BAREFOOT LUXURY IN PARADISE

4 minute read

Oops, Mexico’s best kept secret is out. But, I can’t go on without sharing the life changing experience I had here earlier this month.

Playa Viva, a regenerative boutique hotel set between luscious jungle and the wild Pacific Ocean in the region of Zihuatanejo was the magical setting for the Amor Amor workshop earlier this month. Fully aligning with our ethos and philosophy of life, I had to introduce this place to you as it is the ideal location for an intimate eco wedding, honeymoon or place to reset and rejuvenate.

As soon as we arrived at Playa Viva we were warmly welcomed by Julia and the rest of the team, I was instantly drawn in and it wasn’t because of the glass of ice cold fruit juice with a hint of basil or the cool damp flannel, but it was their open welcoming smiles, friendliness and genuine interest in us. We had arrived before our rooms were ready so we went on a guided tour of the place where we learned the whole space was run on natural energy, then went on to the restaurant for lunch and it felt like we were with family. The sense of community is very much the vibe at Playa Viva.

The food was served buffet style, with a selection of 7 - 10 different dishes. I started eating and wondered how I would ever be able to stop. I breathed in the spices and savoured the flavours, everything was so fresh and tasty, which made perfect sense as the ingredients had been cultivated on Playa Viva’s very own permaculture farm, and what wasn’t grown on their farm was sourced from local farmers (Permaculture is a holistic approach for the land, the community and all living things that adopts what has been observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It’s natures design and this way of farming regenerates the land instead of bleeding it dry of all its nutrients).

All the spaces are thoughtfully and stylishly designed while remaining closely connected to nature. Fans or AC are of use here with the fresh ocean breeze refreshing you all day and night long. And showering at night became somewhat of an adventure, with the starry night sky overhead, it was the most magical place to be.

ENGAGING WITH NATURE & CONNECTING WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

A SHORT INTERVIEW WITH DAVID LEVENTHAL, CO-FOUNDER OF PLAYA VIVA

Tell me a little bit about your journey and how you got into regenerative tourism

“There wasn’t a grand masterplan from the beginning and I would be lying to say that we had one. As my friend Bill Reed says, you don’t have to come in and do everything all at once, nature doesn’t work that way. The learning is continuous as eco systems are constantly evolving so it’s up to us to adapt to our local environment to be able to identify the issues and what needs to be done, this is co-evolution.”

David tells me they were influenced, supported and inspired by many people along the way for Playa Viva to be what it is today. One of which was his mother in law who dedicated her time to keeping GM corn out of Mexico. Step by step their project developed from their core values which is to create a positive social and environmental impact while empowering the local community.

Any advice for others wanting to follow the same footsteps?

“You don’t need to know everything from the first instant. Stand by your core principles and move from that space. You can always be more green, you can always be more sustainable, you can always be more regenerative. Don’t let criticism stop you from moving in the right direction and taking those individual steps. It’s easy for people to come in from the outside and see a flaw. Keep your values in mind and take it one step at a time. Connect with the right people and be ready to adapt, nature is always changing.”

So what’s next for Playa Viva?

“The natural next step is to expand our facilities as demand increases. We’ll also be sharing our experiences, ideas and knowledge with other regenerative hotels. I’m also really excited about regeneration of the watershed, as we are on the edge of a lagoon so whatever happens in the watershed we inherit. And finally to move from land to the sea with sustainable fishing projects.”

HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM DAVID AND SAndra, HAVE CREATED A unique SPACE like no oTHER I HAVE EXPERIENCED. WHERE your stay empowers the local community, regenerates the environment, saves endangered animals and enriches you holistically.

SAVING TURTLES BEFORE BREAKFAST

Just before sunrise, the ding a ling of a bell can be heard faintly over the roaring ocean. That would be Lorenzo, the Sanctuary Coordinator, and it means a nest of turtles have hatched overnight and are ready to be released into the ocean. Timing is crucial, the survival chances of the turtles are very low and Scientists estimate that only one in 1000 baby turtles survive to adulthood, so they need to be given the best chances possible to survive and in this case it means swimming out as far as possible before the birds come looking for breakfast.

Education is Key

La Tortuga Viva runs on the help and dedication of volunteers from the local community of Juluchuca. The crazy thing is, Many of the volunteers were once a threat to the turtles as the turtles were seen as a common food source for the community. It goes to show just how powerful education is. And the tremendous efforts Playa Viva are going to to immerse the community into the project which doesn’t only benefit them, but the future generations too.

Why do the turtles need a sanctuary?

A 2 degree increase in temperature sounds like almost nothing, right? But, when you hear that those measly 2 degrees are affecting the gender of the turtles, that’s right, causing more females to be born, it make you wonder how other flora and fauna are being impacted by climate change. The sanctuary was founded in 2010 and homes nests for approximately 68 days until the eggs hatch.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The volunteers at the sanctuary live on tips, a small donation enables them to support their families and continue doing the incredible work. You can find more information on how to donate and the project in full here. Another option is to adopt a nest, it’s great gift and one Jose and I received during our stay, we are now waiting for the eggs to hatch and for the little babas to be released into the world!

PLAYA VIVA IS THE EPITOME OF LEAVING A PLACE BETTER.

Earth month may be coming to an end, but your contribution doesn’t have to. I hope to inspire and motivate you because your impact really matters.

Photography Joy Zamora