Blog – Blog Eport

Why We Care Where Our Stuff Comes From

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:18:00 GMT

Playa Viva’s Commitment to a Transparent & Regenerative Supply Chain

What do we do with our leftover soap? Firstly, let’s step back to where we source our products. When we talk about sustainability at Playa Viva, we’re not just talking about protecting the coastline or growing organic vegetables. We’re talking about something less glamorous but just as important — our supply chain.

This year, we took a closer look at the origins and impacts of everything we use, from shampoo to ice delivery. We surveyed our 20 main suppliers to understand their sustainability practices and see where we could do better. The results were enlightening, and more importantly, they sparked real change.

Small Tweaks, Big Impact

Here are a few ways we’ve already turned insight into action:

Thanks to this switch, in just one year, we’ve:

Prevented 402 plastic bottles from entering the waste stream
Saved 840 liters of water (by using rainwater in production)
Avoided 0.46 tons of CO₂ emissions
Regenerated 95 hectares of land
Supported 5 Mexican farming families directly
See our dedicated annual impact report from Rayito de Luna here.

Looking Ahead

We’re not stopping here. We’re hosting a yearly Supplier Day at the hotel to connect, collaborate, and share our vision with our partners. We’re also encouraging all suppliers to improve their operations, reduce packaging waste, and align with our regenerative principles that work to protect this beautiful watershed that we all call home.

Back to the Soap

Alongside our Rayito de Luna products, we have some organic, locally made soap bars in all of our rooms. Last week, over lunch, a guest asked us what we do with the leftover blocks, leading us into this wider discussion around our supply chain. The simple answer is, we reuse the soap, not for other guests but in our housekeeping department. Using boiling water, the team melts down the blocks and turns them into a natural laundry detergent that is used on sheets and towels that are then dried in the sun- possibly the most scenic washing line on earth. The inner workings of our housekeeping department are a blog for another day.

The post Why We Care Where Our Stuff Comes From appeared first on Playa Viva .

Empowering Women, Regenerating Your Health

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:43:52 GMT

The Healing Power of Juluchuca: How Local Women Are Cultivating Wellness Through Regenerative Agriculture

The Juluchuca Women’s Cooperative is a space of growth, community and regeneration. This cooperative is run by local women who are cultivating expertise in organic agriculture, permaculture, and regenerative practices that honor the land. As part of their production, they offer several nutrient-dense products that help meet the demand for sought-after organic treasures such as coconut oil, turmeric, moringa, and other ingredients known for their healing properties—deeply valued in ancestral medicine and holistic wellness.

These gifts of nature are shared with Playa Viva guests during mealtime and are available to purchase in the boutique, bringing the essence of regenerative practices to those seeking balance, nourishment, and renewal. Beyond their role in our permaculture production, these natural products provide a wealth of bioactive compounds that contribute to human health.

Food nourishes our bodies from the molecular level to the cellular level, embodying the wisdom of Aristotle’s famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine.” This principle is rooted in the bioactive compounds and molecules that make up these products.

We asked our former team member, Ilhui Hernandez who is now a biologist with an MSc in Biomaterials Engineering, specializing in the interaction between food molecules and the human body to share with you the composition of these foods and their special healing compounds.

Moringa

Moringa is a remarkable plant that has been treasured in traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years, Its incredible health benefits stem from its rich profile of over 90 bioactive compounds , including flavonoids, phenolics, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, among others. You can find it in our cooperative in a convenient powder form .

One the standout benefits is its ability to combat the stress caused by UV exposure . The powerful antioxidants in moringa leaves help protect the skin against this oxidative stress , which, when prolonged, can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer. Moringa’s benefits go far beyond skincare; It also contains quercetin and myricetin molecules that support healthy blood pressure regulation . Also, some recent studies suggest that moringa can help to lower blood sugar levels , making it an excellent ally for metabolic health.

Moringa can also play a key role in thyroid regulation and may help ease hormonal imbalances , including the symptoms associated with menopause.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus, also known as Jamaica in Mexico, with its vibrant red or pink hue, has been used for centuries as a holistic remedy to support overall health. It is traditionally known for its ability to help regulate high blood pressure, balance cholesterol levels, soothe sore throats, aid digestion, and combat inflammation.

Additionally, it has been studied for its potential benefits in supporting heart and nerve health and even cancer prevention.

Hibiscus is rich in fiber, calcium, iron, plant-based protein, and powerful antioxidants. It is also a natural antidepressant that contains flavonoids such as anthocyanin and quercetin, which have been linked to antidepressant and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, promoting emotional well-being.

Turmeric

At Playa Viva we have an abundance of Turmeric, we carefully dry them and turn them into a powder with super healthy properties. Curcumin is turmeric’s powerhouse compound, this molecule is one of the most fascinating antiinflamatory natural molecules available for health and longevity.

It fights inflammation, boosts brain function, and supports heart health, some studies even suggest that can prevent Alzheimer’s and arthritis.

It also mimics caloric restriction to promote longevity and cellular vitality. If it was not enough it enhances gut health, mitochondrial energy, and cancer defense. For this molecule to be bioavailable or better digested it is recommended to pair it with black pepper, some conoconut or olive oil or even in its fermented form.

Cacao

Cacao has been widely used for centuries as a sacred medicine in Mesoamerica where its origin comes from. It was believed to be a gift from the god Quetzalcoatl for spiritual awaking. When we dive into the science, theobromine a compound in cacao, has a mild stimulant effect that increases blood flow and enhances focus, making it ideal for meditation and spiritual connection.

Cacao contains up to 300 bioactive compounds , including flavonoids, theobromine, phenylethylamine, anandamide, and polyphenols . That is an incredible amount of antioxidants that help to combat oxidative stress, support heart health, enhance mood, and improve cognitive function.

No doubt why cacao is a true superfood and it is celebrated both for its cultural significance and its powerful health benefits.

Chaya

Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) often referred to as the Mayan miracle plant, has been revered as a superfood by locals for hundreds of years.

According to the Institute of Nutrition in Mexico City, Chaya offers a wide range of health benefits, including: improving blood circulation, supporting digestion, enhancing vision, and providing anti-inflammatory effects (especially for veins and hemorrhoids). It also lowers cholesterol, increaseas calcium absorption for stronger bones, decongests and disinfects the lungs.

Chaya is also called the “super spinach”; spinach contains 5.70 % iron whereas chaya boasts an impressive 11.61% of iron composition. Beyond its nutritional power, chaya has been linked to improving brain function, reducing arthritis symptoms, and helping to manage diabetes. However, it’s important to note that chaya must be cooked before consumption, and it should not be prepared in aluminum containers, as this can cause a reaction that may lead to diarrhea.

Hoja Santa

Hoja Santa, (piper auritum) also known as “tlanepaquelite” in pre-Hispanic Mexico, is classified as a “quelite,” a Náhuatl term meaning an edible plant with healing properties.

This heart-shaped plant is native to Mesoamerican lands and is known for its medicinal benefits, including reducing fever and kidney inflammation, soothing stomach pains, preventing indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. It also contain sedative properties that can alleviate nervousness and insomnia.

Thanks to its saponin content, Hoja Santa possesses antidiabetic properties, particularly hypoglycemic effects , and has been studied for its role in diabetes management. Saponins help to regulate blood glucose by stimulating pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. Saponins also have demonstrated to help with obesity and chronic inflammation conditions often linked to type 2 diabetes.

Given Hoja Santa’s traditional use and saponin content, it may serve as a natural therapeutic option for diabetes management, reinforcing the value of herbal medicine in metabolic health.

Yuca

Yuca (Cassava) has been cultivated in Latin America and Africa for centuries. It is highly resistant to droughts, which is a testament to its powerful health benefits.

This root is rich in choline , an essential nutrient that supports nerve and brain function, as well as DNA health. Also , potassium plays also an important role in yuca and It helps with heart and kidney function.

Yuca’s pigment comes from beta-carotene , a potent antioxidant, that along with saponins can help to combat free radicals and protect cells from damage.

This root is also beneficial for digestive health , as it contains resistant starch , which functions similarly to soluble dietary fiber and it helps to stabilize the digestive system while supporting a healthy gut microbiome.

Yuka must be cooked properly to remove toxins ( cyanogenic glycosides like linamarin ) that come in the skin. It has to be boiled or soak it in water for at least 30-45 minutes , as heat and water help break down harmful compounds.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about some of the healing effects of the ingredients we use in our food and beverages at Playa Viva. Remember that you can find most of these powerful and nutrient-dense elements in the form of powders, medicinal teas and tinctures that are processed by our cooperative available to purchase in our boutique. By purchasing these products you are not only supporting your own health but also, supporting the advancement of permaculture methods in our local watershed and enabling us to provide dignified work and development opportunities at the Women’s Cooperative, strengthening our local community.

About the Author, Ilhui Hernandez is a biologist with an MSc in Biomaterials Engineering, specializing in the interaction between food molecules and the human body. She is the founder of Longevity for All, a platform dedicated to promoting longevity and preventive health through science-based education.

WordTrails and Playa Viva: A Shared Journey of Connection and Giving Back

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:43:32 GMT

Over the past two years Playa Viva has been actively supporting the evolution of a game called WordTrails, which just arrived on the market in December.

Prototypes have been out on the table here at Playa Viva multiple times during the long stays of its creator, S cout Wilkins . Many of the elements in the game emerged right here, through interactions with other guests and community members.

There are many commonalities, between Playa Viva and WordTrails… Both carry the Playa Viva soul vision of “disconnect to reconnect” helping people slow down, listen deeply, and synch up with place, people, and the magic of life.

Both take a little time to enter and relax into a flow, which deepens over the days. Key conversations emerge from engaging. And both are a beautiful mix of comfort and new, weaving things together as you go along.

Now the game is printed and in circulation, and Scout wants to return the support she has been such a grateful recipient of, and help Playa Viva and the turtles.

There are 1,500 copies in the initial “Founder’s Edition.” 5 % of the sales from this edition will come back into our watershed, to help fund the Playa Viva’s community watershed regeneration initiative, ReSiMar which includes Scout’s beloved turtle conservation project, La Tortuga Viva.

If this sounds intriguing to you, we hope you will consider buying a copy!

To purchase WordTrails: https://wordtrails.myshopify.com/

To learn more about WordTrails, visit: https://wordtrails.com

To learn more about Scout and her deep connection to nature and her family here at Playa Viva listen to this podcast , recorded during her most recent stay at her second home, Playa Viva

A description of WordTrails:

WordTrails is a game where players create paths together using word chips and action cards. There’s just one rule: no explanations allowed! As players take turns adding to the trails, everyone holds a few special trinkets. When someone plays a word or action that feels true or meaningful to you, you can place your trinket on it – a quiet way of saying “that matters to me too.”

The magic happens when all the trinkets have been placed, and the game moves to its next level. These special pieces – the ones that touched different players – are brought together and each player gets a turn to form their own pattern or story with those chips. Once you have built your own pattern, you are free to share its story, or just let the pattern speak for itself.

As 8-year-old Presley puts it, “I can tell people how I’m feeling without having to say it.” It’s a game that lets everyone share what’s real for them while discovering what matters to others – in a space where no one (including you) can ask for an explanation why.

Other things that could be said:

WordTrails offers the chance to slow things down together. Everything is back on the table: all the possibilities, all the questions, and all the actions that might be taken. Players get to re-enter the world as it is right now, with all options reinstated.

What is new in the WordTrails version of the world is the absence of explanation.

Suddenly, there is space enough and time enough for taking it all in. For walking together, listening carefully, considering things, taking next steps and exchanging trinkets of appreciation.

WordTrails feels like getting to talk with a trusted friend where there is no such thing as shame or judgment.

“Maintenance is a Man’s Job”

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:35:00 GMT

At Playa Viva we are working to promote gender equality within the team so statements like the title of this piece are a thing of the past. One woman leading the way for us is Cecilia Vega, who is in charge of the maintenance of the solar systems and power at the hotel. She tells us how since university she has been excelling and challenging gender norms in a job that is traditionally thought to be for “men”, how she arrived at Playa Viva and the impact that this has had on her life.

DAVID: Let’s start from the beginning: Your name, what you do here; and I want you to talk about what it’s like to be a woman and be part of a team that normally has men as its head and what it’s like to be in that environment.

CECI: I’m Cecilia Vega Rauda, I’m in charge of technical maintenance at the hotel. First of all, arriving at the hotel and knowing that I would be surrounded by men is something that I had already experienced, because normally you don’t see a woman in this type of job. Since university I have always been the only woman in the room, Playa Viva is no different. When I arrived I was aware my colleagues had the mindset that a woman doesn’t have the same capabilities as a man, and yes, it was a little difficult to deal with but I think we have moved past it. I got ahead by showing them that I am neither better nor equal to them, but that we can have the same capabilities and we can support each other without having to step on each other’s toes. At the end of the day, we are working towards the same goal, which is to ensure that the hotel is always in the best condition for our guests and operating 100% off-grid efficiently.

DAVID: How did you hear about the role at Playa Viva and when finishing university did you imagine working somewhere like this?

CECI: I heard about the role through an ad on the Facebook page of the university where I studied; Industrial Engineering and Maintenance. I didn’t even know that Playa Viva existed. The director of the university program called me and told me there was a position in a hotel near Petatlán, and when I googled Playa Viva I thought: “Do we have this near here in Zihuatanejo?” I saw the treehouses and things like that and was very impressed, so I sent my resume; and to my pleasant surprise, Julia immediately answered me and the next day I was interviewed by the engineer Alberto.

DAVID: And how did it go?

CECI: Well, it went well. Maestro Alberto asked me several things about myself, he took me to see some facilities that he considered were not finished or in compliance with the norm or safety standards and he asked me questions, about what I could do to correct it; names of things and so on, and then I think he liked me or he saw something in me and now, here I am. When I arrived here and began to see the palapas and that everything was self-sustaining; I liked it a lot; I was excited. I went home to tell my mother that we had this beautiful place so close and how crazy it was we didnt know. I believe it is because national tourism doesnt really recognise the importance of sustainability and international tourists are a bit more educated and therefore attracted to Playa Viva in that respect. This really made me love the project more, instead of destroying this place we are aiming to support it, it is reassuring to know that there are sustainable ways to preserve nature and the world if only we are shown how to do it well.

DAVID: How do you feel about being in charge of the solar system?

CECI: Well, at first it was a challenge because I didn’t know what a photovoltaic system was, but the Engineer Alberto taught me all what I should know in regards to the maintenance part. But I can’t be blind in something, just waiting for the engineer to tell me what to do, I always want the full picture so that’s when I asked Julia if I could have attend a course to gain some extra knowledge on the subject. It was a challenge for me, but I didn’t fear it, I liked it, I liked knowing that they were autonomous, that they had no relationship with CFE (the Mexican energy board). It was a great experience for me and I feel proud to be managing such an extensive system myself and training our team.

DAVID: How would you describe the environment for a woman coming to work here at Playa Viva?

CECI: At first the environment was very tense in my maintenance area, not from the outside of my team, from the outside I saw them thinking, “What is a woman doing there?”, but there was never anyone pointing at me or saying bad things, rather it was like a surprise for them to see a woman in maintenance, but I considered the environment good. Inside maintenance however it was very difficult at first. I would say that it is very difficult to work with someone who has a very deep-rooted way of thinking; maybe from childhood, right? Yes, it was very difficult.

DAVID: Has the situation improved?

CECI: Yes, it has improved, we have a better relationship, I think he has realized that I am not here to take his place, but to support him and for him to support me. Where there is a case that he has more knowledge than me I am happy to ask him, and also, if he has doubts about a topic he approaches me. There is respect there now and we have started to work as I wanted at the beginning, as a team.

DAVID: Tell us about the benefits of working here.

CECI: I like being surrounded by the concept that we have here, I think the feeling of family is evident between the team and guests. We are all supported by the space and there is a feeling of peace all the time, even if you dont know guests or new holistic hosts, they greet you, and they can even hug you and that transmits a lot of good energy to me. I like that there are hostesses who talk openly, who teach you, that if for example you are going through a bad situation, they are there to guide us. I really like the more relaxed working environment that we have of course, some situations I have to resolve with the systems stress me out but mainly, I don’t feel stressed, I really like working here at the hotel.

DAVID: Playa Viva often talks about being a regenerative hotel. What does that mean to you?

CECI: “Regenerative”—that’s a new concept for me. I’d be surprised if I give you the definition you’re looking for, but it’s like taking what we already have in nature and improving it if we’ve damaged it. For example, if we have things that are good for the environment, leave them be or add more, but don’t harm what we already have. I think Playa Viva is on a good path to achieving that. We’ve been making changes, and it’s becoming more evident that we’re using environmentally friendly practices.

DAVID: Are there any practices from the hotel that you now use in your personal life?

CECI: The fact that e paint with earth—I want to do that now. I told my mom that we should paint our family home with earth because it’s eco-friendly. Before, I didn’t pay much attention to what I consumed, but now I’m more conscious of what I eat as well. I try not to consume junk food, though it’s hard, but I try to be healthier. Working here has changed my mindset, and I’m proud to be part of something positive for the environment.

DAVID: In terms of raising awareness, has it raised your awareness in any other way?

CECI: I need it. I think there is a lot of potential for Playa Viva to raise awareness in us, but I think the issue is, we Mexicans are very lazy. So, Playa Viva wants to take away that laziness from us Mexicans. What we could really benefit from is recycling in the towns, I would like to, start to separate plastics, cardboard, things that I can reuse and that are worthless to me because at the moment I throw them away. So I think Playa Viva is here to raise awareness in each one of us, but it is up to each one of us to want to learn or to continue learning what Playa Viva is trying to teach us. It would be great if outside of the hotel, there were things in place which can enable us to engage with good practices in our homes.

DAVID: How can we help with that?

CECI: Maybe having a course every so often in which they give us official figures of what is happening around us in the country; because sometimes Mexicans think: “Oh no, nothing is happening, that will never happen”, but if we give them correct figures, official figures, for example, I heard that: every hour 3 people are dying because of lung damage due to enhaling toxic fumes from burning garbage. That is when they will say… “I am not going to burn garbage in my house anymore, I will use it as fertilizer for the trees instead”, we need to see numbers to start worrying and taking care of what is around us

DAVID: What do you see for the future of Playa Viva and your future?

CECI: I see growth for the hotel and becoming even more cemented in the foundations it has in the sustainability space. I am proud that our practices are not only on paper, we live them everyday, each one of the team feels responsible to meet the standards the hotel has and improve on them. I see the hotel stronger in terms of the environmental impact and I see myself aware of working in a hotel that is experiencing sustainable growth. I see myself growing personally as well thanks to putting into practice each of the values and principles that the hotel is trying to instill in each one of us, such as sustainable, energetic, and companionship practices, as well as being guardians of the Juluchuca community. Little actions we make today, such as picking up trash if you see it lying around, all those good practices that we have been taught since we were little but that we don’t do, are all going to make a sustainable difference in the future.

DAVID: Any final words for those reading this?

CECI: I’d like to say that I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work here and learn. I’m constantly learning every day. It’s been an incredible experience to meet people from different cultures and learn from them. I’m very happy to be part of this team, and I’ll continue working hard to ensure Playa Viva remains a beautiful, sustainable place.

Culture and Community with Yara Landa

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:25:00 GMT

In recent years a new team member has enabled us to add cultural events, showcasing Mexican traditions, spirituality, and our sustainability projects to our offering but what are they and who’s behind them? Find out in this interview with Yara Landa, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and Cultural lead at Playa Viva; who gave us the opportunity to learn about the entire process through her eyes.

David: Tell us, what is your name, how many years have you been here and what is your role at Playa Viva?

Yara: My name is Yara Landa, I have been at Playa Viva nearly three years now and I am in charge of the Boutique and lead cultural events

David: Cultural leader, explain what that means?

Yara: I am responsible for organizing events that aim to share beautiful Mexican traditions with our guests. In my first year working here at Playa Viva, I had the initiative to plan a special event for Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead as it is more commonly known outside of Mexico (which is one of my favorite Mexican traditions). We invited guests to participate and feel part of the tradition, showing them how the altar is made, explaining the characteristics and history of the celebration, and why it is culturally significant to us. It was an honor to give them the opportunity to enjoy special moments like being blessed with copal to cleanse their spirit and aura, adding photos of their family members to the altar, and helping them to feel connected to their loved ones through the ceremony. One of the ways in which we adapt this tradition to the Playa Viva style is to give them marigold petals for them to make a path from the altar to the dining room so that they feel that their family member is eating with them. That’s how it started.

After that in the same year we organized a posada which is a traditional event that brings families and friends together ahead of Christmas. We shared this tradition with the guests in the Mexican style, with Mexican Christmas carols at candlelight, we broke the piñata, we explained the history to them and we invited them to participate. This year we even had dancers from the local community come to perform dances that are unique to this place. The response from those first two events was so positive that now we have an annual calendar of traditional events such as Dia de Mariachi, Festival of San Martin and monthly full moon ceremonies to name just a few.

I love planning and executing the events, sharing my culture in Playa Viva style is such a pleasure because by engaging the guests we are keeping these traditions alive. My favorite thing is seeing how the guests react, they always leave very happy, very grateful and they take a part of our culture home with them.

David: What other events are you thinking of adding? What do you like to do and how do you do it?

David: Tell me, thinking about the guest experience, what do you think makes Playa Viva different?

Yara: Out of all of the hotels I have visited and stayed at, I cannot compare any to the experience you have as a guest in this place. One of the advantages I have is that I stayed at the hotel twice, once about 5 years ago an the second time 3 years ago. Getting to know the staff first as a guest and then as a worker has been very meaningful, I already felt a good connection with them just as a guest but now as a team member getting to know them deeper and more intimately is something that I have liked a lot. I will always say that the staff are one of the most beautiful parts of the Playa Viva experience, I see it every day when guests complete their check outs with me, guests reference team members by name and it is such a good reflection of the fac that our team enjoy making guests feel like they are at home. That is special. I believe that for our guests Playa Viva is not only about pretty rooms or a very important social impact project, but becomes meaningful to them because of the humility and heart that each member of the team puts into the hotel.

David: You said, “Playa Viva is much more than…” What else is Playa Viva for you?

Yara: Much more than just a nice hotel. It is community, it is family, friendship, it is… for example, as a worker, it is an opportunity. I feel that Playa Viva provides a platform for you to develop professionally, here you have the opportunity to share your ideas and for those ideas to be heard. I mention this because, for example, I am also a fashion designer and I sell my brand here at the hotel. I wasnt sure what to expect but luckily the guests love my clothes and give helpful feedback, the results I have seen have been unexpected and I can really see a development in my brand. I really appreciate having the opportunity to sell here because not everyone does, that makes me feel the support and trust of the leaders and the managers of the hotel. Having the opportunity to develop as a person, especially in the workplace is very positive.

David: How have you grown as a person in the two years you have been here?

Yara: I feel that I have developed on a personal level, but also on a professional level in a way that, honestly, I didn’t expect, because Playa Viva also makes you leave your comfort zone, it invites you to see beyond what you can do. The growth that I have had here has been very, very, very great.

David: In what sense?

Yara: Something that makes me feel very proud is the development of my English speaking abilities. I came here to Playa Viva barely speaking English, I had only done a 4 month intensive course and I remember perfectly that when I spoke with you, David, in an interview about the possibility of working here, that you asked me for a project proposal; by the way, I read that email recently and I said “Wow, I have fulfilled all those points that I said I would do;” but anyway, I arrived speaking almost no English and that was one of my goals to improve, I honestly didnt think it would be possible but today I feel much more confident to be able to express myself with it. Sure, I still make mistakes but it is a testament to our team and guests because they make me feel comfortable to be able to learn, make mistakes and I love when they correct me, every day I am learning. The Yara of 2 years ago is not the same as Yara now, all it took was the Playa Viva family to open the doors for me for me to continue growing and developing. When I took the role I didnt expect it to help my brand but with my improved English I have been able to attract more clients and an engaged audience of Playa Viva guests, and that has been very satisfying.

David: Playa Viva says it is a regenerative hotel? What is that? What have you learned about Regeneration in your 2 years here?

Yara: When my friends or acquaintances ask me about the hotel, I always talk about the whole sustainable part; from the solar panels to how we take care of the water not just in the hotel but in the entire watershed, and all the social impact we have in Juluchuca. I think that when I first heard about Playa Viva, I hadn’t understood all these amazing commitments, I just thought it was a beautiful hotel. Thanks to being in close contact with Ximena, who is in charge of the education node, Osmaira who manages the Women’s cooperative part, and Kerry, who has a background with “Regenerative Travel,” makes me see that something very important is being done to make change in this area. I have seen a growth in terms of support for the community, one example being the products that I sell here in the boutique, which are products that the Women’s Cooperative make. Just recently I was talking with Mayra, who is part of the women’s cooperative; I asked her if she really liked her job and she said yes, that she never imagined working in that field but now she cant imagine doing anything else, she loves the women she works with. Seeing how little by little they have grown makes me say “Ok”; I feel proud to know where I am working and the people who are a part of these projects; there are many things that I would like to understand more, for example how they do the study of the water basin from the mountains, so I can share more with our guests but from what I already understand I am proud to be able to confidently tell them that Playa Viva is much more than just a nice hotel.

David: Something I wanted to ask when you were talking about the piñata. Can you tell us about when you made the change from one piñata to another?

Yara: The piñatas that we have always had here at Playa Viva had been filled with the normal candy that comes wrapped in plastic wrappers, until a guest shared with us her sadness when she saw one of those plastic wrappers the next day in the sea. We had a talk between the kitchen, office, housekeeping and boutique in which she was involved, and from there we began to observe the areas where we we may not have thought about alternatives to plastic. Perhaps she thought her comment wasn’t important but I love how Playa Viva is always open to feedback, it makes us see where we can improve. From that day we committed to only offering plastic-free pinatas so they are instead stuffed with traditional sweets such as tamarinds wrapped in tamale leaves, nuts and fruits. We buy candies in bulk to make plastic-free pic n mix bags so no one is left too disappointed and the ocean is safe from unwanted plastic rubbish.

David: How have you changed your habits because of working here?

Yara: I have become more conscious, especially in relation to how much plastic and trash I generate in my house, I can really notice that I have changed my consumption of single-use products. I am also more conscious of how much I consume, not only in material things, but also in solar and electric energy and I now separate the organic from the inorganic. It doesnt sound like much but we really are not taught about the importance of these things so it is nice to be an example for my friends and family.

Playa Viva, the Antidote to AI

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 14:15:00 GMT

When Did we Forget About Nature’s Knowledge?

It seems like everyone is rushing to celebrate their advancements in AI technology, even in the Hospitality Industry where companies like the Mandarin Oriental promote headlines such as “ Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group invests in AI tech to reduce food waste .” We here at Playa Viva think it’s time to flex about good old-fashioned AI of a different kind.

Don’t get us wrong, we definitely are not luddites and do believe in adopting technologies that work and make our lives better, healthier and more regenerative. However, we believe that travel is inherently about “the experience” and the feelings generated by raw adventure, immersion in the luxury of nature and discovering the unknown. Should AI be included on that list, we do not think so! As per the 1982 book “Megatrends” by John NaisbittIn one of the top trends for the future was “High Tech/High Touch.” The more high-tech our society becomes, the more “high-touch” experiences we will seek out and value as members of that society.

The travel experience at B-Corp Certified, Regenerative Travel founding member hotel Playa Viva provides the key high-touch experiences to balance out our lives. So while we appreciate advancements in Artificial Intelligence we are here to showcase our unique ‘AI’ commitments that make Playa Viva the antidote to this increasingly artificial world we live in:

Marriott International is experimenting with AI-powered room tech Vs. Playa Viva’s ‘Atmospheric Immersion’ offering:

With 200 acres of unspoiled coastline, Playa Viva’s award-winning treehouses and Eco-Casitas luxuriate you with the abundance of nature. We don’t need fancy AI technology to “power” your room. As a matter of fact, the one thing the rooms are missing is the constant hum of machines (no TV’s, no mini-bars, no A/C), just the hum of nature to reconnect you to a deeper self that can only come from being fully immersed in the sounds, sights, and scents of nature. We do not provide a daily schedule update to an iPad in the room because the wifi is only available in the common area and the schedule is written on a chalkboard. The only rush here is the baby sea turtles scampering to the ocean to get on with their life’s journey. Our ‘Atmospheric Immersion’ harnesses all the natural intelligence you need to “disconnect to reconnect” at Playa Viva.

Mandarian Orientals are testing AI to combat food waste Vs. Playa Viva using ‘Animal Instinct’ to do what nature has always done best, put food waste to good use.

The seasonal produce that is the cornerstone of our food offering has a closed-loop lifecycle, it is largely grown on our 20-acre permaculture farm or by local producer partners, it travels 5 minutes to the kitchen, it is served to guests and our team, any leftovers are composted, some goes straight on to become natural fertilizer for the farm and gardens and the rest feeds our pigs and chickens before eventually becoming natural fertilizer for the next crop. The animals on our farm are a key part of our whole systems thinking approach, they not only help us deal with food waste, one of the largest contributors to global warming; but also act as an organic meat source and help us to regenerate our soil without the use of heavy machinery. After 15 years of operation, our team is aware of the quantities they need, so no, we do not require AI to tell us how much food you need on your plate, enjoy Playa Viva’s bountiful bouquet of healthy and locally sourced Mexican food, and, what you don’t eat, we put Animal Instinct to work on how to best turn food waste into abundance.

Expedia has launched Romi, an AI travel assistant, to support you through your journey Vs. Playa Viva’s focus on ‘Authentic Interactions’ to create more meaningful community:

Each of our experiences starts with AI – Authentic Interactions – connections to and between real people. When arriving through Playa Viva’s plant-fringed tunnel that separates a guest’s normal life, you are greeted by one of Playa Viva’s Holistic Hosts. Real humans who are your personal guides to maximize your transformation during your fully immersive, luxury regenerative hotel experience. Our Holistic Hosts also guide guests through morning yoga and beachside massages to connect with nature and self. Guests are invited to join each other at “the big table” to enjoy delicious farm-to-table meals and rich conversations, getting to know values-aligned individuals. Meals celebrate produce from our farm, individuals in the community, and our women’s cooperative, our team can tell you the names of the producers and their life stories. Our farm tour is one of the most popular offerings that connects guests to the team passionately working in harmony with the land to ensure our colorful dishes are talked about long after leaving. Meanwhile, all our excursions are designed by the community and led by community members. We don’t have a branded PV yacht because that takes away the opportunity for us to provide guests with a REAL experience out fishing and sharing tales with local fishermen on their lanchas. We don’t have a branded 4×4 because instead, we prefer to pay locals to drive guests up on their quad-bikes to share lunch all-together with the Guiterrez family in the mountains. These are priceless opportunities to experience life in rural Mexico by connecting with locals and in sharing that with fellow guests Playa Viva is offering what everyone craves in this modern age, surprisingly not AI but rather human connection. Authentic Interactions with our team, fellow guests and the local community seems to be the right answer for all.

So in today’s High Tech world promoting fancy solutions backed by AI, we here at Playa Viva are committed to focus on some old-tech versions of AI:

Sometimes progress looks like stepping back from the crowd, we are proud to promote that these nature-based solutions create truly transformational experiences for our guests and local community and are as far from ‘artificial’ as you can get.

“What makes Playa Viva one of the world’s leading regenerative boutique hotels is our dedication to simple, nature-based solutions. We love good technology when we find it, but when we read about all the ways tech, especially AI – Artificial Intelligence – is being promoted as part of hospitality, we, at Playa Viva, remind ourselves that nature often has the answer. AI uses up a lot of carbon compared to “regular” search. So before running after new tech solutions, we hope the hospitality sector will look as well at the knowledge that nature has to offer us. I truly believe that Tourism can be a catalyst for the change we know we need, while AI can support our goals, harnessing nature should remain our focus for the benefit of the planet and the real tourism experience that makes our industry so impactful.” says David Leventhal, Co-Founder and Operating Manager of Playa Viva and Founder of Regenerative Travel, adding, “Full Disclaimer, I used AI to help edit this, we are not perfect”

Scout and her Radical Sabbatical

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 22:27:00 GMT

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s truly like to spend an entire month with us, you’re in for a treat. Meet Scout, a familiar face here at Playa Viva who graced us with her presence for a month during Low Season last year. Join us as we explore her motivations, follow her journey, and discover how her month-long stay exceeded even her wildest expectations.

All photos included were taken by Scout during her radical sabbatical

What drew you to book in for a month long stay?

There are things in my life that are so obvious that they bypass thinking and go right to YES. The decision to return to Playa Viva for a month was clearly one of those.

I first visited Playa Viva in May 2023 as part of a memoir-writing workshop, with a gifted facilitator and somatic healer named Janelle Hardy. While at Playa Viva, through all the support the entire experience provided, from Janelle, her mother and daughter, the Playa Viva staff, the other guests, the ocean’s overwhelming constancy in the overall environment and, I have to say most delightfully, the baby turtles, my whole system relaxed and opened to a new depth.

I was at a point of profound change in my life. My mother, the last of her generation, had passed the previous year. I had moved, bought a house, retired from my job and entered a new phase of grandmotherhood, where I am more able to help support my single-parenting daughter-in-law. All of these things called on me to deepen my understanding of who I am and what I want now. I had a new level of financial abundance which brought me to needing to grapple with what “help” means.

It put me in a place from which I have a different perspective about what matters and how things work.

This same sort of shift has happened often enough for me in my life that I can now recognize and name the process that I was in: I was fully aware of being in the process of stepping up, making another shift of orientation.

Some of those shifts have been finding the museum I grew up inside, leaving the museum as a young adult, leaving home, getting married, having children, building a business, selling the business, getting divorced…as I write this, I see the pattern in a way I had not before – it is a pattern of finding, joining and leaving family or tribe. When family or tribe is all I have ever wanted, I keep finding it and leaving it.

So…the one thing I know about the big moments in my life is that in a way that is hard to put into words, life shows up and gives me nudges, picks me up and puts me places…life shows up and lets me know what’s next. It shows up as the sort of no-brainer that the decision to return to Playa Viva was.

At the same time, at the deepest level I knew that what I was actually doing in this return was simply saying yes to life, and putting myself within easy reach of life’s next message, whatever it might be.

What were your expectations for your time at Playa Viva and how did that time live up to those expectations?

I was about to say I didn’t hold real expectations, but as I think about my arrival, I see that’s not true. I expected to have it be the way it had been in May. I expected other guests with whom to sit and talk over coffee, people to meet and enjoy. And what happened was the minute I arrived, Ricardo smiled and said, “Wow, this is going to be amazing, during most of your stay you are going to be the only guest here!” (I had booked into the last month available and was there for the rainiest, buggiest, hottest, most humid season the resort is open for. The day I left, they closed for the full-on rain season). Happily, I watched myself pivot easily into the new conditions and become fine with it being whatever it was going to be. That was really nice – it felt triumphant to get to “OK” so quickly.

How did Playa Viva and the team support you in meeting your needs for your 1-month sabbatical?

Well, given that I was there alone, the staff was even more crucial than they might have been. We became family. After a few days it occurred to me I had an opportunity for a bit of a Spanish immersion, which I had been wanting, so I asked them for help. Once they saw that I was serious, and really appreciated being instructed and corrected, they really worked with me. Soon they asked to use me as well, to help them with their English. That was funny – I got a chance to have yet another false belief taken down. I thought they knew far more English than they did, and it turned out that mostly we were all just smiling and nodding at one another, and it was working. I loved relaxing into that.

Given that the question I arrived with was about family and tribe, and who am I now around these ideas, feeling the family aspect of Playa Viva was monumental. I had been booked into Habitacion 1, which meant I was all the way out at the end. The staff encouraged me to move closer in, which I resisted at first. I was in my comfortable place, way out on the edge, free to sit naked on the porch and play my guitar and sing at the top of my lungs without anyone hearing me. So I said, “No, thanks – I’m fine out here.” They’d check in now and then, always a gentle invitation, and I’d say, “No, I’m fine. Really.”

And then about ten days in, I realized what I was doing. The same old thing. The beautiful Playa Viva family was down there, inviting me closer, inviting me in, and I was holding back, keeping a safe distance. So, after a very interesting conversation with myself I made the choice to lean in and move closer.

Giving myself permission, having the understanding and leaning into the feeling that Playa Viva was my family was monumental. A lot of very very wonderful things have emerged from that decision. The decision to try something radically differently, around the idea of family has had ripples everywhere in my life.

What makes Playa Viva a good place for a radical sabbatical?

So – for me, I would say that Playa Viva provided the level of extreme loving support I needed to challenge some very basic beliefs in my system. For me, Playa Viva offers a true, felt experience of what it means to be loved and supported.

Any advice for others wanting to take a sabbatical at Playa Viva in the future?

Listen. When you feel the call, lean in. Step in. Give it a try. You never know. But odds are, it’s going to be amazing.

Hearing myself say that makes me think it’s the exact same instructions I would give someone thinking about a fire walk. So – yeah. A month at Playa Viva is going to be a firewalk as well as a walk on the beach. It will be a lot of things, not just peace love and joy. Some of it will be hard, lonely and hot with a lot of bugs.

The adventure is never the one thing I think it is. And I can resist the call with the best of them. So if it helps, here’s some personal self-talk I use.

Scout. You can do this. You don’t have to. Simply feeling the call is amazing.

And remember, Scout, if you do step in, odds are it will be worth every single bit of what it takes, and more.

We are so grateful to Scout for sharing these beautiful words and photos with us. If you are interested in discussing extended stays with a long-term discount contact our reservations team on reservations@playaviva.com

Empowering Tomorrow’s Environmental Stewards: The EcoAgentes of Juluchuca

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 18:47:00 GMT

With the help of our Regenerative Education Teacher, Ximena Rodriguez, a small local school in the heart of Juluchuca is paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future with an innovative educational social impact project: EcoAgentes of the Microcuenca. This initiative aims to cultivate a generation of environmental guardians who are committed to protecting the local micro watershed and preserving its natural abundance.

At the core of the project is the empowerment of children to take charge of their environment. They are encouraged to be vigilant in identifying and addressing environmental issues, whether it’s calling out littering, preventing chemicals from entering rivers, or championing recycling programs. By instilling a sense of responsibility and ownership, the project seeks to equip these young learners with the tools to become future leaders who will safeguard their community’s ecological heritage.

One of the key elements of the EcoAgentes initiative is its focus on engaging the entire community. The project recognizes that real change requires collective effort, and thus aims to inspire not only the children but also their parents and grandparents to adopt more environmentally conscious behaviors. By fostering a culture of environmental stewardship within Juluchuca, the project hopes to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the school gates.

To kickstart the project, a few months ago the children were involved in designing logos that capture the essence of their mission as EcoAgentes and the beauty of the watershed. Two standout designs were selected from a vote by the Playa Viva team and transformed into T-shirts, which were proudly distributed to the young participants on launch day. Now, whenever these children don their EcoAgentes attire, they serve as living ambassadors for environmental action, signaling to the community their commitment to cleaning up the streets and protecting nature.

The launch event itself was a testament to the collaborative spirit driving the project forward. Ximena invited her collaborator and advisor Patricia Vázquez del Mercado Herrera , a Harvard Alumni, former secretary of education for the State of Puebla, and designer of our ReSiMar Regenerative Education Program. Ximena, Patricia and the teachers of Juluchuca, with support from funders including the LEGO Foundation, GroBios Marine Conservation Team, and the Legacy Works Team, ensured the launch was a celebration of education, inspiration, and the boundless potential of youth-driven environmentalism.

