Hacienda 513: A Retreat Made for Spanish Royalty

Baja meets Barcelona in this castle by the sea. Hacienda 513 rolls out the royal touches amid six bedrooms and grand social spaces overlooking the Sea of Cortez.

THE EXERIENCE

An escape to the Baja peninsula of Mexico can be so much more if that stay is in Hacienda 513 at Villas del Mar. The two-story estate is awash with touches that one otherwise might find in a Spanish palace or rarefied luxury resort on the Mediterranean. Exquisite leather appointments complement the wood trims and beams, further accented by wrought iron light fixtures and chandeliers. A grand living room area takes in the views with floor-to-ceiling bay windows warmed by a stone fireplace and leading to a formal dining room area that seats ten. A precious granite bar area nearby brings on the cocktails and offers a self-serve counter for larger affairs. A granite kitchen bar leads to an ultra-spacious gourmet kitchen equipped with the latest appliances. Guests can take their casual meals and snacks there, on an outdoor balcony with a palapa, on the pool terrace, or in the indoor/outdoor lounge overlooking the terrace and the sea.

Most bedrooms of this augmented luxury villa come with not only ocean views but with en- suite private loggias where guests can read, meditate, think and let the world go by in a state of perfect calm. The bathrooms of Hacienda 513 also bring their own version of living the good life as commodious bathroom “suites” with soaking tub designs that take center stage. Consider an oval tub illuminated by a chandelier with a wide window onto views of the Sea of Cortez. Another bathroom will offer a comely copper tub with a marble base across from an open shower area that is as big as a walk-in closet. Bedrooms bring views, high wood-beamed ceilings, indoor/outdoor shower options, hand-carved wood furnishings and finishings, ceiling fans, and bright textiles often in pale pink, lime green, and golden yellow color schemes complemented by Talavera pottery. While interiors are steeped in Mediterranean lighting elements, romantic travertine fireplaces, and glass candle ornaments, outdoor life takes place around the infinity pool and spa, and the sizeable firepit flanked by cushiony chairs.

The curving infinity pool and spa bring jaw-dropping panoramas of the sea, with plenty of loungers to accommodate non-swimmers in style. A covered verandah with bright plush furnishings adds to the many ways guests can savor the warm weather and water-charged horizons. An indoor/outdoor den brings an inviting conversation area as a type of exterior living room, and that includes a flatscreen TV to bring the entertainment outdoors.

What’s to love?

It’s easy to imagine the intrigues of sleeping in a medieval Spanish castle as you open the heavy wood bedroom doors and pan the ornate wood and wrought-iron design details. And it’s easy to feel pampered in palatial bathrooms and then the sun-drenched loggia where you might have your morning coffee. This exquisite estate has all the refinements of a one percent lifestyle set up through five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and an abundance of places to find comfort and solitude or share playful moments with friends and family. But for that unexpected guess who graces the festivities and wants to stay over, Hacienda 513 has a trick up its sleeve. The private office that offers desk chairs and plenty of sunlight with views becomes a handy sixth bedroom through the use of a luxurious pull-out couch arrangement. Naturally, guests have use of the adjacent One & Only Palmilla for its restaurants, bars, pools, clubs, and spa. But guests of Villas Del Mar can also avail themselves of concierge recommendations and schedule tee times at the development’s 27-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. A dedicated butler assists to keep the flow going, especially with parties that have more than one of two couples sharing the villa. And a personal chef will see to dining needs, whether ordered from a menu or made by special request.