Casa Aguas Vivas - House of Living Waters--was built to blend into the environment which surrounds the home. The building, which is appropriate to the climate and made from material indigenous to the area, is a statement of individuality. The palapa roofs and river stone mesh with the ocean, palms, and pools to create a romantic and unique home. The curvilinear architecture and stairways defy straight walls and convention, as does the outdoor dining room and bar area under a palapa umbrella. A cobblestone stairway from the palapa bar to the ocean, places you onto a mile of sugar-fine sand to the south.
The architect, William Swanson from Santa Barbara, California, has incorporated function and form while allowing the building site and views to speak for themselves. The 2-story home has 3 bedroom suites, all of which take advantage of the spectacular vistas in all directions. To the east, from the upstairs master bedroom, the sunrise pours in from Puerto Vallarta across the tops of the trees in the tropical forest. The distant view to the south is the southernmost tip of Bahia Banderas known as Cabo Corientes, while in the immediate foreground there is a magnificent view of surf and coral reefs from 50 feet above sea level. The view to the west encompasses the remainder of the Bahia Banderas, and sunsets that fade behind the Mariettas Islands.
Native parota hardwood was cut from the jungle, dried and milled by local craftsmen to form the windows, doors, and some of the furnishings inside the home. The dark hardwood richly accents the openings with hand-crafted quality. The palapa roof, built by the same craftsman who built the main lobby of the Four Seasons, also displays the local talent as each palm frond is tightly woven together. This natural roof covering is impervious to rain, while allowing airflow that gives the architecture its place amount the surrounding palms.
Casa Aguas Vivas is a 3-suite luxury villa situated right on Punta Mita's secluded beach & surf break. This full-service "mini-resort" can be your own personal playground for a fraction of the price of a chain resort and can be enjoyed by a maximum of 3 families or 12+ individuals.
You can rent this entire private estate for less than the cost of a one bedroom suite at the Four Seasons, Punta Mita.
LOCATION
PUNTA de MITA, MEXICO
Casa Aguas Vivas is situated 20 minutes north from Puerto Vallarta's Diaz Ordaz Airport along Nayarit, Mexico's tropical coastline known as Costa Banderas. This stretch of coast, which has been preserved from the tourist development we know as Puerto Vallarta, has been brought recently into the limelight with the completion of the Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort and Golf Course, only 10 minutes west of Aguas Vivas. The Costa Banderas' master plan is a model of controlled low density development, which when complete will spot small residential communities along the white sand beaches and tropical foliage. This location, just 2.5 hours from LAX, allows you to experience a tropical paradise for an extended weekend.
What formerly was a one hour drive along a marginal highway from the airport, is now a mere 20 minute ride down the newly completed four lane highway that was built by the Mexican government at a cost of over 100 million dollars to serve the Four Seasons and Costa Banderas' properties.
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES
World-Class Golf Courses
Surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing
Surf lessons for adults & kids
Boating, fishing, snorkeling
Puerto Vallarta nightlife
Hiking and camping
Adventure tours
Surfing at Casa Aguas Vivas
Although the general area has a number of excellent surf spots, they are only accessible by boat (or trespassing). That's why Casa Aguas is so special.........there are three breaks just down the stairs and within 500 yards of the house!!
1) Veneros (meaning "the source"). An excellent long reef break (just a walk down the stairs) breaks directly in front of Casa Aguas Vivas. This spot breaks on any swell, but southwest swells 200-225 degrees are optimum. Hurricane waves that are generated as the swell moves north are also excellent as they pour intense, consistent swells into Banderas Bay.
2) Veneros Beach Break. Just 300 yards "down the beach" (to the left), this powerful right and left hander is excellent for practicing your tube riding skills over an all sand bottom. The wave is shorter than Veneros, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in power! It also breaks on any swell, but prefers a south or southwest.
3) Swimming Pools. Just 500 yards "up the beach" (to the right), this right hander is challenging and, at low tide, is a world-class barrel. The wave breaks on all swells, but prefers a west or northwest 270-305 degrees...the bigger, the better! It breaks over a cobble rock reef and there are a few urchins. We recommend booties mainly for getting in and out of the water, however you can just paddle down from the house and avoid the necessity for footwear.
The rest of the "zone" is filled with breaks that you can explore. The easiest way to do this is by taking a boat (by "panga") from Punta Mita, which is about a 10 minute drive west. Although there are a number of panga operators, we have found that Felix Ocean Tours has the best boats and rates. It is best to reserve a panga a day in advance.
| HOME DETAILS |
| Master Suite #1 |
(downstairs) ocean view, private outside tub, patio, walk-in closet, twin showers, air conditioning in bedroom and bath, and private garden patio. |
| Master Suite #2 |
(upstairs) ocean and city light view, huge open palapa and covered patio, large outside shower, small office/child's bedroom, double hand painted sinks, air conditioning. |
| Master Suite #3 |
(upstairs) ocean view, palapa roof, double hand painted basins, shower and outside private patio area, hand crafted parota beds, air conditioning. |
| Great Room |
Huge entertainment room, 27 foot palapa ceiling, stone inlaid floors, wet bar. |
| Dining Area |
Circular domed room with dining set for 10. Outside area opens to kitchen for service pass through. |
| Kitchen |
A stainless steel six burner oven/stove combo, stainless refrigerator and ice maker, prima vera hardwood center island and large walk-in pantry. |
| Laundry Room |
Built-in laundry sink and ironing/folding area. Separate bathroom and wash basin. |
| Central Lap Pool |
With stone/palapa changing room and bathroom, waterfall. Fully tiled in light blue. |
| Pool/Palapa Bar |
Dark blue tile with swim-up seating to wet bar, refrigerator, and BBQ grill. Large Jacuzzi and children's wading area. Adjacent changing area and bathroom with outside freshwater shower. |
| Stairway to Beach |
Access to one mile of beach to the south. Cobblestone stairs to a mile of glistening sand and crystal clear water. The lazy beach is great for young kids and the outer surf break is home to excellent surf (in season). |
| Caretaker House |
Completely self-contained. One bedroom, one bath, laundry, dining/kitchen area with terrace/patio. (currently occupied) |
| Other |
Air Conditioning -York individual mini split units in all bedrooms and kitchen. Windows & Doors - Custom crafted from local parota hardwood. Roofs - All hand woven palapa with Guayabillo framework. Landscape - fully automated landscaping watering system. |
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