Along with their T-shirts the children were gifted backpacks that showcased the words “Aprender Importante” which translates to “to learn is important.” For their first mission as EcoAgentes Ximena and Patricia tasked the children with filling their backpacks with all the trash they saw on their way home and to school the next day. With the promise of a prize the next day the 40+ children returned with backpacks stuffed full of trash and there began their first EcoAgente lesson. Upon unloading all the trash into a pile in the playground the children were asked how it made them feel to know all that trash had come from their streets, how would they play with the mound of trash in the way, and what if all the trash ended up in the ocean?! There and then they committed to a new recycling program in the school and to speak up against littering when safe to do so in the street. You may be wondering what was the prize, in true EcoAgente style Playa Viva gifted the school 4 hibiscus plants. A few bemused looks from the children were swiftly turned to smiles when they were told these plants would ensure a supply of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the school and they will be able to enjoy making their own hibiscus water for free.

As the EcoAgentes of Juluchuca embark on their journey to safeguard the micro watershed, they carry with them not just the logos on their T-shirts, but a sense of purpose and determination to create a brighter, more sustainable future for their community. Through their actions, they are not just agents of change, but beacons of hope for generations to come.

Donate to our Social Impact Work

How We Turned Used Plastic into Gold

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:15:00 GMT

Back in the day, when the village of Juluchuca sat on the land that is now our farm, before the population moved upstream, the people that lived here would have traded natural resources in place of money. A bag of corn for 2 mangos, a box of sea shells for clay to build a house, etc. At the top of that monetary food chain was Cacao. The cacao seed was highly valued by the Maya and Aztec peoples for practical and cultural reasons . It eventually became an integral part of the Maya and Aztec economies.

As part of our watershed cleanup project- Juluchuca Limpio- we are always looking for ways to engage the children of the watershed in responsible rubbish management. Ximena Rodriguez our Regenerative Education Coordinator who works across all the schools in the four communities had an idea. While we weren’t about to trade their rubbish for cacao- or chocolate as we know it today, Ximena saw an opportunity to incentivize the children to collect Plastic (PET) in return for school supplies.

We are lucky to receive generous guest donations of school supplies through our Pack for a Purpose initiative so Ximena went about designing a new economic system. 2 bottles = 1x Toothbrush, a selection of erasers, 1x box of crayons. 5 bottles= items of clothing, 8 bottles= toys and stickers, 10 bottles= notebooks, colors and art crafts, etc. The date was set for the Ecotrueque*, the available items were sorted and the kids had 3 weeks to collect enough plastic bottles to trade for their dream items. *Trueque is an exchange of things that are of mutual interest for the participants, in our case we call it an Ecotrueque because at its core it is an eco-community event.

“When the kids arrived we quickly realized we had underestimated how much they would collect and I had undervalued the ‘currency.’ They each had huge bags packed full with 20 or more bottles which they were delighted to exchange for school supplies. It was a great activity to flip their perspective on rubbish from something easily thrown on the floor to something that holds value. We are looking forward to organizing more events in all the communities and seeing the ripple effect of this initiative. The kids from Las Placitas are already coming to class telling me how many bottles they have collected for our next event.”

On the day Ximena was joined by Osmaira Hernandez our Permaculture Node Lead and Larissa Hernandez our Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator who helped her bargain with the kids on the ‘exchange rates’ and set up games for the kids. All the plastic bottles collected were gifted to the local church which was able to sell the plastic to raise funds for renovations.

And there you have it, how we turned plastic into gold*

*In the eyes of the children

Excellence in Tourism- Playa Viva awarded at FITUR in Madrid

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:10:00 GMT

What do the cliff divers of Acapulco, the Posadas de Taxco and Playa Viva have in common? All have been recognized by the The Excellence Awards by Groupo Excellencias!

On the 24 of January 2024 Playa Viva was awarded The Excellence in Tourism Award 2024 during Fitur in Madrid. Playa Viva was selected as the winner for this prestigious award from a group of outstanding tourism operations by an independent judging panel of international trailblazers and personalities working within Tourism, Art and Gastronomy, headed by José Carlos de Santiago as president of the Grupo Excelencias.

Among more than 1 thousand applications from over 25 countries, only 45 projects were awarded . Playa Viva has received this significant commendation thanks to our:

Conceptualization, planning, and 100% sustainable operation that also considers environmental, sociocultural and economic needs.
Internationally award-winning sustainable bamboo and wood architecture
Driving social and environmental change- Support of the La Tortuga Viva turtle sanctuary and 20-acre Permaculture Farm and extensive programs in the local watershed across education, water, permaculture, marine conservation and reforestation

Since their inception The Excellence Awards have become the benchmark in the field of tourism and gastronomy in Latin America. The spirit of the awards is to give well-deserved recognition to outstanding people and projects in tourism worldwide. In the history of the awards, the State of Guerrero has only been awarded three times. Once to recognize the cliff divers of Acapulco with their 80-year history and another award was given to the Posadas de Taxco with its 300-year history, in both cases to recognize their cultural significance. This is the first time a singular brand and hotel has been nominated and won. To achieve the Award of Excellence by this esteemed group and panel is a huge achievement for Playa Viva and the wider state of Guerrero and Mexican Tourism.

Thank you all who have participated in our start, evolution and growth. We look forward to another 15 years of trailblazing in the regenerative tourism space and offering an experience “Where Your Vacation Meets Your Values”

Playa Viva’s Power Couple: Eli & Serafin

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 19:55:00 GMT

In an industry that so often puts hotel owners on a pedestal, Playa Viva puts its team front and center. To celebrate our 15th season we want to give you an insight into the heart of Playa Viva. This month we are introducing you to Eli and Serafin, the ‘power couple’ of Playa Viva who manage our housekeeping & maintenance teams respectively.

David : When did you start working at Playa Viva (PV)?

Serafin : I joined PV right at the beginning when the land was being prepared for construction, a year before the hotel opened in 2007

David : What work did you do?

Serafin: I did everything. I started “mochando” vegetation, loosening sand, I actually dug the first hole for construction and then, as we progressed, I helped as a bricklayer and in carpentry working with bamboo. A little bit of everything, it really was all hands on deck during that first year, it still is really.

David : And you Eli, when did you join the Playa Viva tean?

Eli : I started a month before the end of the first season. So I already have 14 complete seasons with Playa Viva and one month of the first. I started in the laundry which looked very different then. We had one machine but there was never enough solar power to run it so I had to take all the sheets back and forth to Petatlan which was far from ideal.

David: I remember you told me after a few years that if a laundry wasn’t built in the next construction, you would leave Playa Viva.

Eli: Yes, it wasn’t efficient for me to be coming and going from Petatlan. Now we have a lovely laundry area with plenty of machines and drying lines that overlook the mountains and palm trees. It must be one of the most beautiful laundry room views in the world. So I got my wish and I am happy for my team to have that dedicated space

David: And your Serafin, you went from being a construction worker to what kind of job?

Serafin: I was a construction worker during the construction, from there they moved me to work in the maintenance team because Michel, PV’s architect, recommended me. I want to think that he liked my way of working, and could see my love for working with wood.

David: I remember what Michel told me is that “Serafín is the person you want in charge of maintenance because he knows everything. Serafin knows what you need before you need it.” That’s how you came recommended and has been our experience. Now I have a lot of confidence that when we ask you for some carpentry work, we know you will make a work of art, you do everything beautifully.

Serafin: I remember that the first year I struggled a lot with the way the team worked. I remember them telling me: I want this, and once it was done, they made me change it and do it another way. Now, I can skip that middle part because I know better how to anticipate the needs of the hotel. Little by little I am getting to know the needs of the project. When you work you learn and discover new things, these are things that time and dedication give you.

Eli: For me, I had never worked before. This is my first job, it just happens to have lasted 14+ years and I am now the manager of the housekeeping department. Currently, 10 people work with me. First, we were 3, then 5 and now we are 10, as the hotel grew, so did our laundry team.

David: What attracted you to working at the hotel?

Eli: Well if I’m honest, initially it was the proximity to my home and that my husband worked here already, there was that safety net. I loved that the design concept being all wood, it is different from the other hotels in the region, which are all glass and concrete. Beyond the design, what makes me proud to work here is the concept the hotel has for caring for nature and the environment, how Playa Viva helps in the watershed because truthfully no one had cared about the communities before.

Serafin: I think that PV opened the doors for us to feel proud, and to be able to say that I belong to a company, to a project that benefits my community and where they let you realize your potential and discover beautiful things. Every time there is construction, I know that it is going to be hard work but it is nice to know that the more Playa Viva grows, the more impact and opportunities there are for other people in the community.

David: And now we have a second generation of locals working with us, including your son. Tell us how you feel about that?

Serafin: I remember that one day you called me on the radio and asked me how I felt working with my son… It’s something that I didn’t consider… but it’s very nice. When he started here he really was still a child in my eyes, but now I see him being part of this team and having an impact in the same way Eli and I have had and I realize he is a responsible young man.

Eli: I feel very proud and grateful that thanks to the work Playa Viva gave us he was able to study at the University in Petatlán and get his degree. He was the first in both our families to do so and won’t be the last, our daughter is now attending the same university and learning English. These are small things but we could have never imagined being able to have gone to university. Playa Viva has been our university/ life training.

David: What does the community think of Playa Viva?

Eli: The community is very grateful to Playa Viva for helping, especially when it comes to education because the truth is that before many families did not have the resources to allow their children to stay in school beyond the age of 15, instead the boys would be sent to work and the girls sent to get married and begin their own family. But now thanks to the “Adopt a Student” program many children in the community have been provided with the funds, tools and support to be able to attend & finish high school and you can see the positive ripple effect of that daily.

Serafin: Playa Viva is not just the hotel, Playa Viva is its surroundings. People recognize that Playa Viva has created a bridge between the community and the hotel and thanks to that all of the communities in some way or another have benefited from the project.

David: At what age did you start working in the fields Serafin?

Serafin: Where I grew up in Rancho Nuevo, as soon as you can handle a machete you start working. You leave school and go help your parents: work with firewood, tend to the crop… there is always something to do

David: So the ‘Adopt a Student’ program has made a difference?

Eli: It has made a huge amount of difference, from the moment they started supporting the individual students you could see the shift in the communities. There are fewer youths working in the fields, fewer girls getting married young and the children have higher expectations for their future prospects. You can also notice more pride in the children and a greater understanding of the environment and watershed thanks to all the volunteers teaching regenerative education, which really is a gift.

Serafin: We, in the communities, feel lucky that Playa Viva attracts people from all over Mexico and Internationally to come and support our children’s education. Over the years the children have created beautiful bonds with the impact team, especially Colleen, Ariel & Ximena, they are like idols in the community and for that we are fortunate. The fact that this is something Playa Viva has decided to take on, to create that bridge and help the communities to improve their situations is very nice.

David: Wow, that is really special. Thank you for sharing all that. On a less serious note, we are asking everyone we interview the same question, “What is your favorite room?”

Serafin: Room 13. You feel different there, the architecture and being surrounded by bamboo is very unique. For me all the rooms are beautiful but rooms 13 and 11 are special to me.

Eli: For me, it’s room 11, I love the palapa and the privacy you get there, it stands out to me from the others, but it was also one of the first rooms so maybe it’s the nostalgia.

Because it Feels Like Home

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 20:00:00 GMT

Over the last 15 years, Playa Viva has become a cherished home away from home for our valued guests. Here are 15 keys that define Playa Viva:

Home is where the heart is, so go out for adventure and come home for love, Playa Viva is your beach home and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

Photo by @wildwellnessguide

Johnny’s Famous Basil Margarita

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:35:00 GMT

It’s been almost 10 years since Juan Carlos Solís, aka Johnny developed our Signature Organic Basil Margarita. Johnny has gone on to found his own adventure tour company that manages activities for Playa Viva guests , but this recipe lives on as a testament to his time as a bartender. By popular demand it is still the Playa Viva house drink.

It’s not too tart or too sweet, but it’s just right. It’s so just right, that it’s too good, if that’s possible, so be warned, the maker will be in popular demand!

The key is not only “the mix” but, in this case, “the ingredients”; like everything at Playa Viva the sourcing is taken seriously, not even a cocktail escapes our concept of Food (or drink in this case) as Medicine. Testament to this, we rim our cocktail glasses with Sal Viva , the hotel’s very own brand of salt. Here’s how our partner producer’s the Quintana Family cultivate it:

Playa Viva’s Organic Basil Margarita

Ingredients :

5 leaves of organic basil
1.5 shots of lemon juice
2 shots of 4 Copas organic tequila (or other organic tequila)
1 shot of Controy
1 teaspoon of agave nectar (agave honey – “Miel de Agave”)
5 large cubes of ice
Thin layer of Sal Viva in a dish (for rimming glass). If it is in season we also recommend adding in dried blitzed hibiscus to make a hibiscus salt

Tools of the trade:

Blender
Shaker Glass
Plate for salt to rim glass
Glass

Blending the drink- over ice edition :

Start with the four leaves of organic basil. Place them in a blender, then squeeze in juice from lime, add the tequila and blend (without ice).
Once blended, pour the blended mix into a shaker glass with the ice and add the agave nectar
Margarita should be shaken (not stirred)
Take the remaining lime and rim the mouth of the glass to add moisture so when you dip the glass in a plate with Sal Viva, the salt sticks to the rim
Pour in the shaken mix into a glass for the perfect Playa Viva Organic Basil Margarita.

If you want to make it a frozen margarita, like this , add the ice into the blender at step one, blend all the ingredients together and then skip to step 4.

And there you have it, our perfectly crafted Basil Margarita.

Enjoy Responsibly & tag us on Instagram & Facebook !

To purchase your own Sal Viva, send an email to info@PlayaViva.com and include the words “Sal Viva” in the subject line.

Julia on 15 Years Leading the Playa Viva Team

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 18:33:00 GMT

In an industry that so often puts hotel owners on a pedestal, Playa Viva puts its team front and center. To celebrate our 15th season we want to give you an insight into the lifeblood of Playa Viva. Naturally, first up we have the leader of the hotel team, Julia Garcia, General Manager of Playa Viva.

David Leventhal, co-founder and Operating Manager, interviewed Julia in her office during the first weeks of Season 15 and started with a few rapid fire questions:

Quickfire Qs

David: Julia, d o you have a favorite room?

Julia: Of course, I have one, the Private Casita, number 11. That was the first room we built and is still my favourite. We have guests that prefer other rooms but I love the way they designed the space, the light in the roomy bathroom, the large palapa and spacious front deck. You really feel immersed in the jungle there.

David: D o you have a favorite meal?

Julia: I like everything the kitchen team does here and I especially like not having to cook myself. I love Olga’s Mole and the fact that she prepares it from scratch the traditional way but has adapted to offer vegetarian & vegan options for our guests. I also love the Pozole.

David: Favorite cocktail?

Julia: The Basil Margarita, of course, Johnny’s famous margarita has to get a mention. That or a cold wine is my order to enjoy at the bar while the sun sets.

Julia’s story from the very beginning…

David: So, how did you initially find out about Playa Viva?

Julia: I actually found out from the human resources manager of Club Med, where I was working at the time. She told me they were building a hotel right by my town and once I knew about that, I just came directly to see you (David). I was at the end of a contract as the Head of restaurant operations with Club Med and had worked for the brand for over 20 years, so it was a good opportunity for me to move on and I was excited by the prospect of working closer to home for an independent property.

David: Excellent. And what, what is your role now at Playa Viva?

Julia: I am the Hotel Manager. Or the boss’s assistant as I like to say.

David: Haha, Julia, you know that you are the real boss, not me. Back to the interview, w hat is your favorite part of being a member of the Playa Viva team?

Julia: I will say there are many many things. I am proud that it is a sustainable hotel, and we have always taken care of the community with our social impact programs. And also, I like the experience that we provide to the guests, it is different, unique. It is not just being a tourist and enjoying the beach, the contact with the land, with our community and (Mexican) culture is different. One of the things I love the most is the type of guests we attract, they are different, interesting people.

David: What do you mean by- “We attract different people?”

Julia: Well, we attract people who travel with a purpose. With a sense of their impact and strong values that are aligned with ours. As a local myself, I am proud that we offer them that opportunity.

David: You’ve been working with us since the very beginning, that’s 15 years of fun. Do you have any highlights from your time working here?

Julia: My life has changed a lot in those 15 years. Of course, having Fernando, my son, has been one of the highlights of my life. Being able to raise him in the community where I grew up and within the Playa Viva community where the staff watches after him and returning guests ask about him and have seen him grow up is a very special thing. My son is 12 years old now so I was in my second year at the hotel when I had him so I can track every season of the hotel through his life stages.. One other experience, that now I can laugh at, was early on when you still had to cross the river to get to Playa Viva and we had a period of unseasonal rain. An Austrian family were here at the hotel and we were watching the river get higher and higher as the days passed. As their time with us drew to an end and they had to catch their flight, the river had become, seemingly, impassable.. We had to use an old truck, we filled the truck with water containers and rocks to weigh it down so it wouldn’t float away as it crossed the river. That was stressful for us but, for the family, it was the highlight of their trip, their adventurous escape through the jungle. I still laugh about that and wonder how we managed to get them to the airport in time, but we did.

David: Something, they’ll never forget for sure. Now, a s you know, one of the five core values of Playa Viva is to create transformational experiences. So, I am interested to hear how you feel Playa Viva has transformed you?

Julia: When I first started at Playa Viva, I felt I had a lot to share with the project and it’s one of the things that attracted me the most but I have to be honest, with time I realized there is so much more I can learn from the project in return. I naturally was so involved that I invested more thought into our values and it has motivated me not just here at the hotel but at home as well. I mean it could be to do with my age and having Fernando made me more conscious.My past jobs have just been jobs to me, part of my routine, I was looking for something different. I was hoping more than looking.. At that time, before I had Fernando I was just working to survive but I think finding Playa Viva gave me purpose and satisfaction again in my work. I always want to see how we can do more to create transformational experiences for the guests and, in turn, transform our community. The social impact we have in the community, what we are doing right now, in reciprocity with them, for me is one of the best parts of Playa Viva.

David: How have you grown as a person professionally while working here?

Julia: Well I learned to manage a team in a different way. I was more used to a large team and the corporate Club Med environment. But working with a small team is different, you get involved with them, you share feelings with the team. And you know, the fact that the majority of them are from my town. It really is like a family. So, I had a wonderful opportunity to help the team develop into their roles because many of them didn’t know the job and they had to learn because part of Playa Viva functioning efficiently & authentically revolves around hiring local people and developing their potential. I am proud of the group of supervisors we have, they are so good at what they do and are proud to do it which is a huge help to me. Of course, we as a team have different points of view sometimes and some team members have never worked in a hotel before, they have their own land and are used to managing themselves but I think these different life experiences only make the team richer.

David: How have you learned to be outside of your comfort zone through challenges you have faced here. I am sure I have out some things on you that you would have preferred to avoid?

Julia:

I will say that I find our construction periods most challenging because it’s not my strong point, I prefer to work with a fully functioning hotel. There are so many moving parts when expanding a hotel so it is super interesting but certainly not an area I am super knowledgeable in and that can be stressful. However, to now be able to lookback and see how the place has developed, how we went from five rooms to eight and then to 12, and then to 19 now. It is like having a baby and seeing him grow. Very hard, very stressful, but, then after the hurdles somehow, you forget all the stress and can appreciate the improvements.

David: What about guests do you have any special guests stories?

Julia: Well, yes I have many, as you know we have many repeat guests here so it really is hard to choose, they are all so special to us. What immediately comes to my mind is when Teresa and Zak got married here. After visiting a few times they told me that they wanted to re-do their vows here and I was like ‘wow, such an honor,’ what do you need, how can we help? It was our first wedding here so it was super special, they got married in the private casita and she was wearing this beautiful dress and he was so handsome. The team lined the paths with petals and then they enjoyed time on the beach together, it was very intimate. I was the photographer, I took pictures of them at the beach and she always says how the photos are on the wall in their living room so they have daily reminders of Playa Viva. Teresa and Zak come back every year and it is so nice to share those memories with them.

Read a blog about the Playa Viva guest experience written by Teresa here

David: I can so clearly remember you strolling in and asking for a job here. Think back to when you first walked in the door of Playa Viva, can you tell me what you first thought?

Julia: I was like, wow. This is so beautiful. And I was so proud that we were building this place here right by my hometown. It was just like my dream was coming true. All the time that I was working away from Juluchuca I was always just hoping that ‘Oh my god. I hope they build something close to my town so I can live at home and come to work every day in 15 minutes.’ And when I saw it in real life, it was like a dream and I said ‘well I hope that they have space for me to play a role here.’ That’s when I handed over my resume and I remember you looking surprised. I really feel like I manifested the opportunity.

David: What makes Playa Viva special to you?

Julia: I definitely identify with the values and I like the way that we are working closely with the community. Playa Viva is the community and the community is a part of Playa Viva. This was never even a consideration in my previous jobs. When we host school children from the local communities here at the hotel, on the farm or at the turtle sanctuary it is wonderful to see and great that the hotel and our team can act as an example for them. That sense of community means when guests visit they aren’t just visiting a hotel I truly feel that we are giving them the community experience. It is not something easy to coordinate or something we are expected to offer but that connection with the community and being able to help them is very special to me. I think we lead with honesty and that passion and authenticity drives a unique experience that can’t be replicated, it is a success story unique to Juluchuca and our team. Because of that I am so proud to be part of the Playa Viva family.

Quinceanera: Playa Viva Turns 15

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 19:38:00 GMT

Honoring Place: A Note from our Co-Founder and steward, David Leventhal

Honoring place. Honoring people. What is more Mexican than a Quincenera? A coming of age celebration and now 15 years in, Playa Viva is no different. What does make us different? It’s a question that naturally comes up during big milestones. As I presented Playa Viva at conferences in Mexico this Summer (at Sustentur and Travesias /Futuro Destino), it has become clear that we do the same as many hotels, what we do differently is that we do it all . Not just one or two items, or three or four, we do it all. As one guest put it, “You check all my boxes, even boxes I didn’t know I had.”

For our Quincenra, we wanted to celebrate what makes us different in an absolutely quintessential Mexican way. As a result of a recommendation by the artist and photographer, Adrian Wilson , who photographed Playa Viva for the NYTimes , we found artist Uriel Sánchez at his stall inside Mexico City’s Mercado Central de Abastos. We asked him if he could take some of our quintessential Playa Viva sayings and mottos and turn them into his signature signs traditionally used in Mexican Markets.

Many of these sayings have come from you, our guests, over the years. Such as “Playa Viva: All the Luxury, None of the Guilt” which came from a guest who wanted to explain why she loved Playa Viva so much.

For all our return guests we look forward to having you back for Season 15. For those of you who haven’t experienced all that makes Playa Viva so special, we look forward to having you join us for our Quinceanera. We have so much to share this year from our expansion of the ReSiMar SEI efforts with 4 great young women leaders spearheading each node of the project, to an expanded farm tour, to an updated spa and beachfront yoga deck. We are also adding more local farm producers up the watershed and updating our wine selection so that by the end of Season 15, all our wines can be local (Mexican), organic, sustainable and traditional (aged in clay), all part of “Eat Local, Drink Local.” Playa Viva is definitely maturing into an amazingly talented, beautiful and powerful being. We look forward to hosting you in 2023/24 and “checking your boxes” , immersing you in the luxury of nature and hosting you “Where Your Vacation Meets Your Values.”

Here’s to another season of abundance, regeneration and reciprocity, see you soon, David

Regenerating a Watershed: How Playa Viva’s Culinary Offerings and Guest Experiences Shed Light on Efforts to Regenerate the Region

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:35:00 GMT

Playa Viva’s culinary offerings go far beyond offering fresh, farm-to-table organic Mexican fusion dishes three times per day. As one of the world’s most highly-rated B-Corporation hotels and a destination for guests who care about what they eat, consideration of the food ecosystem is paramount. “What we offer is not just a beautiful array of food, it is a reflection of over 15 years of hard work building our permaculture farm and strengthening relationships with farmers, ranchers and small food producers in the local community. It is motivating for my team to know that Playa Viva’s respect for each producer and the origin of each food item is evident to all guests.” Playa Viva’s head chef Marco Antonio Fernández Valdés.

This dedication to uplifting the community is reflected in the culinary experiences and offerings available to guests. These include:

Redefining roles for women- Juluchuca Women’s Cooperative

Playa Viva’s Permaculture Team farms 20 acres of land using regenerative, permaculture methods. Beyond supplying the hotel with organic produce the team is driven by the aim of transitioning the entire watershed to permaculture methods through education and best practice sharing and creating demand for organic produce which supports sustainable revenue streams for local farmers. This past year the hotel’s Permaculture team founded the Juluchuca Women’s Cooperative, which aims to facilitate capacity building in organic production, including getting women into farm production roles traditionally reserved for men, strengthening social networks, and creating space for mutual support. Through the design and establishment of multi-strata forest gardens at the home level, women develop skills in organic production and seasonal planning; permaculture design and land regeneration techniques. The cooperative currently has a focus on filling the supply gap for local organic products such as coconut oil, tumeric and moringa.

Guest Experience: Playa Viva offers tours of its 20-acre farm 2 times per week so guests can learn how the team has been spearheading regenerative permaculture in rural Mexico for over 15 years. During the tour guests see first-hand the impact of the women’s cooperative and have the opportunity to assist the women in preparing the turmeric, moringa and coconut oil ready to be packaged for sale in the boutique and at regional markets.
Playa Viva’s Farm Tour is Available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30AM at a cost of $30 USD per person (13 years and over).

Supporting the 2,000 Year Old Tradition of Artisanal Salt Production – Dona Quintina and her Family

Dona Quintina and her family have been harvesting mineral-rich, unrefined salt in small batches in Las Salinas, for hundreds of years. This painstaking work has grown increasingly difficult due to climate change in recent years. While most salt farmers use plastic to line drying ponds or “eras” as they are called, Dona Quintina’s family is one of the last in Mexico committed to traditional 2,000-year-old techniques of harvesting this lagoon salt. The family form the drying ponds with clay, sand and water mixed by “dancing” the mixture to the right consistency, then utilizing a pumice stone to create a smooth drying surface for the salt. Playa Viva supports this non-toxic and traditional means of “farming” salt by ONLY purchasing salt, even if more expensive, harvested by Dona Quintina’s family. The salt is served on the table at every meal and sold in Playa Viva’s boutique, aptly branded as ‘Sal Viva.’

Guest Experience: Guests can take a trip to the beautiful salt flats that are framed by thriving green mangroves teaming with birdlife, just a 15-minute drive from Playa Viva. During the visit, guests learn about the ancient process of farming artisanal lagoon salt, assist with the harvest and share stories with the 96-year-old Dona Quintina, and her family.
The visit to the Salina is part of the “Local Tour” offered by Johnny Adventures through Playa Viva at a cost of $40 USD per person*.

Cultivating Culture- Mario’s Milpa

Corn or maize is entwined in Mexican life, history and tradition. It is not just a crop; it is central to the Mexican identity. Local farmer, Mario Vargas, and his family, have collaborated with Playa Viva’s permaculture team to become the first local supplier of organic maize to the hotel. The kitchen uses it daily in handmade tortillas and tamales. In recent years local farmers in the watershed have adopted agroindustrial techniques that rely on pesticides causing degradation in the soil, water and community health. Playa Viva supported Mario with capacity building through access to tools, knowledge, and skills to transition (back) to more organic, permaculture-based farming methods. The Vargas family is now a success story to promote and engage other families in the watershed about the benefits of permaculture farming.

Guest Experience: For guests wanting to meet Mario and his family, walk through his corn fields, get their hands dirty in the field planting corn in a traditional manner, and see the benefits of regenerative permaculture firsthand; Playa Viva offers an excursion to Mario’s farm. After time in the field, guests visit Mario’s home to make masa, form and cook tortillas over the fire, and share a meal together around the family’s table.

The Tour of Mario’s Farm is offered by Playa Viva’s Permaculture team on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at a cost of $45 USD per person.

Off the Grid Farm – Cacao and More – Gutierez family

The Guiterez family lives at the top of the Juluchuca watershed, located around 1,250m (about 4,100 feet) above sea level, at the headwaters of the river that eventually fills the estuary which runs through Playa Viva. The Gutierrez family grow arguably two of the most important products Playa Viva sources externally, cacao and coffee. The coffee is served at the hotel daily alongside freshly prepared coconut milk and the cacao forms the base of many dishes including the guest’s favorite, mole (meat & vegan based options available).

Guest Experience: Beyond sampling their products in the hotel, guests have the opportunity to visit The Guiterez family and enjoy stops in local communities as they travel one hour via quad bike from sea-level into the Sierra Madre Mountains. Guests are received with open arms and a delicious homemade meal by Don Jesus, the charismatic family patriarch who enjoys sharing the stories of their self-sustaining life in the mountains. Guests will also experience a tour of the farm, and orchards, learn about the Guiterrez family’s contributions to Playa Viva’s watershed regeneration project, ReSiMar, and relax at the source of the river that sustains life in the watershed. A pure experience of life in rural Mexico.
The visit to the Gutierrez family is part of the “Sierra Tour” offered by Johnny Adventures through Playa Viva at a cost of $125 USD per person*

*prices are subject to change

From Farm to… Gastronomic Showcase

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:43:00 GMT

Recently our head chef, Marco Antonio Fernández Valdés was invited to present at an event celebrating Guererro as one of the foodie capitals of Mexico.

Marco presented alongside chefs from a zero-waste restaurant in Guadalajara, two of Acapulco’s most highly-regarded eateries, and a new fine-dining spot in Zihuatanejo. They each prepared one dish to make a 5-course feast celebrating modern Guerrean cuisine.

The challenge was to use the best Guererran produce, a state traditionally dependent on agriculture for its GDP, and create a dish that is symbolic of Mexico. Tasked with course two, Marco put forward a sophisticated raw vegan take on a classic Mexican broth-based dish. The dish that delighted the eyes as much as the tastebuds was constructed using avocado and passionfruit stuffed jicama rolls, in a bright pool of beetroot, ginger and lemon finished off with a dusting of turmeric powder and edible flowers. The ingredients which included beetroot, turmeric, ginger, dill, lime, celery, tomato, salt, Malabar spinach seeds, cumin, and pineapple in the broth alone, were all sourced from Playa Viva’s 20-acre permaculture farm to ensure fresh, abundant flavors.

Playa Viva’s Permaculture Coordinator Osmaira Hernández, Regenerative Education Coordinator Ximena Rodriguez, and Samantha Ordóñez joined Marco during the presentation to explain to the guests how the food on their plate was available to them thanks to our 15-years of promoting regenerative agriculture and conservation within our watershed. This work involves encouraging local farmer to transition back to organic, sustainable farming methods. This is accomplished thanks to our permaculture team creating deep relationships with local farmers. Success also comes from engaging students through regenerative-focused programming at local schools and working with people in the community to educate them about conservation and celebrating the bounty of natural wonders they have access to.

Chef Marco had this to say after the event

“I felt proud to be able to give the opportunity to the guests to really think about the story and effort behind what they are eating. What we put forward was not just a beautiful plate of food, it was a reflection of years of hard work on our permaculture farm and within the local community. Events such as this help me reflect on the incredible produce we have access to and return to the hotel reinvigorated with new ideas to serve up for our guests beachside at Playa Viva.”

Plates presented by the other chefs included a white coconut mole sauce with fried plantain and abalone, a Mexican take on a veal dish and a tres leche slice with coconut sorbet and a chocolate and raspberry garnish.

When Guests Become Family

Thu, 18 May 2023 21:29:00 GMT

We are lucky to have a lot of returning guests, year in year out, who have become part of the Playa Viva family. We asked Teresa and Zak, who enjoyed their 9th visit this year what keeps them coming back:

We booked our first trip to Playa Viva in 2013 after seeing a few positive reviews online. The hotel was fairly new and had only five or six rooms so there weren’t a ton of people who had visited – let alone left reviews! By the time we arrived to Juluchuca we were feeling that we had come with little in the way of assurance – only hope and fingers crossed. At that time you had to drive into the puebla to access the road to the hotel and that road…had a fair bit of water flowing across it! As the taxi stopped to consider how to (whether to?) negotiate the water, Zak and I looked at each other thinking “what have we gotten ourselves into?” Not many minutes later we had arrived at the hotel. We got out of the taxi and walked under an extended pergola that opens into the heart of Playa Viva. By the time we caught view of the ocean something inside of us had already started to shift.

Over the years I’ve come to think of that pergola as a labyrinth of sorts – leading you away from the world and towards an opportunity. Your time at Playa Viva can be whatever you need it to be – we have spent time exploring our surroundings and going on excursions, or doing a self-guided study/retreat or barely ever leaving our beach lounger and all have been exactly the right vacation at the time.

That said, there are a few things we look forward to every year:

The picture above was taken by Julia during our first stay, right after we renewed our vows. Chef Abraham had collected flowers from around the property and made a path from our room to the ocean (this was more than we had done for our actual wedding and we were so touched). As we walked the path, staff and guests were cheering from the common area. It felt like magic.

We met David, the Co-founder and Steward of Playa Viva, our second or third trip. We were sitting on the beach and I saw Viva (at this point, our close personal friend!) very excited to see someone who had just arrived into the common area. Viva, the hotel’s resident dog, is very friendly with guests but I had not yet seen her this enthusiastic or open with a guest – this was someone she knew and knew well. I noticed I was suddenly a little ill at ease – Playa Viva had become “the happy place” we were searching for. At the end of our first trip we had already booked our return. We laugh now to remember that as our second trip approached, we actually considered cancelling. I had become worried that the first trip was just a fluke and that to return would be to ruin the memory of that magical time. We were relieved to discover that our return trip was just as lovely and to return to a place we already knew actually amplified the effects of the vacation. So…now we’re about to meet the owner and creator of this magical place and…what if we don’t like him? Can we still return? Will it be the same? I laugh now to remember this because meeting David was only a bonus to the Playa Viva experience and one that fits perfectly with the energy of the place!

Eleven years later there is a much better (and always dry!!) road that leads into Playa Viva, the staff is much bigger and there are a lot more rooms but there is still time and space to feel safe in the dark, get re-connected to nature and feel the magic. The staff always cares as much as they did our first year and they have become a sort of family to us – it’s a true joy to see them every year and we cry every year when we say goodbye. It’s an important week in our calendar, knowing we are giving ourselves this chance to feel joy. And the picture of our vow renewal hangs in our living room still, reminding us daily that magic does exist.

Theresa & Zak, 9-time visitors

Children Driving Systemic Change

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 23:01:00 GMT

By Ximena Rodriguez, ReSiMar Regenerative Education Coordinator.

“ How much of our perception of life is influenced by the place we live in? ” This is one question on my mind, as well as, “ How often do we have the opportunity to understand the relationship between our life and our neighbors? ” And, concerning our watershed specifically, “D o the local children understand how the river, and what happens along it, impacts their lives and their communities? ” These are the things that Maestro Belén and I constantly ask ourselves especially due to our role as Regenerative Educators in the Juluchuca Watershed. In celebration of Earth Day 2023, Professor Belen and I organized a field trip for 32 children from the 4 communities in the watershed. Don Jesus and his family hosted us all in the mountains at the headwaters on the Gutiérrez farm for a series of fun and educational activities that had the specific aim of teaching the children about the ripple effect of decisions within the watershed and how the four communities of the micro watershed can come together and embrace their place to better protect this delicate ecosystem.

One of the most impactful games we coordinated was simply to get the children to line up and hold a blue piece of string. Don Jesus sat holding the start of the string, as the community elder representing the source of the river and the mountain community he has worked his whole life to protect. We highlighted that in holding the string they were all connected on that spot in the same way that the river connects all of their communities from the mountains all the way down to where it meets the ocean. If one community does not respect the river and the sustenance it provides then the communities below will suffer the consequences.

Don Jesus started the flow, first with a bottle of water and then some fruits so the children were rapidly passing items down to the next person in line, actively mimicking the river’s flow. The child at the end of the string representing the ocean was about to get lucky as a basket worth of fruit was heading her way and then Belen and I questioned the children, “what happens when the fruit reaches the ocean?”, the response “well nothing, it’s organic”… interesting. Then Don Jesus started the flow again but this time with pieces of trash, unsurprisingly the children didn’t want to touch the trash, Belen asked “do you think the river wants to carry the garbage? And what happens when it reaches the ocean, or piles up and blocks the flow upstream?” The immediate realization on their faces was rewarding to see and after a few pieces of trash, the kids at the ‘mountain’ end of the river (string) started refusing to send trash down. They were even more concerned when we mimicked the effects of deforestation and overuse of water by cutting the string and making the group separate. The children from each community may not interact much in their day-to-day lives and each community has its own issues to overcome, however this simple exercise showed them that the decisions they, their parents, and their fellow community members make have a much greater impact on other families than they may have realized.

This field trip was designed as part of a larger effort of immersive community experiences which are important to our wider project to regenerate the watershed.

Giving the gift of knowledge is a beautiful thing, connecting children with elders like Don Jesus is a beautiful thing and inspired children returning home and sharing their learnings with elders in their communities is a truly beautiful thing. So beyond providing development opportunities, we have experienced through this field trip and the resulting social engagement, that the children act as a crucial bridge to drive cultural change within the elders of the community. This, in its simplest form, is the basis of our Regenerative Education curriculum which we have been developing alongside experts from Harvard for the past 3 years. The curriculum, which is tailored to our watershed encourages knowledge sharing, understanding of the history of place and promotes the urgency of recognizing the environmental problems and how the community handles their responsibility when it comes to protecting nature.

Reflecting on the excursion, our Regenerative Education Coordinator Ximena Rodriguez shared, “In reality, what our regenerative education curriculum has taught us is that the children don’t need to listen to lectures, over and over again, about the importance of the river. They need to see it, need to experience it, and most of all, it’s vital for them to share time together to understand the dynamics of their role and of each of their communities. It was beautiful to see the children engaged and asking questions to Don Jesus Gutiérrez and see them learning through games and playtime, but principally, through sharing stories.”

We strongly believe that change is a holistic process and in order to transition the watershed to a more prosperous, regenerative, whole-systems thinking approach, it is necessary to spend more time in the communities, have more presence in the schools and to strengthen the relationship with parents and teachers. Empathy and respect are our best teachers to understand how the four communities of the micro watershed can unify and embrace their territory. Happy Earth Day!

Playa Viva Achieves Highest B-Corp Certification Score Awarded to a Hotel to Date

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 22:16:00 GMT

Playa Viva is proud to announce that we have been awarded B-Corp Certification with a score of 110 . That is the highest score of any B-Corp Certified hotel to date!

Certified B Corps are for-profit brands that use the power of business to build a more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economic system for people and the planet. B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.

Brands must secure a score above 80 to achieve B-Corp Certification. On average, B-Corp certified hotels tend to receive scores between 80-88.

Community, Environment & Guest Experience All Come First

Operating within the hospitality industry — an industry that has a significant global environmental footprint — Playa Viva’s mission is to transform the experience of what a hotel can be, both in terms of the hotel’s community and environmental impact as well as the guest’s journey. As the founding hotel launching the Regenerative Travel Member Hotels collection, Playa Viva’s ethos is driven by its core values to use cleaner, more abundant and transparent – energy, water and waste streams; promote and create biodiversity; create transformational experiences; promote meaningful community and to create a living legacy.

Since opening in 2008, Playa Viva has been an immersive celebration of what is authentic and unique to our location within 200 acres of nature reserve on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. As a brand built on the highest standards of environmental and social impact, below are just a few of the commitments that secured our B-Corp certification:

Words From Our Owner on This Honor & the Path Ahead

On the announcement of our B-Corp certification, Co-Founder and Owner of Playa Viva and Co-Founder of Regenerative Travel David Leventhal said:

“We started Playa Viva in 2008 as a regenerative endeavor and our certification is a testament to our staying true to our core values, walking the walk and being committed to creating the planet we want for future generations, leveraging travel to deliver that positive change.

