Las Alamadas, is like a Matisse painting

Mexico - Las Alamandas may look like something out of an Expressionist painting, but it’s not a mirage. Between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, the secluded resort has mastered the art of Mexican hospitality.

Originally a private estate, the intimate property is like a home away from home, where guests play backgammon in the library, stargaze from the lounge or grab a surfboard before hitting the beach.

Walking into Las Alamandas is like being trapped in the colors of a Matisse painting. Vibrant pink gardenias and dusty green cacti line the walkways leading to canary yellow and magenta pueblo-like buildings. The stucco and the desert plants remind you that you aren’t in the south of France — you’re within earshot of the Pacific’s crashing waves on the Mexican Riviera.

Once a private estate, Las Alamandas maintains that quaint and cozy vibe, with just 17 rooms scattered around the 1,500-acre property. A maximum of 42 guests stay at a time, which makes your visit feel more like a weekend with extended family than a trip to a resort full of strangers. Some guests curl up on rattan sofas to read while others lie out by the freshwater pool, shaded by the giant palapa at the far end.

1,090-square-foot Casa San Antonio 2 has a private rooftop terrace with views of the ocean.In the evenings, groups mosey up to the rooftop lounge, Estrella Azul, where you can sip unique tequilas and gaze into the heavens with a high-powered telescope. You might even rub shoulders with the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Brad Pitt or Cindy Crawford.

The rooms are elegant but simple, with bright ceramic tiles, folk art and indoor and outdoor lounge areas. But you won’t spend much time in the room — not with the beach just a few steps outside the door.

Peruse the hotel’s art gallery, indulge in an oceanfront massage or head to one of the on-site restaurants, such as La Palapa Beach Club, with its Aztec motifs and boogie boards. Feeling sporty? Play a little tennis, practice yoga or work out in the fully equipped gym designed by Robert De Niro, a frequent guest.

But while Las Alamandas offers all sorts of activities, it’s simple pleasures like sipping wine in a hammock on your private patio that make the resort a true Latin American getaway. It may sport the hues of a Matisse canvas, but it’s Mexico to the core.

How to get there
Flights are available to Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO) and Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) from major U.S. cities on a variety of carriers. Transfers to/from ZLO (about 75 miles away) and PVR (about 100 miles away) are approximately $250 each way for up to 6 people, and can be arranged through the property. Taxis to/from ZLO are approximately $200 each way. Taxis to/from PVR are approximately $220 each way.
Fuente: jetsetter/www.visionfederal.com