Set along five kilometres of Mexico’s Pacific coastline, the estate extends across an immense landscape, with a 30,000-acre nature reserve that is home to approximately 12,000 plant species and a remarkable variety of wildlife — including its now-famous zebras.

 

Across the property, Cuixmala unfolds as a collection of distinct places to stay. Casa Cuixmala brings together suites and bungalows, while the Casas comprise three private villas — Casa Alborada, Casa La Playa and Casa Torre. The Casitas reinterpret the traditional Mexican house in a more contemporary language, with ten residences overlooking the ocean and accommodating different numbers of guests.

 

THE STORY BEHIND THE ARCHITECTURE

 

Cuixmala’s unusual mix of Mexican, European and Moroccan influences has much to do with its origins. The estate was once the private home of British-French billionaire and politician Sir James Goldsmith, who died in 1997. A few years later, it was transformed into a hotel by his daughter Alix Marcaccini, although members of the Goldsmith family still maintain private homes on the property.

 

Goldsmith led an unconventional life. Married three times and the father of eight children, he also had a number of long-term relationships. Marcaccini has described family as deeply important to her father despite the atypical structure of his life. Her mother, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, is also closely associated with another well-known institution: London members’ club Annabel’s was named after her.

 

THE ZEBRAS OF CUIXMALA

 

During the years when Goldsmith used Cuixmala as a private estate, its guest list included presidents, prime ministers, business figures and cultural personalities. Ronald Reagan, Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon were among those who visited.

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One guest, however, remains unidentified: the person said to have given Goldsmith a pair of African zebras. Their descendants still roam the estate today, with the herd having grown to around 40.