“This is currently the only certification we felt was worth applying for, and we are very proud of the score that resulted from our 14 years of operating a hotel that met our values for creating meaningful community and transformational experiences.

“Our goal is for constant improvement, and we will be using the detailed B-Corp analysis data to guide us. We invite fellow B Corps and other social and environmental impact endeavors to join forces in leveraging Playa Viva’s proven and measured success for even more impact and to serve as a model for hotels, guests and investors that hospitality can be a successful model for creating meaningful change.”

Join Us

In an era where consumers are increasingly voting with their purchase and investment decisions, staying at Playa Viva is a vote for a holistic, community-driven regenerative shift for human health, restoring biodiversity, regenerating natural resources and building more resilient local culture and economies.

Playa Viva’s experience indicates that care, determination, strategy, and patience can yield remarkable impact. Especially in an area such as the rural town of Juluchuca and the local watershed that have been ignored by governments, NGOs and other groups.

Playa Viva’s B-Corp Certification further proves that these locations are actually exactly the places with abundant resources that should be leveraged to meet the ambitious international climate targets.

Deepening the Design Process by Honoring a Sense of Place

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 20:05:00 GMT

Did you know Playa Viva almost became permanent beach homes rather than an eco resort? Or that jaguars spurred our owner’s conservation mindset?

Playa Viva’s founder David Leventhal revealed all this and more when he joined host Ruben Martinez for an episode of The Glamping Podcast . Brought to life by The American Glamping Association, The Glamping Podcast focuses on interviews and stories from industry leaders in the outdoor space as they consider their journey as business owners — and what ultimately drove them to their success.

In David’s case, his tale of success with Playa Viva and Regenerative Travel is a moving story of co-evolution. One where his values evolved alongside a deeper understanding of the place where he was building and an ability to listen to that place — to make decisions based stewardship and regeneration. In fact, if David things had fallen into place differently and there had been more business strategy from the onset, Playa Viva would likely have been built near Tulum or Cabo.

Can you imagine Playa Viva anywhere other than its existing mile-long pristine beachfront location nestled between two estuaries? Neither can we.

A Personal Evolution Toward Regeneration

The birth of Playa Viva as an idea is a long story. Too long for the podcast and too long for this article. But it’s ultimately tied to who David is, what his family’s values are, what drives their desire to travel, and the people who have come into their lives. Playa Viva wasn’t just an evolution of David’s vision; it was a co-evolutionary process that wasn’t by any means fully defined starting on Day 1.

There were a myriad of external factors that led to Playa Viva’s location, but the original master plan for the land based on an impact study was 50+ homes and a 100-room boutique hotel.

During this planning process, David was introduced to Bill Reed of Regenesis . Regenesis is a leader in the development world for regenerative building and impact standards. Imagine giving back to the land rather than simply aiming not to degrade it. Bill and David explored ideas around how to make Playa Viva’s land better — a return to its abundance that existed before human intervention.

Simultaneously, David became involved with jaguar conservation work. And through exploring that channel of his conservation and environmental passions, he gained a new perspective on the importance of social influences. If people are so poor that they have to poach, then the only possible path forward is to work with the people. You cannot remove factors from the equation as you see fit.

Thus, David evolved into a social-environmental dualist exposed to the power of regeneration during a critical time in Playa Viva’s inception.

Meaningful Design Predated Unavoidable Economic Realities

Interestingly enough, Playa Viva’s original plan involved regenerative ecological treehouses. But it took a lot of in-depth, collaborative work to get there.

David and a team of experts completed a series of design charrettes to inform what should be built that would appropriately befit the land itself. They took into account its history, how it had been damaged in earlier eras, what their own roles were in bringing back its richness, and where would be the best places to build. In this way, Playa Viva’s path toward development was very different than most building plans — even among green building. It was about deeper meaning: What should be here?

Model home building began in 2007 and opening was slated for October 2008. Trees were transplanted, roads were built, off-grid solar power established. But think of the times: Mexico hit with a trio of insurmountable challenges. Global economic collapse. Worsening drug wars. Then the Swine flu.

David faced the dire need to pivot. And Playa Viva as a boutique hotel was born.

The Playa Viva We Know & Love

This boutique hotel was glamorous but essentially a tent nonetheless. An authentic, grounding palapa tent that felt connected to the place it inhabited. And that was where Playa Viva’s very first guests stayed.

David opened the resort with five rooms, and it attracted the right kind of people. Ones who were green-friendly and aiming to create meaningful community. Playa Viva immediately became a place where like-minded individuals could cross paths and build long-lasting bonds. Often guests would meet on one visit and then choose to return at the same time of year with one another again and again. And it was from these kinds of connections that Playa Viva would form its base and continue to grow. But many other crucial details of Playa Viva’s unique location and sense of place would play a pivotal part in that growth.

Take the leatherback sea turtle for example. It’s the largest of all living turtles and, just like other sea turtle species, it faces significant threats. Threats from bycatch in fisheries, illegal collection of eggs and killing of adult turtles, coastal development, pollution, marine debris, and, of course, climate change. Playa Viva’s beach is the perfect sandy nesting habitat for leatherbacks. And conservation funding for this vulnerable species has become a significant tenet of the eco resort’s work.

So while it took a few years to realize Playa Viva had serious staying power but wasn’t economically viable at a small size, there were plenty of positive factors working in its favor. And by listening deeply to how people experience the place itself, David and his team have been able to create something even more beautiful through each growth phase.

The resort now has 19 rooms. Palapas, casitas, and iconic treehouses.

Honoring this place and its community has created opportunity after opportunity for visitors. By focusing on why we travel and ensuring we do so without being extractive, Playa Viva has found its path forward.

Listen to the podcast for the full story , including David’s time as a frat boy at the University of North Carolina!

For the Welfare of Pets and Our Community

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:27:00 GMT

As part of our health program , Playa Viva promotes regular sterilization campaigns for dogs and cats within the communities with which we work. Those include Juluchuca, Rancho Nuevo, Las Placitas, La Barrita, and El Cayacal.

In late October 2022, thanks to the support of collaborators, a team of veterinarians, and, above all, the happy children committed to animal welfare who helped raise awareness among their families and neighbors, we successfully sterilized 81 pets belonging to people from these five communities near Playa Viva.

 The Importance of Sterilization Programs

The implementation of regular sterilization programs is the most effective method of addressing canine and feline populations that have exceeded the local community’s capacity to care for these animals adequately. Without sterilization initiatives, homeless animals are often abandoned or die from disease. Therefore, sterilization is essential for managing overpopulation and preventing diseases that can be transmitted to other animals and to people.

Sterilization tends to be a subject ripe with myths and fears, and Juluchuca is no exception to that. However, little by little we are creating awareness about how crucial sterilization is, particularly among younger generations. Our educational program focuses on recognizing that the adoption of a pet means responsibility—not only for the animal itself but also within the community. For this reason, the best way to contribute to the well-being of all is by sterilizing pets since they can transmit diseases.

And let’s not forget the environmental impact of our pets. It is estimated that the average dog defecates a little less than a pound of feces and half a liter of urine per day. Not only does some of that waste directly enter the atmosphere, but some will also eventually break down and wash into the water supply.

Interview With Leading Veterinarian

During the sterilization campaign, we had the opportunity to interview Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Iris Díaz, who (for the second time) was in charge of the surgeries together with her team of cohorts.

Q: Iris, what is the importance of carrying out this type of activity?

A: The most important thing is to raise awareness, so that in the future there may be more sterilized animals. This is necessary for the prevention of diseases and some other pathologies derived from not sterilizing pets at a certain age.

Q: What did you enjoy most about these two days of work?

The connection with the community and with the people—seeing the children, the parents, and various other people who have come to previous campaigns, too. We have people who travel here from Petatlán and other communities to be able to sterilize their pets.

Q: What message would you like to share to the people who brought their pets? And any message to those who are not convinced of the benefits of this type of activity?

To the people who came, thank you for trusting us and opening your mind to sterilization.

And to the people who could not come or did not want to come, I invite you to have more empathy toward the animals and to prevent the birth of animals that no one is going to take care of. This is how we can curb the feline and canine overpopulation in our state of Guerrero. The issue of abandonment and animal abuse is terrible.

Q: Could you share a little about your experience running these campaigns?

I have traveled to different states and communities for different associations. I have traveled to Michoacán, Tabasco, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Oaxaca, and Guerrero with my team. It’s tireless work. I spend a lot of time, energy, and resources to be able to sterilize and change the mentality of people so that in the future, perhaps not so distant, there won’t be so much abandonment and mistreatment.

Playa Viva regularly organizes sterilization campaigns that are possible thanks to the generous support and contribution of friends, guests, and volunteers. This campaign was made possible thanks to the invaluable support of Valentine Reiss-Woolever and her collaborators.

On behalf of the families, pets, and Playa Viva team, thank you so much, Valentine!

Training Course for Sea Turtle Camps in the State of Guerrero

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 03:36:00 GMT

Written by Antonina Selezneva, Sanctuary Assistant at La Tortuga Viva – Sea Turtle Sanctuary Playa Icacos, Mexico

At La Tortuga Viva , no two days are the same, but a Monday in August 2022 was extra special. We got an exciting opportunity to break from our daily routine and travel to the nearby town of Puerto Vicente for a full-day training course for sea turtle camps across the state of Guerrero!

Dream Day for the Turtle Team

The eight of us from La Tortuga Viva who could make it that day set out in the early morning, leaving Juluchuca at 7 a.m. One of the local volunteers, Mario, kindly gave us all a ride.

Upon arrival, we found ourselves on the grounds of CETMAR 27 (sea technology center #27), which was located on a gorgeous piece of land right on the beach. The college even had its own sea turtle camp! Right away we registered and received our name tags. We arrived quite early, so we waited for everyone else to get there while sipping on our coffee and enjoying the beautiful views. One of my personal favorite parts of events like these is getting a chance to spend time with your team members outside of work, which is a great opportunity to get to know each other better and is always fun!

In addition to allowing us to spend quality time as a team, these events are ideal for getting to know other people in your field and those working in different fields but still dedicated to the same cause, which in our case is sea turtle conservation. By talking to the organizers and volunteers helping in the event, we found out that they were expecting almost 100 participants, which included students, representatives of governmental bodies and the tourism sector, plus fellow tortugueros and volunteers from other sea turtle camps. This gave us a great opportunity to network, create connections, and find people to join forces with so we can increase our efforts and achieve greater things together.

Once the majority of participants arrived, we all took our seats and were able to begin with the main objective of our trip – learning! The lectures varied from general sea turtle biology and conservation practices to talks by different governmental bodies that are, in one way or another, involved in the subject of sea turtle conservation.

It was very helpful to refresh a lot of the knowledge that we already had, as well as to learn many new things! For example, conservation work is complicated from the legal side. There are different types of permits that an organization needs, each with their own sets of requirements. There are also strict rules about how the work has to be implemented, and every activity, be it the transportation of eggs or hatchery construction, is tightly regulated.

Keep in mind that all of the sea turtle species are endangered, so there is a higher level of regulation and protection by Mexican law. Any manipulation of sea turtles (adults, hatchlings and eggs or their products and subproducts, such as meat, skin, bones or any objects made from them) without the appropriate permits being strictly prohibited and punished by fines, imprisonment and/or long hours of community work. So it was amazingly useful to learn the ins and outs of the legal sides of working with sea turtles straight from the governmental bodies responsible for their implementation. What made it even more interesting is that many participants had questions and comments, starting discussions on very important topics that were based on real life situations experienced by people working in the field.

Between and after the lectures, we got a chance to mix with all the participants and share our experiences and contact information. So many amazing places and sea turtle camps to visit!

Looking Forward to What’s Next for La Tortuga Viva

In the end, after a long day of learning, meeting people, and overall having a lovely time, we left tired but with hearts full of inspiration and love for the work that we do and the amazing community we are a part of.

We all share the same passion and determination to help save the beautiful animals that are sea turtles!

Regeneration of the Juluchuca Micro-Watershed: ReSiMar

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 20:36:00 GMT

What does it take to regenerate our local watershed and support watershed regeneration throughout the Pacific Coast of Mexico?

Over the past year and half, Playa Viva has hosted four convenings with experts from across Mexico to ask exactly that question. Born out of these meetings is ReSiMar , which stands for Regenerando Sierra y Mar (Regenerating from Sierra Mountains to the Pacific Ocean) . A new non-profit and working group devoted to the holistic regeneration of the Juluchuca micro-watershed.

Playa Viva’s Social and Environmental Impact Program has incubated this work for the past twelve years by building strong community relationships and establishing key programs in education, health, and economic development. Now, we are taking our work to the next level to scale our impact, build local capacities, and help return to the ecological abundance that once existed in this watershed.

Our team includes a group of experienced practitioners from diverse fields, including team members from LegacyWorks Group , Radix Education , and the Fondo para la Comunicacion y Educacion Ambiental .

Creating a Common Good – A Vision Statement for the Juluchuca Micro-Watershed

Communities and economies that understand the social and ecological systems that determine the wellbeing of society and the natural environment; completely committed to seeking social and ecological health as the defining element that identifies the culture of place, such that the good of the people will not be sacrificed for the good of the land, nor the good of the land for the good of the people but rather a path is sought that honors and regenerates both, where each action creates greater wellbeing and more options for a collective future.

Our work is carried it out in five interrelated, multi-disciplinary “nodes” that guide ReSiMar and its holistic focus:

Water culture and resources
Education
Permaculture and regenerative ranching
Fisheries
Ecosystem restoration

With several cross-cutting focal areas including:

Community governance / participatory democracy
Inclusion
Storytelling
Innovative finance and business models

What’s Next for ReSiMar

In the next 12-24 months, we intend to work in two primary tracks:

Track 1. Community and Environmental Assessments

Our first focus is to conduct robust community and environmental assessments, including baselines, in the Juluchuca micro-watershed (sea and land) and to access existing information about education, conservation and coastal management, and agricultural economy in the region.

Our community assessment will focus on education, health, social cohesion, economy, and local governance to provide robust data for strategic planning.
Our environmental assessment will focus on natural capital including a hydrological assessment, forest and vegetation cover, including mangroves, marine and terrestrial biodiversity and target ecosystem processes / sensitive species, and key fish stocks. We are currently advancing in this area thanks to a generous grant from the Peter W. Doerken Foundation.
Finally, we will conduct market assessments to explore how we can foster the creation of more circular green businesses (ones that foster a local economy that regenerates the environment and the communities so that resources stay in the watershed and waste is not created). Businesses created today and tomorrow that will power a new regenerative system.

Each of these three assessments — human, environmental, and financial — will be rooted in community leadership and participation to guide how the assessments are conducted and to facilitate dissemination of results.

Track 2. Testing and Implementation of Early Interventions

Our second core focus is to take the results from these baseline assessments and analyze them alongside local leaders to form core working groups to guide early interventions.

Together we will develop a strategic plan to implement and test projects in each of our five key nodes.

Red Regenerativa de Cuencas y Comunidades (Regenerative Watershed Network)

Once successful, our goal is to consolidate and leverage our regenerative model within the Juluchuca micro-watershed and to fund sharing of best practices between watershed communities in the Mexican Pacific Region (the “Regenerative Watersheds Network”).

This cross-pollination of work is already underway. Most recently several members of the Playa Viva team traveled to Oaxaca to participate in a water education course, and during our most recent convening, in May 2022, we hosted collaborators from Jalisco, Baja California Sur, Morelia, and Mexico City to exchange ideas and develop a network approach to working at the watershed level.

We are excited to have you along for the ride as this project continues to grow.

To learn more about ReSiMar and find out how to get involved, please check out our full Concept Proposal .

Unexpected Delights at Playa Viva

Wed, 11 May 2022 14:31:00 GMT

There are certain comforts one expects from a Mexican beach vacation. The direct warmth of the sun on your skin, for example. Delicious tropical drinks accompanying meals full of fresh seafood. And, ideally, experiencing full-on relaxation mode.

Playa Viva delivers on all of that — and so much more. But during my vacation this past February, I found myself most vividly enjoying a number of smaller details that I had never even thought to look forward to. And now, months later, it’s those little things that I miss the most.

3 Vacation Pleasures I Never Anticipated

Being a Kid Again

There is simply something transformative about a vacation at Playa Viva. While I didn’t head south looking for anything more than sun, fun, and relaxation, I received so much more. I adventured with amazing individuals who are now part of my community. I connected with locals whose unique stories I never would have been exposed to otherwise. And somehow I packed years of therapy into a few regenerative afternoons in the ocean.

Knowingly or unknowingly, all of us who have vacationed by the sea have encountered the ocean’s healing powers. The sound of it, the feel of it, the smell of it, the sight of it. (The taste of it, too, ideally in your fresh ceviche or fish tacos — not gulps of it while swimming.) The ocean is something special. At Playa Viva, the Pacific Ocean’s great blue expanse greeted my eyes every morning and its crashing waves lulled me to sleep each night.

I eagerly visited Playa Viva because of its beachfront location, but the beach gave me something on my trip that I never expected: childlike joy I hadn’t tapped into in far too long.

I scoffed a bit when I saw the pile of boogie boards leaning against a palm tree (having surfed a few times when I was younger). I figured I’d be fine swimming. My husband on the other hand went straight to the boogie boards on our first afternoon and joyfully rode each wave into shore, over and over again. He told me how much fun it was and pleaded with me to join in, but it wasn’t until our third or fourth day that I finally gave in.

Now I realize that I had truly been missing out! The glee of catching the perfect crest of the wave and having it propel you, weightless, to shore — there is nothing like it. Something as simple as boogie boarding was surprisingly joyful. And sharing that experience, first with my husband and then with other guests, was unforgettable.

I once read that the more we heal our adult selves, the more childlike we become. Maybe I needed those first few days at Playa Viva to unwind and focus on myself before I could tap into something deeper and more basic. Or maybe I was just being a silly adult to write off boogie boarding in the first place. Either way, don’t make that same mistake. Get out there on that board! Be more childlike and let go of the pretensions that limit unadulterated joy.

Small, Daily Rituals That Quickly Became Beloved Habits

We often think of vacation as a time to break our habits. You may give up your early morning gym workouts for the week and sleep in instead. Or completely toss meal prep aside and enjoy the luxury of someone else feeding you. I’m not here to tell you which habits to keep and which ones to temporarily forget while in vacation mode, but I will say that during your time at Playa Viva you will create new habits. Some that you can easily incorporate when you’re back home and others that are purely for vacation.

For me, what I chose to do as my final “activity” of the day before dinner at Playa Viva became its own ritual. That hour or two leading up to the 7pm dinner bell is a special time at Playa Viva. The sun is just beginning to set and many guests are heading back to their treehouses or casitas to rinse off from the ocean before enjoying their dinner.

My preference was to finally extricate myself from my hammock and eagerly jaunt toward the ocean to walk along the water’s edge. Though I spent every moment at Playa Viva listening to the soothing sounds of the waves crashing and was in and out of the water all day, it wasn’t until the sun creeped away from its zenith that I was struck by the urge to explore along the shore. To wander toward the estuary and listen to the birds. Or stroll toward the granite rock islands off Zihua’s coast that never seemed to get any closer — no matter how far I walked.

Other rituals snuck up on me during the trip. Washing the sand off my feet and calves at the water spigots outside our treehouse and at each entry point to the common area. Automatically grabbing a bag as I headed out to the beach to collect any stray trash that washed onto shore. Waking up before sunrise to check for (and occasionally release) baby sea turtles. Drinking fresh coconut water from a recently macheted fruit and then nibbling on the coconut flesh all afternoon.

It is the little things at Playa Viva that quickly ingratiate themselves into your daily routine. And oh how you’ll miss them when you leave!

Letting My Feet Be Free

Who doesn’t look forward to the sand between their toes at the beach? I for one was eager to take off my shoes and be barefoot for a week. Maybe I looked forward to it more than most because I was leaving sub-freezing temperatures behind at home. As soon as we made it through customs at ZIH , I changed out of my boots and into chacos. And as soon as our luggage was dropped off and we started making our Wing treehouse home, I left my sandals behind and largely explored barefoot (except for the highly recommended farm tour ). I actually left a pair of sandals by the pool because it was just so easy and lovely to be shoe free!

But what I didn’t expect was to fall in love with the feeling of smooth wood on the soles of my feet. In fact, I liked it more than walking on sand (even the cool sand that massaged my feet on early morning searches for turtle tracks). Of course I enjoyed walking on the beach, but Playa Viva has used amazing materials to build the resort, and it shows. You can actually feel the difference.

Reminiscing on it now, it was the smooth, hard wood I fell in love with, but it was the pace of life at Playa Viva that allowed me to slow down and notice it. To notice and enjoy the transitions between the various spaces at the resort. Each of which felt welcoming and unique, attracting me at different times of the day.

They tell you to put your feet up and relax on vacation — and Playa Viva’s loungers are begging you to — but I urge you to focus on what’s beneath you as well. What’s grounding you. Because what you’re standing on at Playa Viva is as incredible as the views surrounding you.

Enjoy every little pleasure.

Help Secure Water for the Town of Rancho Nuevo

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 20:11:00 GMT

When we see pictures of kids playing in a river full of water, it is hard to imagine that their families could have no water at home.

But that is the reality for the residents of Rancho Nuevo . They have been living without water in their homes for nearly three months. This small agricultural town in the mountains near Playa Viva is home to roughly 60 families and 250 residents. A beautiful stream runs through the town of Rancho Nuevo. Other key landmarks are a small church, two schools, and a vibrant community that all depend on this water to survive.

Back in November 2021, their water pump broke — the one that distributes water through piping to each individual home in the town. The community raised money to repair the pump, but it has continued to break. Finally, the pump technician informed the Community Water Committee that they needed a new pump. The old one simply could not be repaired anymore.

Families have been forced to scramble to figure out how they will get water to their homes. Simple chores such as washing dishes, doing laundry and luxuries like taking a shower have become complicated tasks and unattainable comforts.

Without the pump delivering water to each home, residents now have to pay someone who has a truck with a water pump to go to the river and fill their tinaco (water tank). One tinaco of water only lasts a few days for a family of four, so paying for this service adds up quickly. For families on a tight budget, water has suddenly become a huge luxury that is hard to afford. As the dry season begins to settle in, the cost of this delivery service is only getting more and more expensive.

The Rancho Nuevo Water Committee approached Playa Viva this month asking if we could support them in raising the funds for a new community pump. The total cost is $4750 USD, including installation costs. Residents have raised $750 through community fundraisers and donations. We are now helping them raise the remaining $4000.

If you would like to support the families in Rancho Nuevo meet this basic need, please consider making a tax deductible donation via our donation page with The Ocean Foundation . Under the section “What would you like to support?” please select “Water Security.”

For more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to Colleen at colleen@playaviva.com

Thank you for helping to send water to the families of Rancho Nuevo. They are incredibly grateful for the support.

Regeneration: Problem Solving in a Mexico Watershed

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:04:00 GMT

Originally Published by Linda F Nathan, on her blog

Regeneration: Problem Solving in a Mexican Watershed

ReSiMar is a project in Mexico that focuses on large-scale, community-driven transformation to regenerate Mexico’s coast in Baja, Oaxaca and Guerrero. Specifically, the name is an abbreviation for “regeneration of sierras/mountains and mar/ocean.” The founders have experience in Water Culture, Education, Permaculture, Fisheries and Resources, and Ecosystem Restoration. They believe in the regenerative vision of these diverse networks to bring improvements and increase human abundance. In other words, people need to have better lives and living conditions.

For an intense week in mid-December, I participated in the work of ReSiMar and called Playa Viva home. Playa Viva is an eco-resort right on the beach at the end of the Juluchuca watershed, south of the Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo resort area in Guerrero, Mexico. Hotel Playa Viva has operated in the Juluchuca area for 12 years and has developed deep roots and trusting relationships with community members. David Leventhal, the Mexican-American founder, refers to his hotel as “a place where travel meets one’s values.” This stunning property consists of more than a dozen bamboo tree houses of assorted shapes, a large common area/dining area, (where there’s wifi); swimming pool, and two yoga studios. The sound of crashing waves can be heard everywhere.

For ReSiMar, the hotel serves as a “base camp” for meetings, meals, planning and project development. Everyone who arrives is included, no matter anyone’s age or experience. I was there as a guest of my HGSE graduate student, Patricia Vazquez, former minister of education in Puebla, a recent friend and partner of ReSiMar and now coordinator of the education node. (The word node is used frequently in this project).

All fall semester, I had read her papers as she continued to develop ideas about how to improve the schools in the area, but I couldn’t really capture the connections until I visited. Paty kept using the word “regeneration” in her writing. Now, I’m not sure I’ll ever think the same about education. I came to understand that the success of regeneration depends on the interconnection between people, land and water. The way ReSiMar works to forge those connections is through experiential/hands-on learning, community governance, and storytelling.

Clean water is fundamental, but ReSiMar understands that just cleaning the water without connecting it to education and economic growth is insufficient. There are over 750 watersheds in Mexico and too many have experienced both environmental degradation and limited economic opportunity and that has led to forced migration.

Our first day illustrated the importance of clean water and the role of storytelling to ReSiMar’s project. Following a 20 kilometers ATV ride up steep mountain roads, we arrived at the compound the Gutierrez family calls home. Don Efrain was my ATV guide and teacher. He has grown up farming in this region, knows everyone, and could easily reference the ways in which people, land and water can be in tension. As he talked and commented on what we were seeing along the road, I held on, fearful of being thrown off over a mountain. When I complained of an aching shoulder and arm, Don Efrain told me I had to learn to lean into the curves. We arrived at the homestead or Rancho of the family after about 2 hours of winding steep roads and crossing rivers. The Gutierrez family have lived at the very top of the watershed since the early 1930s. They have approximately 100 hectares/acres of land. Don Jesus, the elder of the family, regaled us with tales of cock fights, robberies, murders, and rum to describe how the family built the incredible rancho. The grandchildren, playing on the floor, listened in rapt attention, too. The pedagogy of storytelling was apparent. The family has developed an essentially sustainable lifestyle cultivating their own crops: coffee, cacao, sugar cane, corn, beans and many other fruits and vegetables. They have cattle, chicken and pigs as well.

After Don Jesus’ stories had come to a close, we ate a delicious fresh meal of tortillas, cheese, avocado, beans and toppings; our dessert was freshly pressed sugar cane juice. Full and happy, we took a walk through the property and then swam in a crystalline river with the younger grandchildren. While the lifestyle at the Gutierrez rancho may seem idyllic, it was also clear that the three times daily preparation of tortillas, and the challenges of making ends meet selling coffee and chocolate to tourists like us, did not come without sacrifices. At one point Don Jesus admitted that he, too, had had to sell off trees, and more than he was actually allowed, just to pay the bills. “I took down too many. I needed the cash. I knew then it was a mistake. But I had no choice.” When too many of the trees are cut, the soil begins to erode and then the dangers of pollution increase. “We planted back quickly. The water is still pure here.” Again, the role of regeneration was becoming clearer, but not without its complications. How do people, land and water live and grow in harmony?

The clean water that fuels the Gutierrez rancho and served as the setting for our time playing with the grandchildren is not a given in the rest of the watershed. As we wound our way down and stopped at the various rural schools that dot the watershed, the imbalance between people, land, and water was evident due to the impact of environmental degradation.

The one room schoolhouse, just down the road from Don Jesus’ rancho, in the hamlet of Las Placitas, enrolls about twenty-two children. On the day we arrived, during the middle of the Posadas, the celebrations before Christmas holidays, ebullient and immaculately dressed children greeted us in between playing rounds of “Mar y Tierra,” a Simon-says like game, and busting open candy-filled piñatas. The screams of laughter were contagious as children scrambled for their share of candies. As mothers arrived with special lunches (they bring lunch every day for their children), we wandered into the classroom where everything from children’s cubbies to reading books had a place. The reading books were plentiful, although haphazardly arranged on a shelf. Still, the echo in the classroom was intense and I could imagine the noise level with all the children inside. Open air seemed like a better option for learning. There were lots of tables and chairs outside, but no shelter to keep off the sun. Also, although the play area was large and the field extended beyond the play area, there was no garden or cultivo. Although the physical conditions of the school are sub par, the students are enthusiastic learners and successfully compete with others in the watershed with their academic accomplishments, thanks to their excellent teacher, Profe Belen.

I walked over to use the bathrooms—two outhouses– and was shocked by what I found. They were completely fetid and flooded. How did the children use these stalls? I found out that they didn’t. “I tell my daughter she has to hold it til the end of the day/Yo le dije a mi hija que aguante hasta que termine el día,” one mama acknowledged. The younger children use the perimeter of the school yard if they have to go.

The next school was not much better, but the last schools, back in the town, had much better facilities—one even had a science lab! Clearly, the state has funds for some, but the most isolated schools have been overlooked.

As we debriefed the day, discussing our various journeys to schools, farming communities, or other sites, we kept returning to the question of water and sanitation. Deforestation and pollution endanger the community; lack of clean bathrooms stood out.

Throughout these debriefs, I was struck with the way this group has embraced community knowledge and expertise. James, our appointed facilitator, asked us to make connections across the different nodes. What did “Water” have to teach the Education node? What were we learning from one another and our community of teachers? Even though there are very educated and influential Mexicans, Americans and Europeans involved at Playa Viva, no one has more say than someone who is from the area and lives there. “Have we asked the end user?” was a continual question and allowed everyone to take time before jumping to conclusions about what should happen next.

To illustrate this way of teaching and learning, we had a discussion about a wealthy donor who was willing to pay for re-digging and re-building the trenches for the latrines at the school. One of our group members was ready to embark on the mission of new latrines, but when the local teacher said that they would just flood again, there was a pause. Members of the Water node joined our discussion and a new idea emerged: dry toilets. We discussed this new technology; wondered about whether anyone in the Juluchuca watershed had seen one and, finally, decided to re-engage the donor and see if he would move more slowly and allow education about dry toilets to happen first which might include visiting them in another state. “Hay que educar a las mamás/One has to educate the mothers,” Profe Belén told us. “Tienen que ver que los baños secos son mejores. They need to see that dry toilets are better.” We knew training on dry toilet maintenance would take some time. I was stunned by the way the conversation and decision making had occurred. I had been so ready to jump: fix the problem! Give the children sanitary conditions! However, by working alongside others not in education and by asking about the end user, we came up with a different decision. Was this Regeneration at its best?

Besides its investment in the schools (Playa Viva has raised funds for additional teachers), there is also a farm on the property that uses permaculture practices. The farm is run by a white woman from Maryland. At first, this surprised me. How would Mexican farmers take to her? When we got to the farm and saw what they had collectively created and how the female director invested in and respected the expertise of her crew, I understood. “I may have the experience and the theoretical knowledge about permaculture farming, but they know this land. Together we are building a unique place that we hope will make money.” Amanda, the head, has hired two women to run the nursery. “Production has increased tenfold since they were put in charge. We can’t keep up with demand.” There is an outdoor classroom here (something lacking at the actual schools up the watershed). “Here is where the children can learn about companion planting and the value of pigs, for example. We need to expand our teaching practices.”

This made me think about the possibilities for how outdoor educators, farmers and teachers could collaborate to share knowledge and experiences.

Again, outdoor education on a farm and the possibilities of outdoor education at a rural school could share knowledge and experiences.

The other place where strong teaching occurs is the turtle sanctuary. 750 meters down the beach from the hotel is both the sanctuary and another outdoor classroom where one can learn about the Golfina turtles as well as other species in danger of extinction. If the timing is right and nature is on your side, in the early dawn or late at night, you can release them into the ocean. (Only about 2 out of 1000 will survive). Spread out over a quarter of a football field is the hatching and protected area, clearly marked and labeled. Lorenzo, a biologist from Italy, directs the sanctuary and explains that he has brought on and trained many from the community to maintain and teach about the turtles—their special habitat and value. It was a magical moment to arrive before the sunrise and actually release turtles into the sea.

Each day of our work included an afternoon meeting where participants shared what they had learned and what new ideas that had generated. We answered three questions to begin our discussion:

1) What was your expectation?
2) How do you feel?
3) Who are you?

I was continually struck by how those simple questions generated a shared understanding of what we could accomplish together.

Like so many of us, I am often overwhelmed by the urgency of all the problems in education. I’ve always been a fixer (and I think a fighter). But after this week, I am thinking more about the role of storytelling to solve seemingly intractable problems. I always encourage my adult students to put their s tudents at the center of their work. That has taken on new meaning after working with ReSiMar. What does it mean to be transparent about one’s expectations? When I enter a situation, I am bringing my biases and experiences. It’s important to acknowledge those in order to keep growing and learning. While feelings often are dismissed as being soft or even irrelevant, after this week, the ability to listen to everyone’s feelings and to acknowledge, again, the role that they may play in how problems are analyzed and solved has become more central for me.

Perhaps our approach to these three questions helps us to think more expansively about regeneration. I know for me I am thinking more deliberately about how people, land, water connect and what that may mean for my field: education.

Our last meeting took place in a circle in the swimming pool which seemed appropriate given our level of exhaustion and dust from our travels. This time our questions included: What three words are you leaving with? Many of the previous circle discussions had focused on the fact that progress only happens at the pace of trust– a mantra that all seemed to embrace here. For me the final words came easily:. “Love, revolution and network.” The love of the land and the people was so evident here; the revolutionary ways that individuals and groups were attacking problems was inspiring; the power of the network reigned. I was reminded of something Jane Goodall said years ago about saving forests and species by creating better lives for people. ReSiMar is a beacon of hope for what is possible when regeneration is at the center of the work.

For more information about ReSiMar please contact:
colleen@playaviva.com or patricia_vazquezh@yahoo.com

Playa Viva’s Treehouse Village: Inspired by Nature, Built Regeneratively

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 17:10:00 GMT

Who wants to stay in a treehouse with an oceanside view, suspended in the air by palm trees and surrounded by luxury, nature and the sound of crashing waves?

E veryone! This became immediately apparent after launching our first treehouse in 2016. This award winning design, known as a Jet treehouse based on its conical shape, was an immediate hit worldwide. While all of Playa Viva’s accommodations are unique in their own way (and similar in that each feels like you’re on vacation at your own private beach home), our first treehouse is just plain special.

With that in mind, our Phase IV expansion for Season 13 takes regenerative travel to the next level with 6 luxe, new treehouses, with a new design, inspired by a drone video taken by Steven Shea.

A Mobula Ray Migration Into the Palms

The new treehouses, which will open on November 2, 2021, were designed based on drone footage of a Mobula ray migration filmed directly in front of the resort.

Designed by Nomadic Resorts , these soon-to-be-iconic treehouses are being built in the oceanfront palm trees between the Common Area and the Yoga Shala right next to our original treehouse. Three types of treehouses form our new treehouse village: Manta Ray treehouses, a Wing treehouse, and an updated Jet treehouse.

Manta Ray treehouses are suspended in mid-air by palm trees and designed to echo the manta rays you can see flying out of the ocean in front of Playa Viva. Each treehouse is made up of two buildings. The “perch” in front is outfitted with a King bed as well as a net hammock suspended out front. The back house has a private bathroom downstairs and a lounge upstairs. This upstairs portion of the treehouse is outfitted with two daybeds and a desk with an unreal view.

The Wing treehouse is a unique design; it’s one of a kind among the new treehouses. The perch is inspired by a wing of the Manta Ray. It has a King bed and a net hammock extending out over the front with a perfect oceanfront view. The bathhouse is the same as other treehouses with a guest room upstairs with two single beds and a desk.

Inspired by the original treehouse at Playa Viva, our new Jet treehouse has been updated with additional touches. The same conical shape is preserved as the perch with a King bed, but an updated back house has a private bathroom downstairs and a lounge upstairs. This second house is outfitted with two daybeds and a desk with the same unbeatable view. The new Jet has a hammock extending over the front of the room as opposed to within the room, but otherwise it retains much of the same style of the beloved classic.

Playa Viva Leads with Local — for Building & Connection

Bamboo construction specialist Jorg Stamm is leading the new treehouses’ building process. Stamm is responsible for world-class projects from Colombia to Bali, including the renowned Green School — a school without walls we know you would appreciate (its design and its foundational philosophies). He is truly a bamboo master.

Building materials for the new treehouses have come from our property’s own harvest of bamboo plus palm fronds for the palapa roofs. All of the landscaping and vegetation is also grown on site in a nursery run by local women entrepreneurs supported by Playa Viva.

In the words of our owner David Leventhal, “A stay at Playa Viva is a true return to paradise — you are immersed in nature and have the opportunity to connect to place in a way that transforms you and the local ecosystem.” From inspiration and design to construction and completion, these Treehouses are a great compliment to the luxurious immersion in nature guests enjoy every day while at Playa Viva

Our Gifts From the Coconut Tree & Her Fruit

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:04:00 GMT

The land that makes up and surrounds Playa Viva includes 80 hectares of fields, farms, and huertos (orchards), where previous generations, and even civilizations, cultivated and harvested centuries’ worth of coastal products. We inherited three such huertos , including 10 hectares of various mango varieties, 5 hectares of coconut trees, and 2 hectares of 80+ year old tamarind trees; all of which, when managed using agroecology methods, are capable of producing an abundance of fruit in each of their annual harvests.

There are few people on our team who are trained or equipped with the skill and patience required to manage a productive coconut plantation, and the young man who does, Daniel, does it with such grace and generosity. Daniel harvests around 2,500 fresh coconuts per season using two or sometimes three bamboo bars lassoed together to bring the fruits down to the ground.

Our team collects another 2,500 cocos secos (dry/aged coconuts) from the orchard floor, and from in between the high marsh grasses, to be turned into one of our favorite farm products — Playa Viva’s hand and community-made coconut oil.

The Story of Playa Viva’s Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil

It takes exactly two days, 250 coconuts, a few 5 a.m. favors from the local coconut candy “factories,” and a whole lot of coordination for a team of three women to make fifteen liters of cold- and hand-pressed coconut oil. It is some of the cleanest oil you will find, and its delectable smell almost guarantees that you’ll use it up quickly.

Our coconut oil is never heated; therefore, the protein molecules are never denatured. This makes the final product good for everything from skin and hair care to bulletproof coffee and any type of baking.

Detailed Steps of Making Coconut Oil

Step 1: Break up the normal farm routine. One morning a month our permaculture team meanders the five hectare coconut orchard collecting the aged coconuts used to make our coconut oil. The coconut fields sit just behind the sand dunes, weaved between estuary and lagoon, and make for a beautiful couple of hours in a different ecosystem.

Step 2: Later in the same day, one of the farm guys gimar los cocos (colloquially, peel the coconuts); he uses a vertically placed dull machete and a pulling action to separate the outer husk of the coconut from the inside seed.

Steps 3 and 4: We live in a community where three coconut candy factories are the main source of income for most folks. These factories and their industrious workers produce and ship an astounding number of packaged little round shredded coconut and sugar mounds around the country. (Don’t miss a chance to try them on your next visit!)

These neighbors help us out a ton to deshuesar (de-bone) and shred the nut into fresh coconut meat. There are two byproducts of this part of the process too, which we incorporate back into our permaculture systems on the farm:

A tough outer shell of the coconut is removed by hand with a machete and serves as great mulch or biochar in our plant systems.
The water and what’s called a manzana (apple) inside each coconut is also returned to the farm and served to our pigs as part of their feed schedule.

Step 5: The fresh coconut pulp finally makes it to Gaby, Lupe and Yadi — the mom-and-daughters team of locally trained women who produce our coconut oil . They cover the coconut pulp in a perfectly calculated quantity and temperate water, leave it to soak for a certain amount of time, and then begin pressing the shredded pulp liter by liter in a small hand-crank-powered fruit press to extract a rich, creamy coconut milk that begs you to drink it. We then leave the milk to ferment overnight.

