10 Reasons to Make Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta Your Next Mexican Escape
Ten years after my first visit, I returned to the adults-only boutique hotel Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a relaxing getaway. Not much has changed at this quiet respite with attentive service and nearby private Ocean Club overlooking Banderas Bay, and that’s a good thing. Every guest we met was a repeat customer, some coming back every year.
The value and small-feel privacy of the property (like you own the place) are the major reasons guests return to Casa Velas. The luxury Spanish hacienda is situated within the greens of the Marina Vallarta golf course with flitting colorful birds and wandering iguanas and peacocks. Casa Velas is the kind of property you come to deeply relax and wonder how you can stay longer.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a Four-Star awardee from Forbes Travel Guide, Casa Velas has been top 5 on TripAdvisor for Puerto Vallarta since 2010. An easy two-and-a-half-hour flight from southwestern states plus a 5-minute drive from the airport makes Casa Velas possible for a long weekend escape. Relish in the royal treatment at Casa Velas.
Here are Ten Reasons Casa Velas should be at the top of your list of places to stay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
1. Suites with plunge pools
The best feature of our grand Mexican-styled room was the outdoor plunge pool, especially for gazing at the stars at night. 80 spacious suites come with private pools and jacuzzi bathroom tubs along with comfy pillowtop beds and a pillow bar to select the best option for your sleep. A 2-level Wellness Suite is available with a private immersion pool and terrace along with suites suited for up to 8 guests with grandiose living and dining rooms.
2. Secluded calm atmosphere
Colorful birds often land on lily pads on the property’s sprawling koi ponds while lizards flit and peacocks roam the grounds. Beautiful vegetation surrounds the serene property that never felt crowded. Plenty of lounge chairs are available at the Main Pool and the adjacent Botanical Garden is a nice change of scenery to read a book, smell the herbs, or walk the enchanting garden labyrinth.
3. Breathtaking views from the Ocean Club
For ocean views, a few-minute shuttle takes you to Casa Velas’s Ocean Club, an intimate poolside retreat on the beach with cabanas and lounge chairs. Watch the surfers ride the waves from the pool and indulge in fresh tuna sashimi, ceviche, and made-to-order sushi with a cucumber margarita. A highlight is dining here at sunset watching the colors splash the sky over the ocean with an epic Sierra Madre Mountain backdrop.
4. Sensational Service
Unparalleled service gives you peace of mind that your every need is met. There is a high ratio of staff to guests so you are never left wanting for service. The Romantic Concierge provides creative romantic experiences to deepen your connection like a candlelit dinner oceanside or a moonlight massage for two.
5. Unlimited Cocktails
With the resort’s all-inclusive package, food and drinks can keep flowing without any worry about the price or tipping. Sample breakfast poolside or try out the exciting drinks from the impressively expansive cocktail menu. The Swim-Up Aqua pool bar makes a fun spot to sample refreshing tropical drinks or blended frozen concoctions. Might we suggest a passion fruit margarita with watermelon?
6. Stress-relief at Spa Casa Velas
Relieve stress with a Harmony Massage, but come early for the hydrotherapy circuit which allows guests to enjoy the sauna, pressure shower, eucalyptus steam, and jacuzzi overlooking the gardens. The intimate spa feels private, most likely due to staggered appointments. Choose from more than 60 holistic spa treatments, from soothing facials to invigorating skin treatments. Find wellness with aromatherapy, reflexology, sacred rituals, and more using herbs and ingredients harvested in Casa Velas’s own botanical garden.
7. Handbag Bar
Don’t pack a purse. Mix up your look by borrowing a designer handbag at no extra charge. Head to the gift shop and peruse the book of various designs.
8. Many activities and experiences are offered daily
Each day a schedule is provided with activities and gourmet experiences offered complimentary, like beer pairings and Casino Night. A “Guacamania” multi-course dinner poolside infused avocado into each artfully plated dish. Another day a painting and margarita class with their resident artist León de la Vega reminded us the importance of flow, creativity, and that good health originates in the brain. Casa Velas’s Garden-to-Glass Botanical Cocktail experience taught us how to make personalized cocktails by selecting herbs from the garden like cactus pads, lemongrass, aloe vera, sage, rosemary, and lavender. Also, Casa Velas’s nearby sister property has 3 tennis courts and more restaurants that can be used anytime.
9. Play a round of championship golf
A huge perk for golfers is the next-door Marina Vallarta’s 18-hole par 71 Joe Finger golf course. In addition, the hotel also offers free golf at nearby signature-designed 18-hole Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf courses. Golf clubs and greens fees are part of the all-inclusive experience but a mandatory golf cart rental fee applies.
10. Proximity to town and airport
Just 5 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from the charming Puerto Vallarta cobblestone town with authentic eats and the popular waterfront El Malecon (boardwalk), a cultural adventure awaits! Sign up for the hotel’s complimentary art gallery tour in town or book a local walking food tour.
