Feature: Villas in Paradise

James Badham, with Eric Hiss

January 1, 2004


Roaring Pavilion in Jamaica comes with a full spa, complete with a full-time therapist, and a private beach made famous in Dr. No (right and below).  (Click image to enlarge)

Casa la Cruz, Mexico
Set amid lush jungle and perched above a private beach on the Costa Alegre, one of Mexico’s most desirable destinations, Casa la Cruz is a villa of inviting geometric shapes and sun-drenched colors. Renowned architect Ricardo Legoretta built Casa la Cruz in a cross shape (la cruz means “the cross” in Spanish) that serves various functions. First, the shape provides a panorama of views of the surrounding jungle and ocean in addition to allowing breezes to cross-ventilate the entire house. The shape also allowed Legoretta to leave as many trees intact as possible, such as a towering 300-year-old cactus that sits adjacent to the main entrance. All windows and doors were rendered from the same enormous parota tree; an open-air shower adjacent to the master bedroom provides a staggering vista of the coastline. The six-bedroom, eight-bathroom villa balances the modern (a media room featuring wide-screen TV and distributed audio) with the best of Mexican design (a natural sand terrace with hammocks, traditional furnishings). The cross motif recurs throughout—on shower handles, embossed on linens and tableware and the cross-shaped pool. A separate bungalow overlooks the ocean and the Tamarindo golf course. $3,500 per day.

GrupoPlan
+52.315.351.5032


North Queensland, Australia
On the edge of the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland, this estate’s 3,000 acres encompass coastal plains, high ridges, valleys, rainforests and fresh waterways, all surrounded by national parks. A central house for gathering is surrounded by six private huts for sleeping. One of the huts, Dream House, is in a rain forest and features a shower overlooking a bamboo garden. Another, Pebble House, has an outdoor bathtub surrounded by a tropical garden, and the Honeymoon Hut is notable for the side-by-side bathtubs in its separate bathroom pavilion. The property is utterly private, and guests can jet-ski, tour the rain forest, canoe and fish. Helicopter tours, parachuting, paragliding and a multitude of other activities can be arranged. The estate is a two-hour flight from Sydney and a 10-minute flight from Hamilton Island. Weekly rates range from $31,150 to $67,200.  (Click image to enlarge)

Villa Getaways
+64.7.865.6625
www.villagetaways.com

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