Step 6: A day later, Gaby and her daughters scoop spoonful by spoonful of oil from the layers of liquids that have formed in each container. We’ve become really good at this process. We can accurately project our harvest numbers at 15+ liters of coconut oil with each production cycle.

We continue to learn something new each time, even while recently finding our rhythm and streamlining our systems. It is so much fun to debrief with Gaby, Lupe and Yadi after each production. They are proud of their work and outspoken young ladies about where we can improve our processes to be more efficient with our time and movements.

Step 7: Bottle the coconut oil goodness! We use recycled glass bottles from a popular brand of carbonated water consumed in hotels in Zihuatanejo, and we print our hand-drawn labels by Mexican artist Rodolfo Baquier in a local papelaria (print shop / paper store).

An Ever-Evolving, Hyperlocal Production Process

Three years ago, our coconut oil was pressed and consumed in house, or in this case, in our resort, and fitting the production into a busy hotel and tourism schedule was challenging. Today, three women manage the production and earn more than their male counterparts for the day’s labor. Plus, they are financially contributing to another industry in our community. We estimate that 90% of the money earned by these women stays inside our local economy.

Thanks to Gaby, Lupe and Yadi’s interest and commitment to engaging in the first batch of value-added products leaving our permaculture farm, our coconut oil now has five equally important markets:

A big batch goes directly to the Playa Viva kitchen. You’ll taste it in dishes created by Chef Daniel and his team, including breakfast granolas and different breads, cakes and pies.
We infuse two or three liters with farm fresh herbs like lemongrass, rosemary and citrus leaves before handing it over to our Holistic Host for guest and staff massages.
Small bottles are available all season in the Playa Viva boutique so you don’t forget us when you arrive back home.
We have two points of sale in Zihuatanejo. One is an organic farmers market where we participate each Saturday.
And the other is an artisan stand at a local restaurant.

Our goal this hotel season is to produce coconut oil year round. Last year, the coconut oil flew off the shelves in Playa Viva’s boutique, and we want to make sure every guest has access to the locally made product before they check out. Many people make suggestions of other markets where we can see our products; and we’re working on the same.

For our Permaculture Specialist Amanda Harris and her growing team of women working in value-added farm products, our focus for the next 12 months is refining our business model, collaborating in management and logistic strategies for building local small business, and conducting thorough regional market research to see where we go in phase two.

1 Element Inside a Dynamic System With Many Functions

Playa Viva exists in this beautiful middle space — a pillar in our local community as the resort employs almost 10% of the population in our watershed; a portal for our guests to get to know individuals, cultural practices and delicious Mexican dishes; and a unique blend of ecosystems and communities that lend themselves to transformational experiences and colorful cross-cultural learning opportunities.

Coconut Palm Wood & Natural Building

Our local community first introduced us to the use of red and white coconut palm wood as a sustainable alternative to pine and rare hardwoods, whose harvests support an unfortunately drastic deforestation trend in our region. The coconut palm wood, cut, milled and treated on site, is used as ceiling beams in some of our guest rooms , the roof structure that supports our education efforts at the turtle camp and on the permaculture farm , as well as the artisan made sombrillas (beach umbrellas) that offer shade just in front of the ocean.

Our permaculture team works hard to move every sustainable practice one step further into a regenerative one . We record the number of coconut palms harvested from our site each year, and we plant two coconut trees for every one we harvest. One to replace the wood we removed from the ecosystem and a second to provide for future generations’ needs.

You’ll find some of the new palms strategically planted inside the five hectare coconut grove and others growing in our female-run permaculture vivero (nursery) to support our agriculture consulting projects in the region. We also recently connected with Organia de Mexico , a local business who turns hundreds of metric tons of coconut husks into agricultural soil starters. The technology is simple, and the concept has the potential to change markets.

Coconut in the Kitchen

The Playa Viva kitchen has also developed several staple uses of coconut over the years. Coconut milk is a staple next to coffee each morning. And because we are always looking to use our resources to the fullest, we have recently been experimenting with turning leftover coconut pulp (from our oil production) into alternative flours for gluten-free desserts. And, if you are lucky enough to be at the resort when Doña Sandra visits, you have most likely tasted our fermented coconut water served as a digestif… and then asked for seconds.

Play Your Part at Playa Viva

As a hotel and a farm, we apply basic permaculture principles to the use of all resources on our site. The coconut tree and her fruit are an example of how one element inside a dynamic system has many functions to play. Our staff and team members, our local and international volunteers, and our guests, also, all play a similar role during their time at Playa Viva. We ask you to touch as many corners of Playa Viva as does the coconut.

Get into the community with Colleen to meet Gaby and her daughters or to teach a class at the school, meander through the estuaries and coconut grove with Lorenzo on your way to the turtle camp , or tour the farm with Amanda to see many of our core values and permaculture principles at work.

Sponsor a Student; Change a Life

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 21:48:00 GMT

Sponsor a Student; Change a Life

For $30/month or $360/year, you can be a sponsor in our Adopt a Student program. Just imagine the impact that small sum would have on a child’s life. A sum that’s less than a gym membership. Less than a couple grocery store runs.

“Whenever there’s a beach clean up or activity in Juluchuca, I’m always there! I love getting to release sea turtles and go to Playa Viva.” -Brayan

Started in 2019 as a way to help students stay in school and thrive in their studies, our Adopt a Student program matches a sponsor with a student in need. While school itself is public, students are required to purchase uniforms, books, pay school fees, etc. For some families, these costs become a barrier to sending children to school, especially in the transition years between elementary and middle school and then again from middle to high school. Keeping these kids in school can change their life for the better.

Your donation makes a huge difference to vulnerable children in these small rural communities. Students are selected by local school directors and Ariel Arguedas, Playa Viva’s Education Coordinator. Selection is based mainly on economic need, however, school performance and attendance are also considered.

Join Us as a Sponsor

If you would like to learn more about our Adopt a Student program or to participate as a sponsor, simply email Colleen Fugate at colleen@playaviva.com . She will send you all the details and match you with your student. Again, for just $30/month or $360/year, you can adopt a student, sponsor their education and change a life.

Program Details

The program’s scholarship covers inscription fees, uniforms and shoes, school supplies, and school lunches. For families who live in the mountains, the scholarship also covers gas for transportation to school. That’s crucial for students from Las Placitas, which is 45 minutes away by motorbike simply to attend middle school. In 2020, when the COVID pandemic began, we also used some of the funds to pay for food baskets for the students and their families .

“I love running and spending time with friends. At school I always try to give my 100% even if some subjects are hard. -Lorenzo”

In addition to covering all costs associated with school, recipients of the scholarship also have the opportunity to attend small group tutoring sessions with Ariel or our other Playa Viva Education Volunteers. In these sessions, the kids get help with their homework, studying for exams or just get to check in about how they are doing in general for some extra support.

Adopt a Student During COVID-19

With schools closed due to the pandemic, for students in the program, our volunteers’ tutoring sessions have been their only face-to-face classes since March 2020.

Though it’s been a very challenging year, we have seen many students persevere — and even thrive. Some have gotten better grades than the year before. Others suddenly have had extra time to join the Juluchuca soccer team or attend art classes with our Playa Viva volunteers. Others have been thinking about their futures, spending time with family and figuring out what they would like to do in the coming years.

Join Us as a Sponsor

And a giant thank you to our 2020 sponsors! We couldn’t have done it without you!

The Story of Maestro Belen in Las Placitas

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:09:00 GMT

Pitch In to Help Us Keep Maestro Belen in Las Placitas

One wonderful teacher can transform the life of many students. But what happens when a qualified teacher is ineligible to teach in a place where he has positively impacted so many lives at great sacrifice?

This is the case in Las Placitas where Mastro Belen works tirelessly to engage his students, help them excel and transform their lives.

Already determined to help? Scroll to the bottom for donation details.

Something — and Someone — Special in Las Placitas

Located about 20km from Playa Viva and almost 1,300ft above sea level, Las Placitas, one of Playa Viva’s four impact communities, is a small village of cattle ranchers and farmers. With only about 15 households, it’s a tight-knit community and also very remote. With no cell service or internet access, and most families get down to Juluchuca via ATVs. The unpaved road up to Las Placitas almost washes out completely in the rainy season, making any sort of transportation difficult.

Maestro Belen, a local of La Ceiba (a neighboring town), has been working at the Las Placitas primary school for the past five years as both teacher and director to its approximately 17 students from grades 1-6. Before that, the school had been shut down for a year by the government due to lack of student enrollment (since it’s such a small town, the number of children can ebb and flow). Soon after the school closure, the parents banded together with the idea to get a local teacher and try to pay for it themselves.

“The parents reached out to me after I had done some substitute teaching in Rancho Nuevo,” explained Maestro Belen. “I had recently completed an engineering degree but discovered that my true passion was teaching after working in Rancho. That’s when the opportunity to go to Las Placitas arose.”

The parents are only able to pay Belen a nominal fee, basically enough to cover his gas and a few other expenses. “My parents thought I was crazy,” said Belen. “They didn’t understand why I would work for so little, but it’s not about the money. I just really love what I do.”

The Endless Influence of a Good Teacher

Over the past five years, Belen’s work in Las Platicas has gained praise, not only from local parents but also from other education leaders in the region. His students consistently win top prizes in reading, writing and math competitions and go onto middle school in Juluchuca as some of the top students in their class and the entire school.

“Maestro Belen is innovative, compassionate, and committed, and his students adore and respect him” says Ariel Arguedas, Playa Viva’s Education Coordinator, who has worked alongside Belen for the past two years. “He’s the most wonderful person who goes above and beyond for his students. Once they graduate from his school and go onto middle school, he can still be found helping them with homework at his house in Juluchuca. His level of dedication is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

Time to Turn Bad News Into a Positive Outcome

While teaching in Las Placitas, Belen went back to university to get his education degree and formally become the official government teacher of Las Placitas public school. He worked at this for four years, and this summer he graduated with honors only to discover that because he got his degree from a private university, he was not eligible to get a government teaching position.

“It’s pretty devastating,” explained Belen. “But you know, I can’t really do anything about it now. I would love to stay here and continue to teach, but that might not be possible. Other states in Mexico allow teachers to work at public schools even if their degree is from a private university.”

Since hearing this news, Playa Viva and our partner organization, Radix Education , have banded together to incorporate Maestro Belen into Enseña por México . It is a two-year program that places qualified teachers at schools in need. This way, Belen can continue to work in our local watershed, supporting students and teachers and continuing to inspire and encourage the next generation of leaders and stewards of this land.

To make this a reality, we need to raise $10,000 USD to fund the next two years of Belen continuing to do what he does best — teaching and changing lives. We are thrilled to say that we have a matching grant from Radix Education to help fund this, but we still have a steep fundraising hill to climb.

How to Donate

If you would like to support this initiative, you can make a tax-deductible donation via our fiscal sponsor, The Ocean Foundation. Our donation page includes the option to make one time or recurring contributions, and you can select the specific project to support — in this case, “education.”

If you have any questions or would like more information, do not hesitate to reach out to Colleen, our Social and Environmental Impact Manager, at colleen@playaviva.com

When Only a Video Can Show the Real Story

Fri, 14 May 2021 00:05:00 GMT

It’s so hard to explain Playa Viva. I was once asked by a travel writer, “How is Playa Viva different from other hotels?” I had a hard time answering in the moment.

When I got back to the “big table” in the open air dining space at Playa Viva, I told the retreat leader who was joining me for lunch about my problem answering this question, and she said, “Tell her, ‘everything’.” To which I asked, “What do you mean?” She responded, “Tell her that everything about Playa Viva is different.”

While I love the idea that everything here is different, it still doesn’t answer the question.

How to Show Playa Viva is More than Just a Hotel

On a return trip to Playa Viva a few months later, I overheard Colleen, our Social and Environmental Impact Manager, say, “Playa Viva is more than a hotel; it is a complete project.” And I liked that description — it was almost there — but that too didn’t fully answer the question. So I continued to struggle with the best way to efficiently answer the question, “What makes Playa Viva different?”

It turns out a video explains it better than I can. Watch now or read on to learn the story behind this video.

Then one day, I came across a “Ureka!” moment. I am part of an online group called B-Tourism, whose members are companies that are either B-Corp Certified or in the process of becoming so. One of the key leaders of that group is a brilliant and amazing human named Jared Meyers who runs a vacation resort operation called Legacy Vacation Resorts . Jared struggled with the same yet different side of the same issue. His business comes out of the timeshare industry, which has suffered from some negative stereotypes. Yet Jared is a true leader in making a positive impact in their local communities and ecosystems. To better tell their story, they hired another B-Corp, HiFive Creative Agency , to help them tell Legacy Vacations’ story around their commitment to the values.

HiFive had created a fast-paced and engaging video that used some “modern” and creative techniques to tell a complicated story in a simple and entertaining way. That’s when I reached out to Jared and asked, “Mind if I steal your storytellers?” Jared was more than willing to assist, connected me to Jordan Eichenblatt and HiFive and the rest, well it’s history, as they say.

Visual Storytelling, Fruit (Fruta) & All

Jordan and I connected on our vision of what could be communicated. He had lots of great ideas, many of which ended up being edited out. The core of what we tried to communicate was a small slice of everything that Playa Viva is engaged in doing. Jordan loved the idea of using the pineapple to trace the story as he has used a pineapple in almost every video, including the one he created for Jared. He sent me a screenshot of the pineapple in the background of the Legacy Vacations video, but I couldn’t see it. He still swears it was there!

Then when we talked about the cacao and going from bean-to-bar, he got even more excited. At one point we had a script that included a pineapple, the cacao and even a coconut. So many ideas, so little time!

Our video differs from Jared’s in that ours needed to be bilingual to appeal to our Mexican market as well as our international audience (mostly American and Canadian visitors come to Playa Viva). It was also important that our staff could follow the story and message of the video as well. One very important aspect for us was to feature our team because so much of our ethos is around putting the team first. That fully ties into Playa Viva’s focus on engaging with the local community.

The story of what makes Playa Viva special is the people, the team, the community — and thus our storytellers needed to reflect that community.

Bringing Music and Art to the Children in Juluchuca

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:03:00 GMT

If you’ve checked out our Instagram account recently, there’s no doubt you’ve noticed the rich content and beautiful photos documenting life here at Playa Viva and the surrounding communities.

The mastermind behind this work is Ilhui Hernandez, who not only manages our social media accounts but is also a biologist and educator passionate about youth development. For the past seven months, she has been working to bring art, music, self-reflection and environmental awareness to the children in Juluchuca during a time with very few in-person activities taking place.

Volunteering at Playa Viva

At Playa Viva, our volunteers have a wide array of specific skills and special areas of expertise. While we are completely open to volunteer ideas beyond our usual programs, we do have four core areas where volunteers can most quickly get involved:

Most volunteers find that there is a richness in the overlap of these areas and are encouraged to work in more than one space. For Ilhui, the overlap occurred as a storyteller and as an educator.

“After having been a few years outside of Mexico learning about different projects, I came back to my country with the objective of finding sustainable projects that had a positive social and environmental impact and were agents of change,” she said.

“Searching online I found Playa Viva, and I immediately felt that I had to learn from its regenerative model. To promote social networks, learning to tell the story of what you experience around you and share that message is a constant search for encouragement and amazement.

“The work in the community is the same — being able to develop a sense of wonder for the culture that is experienced day to day will give you the tools to be creative and get inspiration to give back in a positive way.”

The Waldorf Method: Head, Heart, Hands

Growing up in Tlaxcala, Mexico, Ilhui was raised in a family of artists who valued education and self-expression. As a child, Ilhui attended a Waldorf school that strived to develop students’ intellectual, artistic and practical skills in an integrated and holistic way.

“When I was a child, the Waldorf school changed my life,” she explained, “When I arrived in Juluchuca and met the children, I realized that there were educational deficiencies and that the coronavirus had impacted many children, leaving them without access to education. That’s when I decided to develop art workshops in which children are guided to develop cognitive skills, empathy, teamwork, critical thinking, confidence, cultural belonging and self-esteem — all while including a focus on the environment.”

Since October, Ilhui has led weekly workshops where the kids learn new painting techniques and receive singing lessons to practice harmony and intonation. Every workshop includes a focus on the natural world and how we as humans relate to and interact with nature. Whether it’s signing a song about the river flowing through town or painting landscapes of the ocean, the kids are developing artistic abilities that will help them develop as individuals and as a community.

Combining Music & Art for Unique Children’s Classes

With the Waldorf approach, the learning process is essentially threefold, engaging head, heart and hands—or thinking, feeling, and doing. The goal is to nurture and engage each child through a curriculum that integrates academics, arts, and practical skills. The first step toward generating change in children is to promote that they take ownership and be proud of their environment and culture on the way to developing security and self-esteem.

To do this in Juluchuca, Ilhui started mixed classes, half painting and half singing classes. One of their classes was spent making a song for Juluchuca in which teamwork is essential because each child contributes a line to complete the song. In it, they are equally aware of why they take care of their environment.

For example, in the song the children sing:

(Luisito) I live in Juluchuca, and I like the sea.

(Lucero) I like turtles. I like to swim.

(Lily) I swim with dolphins, and I will always be with the flowers.

The artistic development helps them to ask themselves who they are and to question themselves beyond ordinary thinking.

The kids learned different painting techniques in that same class alongside voice intonation and harmony with each stroke.

Another example of a class exercise is to draw images of how they perceive themselves, and on the back of the sheet the children wrote down the positive aspects they perceived from their peers.

“It’s fantastic to see kids who previously did not paint and were shy to sing now doing both,” gushed Ilhui. “Their artwork is now more harmonious, and they are aware of the importance of each individual to form a song, thus understanding the importance of teamwork. Seeing them avoid the words ‘I can’t draw’ or ‘I can’t sing’ feels like real progress.”

Moving Art & Music Lessons up the Watershed

While Juluchuca is the largest town nearest to Playa Viva, it is not the only community where we work. Moving up the watershed are the towns of Rancho Nuevo, La Ceiba and Las Placitas, each smaller in population than Juluchuca but still with a significant number of elementary school aged children eager to learn and have new experiences. Thanks to the work of Ilhui in Juluchuca, we are hoping to expand our music, art and environmental education program up the watershed to these other communities.

If you have experience in art or music education and are interested in volunteering with us, please reach out to Colleen at volunteer@playaviva.com .

Does that sound like a dream but simply is not feasible for you? Consider supporting our work from afar via a tax-deductible donation , please consider a contribution via our fiscal sponsor, The Ocean Foundation. Donations will be used to purchase art supplies, musical instruments and to pay for transportation to these more remote communities.

How Raising Pigs Further Opened Our Eyes to Juluchuca’s Wonders

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 17:36:00 GMT

At Playa Viva, farm to table means we know where each of the ingredients we serve is purchased and who that purchase supports. We buy many of our ingredients locally from Juluchuca and three other communities in our watershed. Our local ingredients include milk, cheese and eggs, coffee and chocolate, squash, beans, corn and tomatoes, and seasonal fruits like papaya, starfruit and limes.

When it comes to Playa Viva’s own farm, we focus on growing and raising nutrient-dense foods in a holistic and regenerative way. For more than a decade our permaculture team has been producing and harvesting fresh greens, coconuts, bananas, and hibiscus flowers — plus a year’s supply of tamarind every April.

What the Close Alignment of People & Animals Really Means

When I arrived in Juluchuca to Playa Viva back in November 2018, one of the first things I noticed was the number of animals raised locally, just outside the homes in town. That observation immediately signalled to me that the people who live here still live incredibly close to their food; they know that food waste from a household kitchen has a second life as a food source for their animals. And they know which animals have the highest meat-to-fat ratio, as well as how to harvest pigs, sheep, goats and chickens.

Fortunately, one of the best ways to get to know people (and discover their skill sets) is over a delicious meal. I started checking in with each house where I saw pigs. I quickly found myself leaning over a cutting board in multiple kitchens and helping women prepare salsas and tortillas to go with that weekend’s fresh carnitas, chicharones and palenques . With a wild curiosity to explore my interest in their lifestyle, the men quickly invited me to participate in the harvests, too.

There is so much to learn in these moments. An animal feels just as much as one of us does. You can see it in their eyes before you begin the harvest. These moments are often quiet, respectful, and meticulously carried out to make the experience as easy as possible for all those involved. People here in Juluchuca understand that harvesting an animal while it is stressed results in cortisol and other hormones entering the meat, and therefore, entering those who later eat the meat of that animal. Our farm team at Playa Viva and those who work with animals (whether in the field or in the kitchen) here in our community also know the difference in the quality of the meat and fat of animals raised on pasture, or del rancho , compared to those raised in confined conditions and factory farms, or de la granja.

From the perspective of our regenerative hotel and farm-to-table kitchen , it would be impossible to dismiss this knowledge.

Pigs at Playa Viva — Then More Pigs!

So, about a year ago, Playa Viva started purchasing sows (female pigs) from friends in Juluchuca and the nearby town of Rancho Nuevo. We purchased animals from families that no longer wanted to raise animals and from folks who had an interest in learning alongside us as we began to build a holistically managed pig production system.

The majority of the local pigs here are a cross between two wild boar species. They have a high meat-to-fat ratio and thus are much leaner than the pig you see when you close your eyes. In fact, most farm guests , after cooing over the 30+ piglets running around the forest, immediately ask me why our pigs are so thin.

We do not intentionally fatten our animals. They are raised on food waste from the hotel kitchen, locally produced corn, and their favorite leaves, grasses and vines from our organic farm. They eat a well-balanced diet that ensures their bodies are a healthy weight and provides high nutritional levels to support their active lifestyles. Our pigs forage on roots and bugs in the soil, and run around playing with their young inside their forest-shaded chiquero, or pig pen.

Smart Permaculture Solutions Lead to Greater Benefits For All

Our permaculture team at Playa Viva lives by a principle of small and slow solutions. We discuss strategic, calculated decisions as a group before we make any changes to our farm systems. Based on this approach, we spent six months getting to know our animals: observing their adjustment to their new environment, introducing foraged greens into their diet, and identifying and collecting upcycled materials to be used to build and expand their home.

When we noticed the sows wanted a partner, we borrowed a Duroc-Jersey boar from a farmer in our community to breed with our ladies. Eight months later, we welcomed 25 new piglets to our farm and immediately noticed they were a beautiful cross between the local raza (breed), and the more industrially bred and farmed Jersey breed.

So what does this mean? It means that the genetic benefits of the local breed will come through in the new litter. The pigs will be more adapted to our climate and its fluctuations between damp soils and rainy weather to hot, dry summer days that make drinking the salty water we farm with seem unbearable. It means that they will continue to present as lean pigs and will thrive off the local food sources we have available for them. Think: an abundance of mangos a few months each year, fresh coconut water and meat all year round, and hardy mountain plants and grasses to provide important minerals and nutrients that help them thrive.

Crossing this local breed with the Jersey breed means we have a bit more control over the meat-to-fat ratio as well. The pigs will easily fatten up in the months before harvest. This allows us to not only produce organic, pasture-raised meat for our clients and hotel staff, but also creates a high quality lard that can be used in our hotel kitchen for food preparations.

Yes, We Know: Everyone Hates on Lard

Let’s talk about lard for a second because the word and its common connotations tend to build quick, negative walls for people. Animal fats are mostly saturated fat, which means they stand up better to high heat and do not break down into harmful free radicals. (This is the reason you do not cook extra virgin olive oil at high temperatures.) Reduced oxidation in animal fats means they are less susceptible to the toxins and carcinogens generated by using vegetable oil. Lard has less saturated fat than butter and it is higher in monounsaturated fats, which are good for cardiovascular health. Lard is also rich in oleic acid, the same fatty acid that is in olive oil and praised for its health benefits.

Beyond the science, in communities like ours, traditional knowledge lives on through the production, use and nutritional benefits of lard. To honor that knowledge and reinforce it becomes a responsibility of our hotel and kitchen team.

The Playa Viva Difference Appears Again

This brings us full circle — as permaculture design often does. Our team is excited to work closely with animals, taking advantage of multiple harvests from each new animal group introduced into our holistically designed farm system. Our kitchen staff feel proud to tell our hotel guests that the pork they serve was born, raised and harvested on our farm; and our meat-eating guests identify and compliment the depth and quality of flavor when they sit down to a clean plate of farm-to-table ingredients. (Although vegetarians and vegans alike also rave about our local produce.)

We invite you to come know our animals, to hold baby piglets and ask our permaculture team about the pasture spaces we build using upcycled and local materials. We promise the connections you make on the land will lend to a new appreciation for the flavors we serve.

What a Visit to Playa Viva Feels Like — Right Here, Right Now

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:26:00 GMT

Guests come to Play Viva for connection. No, not to high speed internet. To one another, to this place, to our community, and ultimately to one’s self.

Connection may look a little different at Playa Viva this season, but it’s not as far from the usual experience here as you may think. Guests are waking up to the sound of the ocean, releasing baby sea turtles to the ocean and then energizing their bodies with yoga. They’re touring the farm and learning about our permaculture methods to revive our property and benefit our community. And they’re adventuring — either on property or off — to their hearts’ desire. Meeting sea turtles for the first time, discovering their youthful passion for boogie boarding, devouring farm-fresh meals.

Even during a pandemic, Playa Viva is a slice of pure paradise. While the responsibility is on you to make your visit as safe as possible, our team goes above and beyond to support that effort to keep our community safe without disconnecting it from our resort and our guests’ experience.

7 FAQs to Help Guests Understand a Trip to Playa Viva in 2021

1. Who greets guests arriving via airplane at the airport? Will all parties wear a mask?

Johnny Solís, longtime staple at Playa Viva and proud owner of Johnny Adventures , is usually the one who picks up guests at the airport. If Johnny is unavailable, Playa Viva arranges for a licensed and bonded taxi driver to safely transport guests to the resort. All parties do wear masks, and windows can be open in the vehicles if preferred.

2. Can guests go on off-property excursions? What are Playa Viva’s recommendations should guests decide to adventure away from the resort?

Yes, guests can go on off-property excursions , including up to the Gutierrez Farm or snorkeling in Zihua. Folks can also venture into the local town of Juluchuca to buy coconut sweets and get acquainted with the community. We recommend guests bring and wear their masks when venturing out and do their best to maintain social distancing. Especially in small villages, where there have been no registered COVID cases , it’s important to follow COVID guidelines to keep everyone safe.

3. What kind of off-property excursions are the safest for guests and the community?

The good news is that pretty much all off-property excursions are outdoors — whether paddle boarding, fishing, snorkeling, or going up to the mountains. Studies have shown that COVID transmission rates are lower in outdoor spaces. For this reason, we don’t necessarily recommend one excursion over the other. It’s really up to the guest to decide what their comfort levels are and what kind of experience they want.

For those who are more COVID cautious and don’t want to be in a car or other vehicle with folks, we often recommend one of our on-site activities.

4. For guests who choose to stay on property, do you have a favorite on-property activity that you recommend?

I highly recommend both the Farm Tour and the Night Patrol Excursion. The farm tour is about 2 hours long and led by our Permaculture Specialist Amanda Harris . Leaving directly from the hotel, guests are guided through different ecosystems and landscapes within Playa Viva’s property. You learn about permaculture techniques , organic farming, and forest ecology. At the farm you might even get to cuddle some baby pigs or harvest lettuce for your salad!

The Night Patrol Excursion is led by Lorenzo Locci, the Sanctuary Coordinator at La Tortuga Viva. Along with two local volunteers, guests have the option to go out at night either on ATV or by foot to look for mother sea turtles laying their nests. Guests learn the basics of sea turtle conservation and how to relocate nests into the sanctuary. If you’re lucky you might get to see a mother turtle or release recently born hatchlings.

5. Many new and returning guests are drawn to Playa Viva because of its connection to the larger community in Juluchuca and beyond. For those guests, can they still volunteer in the community?

Yes, guests can still volunteer in the community, but we ask that everyone wear masks and do their best to maintain social distancing. We offer opportunities for guests to teach yoga or zumba classes with kids or to adopt a larger project like painting a mural or rebuilding the town plaza.

If you’re interested in volunteering on your upcoming visit to Playa Viva, please reach out directly to receive more information.

6. In lieu of volunteering in the community, what are the best ways for guests to make a positive impact during their trip?

By choosing to visit Playa Viva on your vacation, you’re already supporting our work, whether on the farm or in the community. If you would like to make a bigger impact, we suggest Adopting a Nest to support our sea turtle conservation work or Adopting a Student to sponsor the education of a child in need in one of our impact communities.

7. During COVID, has the guest count at Playa Viva been lower? How has that altered work with the community?

The guest count at Playa Viva has been significantly lower since the start of the pandemic. It’s meant we’ve had to tighten our belts here while doing our best to keep our staff employed and continue our social and environmental impact work. Thankfully we’ve received support from former guests and other followers. We’ve been able to distribute more than 120 food baskets to families in need at the start of the pandemic. We’ve also been able to take advantage of a more empty hotel to bring school groups to Playa Viva from the local communities to learn about regeneration, permaculture, and sea turtle conservation.

The pandemic has also forced us to adapt our education work in the local communities. Whereas pre-pandemic Ariel (our Education Coordinator) was working in 6 schools with over 150 students each week, he is now working in smaller groups, focusing on tutoring and mentoring in core subjects such as reading, writing and math.

The health and economic crises of the pandemic have certainly been felt here, yet we hope that the opportunity to pause and realign our work and our goals will continue to make Playa Viva more resilient over time.

P.S. When traveling back to the US, Playa Viva can provide the required COVID test right on site.

A COVID-19 Update From Our Community

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 22:27:00 GMT

Despite the rising incidence of COVID-19 around the globe, here in the Juluchuca watershed we are grateful to have had no confirmed cases. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t still grappling with the consequences of the global pandemic.

Our own little corner of the world here on the Costa Grande has adopted new routines just like most other communities. So how are the residents of Juluchuca faring during these challenging times? And how is the staff at Playa Viva?

Thankfully, we have a lot of good news to share as we have adapted our social and environmental impact work given the constraints of COVID-19 and are adjusting plans for our education program in 2021.

Staying Healthy & Staying Safe Through the Holidays

Our tropical climate means that folks rarely gather indoors. Whether you are eating tacos in town or visiting your neighbor, more than likely you will be doing so outside. Over the holidays local travel did pick up, but COVID-19 cases did not appear. Instead, that travel provided a needed economic boost to the local coconut sweets factories and tiendas along the highway.

Extended families got together to celebrate in December and January. The annual Virgin of Guadalupe and Christmas celebrations, usually pueblo -wide events, were smaller this year to prevent large groups of people from coming together. While some residents lamented this change, most supported and understood the importance of respecting social distancing guidelines.

Thanks to Angelica, the owner of the local supermarket, we were still able to have a small Christmas posada (celebration) for the kids in Juluchuca, complete with cakes, fresh squeezed orange juice, piñatas and a raffle.

Our Playa Viva Family

Like Juluchuca, at Playa Viva we are also fortunate to have had no confirmed COVID-19 cases among guests or staff since the start of the pandemic. With all open air rooms and spaces, we spend the vast majority of our time outdoors with the salty ocean breeze constantly refreshing the air we breathe. That’s true whether we’re in the kitchen, common areas or yoga deck.

After our closure in the spring of 2020, our staff are thrilled to have visitors back again. We have seen a resurgence in onsite excursions and activities, such as the farm tour, sea turtle sanctuary visit, and boogie boarding and surfing. By wearing masks and sanitizing surfaces, we keep our guests, ourselves and our communities safe. We’re thrilled to welcome folks back to our small slice of paradise.

Engaging Youth

As our guests and visitors know well, Playa Viva is much more than just a hotel . We are a regenerative project that is constantly co-evolving with our environment and the local communities in our watershed. Because of the pandemic, we have had to make significant shifts in the social and environmental impact work we do in the four local communities where we operate.

As of January 2021, school remains out of session. Though classes are offered online, the reality in rural communities like ours is that students often don’t have enough access to internet, technological devices or family support to succeed in a virtual setting. To help fill the gap, our education work in 2020 focused on small group tutoring sessions to help students maintain the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. For the communities in the sierras , this is especially important; for many students in those remote villages, elementary school is the only formal education they receive.

With classes online and no resources to attend, many children are instead receiving a new type of education . They may go work with their parents in the mango orchards or learn to plant corn and tend to animals.

The pandemic has renewed our focus on resilient systems and this means that we are placing more emphasis on our environmental education work. Thanks to our fantastic team of volunteers, this past fall we welcomed several school groups to La Tortuga Viva to release turtles and learn about marine conservation.

On weekends we have been organizing trash cleanups around Juluchuca and at the lagoon and beach. On Wednesday afternoons, we offer the kids outdoor workshops that incorporate art and music to promote self-connection and environmental awareness.

Our youth soccer team is still thriving, and this past December we hosted an inter-pueblo tournament featuring players from all four communities in our watershed.

Next Steps in 2021

Our vision for 2021 is that these workshops, classes, cleanups and sports teams will strengthen the already existing web of community connections among youth and their families. Connections that are vital for healthy and resilient communities to thrive.

It is still unclear when students will be back to in-person school, but until then we are committed to continuing to work with youth in small groups in the safest way possible to ensure that they have the tools they need to thrive. Whether it’s learning math, creating art or planting trees, the plans for our education program in 2021 are focused on consistent engagement and co-evolution.

If you would like to support our education programs, please consider making a donation to our Regenerative Trust . And when you feel safe to travel again, we hope to see you in person at Playa Viva .

Why We Travel

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 20:52:00 GMT

This pandemic has begged the question, “Why do we miss travel?”

As a child, I did not travel much, except through what I saw on TV. I loved nature shows like The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and Mutual of Ohama’s Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkin. Shows like this transported me to amazing places where I could see people interacting with nature and the communities around them. Movies, TV, and magazines were all my window to the greater, wider world. Pop culture first showed me what it meant to be a traveler.

Travel always seemed simultaneously nostalgic and exotic. Westerners (like me) would be wearing khaki safari gear as they arrived on the back of a camel or an elephant to the tent or the hut of someone who was completely different from the traveler themself. So while this was a kid’s view, it’s how I came to understand that cultures and people existed who were very different from my own.

Modern Travel & the Pandemic Stopgap

Today, travel is different. The pandemic has made person-to-person contact dangerous. In many ways it has been a great reset button because this break from traveling has allowed us to ask the question, “Why do we travel in the first place?”

Friends of mine who used to hop on a plane to attend a business meeting across the country are now asking me, “Why did I do that?” Many of us agree that it is important to be present, in person, to build trust and relationships. But now we can see how so much of our travel, especially for business, can be replaced by technology.

Meanwhile, this pandemic has given me an opportunity to connect deeper to where I live. It started with me going into my backyard and pulling weeds and tending to our garden. That activity grounded me as I got into a routine and rhythm of being home (a relative rarity for me). I began to connect to my neighbors, to my local community. As I walked the dog, I would meet neighbors who just got dogs, and as our dogs sniff each other, us “owners” would get to know each other too.

I’m sure like so many of you, this is the longest period of time you have spent in one place. Hopefully you were able to harvest the bounty of your own neighborhood.

The Host/Guest Relationship Element of Travel

Yet the question of “Why do we travel?” kept calling to me — returning to the front of my mind even as I enjoyed my time at home. And there is a part of that question that speaks to me so strongly: “What makes for a good host, and what makes for a good guest?”

My wife loves to host people. Our home has always been a “crash pad” for her friends and family — and now kids of friends and friends of friends. Some of those guests are “better” than others. What makes one better than another? Simple things. Some clean up when they cook; others leave a mess in the kitchen. Some arrive with just their luggage, and others appear bearing gifts. Some come for just a place to sleep, and others come to share their lives. The simple truth is that it takes being a host, hosting a lot of guests (bad ones and good ones), to know what it means to be a good guest. And of course it’s subjective.

In this exchange, this interaction, between guest and host, lies the truth behind why we travel. We travel to be good guests to the places we go. To reflect well on the families, communities and cultures we come from, and to learn about how other people live. To meet their families, understand their communities and learn from their cultures. This is what we are all missing from our lives right now. This connection and reflection.

Types of Travelers

I was recently invited to be a guest lecturer (over Zoom, of course) to a class at San Francisco State University on tourism to talk about our endeavors, Playa Viva and Regenerative Travel. I’ve guest lectured many times before and rather than speaking at students, I prefer to have a dialogue. Ideally engaging them on their level and having them approach me with tough questions.

This time around, I was immediately asked to describe our type of traveler. Who was our customer? Who was our guest? I recounted a story of how I sometimes wait at the airport to receive guests with Johnny, who takes guests to Playa Viva. I told the students how I could, by sight as people got off the plane, divide the arriving passengers into three groups. Group 1 will go directly from the airport to their hermetically sealed, all-inclusive resort and the most local, Mexican thing they will experience is an avocado on their cheeseburger. Group 2 will go to a hotel in town, and they will wander through tourist areas but still venture outside the hermetically sealed comfort of the all inclusive. Group 3 will stay in a hotel like Playa Viva. They will get out of the tourist area and will interact with locals on a one-on-one basis and get to know the local culture and how people really live in Mexico.

One student posed a question that concerned me. He asked, “What about the guy who takes one vacation a year? He saves all his money to take his family to Hawaii for a week. Doesn’t he deserve to just sit on the beach and drink his Mai Tai and enjoy his all-inclusive vacation?” I didn’t have the guts to tell him what I really thought. That the “guy” doesn’t need to go all the way to Hawai’i to have that experience. Nothing about his experience will be about Hawai’i. The person who serves him may not be from there. The hotel he stays in probably won’t be owned by a local Hawai’ian host. The luau and the dance might be billed as “authentic,” but the experience will be the same as going to a luau at Disneyland.

Why does that “guy” travel? He doesn’t have to be Jacque Coustaue or Karl Perkins. So how can we get that “guy” to push his reset button and get out of the comfort zone of the community-detached, all inclusive? How can we get him into the neighborhood and engaged in the essence of the place? To immerse himself in the local ecosystem and have a real cultural exchange with new peoples?

Why does that guy travel? Why do you travel? I travel to be a good guest. To arrive with a gift to share something of my culture with the locals. To sit with them and learn and share and tell stories. To go into their gardens, walk their neighborhoods, learn about their views and cultures, and share all that I can.

To me, that is what it means to be a Regenerative Traveler. That is why I travel. Please join me in not only being a good guest but in being a good host.

Natural Building Starts From the Ground Up

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

At both Playa Viva and Casa Viva, we take pride in designing and building natural structures to minimize the impact on our environment — and to maximize these structures’ sustainability. Our permaculture team also plants and maintains abundant and local plant systems that allow us to harvest our own bioconstruction materials on site. And we use local labor and resources to not only build our infrastructure but to support our community.

We want to help curb the pull felt in our pueblo, and in rural communities around the world, to construct primarily with concrete — a material with an enormous carbon footprint. A generation ago, homes in Juluchuca and in nearby Rancho Nuevo were built in the traditional wattle and daub style using materials from the local ecosystem. These homes were constructed with the hands of multiple generations of the same family.

Modernism tells communities like ours that building with earth, clay, straw and cow manure are antique techniques. Ones that should be forgotten and replaced. However, our regenerative boutique hotels (and our philosophy toward sustainability in general) seek to remind our team members, our community, and our guests the value of local knowledge, of working with our hands and together in community, and turning what many consider waste (coconut hulls, cut up straw) into tasteful walls, common spaces, and roofs.

The Story Behind Being Made in Mexico

When choosing materials, Playa Viva sets the standard for “Made in Mexico” and “all natural.” As a result, each corner of the hotel contains the handiwork of local artisans and a history, both natural and cultural, of the country. From fossilized sea stones to an ancient building technique gaining popularity worldwide, every structure and fixture tells a story.

