Go ahead, you can have Tulum. We’ll pass on the overpriced cuisine served by expats in chic popup restaurants and crowded hotels overrun with vacationing New Yorkers. For us, we’ll take relatively subdued surf town of Puerto Escondido any day.
Located on the Pacific in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the emerging town is home to some of the best surf, best food, and best architecture, though it’s only recently getting known for it. One individual helping put the region on the map is young architect Aranza de Ariño. Why? Take Casa Tiny for starters.
Set among the lush vegetation just a short walk from the beach, the genuinely small concrete cabana is a striking example of minimalism, accented only by the rich, dark color of native parota wood. With just a kitchen, bathroom, and open mezzanine bedroom, the open-air holiday home offers all you need and nothing you don’t, encouraging visitors to forget email and all they’ve left behind and simply enjoy nature and the moment at hand.
A dramatically gabled roof captures ocean air to cool the house, while a modestly sized pool out back offers reprieve at any hour. So go ahead and skinny dip—do as you please. Just make sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of bug spray. The Mexican jungle is no joke.
Published 10-03-2018