, and Laguna Manialtepec glows with bioluminescence at night, best seen on a nighttime kayak tour that the staff can arrange.



The villa is located in the village of Barra de la Cruz–Playa Grande, where access and nighttime activities are restricted from 10:00PM, for environmental conservation reasons and per its community governance system.



Getting Around:

A car is recommended for anything beyond the estate itself, since restaurants and shops sit well outside easy walking distance. Huatulco International Airport (HUX) is the nearest airport, about 45 minutes away by road, and Bahías de Huatulco is the closest town for shops and services. The staff can arrange airport transfers for guests who prefer not to drive.



Other Things to Note:

A three-night minimum stay applies. Rates include daily housekeeping and a resident cook and service team, along with their gratuities; food, drinks, and arranged activities are billed separately. The staff can arrange surfing lessons, guided ecological walks, fishing, in-house massage, a nanny service, seasonal turtle-nesting visits on the sanctuary beach, and agricultural experiences in the surrounding Sierra Sur. Guests choose their suites and share meal preferences before arrival. Best visited November to April for calm, dry days and whale watching, or May to September for the biggest surf swells.



Interaction with Guests:

Best suited for guests who want privacy and genuine remoteness, and who are comfortable being an hour from a town of any size. El Palmar is fully staffed, so a resident cook and service team handle daily life, but shops, restaurants, and other services sit well outside easy reach. The experience is built for guests drawn to a protected wild coast and a slower pace, not for those who want a city apartment's immediacy or a wide choice of restaurants nearby.



Our team stays in touch before arrival to plan meals and activities, and the resident staff are on-site throughout the stay to help with anything guests need.