TECHNIQUES

Natural building, or bioconstruction, is a discipline within the world of architecture, building, and permaculture. It seeks to integrate infrastructure into the natural environment and ecosystem where a building or project exists and to connect members of the build team to a sense of place.

Cob

Cob is an ancient building technique that utilizes clay, sand and straw (or other locally sourced fibers). Cob homes are commonplace throughout Europe, in parts of Mexico and around the world. The raw materials are mixed thoroughly together, in many cases with the feet of the builders young and old alike, and applied wet onto the walls. In the common spaces at Playa Viva, you will see three different cob wall mixtures. The color variations come from the clay base used. When building the Playa Viva walls, the construction team collected clay from the veins alongside local riverbanks and roads, identifying a rainbow of clays from bright orange to deep purple. The team experimented with mixing in other organic materials such as shells, manure and plant detritus to change the aesthetics and durability.

As our farm infrastructure continues to develop, we plan to further explore these techniques. Learning from the success stories and asking members of our community to remind people of the healing powers of working with earth. There is nothing comparable to the accessibility and resiliency of these structures.

If you, your children, or someone you know is interested in getting your hands dirty with us, reach out about our Volunteer Program (3 month minimum stay) or inquire about our work before you book your next trip !

Wattle and Daub

MATERIALS

Wood

Wood is an abundant material in our area that we use extensively for our hotel rooms, common spaces, and yoga platforms. This incredible, renewable and relatively easy-to-use resource is a mainstay in our building infrastructure. All the wood that we utilize in our structures is sourced and milled in our region and oftentimes collected from felled trees after big storms roll through.

Clay

This plentiful material is one of mankind’s oldest building materials. It is used in most if not all of our buildings. See if you can’t find the hand-designed dancing figures on a wall during your next stay at Casa Viva in Troncones . Clay has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years throughout the world as builders and homeowners better understand the variety of benefits of using this ubiquitous material. Mexico has a rich history of building with earth using techniques such as wattle and daub and Adobe. We are proud to be a part of the movement of revaluing earth as a commonly used building material in our adopted country.

Straw/Natural Grasses

If you look closely at the walls at Playa Viva, you can identify this local resource in the plasters and inside the structural integrity of our open air structures. The materials are free and ample in our environment. To use them is to value them in new, revitalized, and regenerative ways, and more than likely, prevent them from being burned.

Regenerative practices are rooted in turning problems into solutions. What better way than to turn trash into art? In cob construction, the straw/grass acts as the rebar would in a concrete structure. It essentially holds everything together. In this case our structures, but perhaps in the future as more people begin working with it, will also hold together our larger community.

Bamboo

Bamboo has become one of our favorite building materials over the years. Even though at this point in our story we have purchased much of the bamboo that we build with from other farms in Mexico, we have also planted multiple patches and species of this
magical grass on our reserve. We use it for a variety of building and non-building applications.

Bamboo’s versatility, functionality and flexibility are unbelievable. When you visit Playa Viva, you will see that we use bamboo for just about everything, from light fixtures in the pathways to furniture and tunnels draped in passion fruit plants.

Palm Leaves

Fronds from the native palm, Sabal mexicana, create natural waterproof and resilient thatched roofs, which you will find on all of the casitas and beachfront palapas at Playa Viva. The fronds are cut six days before they are used, dried in open fields under the Mexican sun, and then placed in layers beginning at the base of roof beams. The main Playa Viva architect specifically designed the palapa roof frames for maximum earthquake resilience. (The treehouse designed by Kimshasa Baldwin is equally sustainably sourced.) And as part of the native vegetation restoration project and for future use as a sustainable building material, our permaculture team replants native palms seasonally throughout the property.

On Your Next Visit

It is pretty easy to lose yourself among the creativity of the architecture in Playa Viva. You could spend a whole day exploring the landscape room by room. Each space with its unique touches and an opportunity to identify a locally sourced building material that you might have overlooked in its natural setting. We invite you to explore — to touch the walls, to lay on your back and observe the patterns of the thatch roofs, to walk through nature or explore the permaculture farm and find those patterns repeated again.

If this article inspired you or you have been thinking about building with earth where you live but do not know where to start, please reach out to our Permaculture Manager, Amanda Harris . She is happy to help connect you to builders in the United States and parts of Latin America.

Playa Viva or Casa Viva: Which is Right for You?

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 23:14:00 GMT

As you dream about your next winter getaway, you may be spending extra time thinking about the kind of vacation you want — the location, the amenities, and the design of the space. You may also be considering the sustainability of where you choose to visit and your proximity to nature and outdoor activities.

With our two eco-lux, beachfront hotels, Playa Viva and Casa Viva, we often get questions regarding their similarities and differences. While both have comparable architecture, sustainability principles, and open air rooms and common spaces, they offer a few key differences.

As you consider your next vacation, we invite you to explore Playa Viva and Casa Viva to decide which is right for your next trip.

Location and Amenities

Playa Viva is located 45 minutes south of the Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa airport, situated on a mile of pristine private beach and with 200 acres of coastal forest to explore. At Playa Viva, you are truly immersed in nature, falling asleep to the crashing waves and waking up to a morning turtle release. We offer all-inclusive packages that include three gourmet, farm-to-table meals a day, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and morning yoga six days a week. Our holistic host lives onsite to offer massage and other wellness service. All available to you without having to leave the comforts of our space.

Casa Viva is located in the small surfing town of Troncones, which is located 45 minutes north of the Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa airport. At Casa Viva, we offer an onsite chef to prepare delicious meals for you, or you can walk out the door and head into town to explore nearby restaurants and bars. At Casa Viva, you have the opportunity to rent bikes to explore the town or arrange surfing lessons to grab a wave. If you are looking to get a massage or participate in a yoga class, you’ll find several options in Troncones.

Accommodations

Playa Viva has a total of 12 oceanfront, open air rooms, with the ability to accommodate up to 35 guests. With a large common area, pool, and two yoga platforms, we offer plenty of space to spread out. Playa Viva is equipped to host yoga retreats, small weddings, and family reunions, as well as solo travelers, groups of friends, and couples. Our unique treehouse has attracted visitors from around the world.

Design, Sustainability, and Social Impact

Both Playa Viva and Casa Viva were built with sustainable materials and designed by the French architect Michel Lewis. His design includes the use of sustainable wood, bamboo, and adobe finishes, as well as amber lighting and palapa roofs.

Playa Viva takes the concept of sustainability one step farther — to actually regenerate the local watershed and communities of which it is a part. Playa Viva is 100% off-grid and includes a permaculture project to support our farm-to-table kitchen and reforestation goals. Playa Viva also supports La Tortuga Viva, a sea turtle conservation project run by a team of 14 local volunteers. Finally, Playa Viva engages the communities in the local watershed in education projects, youth sports, and permaculture initiatives.

We invite guests to get involved in these projects. Whether it’s walking the land with our Permaculture Manager Amanda Harris, learning to relocate vulnerable sea turtle nests on night patrol with our Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator Lorenzo Locci, or participating in an environmental education project with our Social and Environmental Impact Manager Colleen Fugate. At Playa Viva, we offer many ways to engage and give back while on vacation. We take care of the details so you can be present in the experience.

Casa Viva’s proximity to the town of Troncones means that guests looking to engage in sustainability or social impact projects have the opportunity to reach out to local NGOs to volunteer in the community. Our staff at Casa Viva are happy to recommend projects and various ways to get involved.

Playa Viva or Casa Viva? You can’t go wrong.

The answer is clear. Both Playa Viva and Casa Viva offer eco-luxury accommodations allowing you to unwind, relax, and reconnect. Whether you want to explore the town of Troncones at Casa Viva or enjoy the seclusion of a private beach at Playa Viva, our attention to detail and beautiful natural surroundings mean that with either option, you can’t go wrong.

Visit Playa Viva Through Our Guests’ Lens: Photo Contest Winners

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 03:39:00 GMT

At the end of our season every year, we host a photo contest.We love seeing Playa Viva through the eyes of our guests. Because each submission represents one small part of the meaningful experiences that Playa Viva guests always talk about — with other guests while on property and with their loved ones when they return home.

Time and again the photo submissions align with the emotional and mental transformations that come about as part of our guests’ time here. You would think it impossible to capture those sentiments in a photo, but the way that our guests either zoom in on certain details at the resort or take a wider lens approach to the beauty here represents so much more.

A trip to Playa Viva may help you zero in on a part of your life that needs attention. Or it may be the impetus you need in order to release an unhealthy obsession over life’s other details. Whatever you need, we hope you find it here.

Season 11 – Peirce Schmidt

Season 10 – Nirvana Nungaray

Season 9 – Lacey Smith

Season 8 – Diana Uribe

Season 7 – Tiffany Borland

Season 5 – Zak Al-Alami

Season 4 – Ashley Shaffer

Season 3 – Sarah Rivette

Season 2 – Melinda Jones

Season 1

La Tortuga Viva and Youth Empowerment

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 02:02:00 GMT

Lazaro Nogueda Elguera and Tomas Landeros Joven are two young residents of Juluchuca who are passionate about marine conservation and protecting our three local endangered species of sea turtles. At the beginning of the year, they chose La Tortuga Viva (LTV) to conduct their internship with the program Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro , a government-run capacity building program that aims to provide economic opportunities and job experience for youth who neither work nor study.

After just five months at La Tortuga Viva, Lazaro and Tomas are already improving and now leading data collection with the other members of the turtle camp, which supports our efforts for funding from Proof of Impact . Besides this, they have also given a needed update to our sanctuary by putting the finishing operational touches on the new facilities donated by 109 World last December.

As the Sea Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator, I have had the pleasure of supervising and collaborating with Lazaro and Tomas on the management of the sanctuary and all its operations. Read on to learn more about their first experience in wildlife conservation.

Interview by Lorenzo Locci, La Tortuga Viva Sanctuary Coordinator

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to intern at La Tortuga Viva?

Lazaro: I am 29 years old, and I live with my family here in Juluchuca where I grew up. I love fishing in the sea and in the lagoon, and I love sea turtles! Less than one year ago, I joined the La Tortuga Viva team volunteering one day per week for night patrols and working every other Sunday at the camp. So when I got the opportunity to apply for the Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro Program with LTV, I decided to get involved full time in the project.

Tomas: I am 18, and I also live here in Juluchuca, but my family moved here from the nearby mountains where we were living when I was 8. I would like to study to become a vet assistant and, hopefully, a vet one day. Lazaro and I knew each other from school, and Lazaro told me about the possibility of working with animals here in Juluchuca at the LTV sanctuary. I didn’t have experience with turtles but have wanted to work with them for years. Really since I was five years old when I went on a field trip to a sea turtle rescue center in Acapulco. So I went to talk with Colleen who coordinates the Jovenes program, and she helped me to apply. I want to thank her for giving me this opportunity.

How is your training going at LTV? What are you learning? And what do you like the most about your job?

Lazaro: I really like the fact that I am learning a lot about sea turtles, such as the nesting season and their habits, the importance of the incubation conditions of the eggs in the hatchery, and how to collect information about the nests and hatchling releases.

What I like the most is that I am learning while also doing manual work at the camp.

Tomas: I have a good time working at the camp because of the people I work with and because every day we do many different activities, such as cleaning out nests, closing holes in the mesh protection of the camp, making educational signs, and doing beach cleanups. I got to know the different types of sea turtle species nesting here and how the nest’s depth is different according to the species. What most impresses me is that we can see the sanctuary improving thanks to our hard work.

How your roles are contributing to the sanctuary?

Lazaro: We do a lot of jobs necessary to make the sanctuary work better. Together with Tomas, Lorenzo, and two other volunteers named Mike and Carla, and thanks to a donation from Playa Viva guests, we installed an irrigation system to water the nests. This helps us control the sand temperature since the temperature of the sand incubating the eggs affects the hatchling success rate and the sex of the hatchlings.

Tomas: I agree with Lazaro, and I would also say that as a result of our work there are fewer intrusions of tejones (local badgers) in the camp and fewer eggs predated. To defend the sanctuary from tejones, we’ve installed humane traps and a number of other devices to try to keep them away. We’ve also seen the hatchling success rate (the number of eggs hatched out of the total number of eggs collected) increasing, which means that we are doing a good job in following best conservation practices.

Part of your role with LTV is to share your work with the community. Could you explain what kind of outreach you do with the local community?

Lazaro: We welcomed many groups of students from our communities. Even classes from different schools of the nearest town came to visit our sea turtle camp. Lorenzo taught us games for the kids and for the young students. This way they can learn about sea turtles and the environment by doing something fun. He also gave us some training on conservation and environmental education. In this way, we were prepared to run the school visits. All the students, parents and teachers who we received at camp got engaged with our activities. And we could tell they also really enjoyed it. There were many other school visits planned because of teachers’ positive word of mouth, but unfortunately we will have to wait until the end of the quarantine period to open again to the public.

Tomas: We see—and we know—that so much of the plastic in the ocean is coming from people’s bad habits of throwing trash in the streets, lagoon, rivers and beach. Sooner or later, most of this trash will arrive in the ocean where it is accumulating and threatening the conservation of sea turtles. That’s why I believe that Juluchuca Limpio is the most impactful project that we are conducting and also implementing in our community and other surrounding villages. As part of this initiative, we are doing monthly cleanups and installing several signs and trash bins in public places in order to discourage people from throwing trash straight into their environment. We are collecting and selling plastic bottles for recycling; in this way we are also making a little money to invest in making more recycling bins.

The most important part of these actions is raising awareness by speaking with people every time we go to collect trash. Even though there are some spots that we have to clean regularly, we see that littering is decreasing overall and people are recycling more and more.

You both still have about six months left in your internship with LTV. What else do you hope to learn and achieve during the rest of your time with us?

Lazaro: The group of turtle lovers from 109World committed their holidays to build a new palapa and a new shed with the aim of facilitating the operations and activities of the sanctuary. Together with other members of the La Tortuga Viva team, we completed the roof and constructed a door for the shed to use it for storing materials and equipment. We also embellished the camp with educational signs, benches and swings for kids when they visit on school field trips. I think there is still some more work to be done in this area, like completing the painting on some parts and a few others details, which is where I’d like to dedicate my energy these next six months.

I would also like to improve our conservation practices. My goal is to work together with the other LTV members and Lorenzo to create a unique space to welcome Playa Viva guests, groups of students and members of our town who want to learn about sea turtles.

Tomas: In the past five months I have learned a lot about many aspects of sea turtle conservation, but I still have to get more experience for applying the best practices to increase the hatching success rate in order to indicate if our efforts are successful or not. This internship is a great opportunity for me, and I want to do my best because I really wish to get employed for future opportunities at the sea turtle camp.

A Return Trip to Playa Viva: The Same but Different

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 21:26:00 GMT

“Back to Playa Viva? For the third time?”

When my fiance (now wife) said she wanted to visit Playa Viva again for our honeymoon, I had my reservations. Not because we both don’t love it—we do—but we tend toward exploring new places. And I thought that would continue. Even the fact that we’d been to the resort twice already was unlike our typical travelling. Most vacations for us are about exploring what is new or foreign.

But then we went. Again.

Reflections on a third vacation in paradise

After resettling at home, I realize now that I couldn’t have been more wrong in thinking that another Playa Viva trip would be boring. Instead, this trip ended up being a complete respite but the typical hustle and bustle of our trips. We were somewhere comfortable and familiar. And it was so great to see the continuation of so much of what we love about Playa Viva, plus the new aspects of the property.

Because we weren’t somewhere new, I was able to completely immerse myself and focus on what it is about Playa Viva that makes it so special. Some of that on our trip was what had changed; some of it was what they had always done.

Accommodations

The first big change for us on this trip was staying in the treehouse. I don’t know where to begin—it was so unique. Right away in the first few moments after we arrived, we sat in the hammock inside the treehouse, watching the waves while half-reading our books. It was amazing to hear the ocean while simultaneously feeling as though we were in the forest. The treehouse is built as one with the trees and they flow through the space.

At night, the treehouse really comes to life. Not only do the stars and turtle-friendly lighting give it a magical glow, but the sounds of the forest pull you deeper into the experience. It made me think of all the options that my white noise app offers. Nothing that compares to the nature of Playa Viva.

Food

Most days upon waking at Playa Viva—after taking a second to make sure it’s not a dream—you think about eating. Or at least we do.

The food has always been something we look forward to when we visit; this time was no different. Well maybe the only difference was that we had our favorite meals on this trip, thank you, Chef Daniel.

What we have always loved most are the staples that they have prepared each time we have visited: the tortillas, salsas, queso fresco and beans. These “basic” foods have always been something I remember about my time there, and I was so glad to get to enjoy them again this trip. And I can’t go without my coffee. This trip it was the fresh coconut milk that put the coffee over the top. It was so rich and creamy and just … tasted right in our environment. Chia pudding at breakfast was also pivotal—grabbing a small bowl before yoga in the mornings before indulging on chilaquiles afterward.

Another favorite of ours on this trip was a ceviche bar lunch one day. It was the perfect meal in the middle of a hot day, and Chef Daniel’s team prepared everything with purpose and intent. The fresh flavors and spices (which were customizable, mine being slightly more mild than my wife’s) really felt almost cooling in the heat.

The farm

Not only was the kitchen team clearly hard at work, but so was the permaculture team. The use of produce from the property directly has always been a detail that I have really enjoyed about dining at Playa Viva. This time we noticed a wider variety of vegetables and other ingredients from the farm at every meal. And after meeting with Amanda, the lengths her team has taken to make this possible are clearly evident.

I say all this as someone who has worked with food for 15+ years. And who is married to a passionate vegetarian. (Choose which of those makes me qualified to obsess over food.) But I am always looking for places where fresh produce is incorporated as much as possible. And places where a connection to the land and community is evident. Food isn’t grown in a vacuum, and I wish more Americans would realize this. At Playa Viva, it’s obvious that while a lot of farming work goes into creating a wonderful dining experience for guests, that bounty is also shared with staff and the local community. Providing more whole plant options that are grown locally with the best intentions … that’s how to have a lasting impact.

Community

Playa Viva has had close relationships to Juluchuca and its greater rural area for as long as we’ve been visiting—since 2012 and I’m sure before. One in particular made our third trip especially memorable.

There’s a local family who lives off their land in the mountains a few hours from Playa Viva’s coastal location. I’d previously enjoyed a few delights because of this family—that delicious coffee I mentioned earlier being one of them and handmade chocolates, too—but I didn’t really know the family’s story and had never chosen the Sierra Mountain excursion . This time around we knew we wanted to fit visiting the family and exploring the hills into our mostly relaxation-focused vacation.

Many other guests have attested to how fun it is to ride the ATVs into the mountains and the beautiful views to be had, but for me this excursion was all about the family. Getting to meet four generations and spend a day learning about how they’ve built their life off the land gave me a new perspective on our whole trip. Gone were the luxurious meals of our quick Mexico City layover. Instead, it felt like I was finally, truly in Mexico.

This family grows all their own foods and sells some of the surplus to the community. Their cacao is something incredibly special; some of its heritage traceable back to the Aztecs. We were able to see how they grow their cacao and their process for making it into chocolate. But while my wife split off with the patriarch for a property tour, I chose to split off and help prepare lunch—an experience I’ll never forget. Having cooked professionally for my whole career, their open air, dirt floor kitchen brought me back to why we cook. It’s about feeding the people you care about with the food you’ve cared for. Even though there was a language barrier between myself and the family, we were speaking a language that is universal. You don’t need expensive china and fancy equipment to achieve the same end result: nourishing people and sharing a table together.

Where your vacation meets your values

Of our three tips to Playa Viva, this was my favorite for many reasons, but ultimately it was the ability to fully relax and learn new details in a space I was already comfortable with that left the most impact. The motto of “where your vacation meets your values” really rang true this time around. Our Playa Viva honeymoon was about so much more than adventure.

I share many values with the staff of Playa Viva and getting to learn more about how those values are implemented and the resounding effect they have was so special. Hearing Amanda on our farm tour speak about the rule of three where anything the permaculture team decided to change or add to the ecosystem must have at least three positive results … that sums up Playa Viva right there.

A certain peace comes with the familiar, and I found that peace on this trip. I came in knowing what to expect to some extent and could easily get into the flow of vacation mode. But Playa Viva did more than alleviate the exhausting side of travel. Despite my familiarity, there was so much to discover and learn while we were there. Change is always just under the surface; that is the only constant. Knowing that the changes being made to an already near-perfect spot are informed with conscious thought and the larger impact in mind, is something worth writing about. And continuing to explore on trips to come.

Blog written by Ben Miller, Playa Viva Guest in 2012, 2017 & 2020

Banana Circles: An Example of Permaculture Stacking Functions

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Can Permaculture Reintroduce resiliency?

Permaculture encourages us to focus on building resilient systems. And not just you and I, but everyone — from permaculture specialists to individuals working in the fields to everyone who benefits from those farming and land management efforts. We live in a community of the Pacific coast of Mexico that is deeply reliant upon its surroundings. This is a community where many people depend on local plant medicine for natural remedies, use an array of herbs for both food and beverage, and count on several tree crops for seasonal fruits, finding a way to reintroduce these plants to small home gardens has been on our mind for a couple of years.

Thanks to a generous donation from two guests, we launched a banana circle project in Juluchuca. The decision to use banana circles to address a crop loss in our community was rooted in a primary permaculture principle known as stacking functions . In simplest terms, stacking functions means every element in a system performs more than one function. Playa Viva’s permaculture lens is to design in a way such that each element serves four, five and six functions. An easy shorthand to remember this concept is 1 + 1 = 3 .

Introducing banana circles in town is strategic. It is an opportunity to discuss the value of perennial crops both in the diet and in the soil. The circle itself (described in detail below) creates a space where organic material from around the home can be collected and reused rather than burned. Household water is also captured in the circle, which reduces the frequency of standing water and mosquito habitat in and around the home. Among other functions, it also produces a diverse, nutrient dense harvest as soon as a few months in—a harvest that can be used to supplement the kitchen pantry as well as reduce household costs.

Banana Circle Basics

A banana circle is a classic permaculture technique. It is a blend of, and a relationship between, food production and waste reduction strategies . A banana circle provides a way for you to capture and reuse food scraps, yard waste, and wastewater, while also creating the ideal conditions for bananas and other nutrient-demanding plants to thrive.

Here in Juluchuca and Rancho Nuevo, Playa Viva’s permaculture manager, Amanda Harris, and two graduates of Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (a workforce training program that is run by the federal government) planted the first eight banana circles. These first circles were planted with jamaica (hibiscus plants used for fresh juices or in cold salads), papayas, lemongrass, pineapples, melons, achiote (annatto) plants, turmeric and ginger rhizomes, sunflowers and zinnias, sesame and moringa stalks , and passion fruit vines. The tropical harvest that comes out of the banana circles is both color and nutrient dense, and still, the plants are chosen to serve other functions inside the design as well. Root crops ensure we are pulling minerals up to the surface and into our foods; grasses like vetiver stabilize the soil with deep roots; the flowering bush achiote and other striking flowers call pollinators to the space and improve yields; melons and sweet potato vines cover the soil, keeping it cool, humid and full of beneficial microbial life; and tree crops like papaya and banana offer a pillar for the vining passion fruit to climb.

Once a banana circle begins to receive its intended grey water runoff and a little bit of care through harvest and dropping off organic material, the intention is that the circle sustains itself. Crucial to this success though, is to be sure to include family members in the design, the labor, the selection of the plants (based on their diets and health needs), and the planting of the banana circles. We asked each household to have one adult and one child participate at some level, and often the whole family gathered around to observe, dig, laugh, question, and plant.

Progress, Even While Pressing Pause

Like most projects, businesses, and individual liberties around the world, the banana circle project in town was paused back in March as we decided to reduce and limit our movement within our community due to COVID-19. We have been using this stillness as an opportunity to check in with the families where we built circles back in February. More than half of the circles already boast flowering plants and new fruits. And the other half are green and alive, just short of a few plants and water. As of June, we are now in the height of our driest months, and six new families have thriving gardens just three meters (10 feet) from their kitchens and cutting boards.

It is our hope to continue installing these mini food forests/compost pits in several more homes between Juluchuca and Las Placitas, which is up the watershed. Word is out, and some families are even preparing spaces for when we feel safe, informed, and comfortable interacting more closely with our neighbors again. Meanwhile, we are trying to understand and respond to two observations made during this phase one smaller installment:

Our Playa Viva permaculture team thought the banana circles would address and reduce the burning of organic material in and near households, which it does. What we did not account for was the (high) volume of water used in a local household. The mix of organic material and water, like all systems, must find an equilibrium. Too little water, the plants do not grow; too much water and we create health concerns by way of mosquito larvae. Currently, two compost pits retain water in a way we did not anticipate. We would like to see the water absorbed into the soil differently and think that by encouraging families to add more organic material to the pit, we can help improve the absorption rate and create the balance the banana circles craves.
Understanding the saturation capabilities of the soil is increasingly important during this shoulder season. While we do not receive much rain to this part of the coast, we are approaching the months where at least some rainfall is expected and the land becomes unexpectedly hydrophobic. New quebradas (streams) and rios (rivers) present themself every year in Juluchuca, and we will have to monitor the placement of each banana circle to make sure they can withstand the influx of water that may pass over them. and through the homes and living spaces where our community members live.

In permaculture, we call this part of the design process “observe and interact.” This principle recommends that we take a relatively cautious approach, that we make the smallest intervention we think necessary to make the change we want, and then we closely and patiently observe the results. We have the opportunity to learn from this pause in our project, and we’re excited to brainstorm among our team and the eight families.

We’ll keep you in the loop as we apply a few simple solutions with the intention of increasing nutrient upcycling—resulting in more food coming from each banana circle.

Lessons About Resilience & Regeneration as a Result of COVID-19

Wed, 27 May 2020 04:07:00 GMT

COVID-19 is like a major jolt to our systems. Unlike a fire, flood, hurricane or other natural disaster, what is being destroyed here are human-to-human connections due to social distancing and our health and economic systems. Ironically, one is protected and preserved from the same behaviors that deteriorate the other.

We all know and understand the trade-offs of our health in exchange for economic viability. In this case though, our economic system is being destroyed as if by rapid fire. Property is not destroyed, no buildings burned, no cars flooded, no trees uprooted by high winds. We did this to ourselves to flatten the curve, and we can undo it in good time and in a manner that won’t jeopardize our health.

Resilience Relies on Complex Systems Coming Together to Self Repair

So what does COVID-19 teach us about our living systems, especially in the tourism business? Specific to resilience, when we look at resilient systems, the question is how quickly can they self repair. When you think about a fire, how quickly does a forest regenerate. I remember visiting Yellowstone National Park after the great fires of 1988, and while the forest was a desert of charred dead trees all silver and black, the ground was greener than it had ever been and full of life. Not all the trees were burnt. Where small trees couldn’t find new light, now they had plenty of sun to grow big and strong.

I was in North Carolina after the devastation of Hurricane Hugo, and the morning after the storm, as we walked around surveying the damage, the sound of chainsaws cleaning up the damage was already echoing all over.

We know that living systems can self repair. They do take time and energy. They may not be exactly as they were before the devastating event, but they do bounce back.

Build in Redundancy and “Save for a Rainy Day” (Disaster)

How quickly a system bounces back is an important question to ask ourselves about the systems we are part of. How can we make them more resilient in the future? For example, in the case of the U.S. medical system’s capacity to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, we had to flatten the curve because we did not have enough respirators, hospital beds and hospital personnel to handle the volume of cases that was expected. What are the points of failure in the system and how can these points of failures be strengthened? What would happen if we had more ventilators, had more beds on reserve, could bring up a reserve of health care workers?

If we had to flatten the curve to reduce the impact on the healthcare system, where that line is on the graph might alter how much the economy really needs to be impacted. The healthcare system and the economy are individual systems, which are inextricably intertwined. So building in redundancy reserves and “dry powder” in one system reduces the impact in the other, impacting the entire system.

Planning, Preparation and Disciplined Deployment

COVID-19 in particular is a shock to the human-to-human system. As we can see from Main Street and Wall Street, this crisis affects some businesses more than others. Businesses that rely on people coming together are particularly impacted by COVID-19, including events (sports, music, festivals, conferences), restaurants, bars, and especially travel. Who wants to board a plane full of people to breathe the same air when someone might be infected? Who wants to go to a hotel where they will be in close proximity or in the same room as someone with COVID-19?

This is where we need to take lessons from some countries in Asia that responded with aggressive testing and contact tracing. In this case, technology was used (and good old fashioned detective work in some cases) to limit the impact and allow for a more balanced approach rather than severely disrupting the economy through quarantining the population at home. Countries that had recent experience with other viruses (like SARS) had developed systems for rapid response.

COVID-19 teaches us that planning, preparation and disciplined deployment can make a huge difference in limiting the effect of a disaster on systems.

Flexibility, Reallocation, Creativity and Pivot

When watching how we in the U.S. are responding to COVID-19, what has been most interesting are the “feel good stories” and how much we rely on good news to get us by. A common thread in many of these stories is how a factory that once manufactured X is now making Y, which is needed more when global production and trade are also impacted. Flexibility, creativity and responsiveness are also key lessons.

When considering our hotel on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Playa Viva stopped hosting guests as travel came to a halt for our international and domestic markets, but we kept our farm fully functional. The key was to maintain production in a manner that kept our workers safe and food production hygienic. While the hotel rooms were vacant, the chickens were still laying eggs, the pigs still needed slop, buds were coming out on the trees, and veggies still needed to be harvested. Having this related but tangential business allowed us to keep our staff employed and fed while we focus more energy on the farm, while other areas of our business can wait. By relocating resources, one system could be strengthened while the other sits “idle.”

While hindsight is 20/20, and it will be more so after the events of 2020, we can learn some quick lessons from COVID-19 that we can all hopefully apply to our endeavors.

Read on for the full article in Regenerative Travel on “Why Regenerative, Why Now: Co-Founder David Leventhal on Ethos, Service, and Luxury.”

Let Your Transformational Story Unfold Naturally

Thu, 21 May 2020 04:03:00 GMT

Playa Viva has this way of creating growth in those who cross its path. This sustainable boutique hotel is filled with an incredible energy that flows through all different areas of the hotel, the farm, the community. This energy is one of the things that make this place so special. That’s how people evolve in their years of work here, or even in a week during a family vacation or yoga retreat.

You can say there is a before and an after Playa Viva. Because you definitely shift perspectives here.

What is this mysterious energy I am talking about? It comes from the peace of the lands, the call of the ocean meeting the jungle where the hotel is blended—open to the ocean on one side and facing the Sierra Madres on the other. It comes from the harmony of the hotel with nature—its values of sustainability, community, ethics. The invitation to separate from an overly consumption-focused mentality, the urge to be constantly connected, the persistent fear of missing out.

It allows for our mind and body to finally get fed what they crave: rest, meaning, purpose, peace, kindness, digital disconnect. This is where growth comes in. It is when we all step into this safe, shared space, instantly finding our own place, that we start to grow.

SPACE FOR SELF-GROWTH, ROOM FOR DISCOVERY

As the media volunteer for Playa Viva, I have had the chance to meet many of our guests and witness their paths. One day I joined a farm tour and was talking to a guest. After a few days with us, she could already tell me, “One’s life is not complete until they have been to Playa Viva.”

Now this can sound exaggerated if you’ve never been here. We’re just a hotel, right? But if you’ve been following along on our journey, you know we are much more than that. As this particular guest was listening to Amanda, our head of permaculture, speak about the land, she couldn’t help but feel inspired. She realized she is part of this ecosystem—that even she has a role to define and to fill. And this realization is not unique among our guests.

When a family comes to Playa Viva and each member feels at home as soon as they arrive, you can wonder how. Is their home also located on a serene, secluded beach? Probably not. What makes you feel at home here is the invitation toward simplicity, to disconnect in order to reconnect fully to yourself and to your loved ones. Disconnect from screens, yes, but also from over-stimulation, stress, “to-do lists,” expectations. Reconnect to nature, patience, simple moments, self, other forms of communication (both with your own self and your community). You are at home here because there is finally room for what matters to you, and you realize home will never leave you. What a beautiful feeling.

To see a solo traveler arrive with the intention to relax and actually meet themself is to behold the power of Playa Viva. There are times here when it is so quiet that you can hear the hummingbirds. The architecture so minimalist that you start noticing little details on your sunrise walk to yoga class or your sunset walk on the never-ending beach. Little hermit crabs and lizards running around along the path, a butterfly enjoying the colorful flowers, a whale’s tail in the horizon, the bioluminescence when you play with water at night. You start to see what is important in your surroundings and forget about the noise. You become a more balanced person.

There is space for every story, every path, because a place that allows growth knows there is wealth in each individual and values their presence.

EVERYONE TOUCHED BY PLAYA VIVA HAS A STORY; MINE IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF RESILIENCY

Now let me share a bit of my story. My work with Playa Viva is mostly focused on communication. When, about a month ago, COVID-19 became a life-changing reality for us, my work took a new turn. I never thought I would have to create a communication crisis plan for a sustainable boutique hotel that was making the difficult decision to close its season early. So much of the local economy and community projects depend on Playa Viva. And this was all happening at age 22 and 10,000 km from my home in France.

But this is what Playa Viva is about. Giving space and trust to an individual because of who they are and what they stand for, and not because of their age, the prestige of their studies or their origins. Playa Viva trusts me, gives me the support I need, and all the while lets me have a voice. Here I can speak up, make mistakes and power through them, stand tall and feel empowered.

This crisis has opened my eyes. Now I understand what resiliency means because I get to witness it every day and have the honor to share it with the world through communication. I feel proud to work for a project I believe in. Playa Viva acknowledges issues but only sees solutions; this mindset is thanks to its values, the constant support of our guests and the inspiration from its community.

Through all of this, my desire to work on these types of projects has been confirmed. I know I want to dedicate my life’s labor toward those who face challenges with compassion, drive, genuineness. Those who see challenges as an opportunity to grow, learn and strengthen their values. This growth is a starting point, and I am full of hope for what’s in store for me in Playa Viva and in my life.

What will be your story?

What are Juluchuca’s Children Doing While School is Closed?

Fri, 08 May 2020 03:33:00 GMT

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, it is estimated that 9 out of 10 children around the world are currently out of school . For most students in the U.S., this means distance learning, with students studying online on tablets or laptops.

Here in Juluchuca, school is also out of session, but with little technology to support distance learning. It’s easy to wonder, what are these children doing all day?

Why Distance Learning is a Challenge Here

When Mexican quarantine measures were put into place on March 20, schools were notified five days prior that classes would be cancelled through the Easter holiday. Those measures have now been extended until April 30.

In Juluchuca, school closures included our four local schools—the kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and high school. The government’s advance notification gave teachers time to prepare printed homework packets for students to work on during the closure. Though some families in Juluchuca have wireless internet in their homes, few have more than a smartphone to work with, which makes any formal online learning programs virtually impossible.

Further up the watershed, there are three additional elementary schools, also without online learning. In communities like La Ceiba and Las Placitas, there is no phone service or wireless internet at all. For this reason, school leaders have resorted to printed homework packets for students to work on during the closure.

How Children are Spending Their Days

As we all know, children can only sit and do their homework for so long. In Juluchuca, this means that a large part of each child’s day is spent outside—whether playing marbles in the street or rummaging through the recycling for materials to build a homemade kite. Other kids are learning to ride a bike or play loteria, a local card game, with their cousins. The teenagers can often be seen biking to our local beach to test their luck fishing in the lagoon or the ocean.

While many parents are trying to keep their children socially distanced, it’s proving challenging in a small, close-knit community like Juluchuca. This is a place where neighbors and families are used to spending a lot of time together.

For parents who are fortunate enough to still have jobs, their children are often seen tagging along as they head off to work. This is the reality for

Brayan and Luis, two brothers whose parents both work on a nearby mango plantation. All four of the family members pile onto the family motorbike to head to the huerto, or farm, each morning. Brayan, who is in 6th grade, helps with the harvest and keeps an eye on Luis, who is in the 1st grade. Both Brayan and Luis are in our Adopt a Student Program , an initiative Playa Viva started this past October to support students and their families who struggle to pay school inscription fees, afford school lunches and manage other associated expenses.

Another student, who is also in our Adopt a Student Program, Sara, is using this time to practice her reading and her English. Sara is 13 but only in the 5th grade since she didn’t attend school for several years. Thanks to generous donations from Playa Viva guests, we had several teen novels in Spanish to give to Sara to keep her occupied. Ariel, our education coordinator, often passes by Sara’s house and shouts his greetings.

Her response? A return yell full of the details about what’s going on in the books she’s reading! As for English, with our usual language classes cancelled, Sara didn’t want to forget what she had learned so far. By using the internet at her neighbor’s house, she was able to download an English language learning app on her small cellphone, full of games and activities to keep her mind active.

More Family Time—Sound Familiar?

For other students, this chapter of school closures means more family time. It means longer meals, card games and afternoons at the beach. For the families up the watershed, it means they have their children around to help with household chores like hand washing clothes, grinding corn for nixtamal to make fresh tortillas, and tending to their farm animals. For everyone, it means more hammock time.

With the recent Easter holiday, families still gathered to share a meal and give thanks for what they have. While families remain optimistic and are taking advantage of this time to spend together, the economic impact of this crisis is still causing stress for many residents.

For those school children enrolled in our Adopt a Student program, we are supporting their families with a monthly food basket since there are no longer school lunches. For those students who will be graduating this year and enrolled in the Adopt a Student Program, we are still able to cover the graduation fees thanks to so many generous sponsors in the program.

If you would like to learn more about our Adopt A Student Program, you can email Colleen at colleen@ playaviva .com . During this difficult time there are many other residents in our community who would benefit greatly from a food basket, so we also are working to expand their distribution.

And if you would like to purchase a food basket for a family in need for $40 USD, please visit our GoFundMe donation page make your contribution. Upon donating, Colleen will follow up with information about the family you’re helping to support. Thank you for your efforts and contributions toward Juluchuca’s students and their families.

What the Coronavirus Pandemic Means for Juluchuca

Fri, 08 May 2020 03:30:00 GMT

For anyone who has been to Juluchuca, it’s easy to tell that it’s a vibrant town for a community of just 500 residents. The morning rush is usually the busiest time of day, with parents shuffling their kids off to school and heading to work themselves. Then there’s always the midday lull when the sun is hottest before things pick back up in the evenings with youth soccer practices, English classes and adults running errands around town.

As has happened in towns and cities around the world, COVID-19 has upended daily routines and community interactions in Juluchuca. At first, many residents didn’t believe in the virus or take it seriously. With mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya a relatively common occurrence around here, people saw COVID-19 as just another affliction to add to the list.

Yet over the past few weeks as the number of cases continued to rise globally , locals have begun to view COVID-19 more somberly as a potential threat to their community. And this is despite not having a single confirmed case in the nearby cities of Zihuatanejo or Petatlan, which speaks to the communication channels of our era. Mexico isn’t necessarily following the same path as the U.S., but there are parallels to be drawn.

THE REALITY RIGHT NOW FOR JULUCHUCA RESIDENTS

Today, our local stay-at-home measures are very similar to those in most of the U.S. In Juluchuca, the new government guidelines have forced all nonessential businesses to shut down, including the coconut candy factories and many of the roadside shops along the highway. Many of these shops sell local products such as artisanal salt (harvested just down the road) as well as local honey, coffee, and homemade tamarind and sesame sweets. With less traffic on the highway, there are fewer potential customers.

While there is not much enforcement of the quarantine measures in small towns like Juluchuca, the community is taking the guidelines seriously by generally following the recommended precautions. Local schools and universities are all out of session. Our local beach, Playa Icacos is closed, with a few exceptions made for those who need to fish or those who do exercise on the beach. A few local dinner restaurants are also still open, with most of the customers opting for takeout. Tourism, both international and local, has come to a complete halt, affecting the livelihoods of many. This includes our beloved Johnny, who recently started his new tourism business, Johnny Adventures, and the Gutierrez family who received income from Playa Viva tourists who would visit their cacao and coffee farm.

