One of the three private beaches on Cuixmala.

Cuixmala is located in a 30,000-acre estate on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, just south of Puerto Vallarta. The former home of the late James Goldsmith, the British financier and M.E.P., the property has hosted Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan.

The property comes with a private two-mile beach.

For maximum privacy, go for one of the villas: Casa Torre, Casa Alborada, or Casa La Playa. All include a private pool, chef, and host. Caleta Blanca beach (*above*) is a protected area 30 minutes away that offers swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling.

And when you get tired of ocean water as warm as bathwater, there’s a bathtub that overlooks the ocean. Damn, life can be hard sometimes.

Casa Cuixmala offers four suites. The most expensive, the Cuixmala Suite, was the private quarters of Goldsmith before the property’s conversion. On one side it opens to a flower-filled courtyard, and on the other, to a terrace and private pool.

Goldsmith in 1987, and some fruits. (Not of his labor, but they are from the estate’s biodynamic farm.)

Perfect for snowbirds: the resort accommodates no more than 80 guests at a time.

Cuixmala Confidential

The late Sir James Goldsmith’s idyllic hideaway on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is now welcoming (a few select) guests

By Elena Clavarino

Cuixmala, whose name translates to “the soul’s resting place,” is perched in a 30,000-acre Eden on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, just south of Puerto Vallarta. The former home of the late Sir James Goldsmith, the Anglo-French financier and M.E.P., the property has hosted Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. Now, under the stewardship of Goldsmith’s daughter, Alix Marcaccini, it has been transformed into a sprawling resort surrounded by rivers and lagoons, miles of empty beaches, and an Amazon-like jungle. Architect Robert Couturier also handled the sumptuous, colorful interiors, and intriguing options abound (although the resort can only accommodate about 80 guests at one time, thank heavens). Casa Cuixmala, Goldsmith’s former home, the architecture of which nods to Florence’s Duomo, now offers three suites. Ten freestanding casitas have views of coconut plantations and, in the distance, the ocean; but for maximum privacy, go for one of the villas (Casa Torre, Casa Alborada, or Casa La Playa); all include a private pool, chef, and host.

On the activity front? Yoga, snorkeling, hiking, and visiting the property’s biodynamic farm, which provides most of Cuixmala’s food. You might also press a button devoted expressly to margaritas, which will summon a pitcher of your favorite variety. Pro tip: the property is sufficiently expansive that the private beach requires a short drive. But the scenic jungle road does not exactly constitute suffering.

Cuixmala is available to book at cuixmala.com, with room rates beginning at $650 per night