Xanadu? No, It’s Xala, the Anti-Resort on Mexico’s Pacific Coast - AFAR

"Set on 3,000 acres of Costalegre coastline south of Puerto Vallarta, this self-sustaining coastal community—poised to welcome visitors in 2023—combines five miles of undeveloped, turtle-nesting beach with reforested farmland, cattle ranching, two estuaries, and a mango field, alongside beachside villas and boutique hotels. Developed by entrepreneurs including Ricardo Santa Cruz with high-profile partners, the project emphasizes social and environmental responsibility and local accessibility over tourist exclusivity: water was brought from an aquifer 10 miles away through a state co-investment that now supplies 230 families and 2,400 acres, a funded turtle camp and learning center continues the conservation work of long-time caretaker Ceci Martinez, and a cultural center already runs after-school art, dance, and music programs. The plan prioritizes the town first—about 150 homes and three small hotels (fewer than 150 rooms) with no golf courses—while integrating community-minded amenities such as a world-class beachfront skate park." - Laura Dannen Redman