How You Can Help Feed Families

With no unemployment insurance, families facing job insecurity are struggling to get by during this hard time. A number of previous Playa Viva guests recently reached out asking, “How can we help people during this crisis?” Our response: Sponsor a dispensa (food basket) for a family in need. With your $40 USD donation, we can order these dispensas from the local grocery store and supplement them from our permaculture farm. Colleen, our social impact manager, will work with the mayor of Juluchuca to make sure these get to the families who need them most. Colleen will also make sure you get a photo of the family who received the dispensa.

These food baskets include nonperishable items, such as rice, beans, milk, sugar, coffee, cereal and cooking oil. There is enough of each item in the basket to feed a family of four for one month. And with the addition of products coming off our permaculture farm, such as eggs, fresh greens, tomatoes, and eggplant, we will bolster the dispensas for these times.

In fact, the first of these baskets were distributed last week. They only included some of the farm products heading into the community, but we were able to introduce residents to new types of greens, such as arugula and kale. People here are eager to try new immune-boosting foods while also adding color and flavor to their regular diet.

Resiliency Remains Evident

It is in these small, now socially distanced interactions, like distributing the dispensas, that we feel most like a community. While we may not be bumping into each other on our morning commute, we are still saying hello from afar, checking in with our neighbors to see how they are doing, and sharing the harvests that we are especially grateful to have at this time. Like many communities grappling with changes due to COVID-19, Juluchuca is not so different. People are losing their jobs and losing income while prices of basic goods are going up.

At the same time, however, we know our community is resilient. Residents remain optimistic at this time. They have been through hurricanes, earthquakes, and financial and political crises before this. People here come together to support those who need it most. Residents are out harvesting mangoes and coconuts, and fishing on our local beach. Our mayor is already applying for government funding for dispensas for residents who lost their jobs. But we are not sure when this government support will arrive. Another uncertainty added to the list.

In the meantime, if you would like to be part of this movement to lend a helping hand, residents of Juluchuca and our other impact communities up the watershed would be incredibly grateful. To sponsor a food basket, please make a donation via our GoFundMe page for feeding Juluchuca’s families during COVID-19 .

Together we can fill the gap until government assistance hopefully arrives. Let’s keep our communities strong, resilient and optimistic during these challenging times.

Our Message To You Regarding COVID-19

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:37:00 GMT

These are unprecedented times. Below is an update on how Playa Viva is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how we can all help our community and ecosystem be resilient in our response to this crisis.

We will be sure to keep you updated on the situation here To get the most timely future updates from Playa Viva, please make sure to Follow us on Instagram.

Mar 19: Update from Playa Viva

Many of you are asking how the Playa Viva and Local Community are doing. We are happy to report that we are safe & healthy and our community is very much aware of the situation. Health is our priority and as of March 19th we will close the hotel for the safety of our community. We will reopen when it is safe for all, and we hope you will join us then. In the meantime, as the hotel is closed workers will unavoidably lose some income. We have promised our workers, even those part time workers, that we will be there for them. At minimum we will support them with food stipends and meet their needs to purchase medicines.

We welcome your help, so if you’d like to support our team and community please donate to our regenerative trust with this link.

In the Community

As you know, we are more than just a hotel. Hospitality is our passion but only a small part of what we do here – our regenerative projects are what make us who we are, and why you chose to travel with us. We are a project – which includes our dedication to the health, wellness and resilience of the local community and ecosystem.

For the time being, our community work will be limited due to the need for social distancing, but when that phase is passed, this work needs to continue in earnest. Here are 3 ongoing projects support the resilience of the local community and ecosystem.

Adopt-A-Student

Help a Student stay in School and avoid dropping out from lack of resources. Our Adopt-A-Student program covers uniforms, all school fees, school lunches, & school supplies as well as mentorship to help the students in the program succeed.

To support this project email Colleen@playaviva.com

Banana Circles

Banana circles are used to capture normal household water runoff, receive kitchen and yard waste, and to produce a diverse harvest for a family. Your contribution towards a banana circle in our small town helps on different levels. It reduces the health risks from standing water, encourages harvest and consumption of nutrient-dense calories in the home, and supports our social, ecological and permaculture efforts in our community.

To support this project, email Amanda@playaviva.com

Adopt-A-Nest

La Tortuga Viva needs your help in it’s conservation work. Adopt-A-Nest for yourself, your family or someone important and you’ll help us make sure they get released safely in the ocean.

To support this project, email Lorenzo@playaviva.com

Juluchuca Limpio is Thriving!

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 21:33:00 GMT

Juluchuca is home to one of the only recycling programs on the Costa Grande.

Why is that? First, as with many services that many residents of modern cities might take for granted, the reality of a small community in rural Mexico is that local residents must come together to organize services for themselves that might be provided elsewhere. But secondly, Juluchuca has this recycling program because of the tireless work of members of the community.

Our project, called Juluchuca Limpio, was developed with Ernesto “Pato” Leon Sandoval, an environmental advocate on the Costa Grande and resides in Troncones, a small surfing town about 1.5 hours from Juluchuca. The goal is to not only clean up and recycle waste in the area, but also raise awareness about the waste we create and how we can reduce our environmental impact. As we enter 2020, Juluchuca Limpio is thriving!

“There’s a lot less trash littering the streets,”

Over the past year, we have:

Recycled over 675 kilos (1400 lbs) of plastic bottles from our impact communities
Hosted twelve environmental workshops,
Organized over 40 beach and community trash clean-ups;

Ernesto “Pato” Sandoval

We have also hosted several combined public turtles releases and beach clean-ups that ended with a visit to Playa Viva. A key component of Juluchuca Limpio is also the creation of art — using recycled materials to make signs that go up around town to raise awareness about trash and recycling.

using recycled materials to make signs that… raise awareness about trash and recycling.

Adriana Palacio

There are currently over 20 bins for plastic bottle recycling in Juluchuca, Rancho Nuevo and La Ceiba. Residents use them regularly and they fill the rim after a week or two. Adriana Palacios is our local leader of the project. She and her family are dedicated to emptying the bins and storing the bottles until they can be sold to the recycling plant. They are supported by three other community members – Candido, Lazaro and Tomas – who are working at Playa Viva through the Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro Government Program . They assist Adriana and her family with emptying the bins, cleaning up the town, and making sure the plastic gets sold.

The money from the sale of the plastic is reinvested in the project, oftentimes dedicated to the purchase of additional materials to construct bins and paint supplies for making signs. Every three months we make about 40USD from the sale of the plastic. The other operating expenses of Juluchuca Limpio come from generous donors from within the Playa Viva Community.

Another key component of Juluchuca Limpio is to involve the local youth, and inspire a new generation of environmental advocates. In 2020, we plan to continue Juluchuca Limpio’s aim of reducing plastic waste through recycling while emphasizing the importance of reducing single-use plastic consumption. Lorenzo (Turtle Sanctuary Volunteer Coordinator) and Ariel (Education and Community Volunteer Coordinator) are working in the schools to teach “the three R’s” – reduce, reuse and then recycle. Each school group gets to come to Playa Viva to visit the farm, the turtle sanctuary and see the hotel installations. In this sense, Juluchuca Limpio begins by engaging students with the importance of clean communities and then slowly builds upon that idea to show how clean communities are connected to healthy bodies, healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet.

Over the past year, residents of Juluchuca and Rancho Nuevo have already taken note of the program’s advances. “There’s a lot less trash littering the streets,” said Eli, the head of housekeeping at Playa Viva who lives in Rancho Nuevo. Her daughter participates in weekly trash clean-ups in her town with Ariel and the other children from the community.

With Juluchuca Limpio, we’ve seen that progress is often slow and non-linear, but with the support of multiple local stakeholders, we are starting to see a shift in both mindset and actions in our communities.

Colleen Fugate is the Social and Environmental Impact Manager at Playa Viva. She lives in Juluchuca. Learn more about her work engaging our local communities through our social impact programs.

Meet Lorenzo – Season 11 LTV Coordinator

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:35:00 GMT

La Tortuga Viva’s Newest Coordinator Has Hit The Ground Running

This past September we welcomed Lorenzo Locci to the Playa Viva team to serve as the La Tortuga Viva Sanctuary Coordinator. A native of the town of Terni in the region of Umbria, Italy, Lorenzo has spent most of his professional career working in conservation in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. Lorenzo has boundless energy, a bright smile and a deep passion for sea turtles. In just six months he has won over the hearts of the LTV members, the Playa Viva community and the residents of Juluchuca. I sat down with Lorenzo to learn more about his path to Playa Viva, what it is like to work with La Tortuga Viva and what to expect next for the rest of Season 11.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What drew you to work in conservation and environmental science?

Even though I grew up in an industrial town, I have always been drawn to nature and wildlife throughout my entire life thanks to my family and especially to my grandmother that transmitted me her passion for animals and plants since an early age. We used to go on excursions every weekend in the wonderful and green surroundings of the region where I come from. Based on my passion, I began my studies on life and environmental sciences at the high school in Italy and I completed my academic career with a master of science in The Netherlands that strongly oriented me towards the protection of the environment.

You’ve worked all over the world. What other projects were you at before coming to Playa Viva?

For my very first project, I collaborated with a foundation in Curaçao, a small developing island state in the Netherlands Antilles, for the design of an educational program to teach agriculture and nutrition in schools. From Curaçao, I moved to Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca in Mexico to work for a retreat center in the coordination of guests and volunteers. During this time, I had my first experience with sea turtles at the local sanctuary.

Back to Europe, I have been committed to community outreach at the oldest environmental organization in Malta, BirdLife Malta. I was organizing many activities for the public, excursions, clean-ups, and workshops with the aim of raising awareness regarding wildlife conservation.

These last two years, I was living in Central America. In Guatemala, I was teaching science and leading environmental education programs in a bilingual school. In Costa Rica, just before coming to Playa Viva in September 2019, I was guiding groups of young volunteers into environmental projects with local NGOs.

What are your core responsibilities as the LTV Coordinator?

The Sanctuary Coordinator is really a dynamic role that involves turtle camp coordination, environmental education, ecotourism, capacity building and community engagement.

Besides engaging Playa Viva guests with visits to the sanctuary, nightly patrols and releases of baby sea turtles, a big part of my role consists of coordinating the sanctuary team in order to ensure the best conservation practices. La Tortuga Viva is run by 14 local volunteers that patrol the beach every night to save turtle eggs from predation.

I also fundraise for the sanctuary by collecting donations and adoptions of nests from Playa Viva guests and by collecting data on the releases in order to access other funds. Lately, I organized school visits and I developed educational activities to teach students about sea turtles and marine trash pollution.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day as coordinator begins before sunrise around 6.00-6.30 am. Someone from Playa Viva staff or turtle volunteers give me a ride or I walk along the beach from the local village to Playa Viva passing by the sanctuary. Around 7.00, if there are turtles hatched, I lead the release with the guests. Sometimes, I bring the guests to visit the sanctuary or I pass by to conduct some data collection, little maintenance and supervision of the activities of the local volunteers. In the afternoon, there is always some communication to do with the team for coordination of logistics. In the evening, from one to three times per week, I come back to Playa Viva in the evening for nightly patrols with the guests.

What priorities do you have for LTV for the rest of Season 11?

Aside from continuing with the current activities, there are some aspects to improve but I would like to give priority to the cohesion of the turtle volunteer team and the education for the local schools and the local team.

In addition to your work with LTV, you are also an active member of the Juluchuca community. What has your experience been like living in Juluchuca?

When I came to live in Juluchuca, I moved into a big family and I felt welcomed since the first day. Everybody is incredibly kind and there is no hurry but always time to stop by and speak with each person.

Colleen Fugate is the Social and Environmental Impact Manager at Playa Viva. She lives in Juluchuca. Learn more about her work engaging our local communities through our social impact programs.

Hotel Waste Streams and Permaculture Principles

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:28:00 GMT

We jumped feet first (literally!) into our own trash!

We decided that 2020 was high time for Playa Viva to revisit our own waste streams inside the hotel. Using one of the most important permaculture principles, apply self-regulation and accept feedback, I spent three consecutive days sorting our waste with the intention of understanding what we were producing, in what quantities, and thinking deeply about how we could reduce and reuse some of the things we were throwing away.

Permaculture is about evaluating what is already in place so that it can be made more efficient and effective for all involved parties. So where does our trash come from? First, the kitchen. As a regenerative hotel, we want to provide our guests with a food experience that meets both their values around farm to table and their dining expectations. Sometimes that means we buy ingredients to enhance our local production and offer the tropical flavors our guests are looking for during their stay. But at what cost? Does the vegetarian option of Mexican-grown oyster mushrooms mean we ignore the truth that a dinner portion serving requires three square feet of styrofoam packaging? When local milk production is running low, do we sacrifice our ethos and buy the mass-produced milk that comes in a non-recyclable Tetra Pak? These decisions force us to strike a balance between service expectations of tourism and conscious decisions regarding regeneration.

So, let’s evaluate. What did we find in our trash, and how can we apply a second permaculture principle, produce no waste, to our attempt to reduce our footprint? First, as recently as late 2018, purchased kitchen ingredients were coming into the hotel in your typical plastic grocery bag. This one was easy. We pulled reusable bags out of our kitchen “bodega” (pantry) and asked our vendors to bag food products only when we arrived using our own bags. Sure, it added five minutes to the delivery time, but who doesn’t appreciate the opportunity to move a little bit slower in their day sometimes?

One of the biggest contributors to our waste stream is alcoholic beverages. Now, you’re on vacation, we’re not saying don’t endeavor. As a regenerative resort, we take on the responsibility to find a new use for the glass bottles left behind from a relaxing sunset dinner or a beach bonfire. So, we bought a glass cutter and have started to turn wine bottles into glasses to be used at the hotel. Square glass bottles, from libations like local Mexican tequila, are stored on the permaculture farm to be used in future natural building projects.

As you may know, our permaculture team heads to Eco Tianguis every Saturday. This gathering space is a farmers market, a local craft market, a small concert and so much more. It is also a space where community members can drop off recyclable materials and trust they will find their way to the correct distribution center. Dedicated Playa Viva volunteers sort through our hotel recyclables and are responsible for seeing that glass, plastic and aluminum move to the market each Saturday. Volunteers also sort through what others drop off at the market to see what we can bring back to Playa Viva to be reused, instead of recycled. (If you’ve purchased farm-produced moringa powder in the Playa Viva boutique in recent weeks, you’ve helped to reduce the amount of waste that stays here in Mexico. Please try to reuse the glass bottle several times over once you return back to wherever you call home.)

Moringa powder produced at Playa Viva’s Farm

From a western perspective, it is sometimes hard to understand that the whole world does not recycle, but more often than not, recycling services are not available to the communities that want them the most. In Juluchuca, key members of our community are working tirelessly to move plastic from the landfill to a distant recycling center through the Juluchuca Limpio program. Our internal efforts to creatively reuse waste products diverts some of what cannot be recycled. But there are still limits.

So what can’t we recycle?

Broken glass, which unfortunately accumulates substantially at the hotel – about 10 gallons of broken glass every two weeks. We are storing it for now, with the hopes that an artsy volunteer will use the clay and glass pieces to do some mosaic work with the school children in town.

Toilet paper and other waste from guest rooms at Playa Viva. This one is a bit harder to reduce and/or eliminate, but we are making efforts to collect the waste from all rooms in just one plastic bag, instead of producing a partially filled plastic bag from each room separately. Tetra paks are not recyclable in Mexico yet, and until they are, it is the responsibility of our kitchen team and our food production team to think through ways of growing or processing local ingredients into the products we would otherwise have to purchase in this non-renewable resource.

Being able to recognize positive and negative feedback loops within a system is crucial within project development. There is no real end to this type of self-regulation. To date, the work to evaluate and reorganize our wastestreams has fallen to the Permaculture Team and our Executive Chef; and now, it is the responsibility of the leaders of each of these departments to discuss, inform and work with other team members at our hotel. In creating a collective consciousness around the waste being produced at the hotel, and the ways in which we can reuse some of the materials coming in, we carve out opportunities for this information to permeate into the communities where we live.

Amanda Harris is the Permaculture Manager at Playa Viva. Originally from Maryland, she made her way to Juluchuca by way of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Southeast Asia, and most recently, a beautiful, diversely planted “holler” in West Virginia.

Proof of Impact Works

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:23:00 GMT

Data Collection Leads to Proof of Impact

For those who have had the chance to visit La Tortuga Viva’s sanctuary, you will surely remember the little blue signs that designate each individual nest. Each marker includes data about:

the quantity of eggs in the nest,
each nest is assigned a number ,
the name of the volunteer who collected it and
the date of collection.

When the turtles hatch and emerge to the surface, the volunteers write down in a notebook the date and how many were successfully released into the ocean.

La Tortuga Viva has been collecting this data for years. Many of the volunteers ask why it is necessary since it often seemed like a lot of extra work for nothing. This season, however, we are starting to see the fruits of our labor through a new partnership with Proof of Impact (POI) , an online marketplace connecting people who are making a difference on the ground with people who want to be part of the solution.

I initially heard about POI through a Playa Viva guest, David Cooper. He had a contact in the organization and put us in touch. We began chatting about Playa Viva’s Social and Environmental Impact work and La Tortuga Viva (LTV). We decided that LTV would be an opportune project since we had already data about nests collected and turtles released. I sent POI all the data that LTV had been collecting over the years, demonstrating the thousands of nests relocated and the hundreds of thousands of turtles released.

This past fall, we came up with additional “Proof Points” to ensure donors from POI that we are indeed releasing the turtles that we say we are. This includes photos and videos of the turtles making their way into the ocean and a signed witness form from the person leading the release.

Lorenzo Locci, our LTV Coordinator, often works around the clock to help collect as much data as possible since some members of the LTV team do not have phones or know how to use a camera. Lorenzo also compiles all of the data into an Excel sheet and sends it off to POI, who in turn “sell” the released turtles as impact events on their marketplace.

As of January 2020, we have received $1700 in funding from POI for the hard work LTV does. Some of these funds have already been used for the operating costs of the LTV. Funds are mostly for materials for the sanctuary and food stipends for the volunteers who are generally individuals who most need these basic food items.

If you would like to support our work through POI, you can find us on their new website . Each turtle released has a market cost of $3. POI ensures that you receive all the proof points associated with your donation.

Today, the volunteers at LTV recognize that data collection can be challenging and tedious, but now truly understand the benefits of their hard work. We all owe Lorenzo a huge thank you for coordinating the data collection with the team, and of course the Playa Viva community for continually supporting LTV in their mission to conserve endangered sea turtles.

Colleen Fugate is the Social and Environmental Impact Manager at Playa Viva. She lives in Juluchuca. Learn more about her work engaging our local communities through our social impact programs.

Prized Experiences at Playa Viva

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 18:49:00 GMT

What Will You Remember?

When we first purchased Playa Viva, I remember distinctly walking the land and coming across the volunteers of the Turtle Sanctuary located on a corner of the property. The leaders of the group approach us and asked, “now that you own the land, will you be kicking us off?” Wow! The question shocked me. “Of course not!” I answered, “If our hotel is Disneyland, the baby turtles are Mickey Mouse.” Wow! How naive of me.

Inevitably, they will turn to me and say, “Wow, this is a life-changing experience!”

Sure, the baby turtles are our mascot, attracting guests interested in the wonders of the ocean. I can’t tell you the number of times a guest, visiting probably from some landlocked city in the the US or Canada, stands next to me on the beach in the morning, watching the baby turtles instinctively charge into the ocean. Inevitably, they will turn to me and say, “Wow, this is a life-changing experience!” Yes, “life-changing”. The first time I heard that exact phrasing, I was surprised. Then, I came to expect it and life-changing became normal.

The same was true about walking down the beach on any given October or early November night, within minutes, spotting a mother turtle laying her nest. Normal. Watching baby turtles return to the sea, normal.

So when a guests arrives and experiences these wonders for the first time, it reminds me of how exciting it was the first time I experienced these life-changing events myself.

When those volunteers approached me all those years ago, I didn’t appreciate all the work and resources it took to keep their operation running smoothly and effectively. Their work and outside resources are what made these life-changing experience happen every day for our guests.

To make that work efficient, we need vehicles to patrol the beach. The volunteers head out every night to get to those nests before poachers and predators. These are very real threats and time is of the essence. On a recent outing, as guests marveled at the mother turtle laying her eggs, a volunteer pulled me aside and beamed his flashlight into the brush just over the edge of the dune. Two red eyes reflected back at us, a tejon (coati mundi – in the raccoon family), just waiting his turn to come dig up the eggs and have dinner. The urgency is right over the dune staring back at us.

To keep these experiences special, memorable, life-changing, we need your help. Due to generous contributions from folks like Michael Franti, Kelly Slater , Patagonia and many more, we have assembled a collection of wonderful auction items to raise money to purchase of new vehicle (4×4 ATV) for the turtle sanctuary. The current vehicle is in the shop being repaired for the last time and we need to keep doing the work.

Work and resources comes in many forms. Thanks to 109 World and their social impact yoga retreats, we once again were able to make significant improvements to the turtle sanctuary infrastructure. With their funds for supplies and group of volunteers, they rolled up their sleeves and together as a community we accomplished what few could do alone.

109 World Retreat Group and Turtle Camp Volunteers

It does take a community, and while I prefer that our newsletters and our blog posts not be requests for money and I hate feeling like we are walking around with our hand out, like a panhandler on the corner, it does take a community outside of just Playa Viva to get the greater work done. What I have come to realize is that we, at Playa Viva, are not the panhandlers, we are the broadcasters, spreading the word of the great work being done by volunteers who don’t have the same voice, the same access to like minded people like you. While the local team of volunteers know how to find the turtle nests before the predators find them, these same volunteers have absolutely no idea how to find donors like you who can make sure they get to the nests before the tejones do.

In that spirit, please spread the word of what all these great organizations are doing: La Tortuga Viva, Whales of Guerrero and Playa Viva’s Regenerative Trust. Please bid on one of these great items . Please make a tax deductible donation via our fiscal sponsor The Ocean Foundation . Please help us get to the turtle nests before the tejones . Please help us raise the funds necessary for a new ATV for the turtle camp.

Thank you for your support. Your help keeps these prized life-changing experiences alive for the next person. David Leventhal and the Playa Viva Family.

109 World + Playa Viva = A Priceless Experience

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 03:36:00 GMT

A Retreat That Prizes Service as Well as Mindfulness.

This past December we were thrilled to welcome back 109 World to host a second retreat at Playa Viva and to continue their volunteer work with La Tortuga Viva. 109 World is dedicated to “Retreats that improve your happiness and fulfillment through caring for oneself and our planet”, and we are happy that they found Playa Viva to be the perfect partner to realize their vision for purpose filled mindfulness retreats.

On their first trip last year they financed and helped build a new sanctuary structure, this year they came back with participants new and old to build a palapa for our environmental education work, and a tool shed to store materials for the sanctuary. Participants again worked alongside local volunteers and experienced the magic of morning turtle releases and the excitement of night patrols on the beach in search of nests to rescue. That was in addition to their regular yoga and mindfulness practices. Thank you, 109 World for you continued support of La Tortuga Viva and for your vision on how to make both lasting memories and positive impact on all of your retreats!

Colleen Fugate es Gerente de Impacto Social y Ambiental en Playa Viva. Ella vive en Juluchuca. Aprenda más sobre su trabajo involucrando a nuestras comunidades locales a través de nuestros programas de impacto social.

Nature is Awesome!

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:59:00 GMT

Experience the Humpback Whale Migration at Playa Viva!

The word “awesome” is probably overused but sometimes there’s just no better way to say it. Nature has a way of leaving us in awe, and never more so than when she makes us feel small in the face some natural wonder. Getting up close to a migrating Humpback Whale is one of those times. It is truly AWESOME. Something to add to your bucket list, and something to remember forever once you experience it.

Part of the wonder is that you never quite know if you will see this magnificent sight until the moment that you see these massive mammals breach the vast surface of the ocean. There are no guarantees. But what is certain is that when you come to Playa Viva you are in one of the best places in the world to check this off your list! There are 2 ways you might encounter these wonderous creatures at Playa Viva.

1) The first chance to check the whale migration off your bucketlist is right off the beach just outside your room! Imagine waking up and looking out to sea, or looking up from your morning coffee only to see a humpback whale and her calf swimming past. It’s the stuff of dreams, but at Playa Viva it happens in real life! Guest Ben Horton captured the incredible video above just off the beach at Playa Viva.

When The Whales Win, Everyone Wins from Katherina Audley on Vimeo .

2) The second chance requires a little more time and intention on your part, but it’s well worth the effort. The second video above will give you a taste of an adventure offered along with one of our partners in conservation, the Whales of Guerrero Research Project. The one and only Johnny Adventure will take you on a short ride from Playa Viva to Barra de Potosi and go out to sea with local fishermen and citizen scientists in order to try to see these amazing creatures up close. See the video below to for a taste of what that might be like. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to see a migrating whale, it’s guaranteed to be a memorable journey that takes you past major Pacific wetlands and pristine virgin coastline with plenty of sightings of both terrestrial and marine wildlife, including birds, sea turtles, rays, and dolphins! This excursion is offered seasonally from January to March.

If you are inspired to check this off your list there’s still time to book this year, or else plan ahead for next year from January to March!

When The Whales Win, Everyone Wins from Katherina Audley on Vimeo .

As hard as it might be to leave Playa Viva, you’ll be glad you made time for this amazing experience.

Adopt A Nest and Help Save Sea Turtles

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 18:15:00 GMT

Update: Dec 2019 – We Love Early Adopters!

Adopting a nest is the best way to support our turtle sanctuary, and your giving makes a huge difference this holiday season! The program is officially a hit! Thank you for helping us surpass our goal of 50 adopted nests for 2019, and we are looking forward to doing even more in 2020.

Our volunteer team safely released 87,200 sea turtles last year alone.

2 Ways to Adopt A Nest:

1) Make any donation of $40 or more through our partnership the Ocean Foundation and we will contact you

2) Email Volunteer Coordinator Lorenzo Locci at lorenzo@playaviva.com

Join The Early Adopters For 2020:

Cost: $40 = 1 Nest
You’ll receive a Nest Adoption Certificate and info about your nest.
Receive photos of the newly hatched baby turtles when we release them!
All funds go directly toward our conservation activities.

Adopting a nest for a friend or family member makes a great gift and allows the volunteers of La Tortuga Viva to continue to do their important marine conservation work. Please consider a donation or email Lorenzo for more information .

Lorenzo explains what adopting a nest means:

Your gift helps the 14 local volunteers collect sea turtle eggs, relocate them into the sanctuary, protect them during the incubation period and, finally, safely release the hatchlings into the ocean. All generated funds go directly toward the equipment and materials required to run our sanctuary.

Adopt A Nest for the Upcoming Season (Published Aug 2019)

Click here to email Colleen to Adopt A Nest for $40

After experiencing the beauty of a sunrise turtle release at Playa Viva, you may find yourself asking how you can support the work of La Tortuga Viva, our local sea turtle conservation project. Run completely on guest donations and a team of 14 local volunteers, La Tortuga Viva releases upwards of 50,000 baby sea turtles each year. This past season, some of those hatchlings were released in the name of Playa Viva guests, family members or friends, thanks to our new Adopt a Nest Program .

By adopting a nest, you become an active participant in our conservation story . Your nest will be marked with a placard with either your name or the name of the person on behalf of whom you adopted the nest. We will send you an email certificate of adoption with information about the number of eggs in the nest, date of relocation, and species of sea turtle. When the turtles hatch, you will get another email detailing how many made it to the ocean along with a photo.

At a cost of $40 per nest, in Season 10 at Playa Viva we were able to raise $1400 for La Tortuga Viva through this new program. This additional funding supports environmental education initiatives with kids in our community and helps cover some of the operating costs of La Tortuga Viva. For this upcoming Season 11, our goal is to have 50 nest adoptions, up from 35 the year before.

Protected nests at La Tortuga Viva sanctuary. Help sponsor this work by Adopting a Nest!

Adopting a nest for a friend or family member makes a great gift and allows the volunteers of La Tortuga Viva to continue to do their important marine conservation work. If you would like to donate, simply email Colleen at colleen@playaviva.com .

Contributing to Cleaner Water & Energy

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 19:09:00 GMT

Contributing to more abundant water and energy sources is a Core Value at Playa Viva.

We live next to the sea, and at times of the year the river here is so full it carves new paths in the landscape as water forces its way across fields and forests.

During our two rainy months, you’ll find families bathing and washing clothes in the river that meanders through our community. And then, the rivers dry up, the leaves fall from the trees and the tropical landscape turns to desert. And we wait. We wait for the rains to start.

Decades ago people knew the water cycles.

Decades ago people knew the water cycles. They knew to plant corn on May 15 because the first rains came on May 16. They grew a large diversity of crops and fed their families from their fields because the rain was all but guaranteed. They fished in year round ponds. They did not question if there was enough water to wash their clothes, their dishes and their bodies all in the same day.

the rivers dry up… the tropical landscape turns to desert. And we wait. We wait for the rains to start.

Today, we talk about water in a different way. We are hyper aware that this part of the Costa Grande region receives about half of the rain water it did ten years ago. We think critically and collaboratively about ways to store water through the long dry months. We are designing landscapes to help slow, spread and sink rainwater in order to hold it in the soil and move it through plant systems. When we decide to invest in water catchment systems in town, community members come together to identify the families and households in the most need of access to clean water.

Water & Energy Regeneration Training Station

During our recent staff environmental training session we took a deep-dive into one of Playa Viva’s Core Values – contributing to more abundant water and energy sources. In three rotating groups we spent time discussing what we can do as individuals, as a small community, and as members of a regenerative hotel to conserve water and responsibly use energy. There are practices and systems in place at Playa Viva that are intentionally simple and easy to replicate in communities and households as small as Juluchuca and Rancho Nuevo. For example, grey water is captured from showers and handwashing stations and fed back into the ecosystem around each room at the hotel.

There are practices and systems in place at Playa Viva that are intentionally simple and easy to replicate

The environmental training and interactive workshop gave staff members from all departments the opportunity to ask questions about the systems with which they work so closely. For us, the more people that understand the grease traps, solar panels, biodigesters and grey water oases, the more attention each of these systems will receive. As we create opportunities for our staff to participate in regenerative practices, we can help feed their desire to be ambassadors of sustainability in their own community.

During the workshop we presented three systems used at Playa Viva which contribute to regenerative energy and water systems – banana circles, grey water oases, and solar electricity. The team was eager to know how the systems worked. Everyone spoke. They either contributed what they knew, asked if what they thought they knew was correct, or asked questions to find the answers they had long been wondering. We were motivated by each other. Some people commented that they “want to do more to preserve the resources around us, but [they] do not know how and do not want to do it alone.” Others asked questions about replicating some of the water management designs in their own homes.

The importance of respecting one’s natural resources, caring for one’s neighbors, and one’s own health are values that transcend geography & generations.

These workshops are a starting point for Playa Viva. They are a space where we learn what it is we do not know and how to find, share and use the desired knowledge. Next steps for us could look like additional and more frequent regeneration stations and staff workshops; we can leave the roundtable discussion environment and observe and discuss the water and solar systems in the field, where they capture energy and create closed-loop systems.

Meet Chef Daniel

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 21:25:00 GMT

Introducing Daniel Ramirez, Playa Viva’s New Chef.

We are proud to introduce Playa Viva’s new Chef, Daniel Ramirez. A native of Guadalajara, Daniel has spent much of his professional career working in Baja California. With experience in vegan, vegetarian and Farm-to-Table dishes, he brings newfound energy and creativity to the Playa Viva kitchen. I recently sat down with Daniel to discuss the impact of food on our community, to learn more about his past and what to expect from him this season.

Colleen Fugate: You recently helped lead a regenerative workshop with the staff at Playa Viva. Your station touched on Playa Viva’s Core Value of “Creating Meaningful Community”. What did you teach at your station and what did you learn?

Chef Daniel: We talked about eating a balanced diet and the importance of having a diet that is integral. We also talked about the importance of consuming products that are local and organic and the impact that this can have on a community and its residents. I was struck by the fact that pretty much all of the staff at Playa Viva want to eat healthier but aren’t exactly sure how to do so or what that means. Hopefully we can begin to change that this year.

CF: Tell us a little about yourself. What drew you to become a chef?

CD: Overall it was art, my mother and my family history that drew me to becoming a chef.

When I was young, I was studying music informally. My grandmother didn’t see much potential and told me, “Study something where you won’t die of hunger.” My mother and I used to like to watch cooking shows on TV and she mentioned that it was a really nice job. So I responded to my grandma, “I’m going to study and work in a kitchen. Surely there I won’t die of hunger.”

One thing led to the next until I stepped foot into my first job in a kitchen. I continued to study the art of cooking, and realizing that I would never want to leave the profession, I looked for a scholarship to study at a culinary school. The rest is history!

CF: How would you describe your own personal cooking style?

CD: Creative Mexican cuisine that’s fresh and authentic.

CF: What does Farm to Table mean to you?

Farm to table means that at your hands you have the freshest product possible and the responsibility to take care of it and serve it in a way that exposes its properties to their maximum potential for the most pleasurable dining experience possible.

CF: What are you excited to learn here at Playa Viva?

CD: Chocolate, community, chocolate and chocolate!

CF: What new things can guests expect in the Playa Viva kitchen this season?

CD: People can expect a live preparation of food. Right now we have incorporated a new ceviche station at lunch and a “make your own taco” night at dinner. This season people can always expect the freshest food possible with vegetables for everyone!

Coevolution: Growing Together

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 22:17:00 GMT

As we open for Season 11, a decade of co-evolution continues to Playa Viva a better, more impactful environment for all stakeholders.

One of the core principles of regeneration is the concept of co-evolution . What does that mean in the context of Playa Viva and Regenerative Travel as a whole?

At Playa Viva, we co-evolve with our surrounding communities, with the changing preferences of our guests, and increasingly with other hotels and companies stepping up to build the thriving regenerative travel ecosystem.

How does this co-evolution happen? Let me start with the broad travel ecosystem perspective through Playa Viva’s participation at Matter , which is part of Pure Life Experiences , a conference which “unites the best minds in high-end experiential travel and beyond.” I was invited to speak on the Wellness Stage by Mason Rose agency who curated this track. Mason Rose is a leading international communications and sales rep agency for hotels, luxury lifestyle, travel and wellness. The panel included the very talented Jessica Renshaw of Renshaw Travel and was expertly moderated by Jacinta Stevens of Mason Rose.

We were asked to discuss the following:

I started my comments with “If you have one take away from this conversation it is the following: ‘how do we move from the Ego to the Eco?’” The longer version was to discuss how Playa Viva has co-evolved to create a transformational experience and while guests may enter with one intention, the intention co-evolves with the place to create a new and more impactful experience for the guests, if they allow it to happen.

In this newsletter you will read about Amanda Harris, Permaculture Manager for Playa Viva, describe her visit to Costa Rica and her attending a workshop with her peers at Finca Luna Nueva which is a member of the Regenerative Resorts (RR) collection. Core to RR’s added value is the concept of “Sharing of Best Practices,” which includes not only best practices in hospitality operations, marketing, etc. but in permaculture (environmental conservation) and social impact. While Amanda was in Costa Rica, she had a chance to stop at Pacuare Lodge . Coincidentally, I was able to meet with Luz and Roberto of Pacuare while at Matter and Pure. Coevolution and Best Practice sharing were the topic of dinner for 14 current and prospective members of Regenerative Resorts . Luz and Roberto joined us at a dinner we hosted by at RR hotel Kasbah Bab Ourika . Luz and Roberto shared with me the work they were doing with their local community and how the “4 C’s” (Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce) developed by hospitality environmental non-profit The Long Run guided their endeavor. We hope to learn from and co-evolve with The Long Run in promoting this type of work to guests and hotels. Education and advocating travel as a force for regeneration and positive change is key to being the change we want to be.

Education and the value of education to transforming communities one child at a time is the subject of the story by Colleen Fugate, our Social Impact Manager. Impact happens from both a top down and bottom up manner, in this case, we invite our guests to be part of that Co-evolution via an Adopt a Student program – be part of that change at a person to person level. It surprises me how just a little bit can make such a big difference to both the giver and receiver of these programs. We invite you to be part of the change and open your heart to these dedicated students.

Coevolution is a constant process. Now that we are opening for Season 11, I want to thank you all (our guests, our staff, the local community, fellow hotels and the entire Regenerative Resorts and Regenerative Travel community, etc.) for your support in this process of coevolution, sharing best practices and learning and growing together.

We are also honored to have been invited to help create a new event to promote the sharing of best practices in this regenerative hospitality ecosystem – I invite you all to check out the EcoResort.Network and join us in person for sharing, learning and continued co-evolution .

Expanding our Education Impact to Rancho Nuevo

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:43:00 GMT

As we open a new season at Playa Viva, it’s also the season for local students to head back to school.

Playa Viva is celebrating the start of the new school year by bringing a full year of English classes to Rancho Nuevo, a small agricultural town of about 200 people located about a 30 minute drive from Playa Viva. It is home to a local church, a few small shops, and many mango plantations, and it is one of Playa Viva’s four impact communities.

Playa Viva is celebrating the start of the new school year by bringing a full year of English classes to Rancho Nuevo

The community is also home to one school – la primaria , or the local elementary school. The primaria’ s only teacher, Maestra Norma, lives in the community and teaches the 17 students aged 6 to 13.

At the end of Season 10, Playa Viva’s Education Coordinator, Ariel Arguedas, began traveling to Rancho Nuevo to teach English once a week. Parents from the community had heard that he was teaching in Juluchuca and asked if he could visit their local school as well. Despite living right in front of the school in Rancho Nuevo, Maestra Norma offered to make the trip to Juluchuca to pick up Ariel every Thursday.

At school Ariel divides the students into two groups, first working with the 1st-3rd graders and afterwards working with the 4th-6th graders. “They are learning basic vocabulary and phrases in English”, Ariel explains, “but together, we are also learning more than just English. We often talk about what it means to be a good person and how to be respectful of the environment.”

Ariel’s work in Rancho Nuevo has had a ripple effect in the community. In addition to his Thursday teaching routine, he also visits Rancho Nuevo every Wednesday evening to play sports with the kids and pick up trash around town. “People really pay attention when they see small children pick up their trash. It makes them think twice before throwing it on the ground again.”

Perhaps the highlight of last season was Rancho Nuevo’s school field trip to Playa Viva, where they released baby turtles, took a tour of the Permaculture farm, and got to explore the hotel.

Thanks to Ariel’s involvement with the school in Rancho Nuevo, we have learned about the needs and aspirations of the community. Last season we were able to construct a well at one student’s home who lived without water; this season we have started a new school scholarship program and hope to expand our trash and recycling program . If you would like to learn more about how to support these programs, please email Colleen Fugate at colleen@playaviva.com .

Renewal and Regeneration at Finca Luna Nueva

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 23:18:00 GMT

The streets are alive on Sundays in Juluchuca. It’s a day to connect with extended families, to catch and eat lunch on the beach, to walk around town and talk to your neighbors. In one such conversation not long ago, Don Juan, a generous, elderly neighbor of mine reminded me how important it is to romper la rutina, to break the routine. I took his words to heart. I used the time in between seasons at Playa Viva to observe how other permaculturists, chefs, and hotel managers nourish and regenerate their ecosystems; and I started to understand ways to share that knowledge.

