Casa Yuma, Puerto Escondido, Mexico
A Peaceful Oceanfront Retreat Between Surf and Countryside
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A beautifully restrained adults-only retreat that captures the quieter, more contemplative side of Puerto Escondido.
● Organic architecture built from local materials, seamlessly integrated into the coastal landscape of Oaxaca.
● Thoughtful hospitality that balances barefoot simplicity, exceptional food, and contemporary design without ever feeling forced.
Between Surf Culture and Stillness
Puerto Escondido has become one of Mexico’s most exciting coastal destinations, attracting surfers, creatives, and design-conscious travelers from around the world. Yet Casa Yuma chooses a different path. Located between the energy of La Punta and the untouched coastline of Los Naranjos, the hotel feels deliberately removed from the noise and momentum of the town. The approach itself sets the tone. Guests arrive via open countryside where horses graze beneath wide Oaxacan skies and the Pacific appears gradually on the horizon. The transition feels intentional. This is a place designed not for stimulation, but for slowing down. Created by founders Sara Skalli, Camille Lambert, and Tim de Belloy in collaboration with architect Ricardo de La Concha and design studio TAAC, Casa Yuma offers a more reflective interpretation of coastal luxury—one deeply rooted in landscape, craftsmanship, and simplicity.
Architecture in Harmony with Nature
The architecture embraces restraint at every turn. Rather than dominating the site, the buildings settle gently into the landscape through low-slung forms, natural materials, and carefully considered proportions. The primary material is Chukum, a traditional finish made from limestone and tree resin that has been used for generations throughout southern Mexico. Its soft texture and earthy color allow the structures to blend naturally into their surroundings while helping regulate interior temperatures. Throughout the property, Oaxacan brick, wood, concrete, woven fibers, and handcrafted finishes reinforce the connection to place. Natural ventilation plays a central role. Sea breezes move freely through open corridors and terraces. Light filters softly across textured walls. Shadows shift throughout the day, creating subtle changes in atmosphere without the need for dramatic architectural gestures. The effect is calming, tactile, and unmistakably Oaxacan.
Rooms with Oaxacan Soul
Casa Yuma’s 25 rooms are spread across a single level, creating an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Each room opens directly onto gardens, terraces, or outdoor spaces that extend the living experience into the landscape. Some feature private rooftop terraces overlooking the Pacific, while others offer secluded sandy gardens shaded by native vegetation. The interiors embrace a philosophy of intentional simplicity. There are no televisions. No visual clutter. No unnecessary distractions. Instead, the focus rests on craftsmanship, materiality, and comfort. Warm woods, handmade ceramics, plaster finishes, artisan furnishings, and carefully selected objects create spaces that feel soothing rather than minimalist for the sake of minimalism. Ceramic lamps by artist Amande Haeghen and locally crafted pieces add layers of character throughout. Even subtle details reveal themselves slowly. Arched brick ceilings become visible from the bed. Ocean-inspired tones appear sparingly within otherwise earthy palettes. Every element feels considered without drawing attention to itself.
Life Framed by the Pacific
The heart of the hotel is its long beachfront swimming pool, stretching toward the horizon and reflecting the ever-changing colors of the sea and sky. Surrounding it are shaded decks, oversized daybeds, sunken lounges, and quiet corners designed for lingering. The mood is effortlessly relaxed. Mornings begin with coffee overlooking the ocean. Afternoons drift between the beach, the pool, yoga sessions, massages, and long lunches beneath the shade. Evenings unfold slowly around the firepit with mezcal in hand as the Pacific turns gold and then deep blue. Despite its sense of seclusion, Puerto Escondido’s restaurants, bars, and surf culture remain only a short drive away, allowing guests to move between tranquility and energy as they choose.
A Restaurant Worth Visiting in Its Own Right
Food plays an important role in the Casa Yuma experience. Mesa del Sol has quickly become one of the property’s defining features, combining an open kitchen and traditional tortilla oven with a menu that celebrates Oaxacan ingredients while drawing subtle inspiration from chef Francisco Martinez’s international experience. The approach mirrors the hotel itself: rooted in place but never limited by it. Fresh seafood, regional moles, tamales, shrimp tacos, tuna crudo, seasonal vegetables, and mezcal-based cocktails are prepared with precision yet served without pretension. Meals often stretch long into the evening. Barefoot by the pool. On a rooftop terrace overlooking the Pacific. Or gathered around the sunken firepit beneath a canopy of stars.
A Different Side of Puerto Escondido
What makes Casa Yuma particularly compelling is its refusal to chase trends. Rather than positioning itself as a surf hotel, wellness retreat, or design destination, it quietly incorporates elements of all three while maintaining a strong sense of authenticity. The experience feels natural. Unforced. Deeply connected to Oaxaca’s landscape, culture, and slower rhythms of life. It’s a place where architecture supports the experience rather than becoming the experience itself.
Where Slow Living Meets the Pacific
Casa Yuma captures a version of luxury that feels increasingly rare: thoughtful, understated, and deeply rooted in place. Through organic architecture, handcrafted interiors, exceptional food, and a profound connection to the surrounding landscape, it offers an experience that feels restorative without becoming overly curated. For travelers seeking barefoot elegance, meaningful design, and the quieter side of Puerto Escondido, Casa Yuma stands among Oaxaca’s most compelling new retreats—a place where the Pacific sets the pace and everything else follows.