I used the time in between seasons at Playa Viva to observe how other permaculturists…regenerate their ecosystems

At Finca Luna Nueva Lodge , a Regenerative Resort outside of La Fortuna, Costa Rica, the only thing creating space between you and the natural ecosystem around you, are the few impermeable roofs on the buildings resting inside the forest. Part of the forest holds a diverse collection of medicinal plants, other sections are home to biodynamically grazed cattle, and better still, acres and acres are planted with over three hundred 30 year old cacao trees. This is where you go to rejuvenate when you work in permaculture. You sink deep into the laborious work of previous generations; you get to know how patterns of regeneration were awoken in the minds of people like Steven Farrell and Tom Newmark (Luna Nueva founders) at the same time; and you sit and sip the ancient seed of cacao inside the forest.

I went to Costa Rica to connect with two friends and colleagues, Scott Gallant and Sam Kenworthy, who recently joined the great team of folks at Finca Luna Nueva Lodge. I landed myself inside a vibrant green rainforest, rich with flowering plants, hundreds of bird species, and moss covered trees – and at just the right time. Tom and his wife Terry, Steven, Sam, Scott walked through the forest designing dynamic spaces where their guests will be able to interact with the ecosystem in new ways. Native bee colonies were being nourished, protected and displayed to create awareness of the species’ importance and the honey’s medicinal properties; open spaces were being packed full of plants to optimize photosynthesis and build biomass; and cacao forests were being opened up to offer new breath.

I felt like my feet were… planted into the soil to grow at Finca Luna Nueva.

I mean that. You could feel the forest breathing as Scott, Sam and I took chainsaws, pruning scissors and bristly gloves to the mossy barks and branches of the cacao trees. I watched as the two of them decided which branches to cut, and learned from every choice they made. We macheted the biomass into small pieces and left them scattered around the forest floor to decompose into soil; and I slid two gloves on my hands and massaged centimeter thick moss off meters and meters of tree trunks and canopy branches. Sunlight began to peak through, a steam started rising from the ground, and the stomata of the remaining leaves were respiring in a whole new way. Regeneration looked different for me all of a sudden. I felt connected to the lifecycle of the forest around me in a way I had not thought about before. I sat high in the second story of vintage cacao trees and somehow felt like my feet were rooted into the ground around me, planted into the soil to grow at Finca Luna Nueva.

The afternoon was perfect. My hands and clothes were filthy, sweat mixed with large raindrops from quick downpours and a saltiness covered my skin. We discussed forest designs as Luna Nueva chocolatiers toasted and ground cacao beans under a bamboo gathering space in the middle of the dense food forest. We thought through ways to help guests connect deeply to the place around them, rich in biodiversity and abundant in nutrient-dense tropical harvests. We shared the ancient medicine that is cacao, and we returned to the lodge for a feast full of products right off the farm.

The forest felt like a rustic classroom full of knowledge.

It is experiences like these, where businesses work their hardest to find a balance between biodiversity, food production, and human experiences, that move me forward. The opportunity to connect with other Regenerative Resorts to explore and understand the spaces where hotel operations and guest experience, community engagement, and regenerative agriculture all meet was unique. The forest felt like a rustic classroom full of knowledge.

This season feels exciting. We are rested, and refilled.

It was a treat to be a student and traveler for a brief moment. It awoke an alertness in me; reminded me to be an observer. When I arrived home to Juluchuca and Playa Viva the season had changed. Rain occasionally fell from the sky (this is a good thing in a semi-arid tropical forest) and the team at the hotel was nearing the end of our descanso, rest. We organized an interactive staff-wide workshop on regenerative practices; our permaculture and culinary teams are passing ingredients and recipes back and forth in new ways; and pathways between four local communities and Playa Viva are being nourished and extended. This season feels exciting. We are rested, and refilled. We were wise to break the routine, to connect to a new place, or to reconnect to a familiar space, and to feel it on the skin when the elements changed around us.

From Germany to Juluchuca – Turtle Camp Coordinator Valentine Reiss-Woolever

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 18:00:00 GMT

Turtle Camp Volunteer Impact All-Star

Valentine Reiss-Woolever, or “Valentina” as she is known in Juluchuca, travelled across the world from Germany to our small town in Mexico to be our La Tortuga Viva sea turtle sanctuary coordinator for the 2018-2019 season. With seemingly endless energy, Valentine spearheaded numerous projects in the community, from sea turtle conservation and community engagement, to animal welfare and environmental education with youth. I sat down with Valentine before she left to talk about her experience at Playa Viva and life in Juluchuca.

Colleen Fugate: What was it like to work with La Tortuga Viva? What kind of projects did you help lead?

Valentine Reiss-Woolever: It was an incredible experience. Living in Juluchuca while working with La Tortuga Viva resulted in an immersive experience that taught me huge amounts both culturally and socially. I think it can be summarized with the word “convivir” , to share space and experience.

We increased guest interaction with the local turtle camp volunteers, through service projects, and by launching a new night beach patrol activity fo r g uests where they can go out and look for turtle nests with the turtle camp volunteers. We also began an Adopt A Nest program where guests can sponsor the protection of a turtle nest, providing direct support for the work of the turtle camp volunteers even after leaving Playa Viva. Through those increased interactions, two seemingly different groups, Playa Viva guests and the volunteers of La Tortuga Viva had opportunities to “convivir”.

Our biggest project was done with 109 World, a group of engaged and globally minded individuals who not only fundraised to construct a new sanctuary, but actually built it with us! Working side by side, this project was incredibly important not only for our conservation work, but also as recognition for the LTV volunteers to understand the support and passion their work evokes. And we are all so excited to have 109 World coming back this coming December!

Colleen: How was your relationship with the guys from the turtle camp? What challenges did you face?

Valentina: The relationship with the group as a whole was sometimes tumultuous, but generally very positive. They’re such a fun and friendly group, making Sunday morning work in the camp actually quite enjoyable! But working with a male-led group in a male-dominated culture as a woman, especially as a foreign woman, was sometimes challenging.

It was initially difficult to be taken seriously, and I had to try to make my opinions valued, while not overstepping cultural boundaries. I had to prove that my values were aligned with theirs. The German in me is often too direct for the social norms here, so I had to tone that down a bit to not come across as “brava”, or too bold. I think after a few months both our differences and common ground were clear, and the volunteers are many of the people I will miss most in Mexico.

When I was leaving Juluchuca they organized my going away party and pooled their tips to pay for it. I don’t think they’ll ever fully know it, but I owe a huge amount of the personal growth I did this past year to them.

Colleen: Why is environmental education so important in a place like Juluchuca?

Valentina: First because the people in Juluchuca directly depend on their land, which is already facing environmental pressures, so they are among those who will suffer the most from environmental negligence. If they toss their chip wrappers on the ground and plastics fills the ocean, the fishing that they rely on is threatened. They’re already seeing dramatic effects of climate change with rain changes – people are having the travel miles away for water as wells go dry.

The people here have a connection, pride and love of the local nature but conservation isn’t yet a priority. Like generations of baby boomers in the United States, they were never taught the importance of protection, and there are a lot of established practices that need to change. Starting movements through education is really the only way to long-term change. It’s about making conservation cool, about making it the default way of life and there will be direct benefits to the community. But people do realize their dependence on nature and the climate and they are ready to make changes. The little kids spurting out facts about pollution in rural Mexico should give us all a bit of hope!

Colleen: Y ou were a mentor to several girls in town. Could you describe that experience and what kind of impact you think it had?

Valentina: I think I was more of a friend than a mentor, and living in an isolated area, these relationships were as much to my benefit as theirs. As I stayed longer than other volunteers, these girls were one of the only consistencies in Juluchuca for me. I tried to manage my natural reaction to turn everything into a learning opportunity, and be a friend rather than lecturing them.

I just made sure that they know that I care about them and that there’s a world outside of Guerrero. I wanted them to know that they are supremely capable and that they are valued, no matter what.

The difference from hanging out with kids back home in Europe is just the importance of positive role models in their lives. The things a lot of these girls have to consider at 13 (leaving school to work, pregnancy, etc.) is something irrelevant to most privileged youth I’ve been around. It was sometimes difficult to feel positive about the future for some of the young girls, but important to give them support and talk about these issues when they’re young.

As for impact, I think that we’re all affected by the people closest to us. I don’t think I made any drastic changes, but maybe helped plant a seed that will grow into a positive in the future. Or maybe just watered a seed a previous volunteer had planted.

Colleen: What is your fondest memory of living in Juluchuca?

The simplest moments stand out most for me. I loved walking down to the riverbed with my pup, Xolo, just listening to birds, squirrels, bugs and everything tropical. I had a lot of moments where I felt fully present on those walks. I actually think of those moments when in a stressful situation to ground me.

Also, I loved how people would just scream out “Valentina!!!” when they would see me down the street. No one here in Germany greets me with so much enthusiasm! It’s common to greet people by name instead of “hi”, and having the name of a popular salsa made it easier for people to remember.

Colleen: What do you hope for the community of Juluchuca over the next five years?

One of the things I learned most during my time was that the foundational issues are the same around the world. I hope Juluchuca ends the attitudes of apathy in its people, the same way I hope the public in the U.K or Germany or the States does. I hope the community empowers themselves and works actively towards the future they want for their pueblo, rather than waiting to be lifted out of a cycle. I hope they empower members of the community who are striving for more. Selfishly, I hope I’ll be there to see this all soon!

Deeper Engagement Opens New Opportunities for Service

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 18:53:00 GMT

Get Your Hands Dirty And Make A Difference

Community Impact in Juluchuca

This past spring, we welcomed Anne-Lauren Graham, founder of Radiant Spiral Retreats, for a second year as a holistic host and retreat leader. In each of those capacities, Anne Lauren found ways to deepen her connection with the local community. The holistic host is a multi-faceted role at Playa Viva, connecting guests with new experiences and helping them get in-tune with themselves through yoga and massage, thus she began by extending some of her activities beyond the resort by offering weekly yoga classes to kids in town. Her experiences in town then inspired a service project for her own retreat which focused on animal welfare and engaging youth in Juluchuca. Her experience is a testament to the many levels of community engagement that are possible at Playa Viva, and the impact that engagement has for all involved.

Anne Lauren, in her own words:

After class, Anne-Lauren would often return to Playa Viva beaming. She would encourage other guests to visit town to connect with the local community. Through this connection, it’s easy to see how to give back.

When it was time for Anne-Lauren’s own retreat, her experience in the community inspired a service project in conjunction with our spay and neuter campaign . On the day of the clinic, the Radiant Spiral Retreat split into two groups: one dedicated to helping animals to recuperate after surgery and the other group leading an environmental workshop with kids where they painted recycling containers to be placed around the town. At the end, there was space for play, reflection and for everyone to spend time with the animals from the clinic.

Below, Anne-Lauren reflects on her time facilitating this experience:

The opportunity to make a lasting impact during a retreat has proved incredibly rewarding for Anne-Lauren’s group, as well as other recent retreats.

If you or your retreat is interested in participating in a service project in conjunction with the local community, please contact our Social and Environmental impact coordinator, Colleen Fugate. Thank you, Anne-Lauren, for your service and dedication and for inspiring us all to give back in any way we can.

Playa Viva’s Delicious Coconut Ceviche at Home

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 21:55:00 GMT

Enjoy a taste of Playa Viva at home this summer with our delicious coconut ceviche recipe, taken from our cook book “Comida Viva” . As with all our recipes, it is best enjoyed with family and friends!

ENTRÉES | Vegan, Gluten Free

2 Tomatoes, Diced
1 Onion, Chopped
1 Bunch Of Cilantro, Chopped
Juice Of 1 Lime
Juice Of 1/2 Orange
1 Coconut, Cut Into Bite Sized Pieces
Salt ( Sal Viva! ) To Taste

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS in a medium sized bowl, stirring well. Serve chilled.

Take Home Many More Delicious Playa Viva Recipes In Our Cook Book!

Connect With Nature on New Permaculture Farm Tour

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 23:37:00 GMT

Exploring the 200 acres surrounding the hotel

When you arrive to Playa Viva take a minute to settle in and enjoy the calmness that envelops the landscape. Connect with the land. Take notice of the elements – wind, water, earth – as you move around the property. You will feel a sense of place. To get an even deeper connection with the land, sign up for our Permaculture Farm Tour with our permaculture manager Amanda Harris. This free excursion is quickly becoming one of our most popular activities!

We recommend it after breakfast to help you digest, and most importantly, to beat the heat. The walk is most comfortable if you reserve two hours for the experience – where we encourage you to get inquisitive, pick fresh vegetables and greens from the huerto, chat with our resident goats, and enjoy a breezy ride back to the hotel in the farm truck.

Departing from the hotel we make our first stop in “Zone One” with a visit to the kitchen garden and chicken coop.

“Zone Two” begins under the canopy of a bamboo forest and is regularly a favorite stop of most guests as we evaluate why bamboo was introduced in this location specifically, what it is used for at Playa Viva, and how it is strategically harvested in accordance with the moon.

The next stretch of the recorrido is a nice place to walk quietly, reflecting on what you’ve experienced so far and observing nature’s patterns – which serve as the primary teacher for all our forest garden designs. You get your first sneak peak of the watershed restoration work as you cross a coconut bridge above a stretch of the lagoon, and you’ll hear the crunch of seed pods under your feet as stroll through the secondary forest along our property line. Depending on the season you’ll pass fruiting cashew, mango, ciruela or achiote trees, and if you’re willing, Amanda will for certain offer you a termite or two to taste. Be sure to tell us what flavors you notice in this protein-rich forest snack!

This free excursion is quickly becoming one of our most popular activities!

The Permaculture Farm Tour has something for every guest, from kids to adults, whether it’s your first time at Playa Viva or your 10th! Even if you’ve walked the property before, you are sure to see something new. It is a particularly great opportunity for those interested in learning regenerative methods of food production and landscape reforestation at any level or land size. Amanda will share her expertise and the history of Playa Viva’s land, the work of previous designers who helped to reestablish the watershed and landscape, and the plans for reforestation, community engagement and food system development in Playa Viva’s next decade. You’ll see the resort and surrounding property in a whole new light, and leave with a deeper understanding of the interconnectivity of nature’s different systems, and a deeper connection to the place.

A Real Margarita – From Our House to Yours

Mon, 06 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Playa Viva Signature Organic Basil Margarita Recipe

These days it’s pretty common to “celebrate” Cinco de Mayo with a “Mexican” adult beverage likely produced by a major international corporation. This year, if you feel like celebrating, why not do it with a real margarita that’s really from Mexico.

It’s not too tart or too sweet, but it’s just right. It’s so just right, that it’s too good, if that’s possible, so don’t celebrate too much!

The key is not only “the mix” but, in this case, “the ingredients”; and that’s why you need fresh lime, organic basil, agave nectar and an organic tequila of your choice. Then finish it off with Sal Viva which is harvested down the road in the salt flats. The rest is up to your ability to meet Johnny’s original challenge, mix up the perfect margarita.

Playa Viva’s Organic Basil Margarita:

Ingredients :
· 4 leaves of organic basil
· 1 lime
· 1 ½ oz of 4 Copas organic tequila (or other organic tequila)
· 1 teaspoon of agave nectar (agave honey – “Miel de Agave”)
· 5 large cubes of ice
· Thin layer of Sal Viva in a dish (for rimming glass)

Tools of the trade:
· Blender
· Shaker Glass
· Plate for salt to rim glass
· Glass

Blending the drink :
· Start with the four leaves of organic basil. Place them in a blender, then squeeze in juice from lime, add the tequila and blend (without ice)
· Once blended, pour the blended mix into a shaker glass with the ice and add the agave nectar
· Margarita should be shaken (not stirred)
· Take the remaining lime and rim the mouth of the glass to add moisture so when you dip the glass in a plate with Sal Viva, the salt sticks to the rim
· Pour in the shaken mix into a glass for the perfect Playa Viva Organic Basil Margarita.

Enjoy Responsibly!

Concentric Circles of Caring – the Guest Experience at Playa Viva

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 05:44:00 GMT

At Playa Viva, we look at the guest experience not as a single element but as a continuation and as a whole system. What do I mean by this? Well you can see this best in what I call “the concentric circles of caring for the guest.”

The guest who comes to Playa Viva is very different than guests at so many other hotels or resorts. The hotel will show off their minibar, TV, in room coffee maker…order a massage to your room, have a pillow butler accommodate your resting needs, take a Jacuzzi bath and tune in to 100’s of channels and thousands of movies and never, ever, ever leave your room. To us, that’s like a child, who is the center of the universe, unaware that they are part of a larger connected world of all existence. They only care about ordering up room service and living in their womb, their cocoon, and hide from engaging in reality.

At Playa Viva, everything we do is to allow you the chance to experience your environment and the people who inhabit it, in a deeper and more profound way. We often hear term, Experiential Travel, bantered around. But what does that really mean? At Playa Viva, that starts with the role of the Holistic Host. The role of the Holistic Host is to integrate the guest into the Playa Viva experience. They are usually one of the first to greet you upon arrival. They will join you at meals, engaging you with guests who have been on property for a while, and answer questions you have about excursions and other activities, as well as what’s happening around Playa Viva. They’ll be your guide to help you find the experiences and activities that will be most profound and memorable for you during your stay.

The Holistic Host may also introduce you to two very key members of the Playa Viva team – Colleen and Amanda – who manage Social/Environmental Impact and Permaculture respectively. If you engage with these two talent women, they will expose you even further into the landscape. Amanda’s nature walks and tour of the Playa Viva farm have become one of the most popular activities at Playa Viva. Colleen will hopefully get you off the 200 acres and into the local community or out on a 4×4 ATV on a Night Patrol with the Turtles Sanctuary volunteers to assist with Sea Turtle Egg collections (another rising star activity in the list of excursions).

As you can see the trend, the Playa Viva guest engagement strategy is to have you move farther and farther away from your room and deeper and deeper into the landscape and local community, engaging with nature and the people who live here. You are moving further and further out the rings or concentric circles.

The work we do at Playa Viva is to have our guests and our team go deeper into community. Amanda (permaculture) recently visited local recycling center to track the path of our waste streams. Nick Wolfe, with Gente Viva, works with local farmers to enable them to produce Organic products that then becomes Tahini dressing for guests salads. All this is not to say, that if you want to just go hang in a hammock, listen to the waves and leave the world behind, you can’t do that.

You absolutely can, and should, take time to do that, and you will still have freshly made Tahini dressing on your salad when you get up. But Playa Viva is not just about your treehouse, or the 200 acres, or the farm tour up the watershed, or tracking our waste streams – it is the entirety of this experience that makes it so rewarding, even if you only catch a sliver of it all.

From the Sesame Fields at Playa Viva to Your Dinner Table

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 01:50:00 GMT

Introducing Gente Viva Sesame

As part of our ongoing mission to support local farming communities in our home town of Juluchuca, we are proud to announce Gente Viva Sesame – direct-trade organic sesame seeds, grown on site and nearby, by farmers from Juluchuca and other local communities who have farmed their land for generations. This natural product is a great way to take a little bit of Playa Viva home with you, especially when used in some of our delicious recipes, found at the bottom of this post.

Our Farmers

Our work in rural areas in Mexico refutes the myth that opportunities do not exist outside the city. In doing so, we hope to revitalize rural communities and propose alternatives that empower residents of rural areas to form more resilient food systems and create connections to other firms that support these goals for sustainable, organic and regenerative agricultural and food ecosystems. Gente Viva works with farmers to provide technical support and training to help them farm organically and get organic certification. Additionally, we provide these farmers with secure market prices for their crops in advance, giving them a consistent, dependable income to support their families.

Our Process

Gente Viva’s farmers plant sesame annually during the second half of the rainy season in late July or early August. The timing of planting is imprecise if you rely on a calendar, but farmers depend on their years of experience to time it just right. It’s important that they prepare the land for planting during a mid-rainy season dry spell that can last from two to four weeks. They want to ensure that the seeds are in the ground by the time the rain starts up again, or shortly thereafter. Since they farm without using chemical herbicides, they must weed in between the rows of sesame twice per season. Once about ten days after the plants have emerged from the soil and again about slightly more than halfway through the season. From planting to harvest is generally 3-4 months, depending on the rains. For harvest, timing is again key because once the sesame stalks with the seed pods have been cut they must dry in the sun 15-20 days. So, it’s important that harvest happens as the rainy season is ending. Once they have harvested, farmers are at the mercy of nature, hoping for no or only light rains once the stalks are drying in the sun. During the drying process, the seed pods open. This is called ‘shattering’, and the story is that this is where the phrase ‘Open Sesame’ comes from–because the seed pods open on their own as they dry out. Because the pods face upright on the stalk, the seeds do not fall out once the pods shatter. Instead, once all the pods have dried and shattered the farmers return to the sesame and shake the stalks causing the seeds to fall onto a tarp or other surface where they can then be collected with shovels and bagged in 110 pound sacks. The sacks are transported to Gente Viva’s cleaning facility, where they pass through a machine that cleans them of dust and debris.

Our Sesame Seeds

Gente Viva’s sesame seeds are unhulled, which means that the seeds contain their outer husk. The husk is hardly noticeable; in fact, it’s quite possible you’ve consumed unhulled and hulled sesame seeds and never noticed the difference. Unhulled seeds are generally golden brown, while hulled seeds are whiter. The industrial food system often prefers hulled seeds because they look ‘cleaner’ to some folks. However, as with many plant foods the outer hull (or peel in the case of fruits and vegetables) frequently contains many of the nutrients. For sesame seeds, unhulled seeds provide greater amounts of fiber, calcium, manganese and zinc if the hull is kept intact. Three tablespoons of sesame contain 22% of an adult’s recommended daily intake of calcium and 25% for magnesium. Sesame seeds are also a good source of Vitamins B1, B3 and B6, as well as many other nutrients. Check your trusted health information site for complete information.

In Your Kitchen

Gente Viva’s sesame seeds have an earthy, slightly nutty flavor, which is enhanced by lightly roasting them in a skillet. If you roast sesame seeds, be sure not to burn them as they can turn bitter when overcooked. When roasting, stir occasionally to ensure all the seeds roast evenly and once you start to smell the aroma of the seeds, then they’re done. You can grind roasted seeds in a food processor to get a sesame powder, which has a savory taste and is an excellent condiment for salads and other vegetables. If you mix this sesame powder with sea salt you’ll have a condiment called Gomasio, of Japanese origin. Below are a few of our favorite recipes from the Playa Viva kitchen that make use of delicious Gente Viva Sesame.

Pasta de Ajonjolí – Tahini Paste

Ingredients:

3 cups of toasted sesame seeds
6 tablespoons of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 tablespoon of sea salt

Preparation:

Toast organic sesame seeds for 5 to 10 minutes in a saute pan on the stove. The seeds are ready when they begin to turn a golden color, or with luck, you can see some of the oils beginning to coat the seed.
Mix all ingredients together in a food processor.
Mix on low speed for two minutes. Slowly introduce pulses of higher speeds to thoroughly mix all ingredients. If a more thorough mixing is needed, stop the food processor, then gently mix the ingredients in the food processor with a spoon. Remove your spoon and mix ingredients with the food processor for another two minutes.
Remove the tahini paste from the food processor and store in a resealable container.

Enjoy! Tahini paste can be stored in the refrigerator for up to eight weeks.

Aderezo de Ajonjolí – Sesame Salad Dressing / Tahini Dressing

Ingredients:

Preparation:

In a medium size mixing bowl, add three tablespoons of your homemade tahini paste. See recipe above for details.
Halve four limes and squeeze their juices above a sieve to avoid rouge seeds in your dressing. Get creative – lemons will also work.
Add two tablespoons of organic olive oil and one pinch of sea salt to the mixing bowl.
Gently whisk the ingredients with a fork (or whisk) to blend the flavors.
Slowly mix in a few tablespoons of water to the consistency of your liking. We recommend no more than one quarter cup of water to maintain flavor.
Bottle the dressing and enjoy!

Dressing will maintain freshness for one week in the refrigerator. Eat it regularly for a boost of flavor on all your dishes!

Holistic Hosts – Connecting Guests to a Truly Memorable Experience at Playa Viva

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:40:00 GMT

Holistic Hosting at Playa Viva

Editor’s note: Anjuli Mahendra manager of our Holistic Hositng program discusses the development of this unique role and how hosts the guests and community at Playa Viva.

As a teacher and therapist, I’ve had the vision for many years of developing a holistic retreat center focused on regenerative living. So as I read through the details of an online job posting sent to me by my dear friend, I immediately had the feeling it was the right fit for my partner and me.

Alok and I applied on the spot, becoming the first couple to take on the role of holistic hosting for Playa Viva. As a world traveler, I’ve experienced many versions of hotels, retreat centers, eco-communities, and ashrams, both before and after coming to Playa Viva, and I can say that the holistic hosting position at Playa Viva is quite unique.

We spend a significant time together with the guests, and we find we often develop meaningful relationships that will last long after your stay at Playa Viva. How does that happen? As hosts we actually live on-site, so we are there to support you with any questions that arise during your stay and offer personal guidance to help you get the most out of your stay. We offer daily morning yoga classes 6 days a week, along with specialized bodywork and massage sessions. Another key feature is t he community dining experience ~ a beautiful spread of food is served family style and all the guests mix together for meals including the host(s). This environment is an opportunity to develop a very organic relationship with our guests, and to encourage and help you to connect with the activities, projects, and experiences that speak to you, both on-site as well as further out into the local town and surrounding areas.

We’ve witnessed the growth and evolution of Playa Viva over the last six years and with that our holistic hosting role has expanded and evolved as well. I’ve become the manager of Playa Viva’s holistic hosting team and assistant on retreat outreach. I’ve had the privilege of putting together a dedicated and high-caliber hosting team at Playa Viva from around the world. I start off by looking for well-versed, highly experienced teachers and therapists that have worked with a variety of populations.

The next crucial step is tuning into their social skills and desire to be immersed in community-style living. Of course, it goes without saying that the hosts themselves should be value-aligned with Playa Viva’s social and environmental mission. Overall, I look for heart-centered, thoughtful, flexible, strong, confident, and well-spoken hosts that will support both the guests and the staff to have the best experience possible .

Anjuli

Our Prescription For Nature Deficit Disorder

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 05:06:00 GMT

Disconnect to Reconnect

By the time you arrive at your destination for a long awaited vacation, the chances are you are feeling pretty relaxed, at least compared to the hustle and bustle of your daily life. But what you may not even notice is that as you arrive at most hotels, your senses are still inundated by the trappings of the modern world.

Chemicals in the paint and carpet, the hum of the escalator, of your air-conditioner, or worse, the dull hum of the mini-bar refrigerator in your room hamper your ability to truly unplug. When you are at Playa Viva, these un-natural vibrations are absent. You don’t realize it, but nature engulfs you and your body transforms, you are disconnecting to reconnect.

When guests arrive at Playa Viva, they often tell us, “Wow, the pictures on the website, Instagram and Facebook are amazing, but when you get here, you realize, the pictures don’t do this place justice.”

The immediate impact of the natural beauty of Playa Viva is most evident in the materials: wood pillars, bamboo walls, a natural stone sink, bronze hand-hewn faucets, organic fabrics, etc. Your hand naturally reaches out to caress the contours of the wood. Your eyes look out over the ocean to catch the site of a dolphin riding a wave. Your ears begin to tune into the sound of birds calling to each other in the distance. The senses individually don’t do justice to the deeper experience, the combination of the senses is more than the sum of its parts.

This reminds me of an expression that guests of our coined. They had been at Playa Viva for about a week and they were telling me over dinner, “you see guests come in wearing their ‘Urban Black’ with their electronic devices erupting from their pockets and purses….then a few days later, you see the look in their faces, no makeup, natural, in a state of…bliss..and you know that the ‘Playa Valium’ has kicked in.”

The experience of Playa Viva can come from just being here and letting go of where you came from. It can come from immersion in the ocean, hiking the Discovery Trail to the Farm, heading out the local community, getting a world class massage and or imbibing in our of our organic basil margaritas.

The cure for Nature Deficit Disorder? We definitely recommend a little bit of Playa Viva as part of the cure !

Meet Ines: Chef Prepares Authentic Vegetarian Food with Love

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 04:32:00 GMT

Chef Ines Nopales shares her love for cooking healthy vegetarian and vegan food with authentic Mexican ingredients.

At Playa Viva we like to think of our staff as the heart of our regenerative project. We encourage them to be true stewards of sustainability, conservation and community engagement. Ines is an exemplar member of our team not only in her interactions with guests and the delicious food she makes, but also in the way she gives back and gets involved in her community.

In the nine years she has been a member of the Playa Viva team, Ines has shown a true love for cooking. When asking her how she learned, she explained, “I grew up in the countryside and my mom always cooked rancho food. I learned from her, from observing and practicing.”

Today, Ines continues to learn through observation and practice. We recently took a trip up to the Eco Casita Vegana in Zihuatanejo to learn about nutrition, ayurvedic cooking, and how to make healthy vegan meals. Ines can often be found attending these workshops in her free time, taking notes and coming up with ideas for how to incorporate new dishes at Playa Viva. “I like learning new things,” she says. “Each time I attend a workshop I’m able to learn more about vegetarian, vegan or ayurvedic foods. I didn’t know about any of this before and now I do.”

Apart from Playa Viva, Ines is often thinking about her own community of Rancho Nuevo. “I am always always considering the ingredients we have access to and how to adapt dishes so they work for us.” Ines is quick to recognize when a dish is too complicated or an ingredient to difficult to access. She often shares recipes with alternative ingredients so people from her community and more easily incorporate healthy vegetarian or vegan meals into their diets.

Soon we hope that Ines will be leading her own workshops in town, showcasing her knowledge and her love of cooking. Here at Playa Viva, we support Ines and all she is doing and hope that both community members and our guests are able to learn from and connect with such a wonderful individual.

Step Into Our New Beachside Massage Palapas and Yoga Platform

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 04:10:00 GMT

Do you know that you can actually watch bamboo grow? Or that if you hold your hand a certain way you can affect the breath that rises and falls within your chest?

Connection to nature offers us an opportunity to slow down and become quiet enough to witness the subtle movements of life.

When we are contained within walls, viewing the outside world through glass, we miss the sounds, smells, and pulsations of the natural world. We become oblivious to the profound ways in which we are connected to everything.

In order to resonate fully, to be alive fully, life must pass through us. We need to allow movement within and around us.

Playa Viva provides an invitation to seamlessly merge with the elements.

Like the waves you will see crashing upon the beach, or the warm breeze you’ll feel dancing across your skin, like the flowing movements in your morning yoga practice, or the smooth rejuvenating touch during your massage—life vibrates powerfully here.

You can look into yourselves through healing arts, meditation, sound and movement in order to fine tune and align with all which surrounds and sustains you.

At Playa Viva, everyone works WITH the elements instead of resisting them as a result, we are healing and raising the vibration of this land, of our communities, and most importantly of ourselves.

Absolved of “real life” duties, we can sit in the lap of nature and feel the earth breathe. we have the space to witness our own breath and how we are breathing with the earth.

We then have the space to notice our thoughts and feelings. Within nature, the moment is ripe for staying put, for listening inside and out with deeper awareness, for truly experiencing our interconnectedness. Now is the time to say yes to the invitation. Slip into the natural world, remember you are connected. Open your eyes and your heart and slow yourself down.

“This is Playa Viva.”

Britta y Caro

Britta Rael is a yoga teacher, community architect and entrepreneur based in Joshua Tree, CA. Learn more about her work at www.brittarael.com

Carolyn Cohen is an international teacher of AcroYoga, Thai Massage, and movement with a clinical practice for bodywork and acupuncture in the Bay Area. www.carolyncohen.org

A New Community Mural Captures Life in Juluchuca

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 22:22:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: Our community is celebrating a new mural in Juluchuca, thanks in large part to the initiative of Season 10 fall farm intern, Margot Mattson. Many previous volunteers have talked about doing a community mural, but this is the first time it’s actually been done – and it’s a huge success! Here, in her own words is the story of how Margot worked with local high school students to give us all a wonderful gift. Thank you Margot!

Written by Margot Mattson

This Fall, I was welcomed into the community of Juluchuca as Playa Viva’s Farm Intern. My role was to work on the Playa Viva farm, moving forward their organic food production goals, as well as engaging the community in health and educational projects. When I first arrived, I could barely hold an introductory conversation in Spanish and feared that my language skills would never improve. Thanks to the dedicated help of the Playa Viva staff, I was able to improve my Spanish speaking abilities enough to start working in the community.

A Shared Vision of Juluchuca

Through helping out in the local high school, I quickly realized that a great education project would be an environmental mural. The students had already initiated painting projects throughout the town to remind us to take care of the planet. With the help of the head teacher, Maestra Jessica, and the education volunteer, Ariel, we were able to organize a group of students to take the lead on the project. I wanted the mural design to come from them, an inspiring group of young people working to take care of their community.

My hope as I leave Playa Viva is that these community murals help instill a sense of pride amongst residents of Juluchuca

When you ask the people of Juluchuca why they like living in their town, many respond with a similar answer: la playa . For many residents, the beach is one of their favorite places in the area. It is a space of beauty where you can watch sunsets and connect with nature. It’s a place to enjoy a Sunday picnic with family or the launching point for a day spent fishing. As a town supported by agriculture and fishing, the people of Juluchuca identify strongly with the importance of the natural environment and the biodiversity of our surroundings.

Over the course of several weeks, I held meetings with the students to discuss and brainstorm what most symbolizes their town. What are they proud of? What do they love about living in Juluchuca? Without surprise, the students suggested that what most represents Juluchuca is the beach, the abundance of wild animals, and the agricultural fields. They wanted to include iguanas and sea turtles , both species that are facing the impacts of poaching and anthropogenic pollution. Both animals are also symbolic of the area: sea turtles commonly nest on our beaches, with the La Tortuga Viva volunteers working tirelessly to protect them, and the iguana is represented in one of the most traditional dances of Guerrero.

With our vision in mind, the class selected three students who were considered the best artists to help draw the design. We came up with several sketches and settled on one. We painted the mural next to the primary school, where many families pass by each day. The students were incredibly dedicated and self-motivated workers. They organized themselves into teams in order to accomplish tasks with little instruction. To my surprise, all of the students participated in the painting process, even those who claimed they weren’t very good at art. They were eager to learn new painting techniques to achieve a desired look and were supportive of everyone’s contribution to the mural regardless of their painting experience.

A Mural for the Whole Community

As we were painting in a public space, members of the community would pass by and share their excitement and gratitude for the student’s work. When the principle of the primary school saw the mural, she asked if we would paint another mural to cover the previously grey brick walls flanking the school gate. We agreed, and students who previously showed hesitation and doubt of their drawing skills asked to help with the design process for the other two walls. To show their appreciation, passing community members would give our group cold 2-liter bottles of soda along with a stack of cups for sharing. One of the students brought her speaker and we all enjoyed painting in the early morning shade, listening to music and sipping on cold “refrescos”.

Throughout the mural painting process we talked about the importance of nature and the negative impact of pollution on the environment. Often we were painting in a space surrounded by litter. We are all aware that Juluchuca is not perfect and that we can each do more to keep our community clean and thriving. My hope as I leave Playa Viva is that these community murals help instill a sense of pride amongst residents of Juluchuca, and that this, in turn, will lead to better environmental practices such as recycling and keeping the town clean. Through this experience, I was able to watch as young people expressed themselves as artists and pushed themselves to design, organize and complete a beautiful project. They are the next generation, and I am incredibly proud to say that they are already making our world a more beautiful place.

The Gift of a New Turtle Sanctuary

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 01:19:00 GMT

109 World Helps Build Our New Turtle Sanctuary

Each year 1000s of mother sea turtles return to the beaches around Playa Viva to lay their eggs. These turtle nests are increasingly vulnerable to both predators and poaching, but since 2001 they have been protected by the dedicated volunteers at La Tortuga Viva . The volunteers patrol the beach each night, collect freshly laid eggs, moving them to the turtle sanctuary, a centralized incubation pen, where they are safe until they can hatch and be released into the Pacific. The sanctuary operates 365 days a year , and just since 2010, La Tortuga Viva has protected and released over 400,000 endangered turtles.

It’s a huge task, but the work doesn’t stop there. Every few years they have to construct a whole new sanctuary structure in a different location.

Each morning after a turtle release and yoga we set out to dig, hammer, and lift in order to get the new sanctuary off the ground.

Over time bacteria and ant infestations build up in the sand, and without moving the sanctuary, the birthrates would plummet and the process would not be effective. So we are incredibly thankful this holiday season for the gift of a brand new sanctuary structure, made possible by the hard work and financial support of 109 World , a service and mindfulness organization, that brought 35 members to join our community of volunteer conservationists for a 6 day yoga and service trip.

As a service and mindfulness organization, 109 World members have traveled all over the world leading retreats to empower individuals to transform their lives. They organize a wide variety of humanitarian projects, in areas such as education, the environment, animals or women’s rights in order to make the world a better place. 109 World Executive director Leticia Reyes sums it up saying “our mission is to help individuals fulfill the promise of their potential through mindfulness and actionable impact.”

It was clear for everyone involved that this experience went beyond just building a new sanctuary.

With the 35 participants from 109 World and 14 local conservation volunteers, we were able to achieve a lot of action and impact! Each morning after a turtle release and yoga we set out to dig, hammer, and lift in order to get the new sanctuary off the ground. Our efforts paid off, with 90% the sanctuary finished by the last day.

Our Shared Impact

It was clear for everyone involved that this experience went beyond just building a new sanctuary. It was about connecting with people from different walks of life and seeing how we can come together to learn, engage and give back. Despite language barriers, the 109 World participants were able to meet and interact with our dedicated team of turtle camp volunteers. It was a wonderful chance for members of La Tortuga Viva to showcase their work and take pride in the conservation project they have created. Whether through collective lunches each day, nighttime patrols, or our final bonfire on the beach, there were so many moments of connection and engagement.

When asking Leticia about her experiences here at Playa Viva and working with La Tortuga Viva, she shared:

“This is our twelfth 109 World trip, and I can honestly say that from start to finish, this it is the best trip yet. Coming to Playa Viva has allowed us to stay in a space where our values are completely aligned. From an environmental, ethical, and social perspective, staying and working here allows us to come full circle. Not only are we doing a service project with La Tortuga Viva, but we are also staying at a place that is actively engaging the community, giving back and protecting the environment.”

As we put the final touches on our new turtle sanctuary, we are left full of gratitude for the generosity of 109 World. We feel humbled to have had the privilege to host such an amazing group of individuals and hope that we will have the chance to collaborate with 109 and other groups to come on future projects.

The Why and How of Playa Viva’s Farm-to-Table Program

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:16:00 GMT

Change how we eat, and we change the world for the better

During the past three years, the farm and food production team has turned the Playa Viva Farm from a seasonal operation into a year-round farm that plants and harvests even when the hotel is closed. Promoting a farm-to-table philosophy, increasing the volume of locally sourced healthy ingredients and helping create a resilient local food system are essential activities that touch on Playa Viva’s core mission and values. As a sustainable boutique hotel, we want Playa Viva to be a place where you can enjoy the luxury of your time and with your loved ones, meaningful experiences that make a positive impact on the local community and connection to nature that regenerates the landscape.

I manage the Playa Viva farm with a simple goal: to consistently increase the volume, health, variety and value of the food that we provide to the kitchen . While the overarching goal may be simply stated, the philosophy behind it and the means of achieving it deliver the depth that make it work in accordance with the hotel’s values.

Why is Farm-to-Table important to Playa Viva?

The food we put on our plate at each meal (how it was farmed, transported and prepared) is one of the principal ways in which we affect our planet and our communities. For many of us, it’s no longer a surprise to hear that agricultural greenhouse gas emissions rank in the top ten opportunities to ‘draw down’ our carbon footprint (along with refrigeration, transportation and manufacturing). Additionally, the vast majority of people living in extreme poverty globally work in agriculture. While these challenges can seem intractable, that they are so intertwined with one of our essential daily activities affords us many opportunities to act, to constantly improve and to make a positive impact.

For every ounce of food (or gram since we’re in Mexico) the farm sends to the kitchen, we take a tiny step toward a more locally based food economy. To start, including more plants on your plate brings you health benefits and reduces each meal’s environmental impact. In the past year, the kitchen has incorporated many new yet local ingredients such as jackfruit from ours and neighboring farms, creating delicious dishes great for guests and the planet. In addition, Playa Viva’s farm is much closer to the hotel’s kitchen than any market or store. And, when food comes from our farm, we know who planted and picked it as well as their working conditions.

We want the ‘farm’ in farm-to-table to be more than just Playa Viva’s farm. Supporting our neighbors and community means bolstering them with our food purchases as well as facilitating training and other market opportunities for them. As we consolidate our efforts on our own farm, our goal is to increase engagement with other farmers and incentivize them to employ organic and regenerative practices. By training local farmers in these practices and helping them get certified, we increase the health of the local ecosystem as well.

How do we implement Farm-to-Table at Playa Viva?

How we do things on our farm and how we get food all the way to the table are just as important as why. On the farm, we adhere to organic, agroecological, regenerative and permaculture principles. We have strived to create a place that provides physical, spiritual and ecological nourishment. The ‘farm’ is composed of a variety of spaces across the hotel property, from down at the beach, through the tamarind and coconut groves and up to the mango and fruit orchards where we also plant most of our greens and vegetables.

In the past couple years, the farm team has focused on saving as much of our own seed as possible, choosing varieties that are continually adapting to our climate and conditions while also sharing and exchanging with other farmers to increase the availability of local seeds. The farm implements three different composting systems to utilize food waste from the kitchen and provide for the nutritional needs of our plants. We minimize the use of outside inputs on the farm and when we do use them, we opt for organic selections.

Off the farm, Playa Viva works with partners elsewhere in the local food ecosystem: we sell produce at the weekly Eco Tianguis Sanka market; we exchange recipes and ideas with the Cooperativa Ecovegana; and we support our farming partner, Gente Viva, in working to promote organic farming and connect farmers with market opportunities. Through all these activities, we promote actions that reduce our environmental impact and strive to increase our own local sourcing. If we can move to healthier, more plant-based options and contribute to regenerating the soil while building a thriving, resilient local food ecosystem, then we are accomplishing our goals for farm-to-table at Playa Viva.

The Comedor – Making a Difference Through Food

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:09:00 GMT

The holiday season is often a time to reflect on the gifts we’ve been given, and to make an effort help those who are less fortunate than us.

For a group of women in Juluchuca, that effort is not limited to the holiday season. They volunteer their time year round at the local Comedor (Soup Kitchen) to serve food to those struggling with poverty and lack of opportunity. Cooking is an art form and way of self-expression in Juluchuca, so providing a meal to others is no quick task. Volunteers arrive daily around 4:30am to begin the preparations for the morning meal. Playa Viva is proud to support this community effort.

Playa Viva began partnering with the Comedor in May 2017. Here are a few of the ways that management, staff and guests have supported the Comedor.

If any Playa Viva guest is interested in dedicating a morning of their stay to help serve the local community, additional volunteers are always welcome! Any Playa Viva staff member can help you set it up. You’ll be doing good, and you’ll be able to try some of the delicious food made at this humble eatery including atole (a hot rice-based beverage), and traditional rice, beans, soup and pork dishes.

Giving the Comedor a new coat of paint

The Juluchuca Comedor operates Monday – Friday throughout the year since being founded in 2014. A full meal typically costs 5 pesos, which translates $0.25 USD. Meals are free for the volunteers themselves. The majority of the food served is provided by the Mexican government, which delivers the shelf stable ingredients on a monthly basis. The perishable items, such as spices and vegetables, are then picked up by the volunteers, donated or grown on site.

Building a Hanging Garden

Celebrating the small (…or big?) wins: sometimes it just takes a shift in perspective

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:22:00 GMT

After my first couple days at Playa Viva, I remember walking down to the turtle camp, a nice 10-15 minute stroll down the beach from the hotel, and introducing myself to the two turtle volunteers who happened to be working that morning: Eusebio and Celedonio — two brothers who had been working in the camp for several years. I had no idea what I was really getting myself into. Yes, I had worked in conservation before; yes, I had worked in small, rural communities; but I had never quite worked at the intersection of tourism and conservation. Additionally, although I have a Mexican father and had traveled to Mexico many times before, I had also never worked y lived in Mexico.

My Spanish was rusty and all I knew about the turtle camp was that I was now managing the relationship between the camp and hotel and that the camp was a popular attraction for the guests at the hotel. I began to do my research, talking with past Playa Viva volunteers who had worked with the camp, and began to observe the operations of the camp. I had observed some less than favorable practices and knew as well we were very overdue for the federal permit required to operate a turtle sanctuary. The more I began to uncover, the more I realized I couldn’t do this alone.

To boot, this was just one of many projects and priorities. On top of the daily turtle releases with the guests, I also had a volunteer program to run, a social impact evaluation to conduct, guest education and integration, community projects to roll out, and more all at the same time. I simply didn’t have the time or emotional energy to mobilize a team of 14 volunteers from the local community to provide them with the tools necessary to be effective conservation stewards.

I knew that I couldn’t do it alone. I knew that I needed help.

I put out an ad for a “Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator” in October of 2016 (an unpaid position mind you), less than a month after I arrived at Playa Viva. That first round I got a bunch of applications and the last one that rolled in, about a month after the rest, turned out to be a gem.

I read Lissett’s cover letter and resume, discovering that she and I were ironically from nearly the same hometown in Northern VA, and knew pretty much immediately she’d be a great fit for the role:

Specifically, I would be able to deliver the following – exceptional organization to track, monitor and improve the daily procedures of the conservation program and volunteer team … Lastly, as an avid world traveler and having built relationships over long distances, I have strong understanding of diversity and other cultures and welcome new environments.

This was exactly what I needed and I wasn’t disappointed.

For nearly 11 months of the past year, Lissett dedicated herself to supporting the coordination and management of the turtle camp and its relationship with the hotel. As a unique turtle camp-Playa Viva volunteer, Lissett’s responsibilities were twofold: support the sanctuary and its fourteen volunteers (all from the local community) to ensure they are following best conservation practices and engage hotel guests (mostly international) in hatchling releases and educational tours of the sanctuary.

Aside from the most pressing task–working with the sanctuary president to renew the sanctuary’s overdue federal permit–she simultaneously helped to organize and manage the nearly all-male volunteers (initiating regular monthly meetings), coordinated (and raised funds for) the construction of a new sanctuary, organized capacity building activities for the volunteers, and engaged hotel guests in hers and the sanctuary’s work (including daily sea turtle releases).

Lissett was the first volunteer to work formally in this capacity with the sanctuary. Having never actually worked with sea turtles before and without much guidance, her ability to take on and find solutions to the various challenges presented—e.g. breaking through cultural norms regarding her gender as a woman, building relationships with men from a rural machista culture, and the slow, bureaucratic process of working with local, state and federal government in a foreign country, to name a few—was impressive.

“Building relationships with the volunteers proved to be one my biggest challenges. I was a total outsider and it took months of one on one time with each of them and some (literal) heavy lifting during weekend cleanups/ construction to gain their acceptance and friendship. Without these relationships it would have been impossible to accomplish anything – from getting them to show up to a meeting to constructing the new sanctuary.”

Finally, after months of hard work poured in, Lissett, the turtle camp President, Héctor, and camp Secretary, Beto, were ready to fly to Mexico City to submit the permit application to SEMARNAT (Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources).

The Mexican government doesn’t make the acquisition of said permit easy: in addition to the mountain of documents required, submitting the permit directly in Zihuatanejo (1 hour by car) could take up to 9 months to process. So, Playa Viva paid for the three of them (Lissett, Hector and Beto) to go on a three-day trip to the big city and submit it directly to headquarters to speed up the process. That trip was Héctor’s and Beto’s first time on a plane and Beto’s first time out of Guerrero.

A pretty amazing thing to see and be a part of.

So now, finally… the good news! After submitting the permit in mid-October, we recently received the once elusive permit from SEMARNAT to legally operate and run the turtle hatchery.

The whole process was a massive reminder for me that things are possible and often all that’s required is a little patience.

Working in Mexico is not for the faint of heart. Things move very slowly and the community work we do down here is full of challenges. You’re constantly pushing uphill, constantly working against entropy.

Sometimes you feel all your battles are uphill, with no end in sight.

Nevertheless, over the course of several months Lissett charged uphill, seamlessly worked across two different cultures on a daily basis, gracefully dealing with rural machista culture, turtle camp politics and the demands of the hotel. She never gave up.

Thanks to her, we have new leadership positions within the camp, which has helped camp organization, and she helped paved the way for Débora, our current camp coordinator who is also doing amazing work.

The permit process, although cumbersome and although we’ll have to do it all over again in just a few short months, will now be a lot easier this next time around.

Looking back, it’s incredible to see how much progress has been made in a year and a half for a small turtle camp outside a rural community of 350 people, entirely run on donations from Playa Viva guests.

It makes me wonder what is possible in the next year and a half.

For the moment–however brief a nd fleeting–the feeling I have is this:

Sometimes the largest hurdles just take time, a little patience and the right attitude to get it done.

A beginner’s guide to community-based conservation

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Written by Lissett Medrano

I really wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I decided to quit my job of 5 years and move to a small rural community in Guerrero, Mexico to work with sea turtles, especially since I had never “worked with turtles” before. But after spending 10 months working alongside the Juluchucan volunteers that manage La Tortuga Viva (LTV) sea turtle sanctuary, I have a much better understanding of what community-based conservation entails. One thing I’m definitely sure of now is that I made the right choice and this experience has paved a clearer path of how I want to continue to support preserving this planet and its vulnerable species. There were many lessons learned and even more people I am eternally in gratitude toward.

Given that I was the first person to formally work with the camp in this capacity (as “turtle sanctuary coordinator”), my experience was an open canvas and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to completely take charge and make this role my own. At first, it was a bit challenging adjusting to working with little direction, but ultimately I thrived on the lack of formal structure in this role, which enabled me to cultivate leadership skills that I hope to continue develop and apply in the future.

As mentioned in a previous blog , I dedicated a bulk of my efforts in my first few months in building relationships with the volunteers, mainly composed of males. A few of my priorities included:

Renew permit with Ministry of Environment (SEMARNAT) required for nest relocation
Construction of new sanctuary
Capacity building of camp volunteers
Improve turtle release with Playa Viva guests
Environmental education and awareness
Facilitate partnerships with local turtle camps
Improve data collection

However, as I began to learn more and more about the issues in the camp, I ultimately dedicated most of my energy toward the first three priorities: permit renewal, new sanctuary and capacity building.

FUNDRAISING FOR NEW CAMP AND PERMIT RENEWAL

It is a conservation best practice for artificial hatcheries to be moved approximately every 2 years to prevent the buildup of bacteria and ants caused by egg shell remains, which threaten the success rates of hatchling turtles. LTV had been operating for many years without relocation and the hatchling success rate was suffering. Also, the camp had a significant amount of wear and tear and was no longer effective against predators such as the tejones, local badgers that managed to get in and prey on multiple nests on a daily basis. After assessing the cost and qualities of supplies needed, we realized it was much higher than expected so decided to fundraise through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo .

There were many hurdles every step of the way in building the new turtle sanctuary and getting the permit paperwork ready. There were challenges for even the most simple of task; for example, borrowing some tools for construction was met with surprising resistance. After a month in the process of acquiring the supplies, it seemed that every action in this process would require strategic thinking and would take much longer than expected. There is no local Home Depot to pick up wood or black shade mesh required for these types of sanctuaries. I worked with multiple staff at the hotel in locating, ordering and delivering these supplies to the new sanctuary location. I didn’t always make the best choice and it was tough to come to realization that I should have gone about things a different way. In the end, all the hardships I experienced and approaches that “didn’t work” will enable me to better address these type of issues in a different context in the future so I took them as lessons learned.

So many people were involved in helping with the permit process and the creation of this new camp and I am beyond grateful to all the family, friends and other donors who supported these projects. Through this collective effort, up to 6000 turtle eggs will be monitored at a time in the new camp.

Below is a brief timeline of the process for both tasks.

CAPACITY-BUILDING

Another exciting opportunity for the camp were some of the capacity-building activities that we were able to begin. Throughout the year, despite some resistance, we established semi-regular meetings to discuss internal issues that were hindering the effectiveness of the camp and I worked to rally and empower the volunteers to talk about these issues openly. Though these efforts sometimes clashed with the views of the President, it’s important to facilitate these exchanges in order to build an organized and high-performing team of motivated volunteers.

We were also able to organize a few capacity-building workshops with the volunteers. With the help of Joao Gouveia, a fellow conservationist in the area who has experience in training turtle camp volunteers, the camp received training on sea turtle management, biology and handling with the aim of improving sea turtle hatchling success. For many volunteers, this information was new and they were eager to learn more and apply their new knowledge in the field during their patrols. These quarterly trainings will continue in the new season.

SOME TAKEAWAYS

I’ve learned an incredible amount about what conservation “on the ground” really is. Here are some of my takeaways/advice for anyone looking to work in community-based conservation:

Focus on the big picture- it’s impossible to solve all the issues;

Sea turtle conservation in rural Mexico = working with people 90% of the time;

It is absolutely essential to understand what incentivizes and drives the community to conserve or not conserve;

Community-based conservation is a complex ongoing process and there isn’t “one way” to do it successfully but a multitude of ways to address it.

Although the new camp, permit and capacity building opportunities are incredibly exciting news, the most rewarding part of my work with the camp were the relationships I built with all the volunteers. Being an outsider and in a new role, it was a tough integration on both sides that took a lot of time, patience and learning. As I began to say my goodbyes to this beloved community, a few of the guys, including the Camp President, reflected that they were really proud of what we accomplished and having someone so invested in their work has given them more reason to “echarle ganas” or “work hard” which made the all hardships worthwhile as they are the ones that will ultimately be the protectors of this vulnerable species in the community.

It was bittersweet but I left Juluchuca full of hope for the future of the camp and its volunteers. For an extended update of LTV’s activities this year, you can check out the Season 8 Report here.

Poachers to Conservationists: Sea turtle conservation in rural Mexico

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 17:33:00 GMT

Written by Lissett Medrano

As we celebrate oceans this month, today is specifically dedicated to one of earth’s most ancient sea creatures—sea turtles. As we honor this incredible species, it’s important to also recognize the efforts being made at the local level to preserve these endangered species. For the past four months, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with La Tortuga Viva (LTV), a turtle sanctuary ran by volunteers from the local community of Juluchuca, Mexico. I’ve learned that these efforts are not only helping save sea turtles, they are also providing empowerment opportunities for local communities.

Some background on LTV…

Like many other small fishing communities in Mexico, Juluchuca was once a sea turtle poaching community not that long ago. Due to the large decline in the sea turtle population, the Mexican government established many community-based turtle sanctuaries to help combat this issue. LTV was created in 2001 by ex-poachers and Playa Viva has been collaborating with the camp since 2007, providing them with financial support and other streams of revenue brought on by hotel tourism.

Working with the Camp

I arrived to Juluchuca with two main priorities – lead the camp relocation project and the camp permit renewal process. Within a few weeks, I discovered there were many internal issues that were hindering the ultimate goal of the camp- preserving sea turtles. So a lot of my time has been dedicated to capacity-building with the camp volunteers; understanding why and how they work, along with empowering them to address the issues, was the first step.

Challenges: Gender roles, Communication and Change

Being the first and only female to work in the male dominated camp, made relationship building quite challenging at first. My work schedule is flexible, but in general my working hours at Playa Viva, which include daily morning turtle releases with hotel guests, checking the sanctuary, and doing sea turtle research, allow for very little interaction time with the volunteers who work full-time jobs during the day. Also, being a new young female in town, it would be frowned upon to jump on nightly patrols with the guys without getting to know them and the community better, not to mention being constantly told that it was “more dangerous” for a female to go on nightly patrol.

My main contact with the camp was through the camp President, Hector, who I could only communicate with in person since he has no phone or email. Surprisingly, not an easy man to find in such a small town! Through persistence, jumping on any opportunity for group gatherings (Sundays clean ups, meetings etc), and creating new communication channels, like Whatsapp groups for camp volunteers with phones, I’ve managed to build a solid relationship with Hector and get to know the guys more.

Once I established myself as a fellow turtle volunteer, I began to organize and facilitate more meetings where we discussed issues that many volunteers had long since given up on. Most of the time, the meetings didn’t solve any problems, but they were useful in starting a trend to talk openly about issues, rather than complaining in private, which was the norm.

Another challenge was and will continue to be the camp’s resistance to change, which is not too uncommon in Juluchuca. Any suggestions to improve camp operations or try things a different way are often met with stubborn resistance. Even the smallest efforts, like using reusable bags instead of plastic, are met with reasons on why it wouldn’t work. I learned very quickly to approach new ideas carefully and always gather their opinions before proposing anything.

In addition to everything I’m learning about sea turtles and management in community-based conservation, it’s been incredibly inspiring hearing some of the volunteers stories and seeing how some of them are already evolving into leaders through the camp. Many of these volunteers used to engage in sea turtle poaching and still have friends and family who continue to consume sea turtles. Living in a town with very little economic opportunities, the turtle camp provides these volunteers with a big incentive to shift from poaching to conservation through their monthly food stipends. One volunteer, that goes by Iguana, spent some time in juvenile facility as a teen for stealing turtle eggs. Iguana is now one of the more experienced volunteers and takes great pride in his work as a protector of turtles. He helps train new volunteers in turtle tracking and nest relocation and is also an advocate for turtle protection in a community where turtle consumption is still ongoing

Although challenges remain, LTV’s work has already contributed to the release of over 400,000 sea turtles. We’ve also taken some big steps in moving forward with the camp permit process, have shifted around responsibilities so the tasks don’t all fall on one person and we’ve identified the new turtle camp location and are working to clear the area to begin building. With continued efforts, we hope to have the camp in a place where the volunteers manage themselves, without relying on outside assistance.

How to help

Understandably, not everyone can move to Mexico and volunteer at a turtle camp, but there are SO many ways to help. Here are a few easy ones!

DONAR to our Indiegogo campaign aqui to build a new sanctuary. The current one is in bad shape from years of bacteria build-up and ant infestation and needs more security to protect it from the biggest threat on our beach- the badgers! Every dollar counts!
SAY NO TO PLASTIC. Plastics end up in our oceans and are consequently consumed by sea turtles due to their resemblance to jellyfish.
EAT SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD. The biggest threat to sea turtles is commercial fish trawling. Ensure your seafood is coming from a sustainable source- you can check aqui.
SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE. Know a thing or two about sea turtles? Share the info with friends- protecting the environment is a collective effort.

“Our Oceans Our Future”

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:52:00 GMT

#WorldOceansDay

Happy World Oceans Day!

At Playa Viva (“Living Beach”) it’s in our name to keep our coast and ocean healthy, alive, and thriving. Our oceans are essential to life as we know it on the planet: 70% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, they help regulate our climate, provide a significant portion of our food, as well as a number of economic, cultural and recreational benefits.

When the owners bought Playa Viva’s land, it was heavily degraded: the coastal lagoon once replete with mangroves was dried up and mangroves were slashed and burned by cattle ranching and monoculture agriculture. Much of the coastal forest ecosystem that once protected the coastline and supported marine life was in a precarious state.

Playa Viva has been working to reverse that through a number of regenerative practices.

LA TORTUGA VIVA

La Tortuga Viva (LTV) is one of our longest standing initiatives. LTV began in 2001 (before we were even here!) through a SEMARNAT (Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources) initiative to combat illegal turtle poaching in Mexico. The camp was started by members from the local community, many of whom were once sea turtle poachers themselves, and have since become conservationists. Playa Viva has been working with this sanctuary since 2007, providing them financial support and extra streams of revenue through the tourism brought by the hotel. We’ve been focusing even more energy on the camp with a new role: Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator.

“I’ve been working with the turtle camp the past 4 months and although I have several projects from relocating the sanctuary to supporting the camp permit renewal process, most of my time has been dedicated to capacity building with the local volunteers. Through relationship building, frequent group meetings, and new communication channels like WhatsApp groups, many internal camp issues, that have hindered the volunteers’ quality of work, are now being addressed. Some positive steps have included empowering some of the younger volunteers to share and implement their ideas for improving the operations of the camp, and therefore sharing responsibilities so that all tasks don’t fall on one person. The goal of my role is to support the camp volunteers so they can manage themselves, without relying outside assistance. Slowly but surely we are moving in the right direction!” – Lissett Medrano, former policy coordinator at Conservation International

Right now this position is not funded. We would love to secure funding for this important role as it is essential for improving conservation management capacity. To donate to this important initiative visit our page on LTV (OR donate to our Indiegogo Campaign !), where we receive tax-deductible donations through our fiscal sponsor, The Ocean Foundation .

PARTNERSHIP WITH COSTA GRANDE COSTA LIMPIA

More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. Plastic pollution not only kills and harms marine life, damages and alters habitats, and has substantial negative impacts on local economies, but it also poses a great threat to human health. As plastic debris floats in the seawater and decomposes into microplastics, it absorbs other pollutants that are highly toxic, which have a wide range of adverse health effects. When fish and other marine species eat these plastic pieces, the toxins are absorbed into their body and passed up the food chain and ultimately passed onto our dinner planets.

To combat this issue, in addition to the regular beach cleanup we do with La Tortuga Viva, we’ve partnered with Costa Grande Costa Limpia in their effort to clean up the beaches of Costa Grande in Guerrero and run campaigns about the importance of keeping our oceans healthy and free of plastic (80% of the waste found on beaches is exclusively plastic). Their objective is to improve the health of Guerrero’s coastline, to develop jobs for Costa Grande communities and to grow the regional economy through tourism. Villagers from each municipality undergo rigorous training so that they can perpetuate this effort, take care of their environment and change their own consumption habits.

We hosted several brigades here at Playa Viva, who have collected numerous bags of plastic and other debris–large and small–from our town’s beaches and lagoon. We are overly grateful to have such an important partner in ocean health and conservation!

MANGROVE RESTORATION

It has been estimated that in some areas of the world 70-90% of commercial fish species directly rely on mangrove ecosystems. Mangrove forests act as nurseries to many species of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk. These fisheries form an essential source of food for thousands of coastal communities around the world.

The dense root systems of mangrove forests also trap sediments flowing down rivers, which stabilizes the coastline and prevents erosion. These trees also filter sediments, protecting coral reefs and seagrass meadows (which are important feeding grounds of our beloved sea turtle!).

For many years mangroves were negatively (and are still!) impacted by the tourism industry. At Playa Viva, we are one of few tourism operations in the world actively restoring the mangrove ecosystem through the revenues generated by the hotel.

At the start of our mangrove restoration project, we engaged with the local community about the importance of mangroves, who didn’t see much use to them other than firewood. They even used to cut some of the root systems down as they were seen as a nuisance when they went fishing in the lagoon and their nets got caught on the roots.

We have different areas of mangrove restoration at work on our property. Some areas we are letting nature take its course, in others we’re practicing an accelerated natural selection. We’ve opened waterway channels to restore the natural flow of the lagoon, created shade to shade out invasive species, planted mangrove saplings, and actively removed invasive species that would otherwise prevent mangroves from flourishing.

We’ve just begun phase two of the coastal lagoon restoration project and opened up a new area for mangrove restoration. We are currently looking for investors to help continue this important effort!

SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY

Playa Viva has just begun its first seafood sustainability assessment. The goal for food sourcing at Playa Viva is to provide transparency in our menus, build strong relationships with local providers, and use ingredients that are seasonal, organic and just.

Accordingly, with my role as Social & Environmental Impact Officer, I’m tasked with ensuring we’re doing all these things! When I first arrived at Playa Viva, I received a lot of questions such as, “Was this fish caught today? Did you purchase this from a local fisher? Is this seafood sustainable?” I honestly didn’t have the answers, so I began to investigate. My first stop was to talk with one of our conservation partners Katherina Audley, from Whales in Guerrero Research Project , an amazingly passionate woman who has fished for two decades in the area and actively working to promote a healthy ocean here in Guerrero.

I have been receiving a ton of support on this project from Romain, a “volunteer” with a lot of great experience. Romain came to Playa Viva to work on this project after having worked on a number of conservation and development projects in fishing communities in Africa and Asia, most recently with the FAO’s FishAdapt project in Myanmar. He has spearheaded the project, tracing where the hotel’s seafood is coming from, investigating local fishing regulations and ensuring that we are purchasing seafood that is socially and ecologically sustainable. The next stage of the project is to work with hotel management and local fishing cooperatives to source fish locally and directly from small-scale producers in order to support the local economy and regenerate healthy fisheries.

A healthy ocean is integral to live in the coastal ecosystem of which Playa Viva is apart. We honor and celebrate the fragile strength and limited bounty of the oceans today, especially the delicate balance that people and the ecosystem must maintain in order to reverse the decline and regenerate this vital ecosystem.

Toward a healthier community

Tue, 23 May 2017 13:15:00 GMT

Through our work in the community a new program has emerged. The overall goal of this new program, The Juluchuca Garden and Nutrition Project , is to foster greater physical and emotional wellbeing as well as health and nutritional awareness for the residents of Juluchuca. The process for achieving all three will be focused in three different program areas: school & community gardens, nutrition education, and mind/body awareness through yoga.

This program came about after kids in Juluchuca kept asking for yoga classes. Coincidentally, back in November, we had a guest at the hotel who wanted to lead a yoga class with her kids and the kids of the local community, kick-starting our now regular kids yoga class. More requests related to health and nutrition also began to arise: the kindergarten asked for our support to design a school garden, and the community kitchen informed us that access to nutritional food and greater knowledge of healthy cooking are severely lacking.

We’re really just in the beginning — but to date, we’ve held several kids yoga classes both at Playa Viva and in the community; we’ve offered two nutritional cooking workshops (which are held monthly) through the support of the Eco-Vegana Cooperative in Zihuatanejo, and designed a garden at the local kindergarten.

In order to achieve our goal of increasing physical and emotional wellbeing, we first need to better understand the state of wellbeing and nutritional awareness in the community. We decided to do a survey to measure the “state of health” in the local community. The survey asked workshop participants how healthy they think their community is, what they believe are the biggest health problems, but also more personal questions about what their diet is like, how healthy they feel, how confident they feel in their ability to nourish themselves, and what limitations they have in achieving a healthier lifestyle (e.g. is it access to food? Is it lack of nutritional knowledge and/or cooking?). This survey will serve as a baseline as we continue to do work in the community and gauge their responses to these same questions over the years.

When asked, “how do you rate the health of your community?” responses were split between “Not very healthy” (42%) and “Somewhat healthy” (42%). 16% of respondents said “Not at all healthy.”

When asked what are the three greatest health problems in your community, people responded:

When we asked participants about their personal health, roughly half of respondents felt that their health is only “somewhat healthy” with a roughly a quarter reporting “not very healthy”.

Improving health and wellbeing in a community like Juluchuca is no easy task — it’s a rural community with few opportunities for economic advancement and has access to only very basic amenities, including food and medical care.

We could deliver a million nutritional cooking workshops, but without understanding and later addressing the limitations, then what good is telling people how to cook with ingredients they don’t have or can’t afford?

Perhaps not surprisingly, only 15% of respondents reported that they had sufficient resources (i.e. income, education, access to healthy food) they need in order to nourish themselves and improve their health.

The most common limitation? Not enough income.

Additionally, a lot of people reported that the stores don’t have sufficient fresh fruits and vegetables. As a resident of the local community now, I myself have witnessed it — there aren’t a whole lot of diverse, healthy options.

So, what can we do for the short term? Well, for now, work with what there is!

We’re working with the community kitchen to offer free courses in which they can learn to make healthy dishes with the ingredients that are available and plentiful to them. A huge advantage the town has is that fruit trees are abundant, so there is plenty of fresh fruit to go around. For example, jackfruit–very abundant in this area–can be eaten as is, but also as a meat alternative, and the seeds can be boiled and turned into a delicious hummus. Sesame, a crop widely grown, can be used to make milk, to fortify tortillas, and to make a tahini for that jackfruit-seed hummus.

Through the data, we are able to identify opportunities where Playa Viva can support. When people were asked what are most important factors in order to have a healthy community, the top three most common responses were:

We’re still learning a lot from these data and from speaking with the workshop’s participants. We discovered that all participants worry about their health to at least some degree, so it’s a topic that people care deeply about. Only about half of the workshop’s participants feel confident in their ability to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals–so, that’s something we can easily provide for them. As we move forward, our plan is to continue collecting data, offer yoga classes and cooking workshops, donate Playa Viva’s extra produce to the community kitchen (not to compete with local stores but to offer more fresh produce as an option), and work to create a community garden for the community kitchen so that everyone, even the poorest, can access fresh fruits and vegetables.

Related to the story above, this initiative addresses two of our five Core Values at Playa Viva–Create Meaningful Community and Promote Transformational Experiences. Our work with the local community is focused on education, health and economic well-being. Under the health “pillar”, we strive to facilitate improved nutrition, exercise, and efficiency/productivity in work.

Sembrado con Amor / Grown with Love

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 13:43:00 GMT

A Story of Regeneration: Moving towards regenerative agriculture on the southern pacific coast of Mexico

At Playa Viva, every aspect of our operation attempts to go beyond low-impact and actually make the place—the land and our community—better than it was. In other words, we practice regeneration .

Regeneration applies to everything that we do. What we do in food production is no different; we practice what’s called regenerative agriculture.

You might ask: what makes agriculture “regenerative”?

Regenerative agriculture is not just organic, and doesn’t just “do no harm”, but it actually improves the land. It represents a wide array of techniques that actively work to rebuild and regenerate soils, enhance biodiversity, increase resilience to climate change, and strengthen the health and vitality of farming and ranching communities.

As the lead for Playa Viva’s social and environmental impact, I wanted to know… so are we actually doing that?

On an environmental level, I knew from working with our Farm Manager and Permaculture Specialist that the type of agriculture we are practicing is regenerative … but what about the social component? Are we raising awareness about sustainability? Are we changing perspectives? And if we’re raising awareness, is that awareness spreading to change agricultural practices in the region?

To begin to answer these questions, I decided to start by sitting down with the two people who grow our food: José Garza and Abel Vejar, both from the neighboring town of Rancho Nuevo. I wanted to know how they got into farming, how much they knew about organic farming and sustainable agriculture prior to joining the team, and how working for Playa Viva as a whole has ( or hasn’t ) impacted them.

But before I tell you what I discovered, I need to give a little context:

Today, most farmers in this region of Mexico hold a strong dependency on fertilizers and herbicides. During the mid-twentieth century, due to numerous policies and reforms, Mexico’s agrarian landscape was in a precarious state. Many rural areas of the state (as well as across the country) were suffering from poverty, land disputes, and hunger. In response to this, the Mexican government, in partnership with the United States, launched the Mexican Agricultural Program in 1943, which aimed to combat rural poverty through the use of modern agricultural technology and expansion. Through financial and technical support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the program created fertilizer subsidies, promoted the use of herbicides and pesticides, and distributed new hybrid varieties of maize and wheat, and trained farmers how to use them.

This created a significant decrease in biodiversity along with a reliance on fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to grow food for short-term gain in disregard of long-term social and environmental impacts. These developments have had severe impacts not only on the environment but also on the local economy. Lack of crop rotation, unbalanced crop nutrition and intensive use of pesticides and herbicides have all led to soil degradation, declining yields, declining water quality, and have greatly altered the rural landscape.

The current situation is a major concern for local farmers and policy makers, who are looking for ways to improve standards of living while strengthening the natural resources that abound.

So let’s begin… What did I learn from my conversations with our food production team?

Abel Vejar, 31, and José Garza (better known as “Güero”), 31, are both from the same neighboring town of Rancho Nuevo. (Actually, they’re cousins born on the same day, same year, one hour apart!) They each come from slightly different farming backgrounds: Abel hadn’t had much experience working on farms—only some experience with fruit trees—while Güero had worked the land nearly his whole life, but never farmed organically. I wanted to know more about these two: how they made their way to Playa Viva, how and why they became farmers, and what impact working in organic food production has had on their lives.

Q: When and how did you make the decision to be a farmer?

Abel: Well, I first started working in construction here at Playa Viva. I worked for about three months and remember seeing the lettuce in the greenhouse—they really caught my eye … They’re what really caught my attention and the reason why I wanted to come here to work and learn. I really like the job as I’m learning so many things here, which is most important to me: learning. Also, in respect to the lettuce, I had never seen them before nor knew them until now. I had never grown them—other fruits, yeah, like mango, banana, coconuts, all those kinds of fruit that we have here. But I had never seen these lettuces and they stood out to me because they are really beautiful and really tasty. And yeah, I really like working in food production, because nature really calls me.

Güero: I personally was very young when I started working the land. I was eleven years old when I started to work on my own in farming to grow corn seasonally. I was growing corn, pumpkin, cane, beans—the essentials. And from there I began to familiarize myself with the land—I was learning to harvest, learning to work with a machete, learning to plow. But yeah, I was little when I began to work the land—well, work it alone. I started working the land with my family when I was really little, maybe 7, 8 years old—the easier stuff—but I started doing farm work then. Here in Playa Viva, I started just a little while ago. About three years ago I started working here, first at the hotel as a chauffeur, then I worked in permaculture for about another six months, and then I started here in food production. I’ve been working in food production for about two seasons. It feels like I’m still just learning—lots of things that I still don’t know—but that I’m going to be learning a lot.

Q: Have you always farmed organically? Did you know much about organic farming before working for Playa Viva?

Abel: No—the fruit trees I worked with, we worked with chemicals. Because to clean them, you needed liquids; to get the tree to produce fruit, you used chemicals; you also used liquids to fumigate the fruit to get rid of insects, so yeah I came in not knowing much [about organic farming]. It’s here where I’m learning a lot. Here everything that we work, everything that we bring [to the kitchen], everything is organic, all the plants that we grow are worked purely by hand and not with chemicals.

Güero: Before, we used to use chemicals all the time. We used pesticides for weeds—not the worst ones—but in any case we still used them. And here at Playa Viva, from the start I began going to courses and started learning things, primarily that they aren’t good for your health. But while you don’t see it, you don’t believe it. Then later on you start to see that yeah it’s good to eat food grown without chemicals … I actually didn’t know anything about organic agriculture [before working at Playa Viva]. In the past, when we planted tomatoes, we tried to put as little chemicals as possible, but we always used them, when there was a pest or anything. But organic-organic, I never farmed organically myself. Not until two seasons ago, so now about a full year working on my own. Before I was working with Sapo (former head of food production), so we spent a season together, planting, and that’s where I started learning and they started bringing me to courses. So yeah, I’ve learned a lot.

Q: Has your perspective changed about organic food or sustainable agriculture after having worked for Playa Viva. If yes, how? If no, why not?

Abel: Yes, because after trying different types of fruits and lettuces, I think it’s healthier because now I can invite my family to try this type of organic food. Our food that we grow is healthier than what’s available where I live—because all of the fruit that we have in Rancho Nuevo, all of it is grown with chemicals. Similarly, things like tomato and chile are also grown with chemicals. I would like it if we were all farming organically, because like that, you would see less disease and illness. It’s cleaner eating. […] I’ve brought some lettuce home for my family to try, and this type of lettuce specifically [points to lechuga tropical next to him], and my wife particularly loved it. She said it was delicious. My family had never tried it before, but they all really liked it.

Güero: Yes, a lot. About food more than anything else. But yeah, if I myself grow something, it will be organic; for me, for us, because, well, it’s better … Like I told you before, I knew that it wasn’t good, but I didn’t know how bad [pesticides] were. I thought what they said about [pesticides] was just tontería [nonsense]. I didn’t understand really until I started going to courses … From that point on, I started talking with people who were already inside the organic movement and they helped me understand that what I was doing before wasn’t good. And now, my mind’s changed, now I think differently, and I think it’s good to change and to make others change as well, but it’s difficult. You can see here that [organic farming] is difficult, but you are eating something healthy, something clean, something that you know won’t harm you. But not there [in the town]; it’s different.

Q: Are the people in your town interested in organic farming? Do you see more people shifting to or practicing more organic farming in the future?

Abel: Well, I say yes because for example in my town, a lot people are already starting to grow organic sesame. In Rancho Nuevo a lot of people grow sesame, almost the majority of people who live there do, but they grow it with chemicals. I think that now there are the opportunities to grow organically, and from there they have the means to produce organically (through Gente Viva’s program). And I think it’s good because it’s a support—teaching them how to grow organically—and that support can give us more work in the organic sector. So, I think some people are going to be growing organic sesame with Nick (Gente Viva), and they like that. It would be a good change.

Güero: I think so, because in Rancho Nuevo there are already two or three people who are joining the organic farming group with Nick (Gente Viva) … The only problem here is that a lot of people don’t grow organically because they don’t have the means—in the sense that you have to invest a lot in this type of farming, more than anything the supplies, those are more expensive, and it’s more difficult. Now it is at least — later that could change, but that’ll take time … I think it’s going to happen little by little. Little by little you have to tell and teach people about it because if you don’t tell others what you see and know, no one is going to be encouraged to do so. They’ll say it’s cheaper to go to the market and buy what they’re going to eat rather than cultivating it themselves. But if you eat a tomato here, for example, you know that little tomato is clean, you know that there’s no chemicals. You can eat it right from the garden … there’s no chemicals or anything like that.

Q: Would you say that Playa Viva has been a transformational experience for you?

Abel: Yes. It’s a change. It’s a change in my awareness, my knowledge, to know more about what I’m learning here in food production. And I’ll also say it’s a change to improve economically for my family, because where I live there’s no work. I mean, wherever really in the countryside, you suffer when you live in the country where there are no job opportunities, but here [at Playa Viva] there are.

Güero: Yes … If I hadn’t been working for Playa Viva, I still wouldn’t know about organic farming … And for example, this opportunity I was given here in food production—I had never really worked in area where I was at the front of it, in charge. It’s a big responsibility but at the same time it’s an experience that you get accustomed to; you get used to carrying out your work that you yourself are responsible for. You’re responsible for carrying out everything and seeing it through … I really like experimenting with what I’m growing, that’s what I like the most. If it doesn’t work out one way, I’ll try another and see if it works out.

——

After speaking with Güero and Abel it was clear to me that working here at Playa Viva has impacted them. For Güero’s case, you see the transformation of someone who has been farming his whole life with chemicals, who now would never use pesticides again and sees the importance of eating organically. For Abel, you see someone without any farming experience, who was so taken by the leafy greens in the greenhouse that he wanted to learn more; now after given the opportunity, he sees and understands why growing and eating organically is so important.

What’s exciting is that this is just the beginning of everything: a change, a shift, a step in the right direction. We’re just beginning to scratch the surface — both in our work with Gente Viva, food production at Playa Viva, as well as understanding what kind of impact this work is having and will have in the future.

I’m left feeling overly inspired. On at least one level, we’ve provided at least two people with a livelihood as organic farmers who now are aware of the harmful effects of pesticides and herbicides. They can feed their families with healthy, organic produce, and share what they learn here with their community.

Lastly, I was taken aback at how proud they are and that what they do is a labor of love.

Meet the Playa Viva Volunteers!

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:03:00 GMT

Volunteers are an enormous source of support for the Playa Viva team. Our volunteers come from all over the world and support our work in multiple aspects and bring a multitude of experience. We have volunteers supporting our farm and food production teams, our permaculture team, our kitchen staff, our turtle sanctuary, as well as teaching English in Juluchuca. Volunteers stay on average one to three months and have the option of utilizing any personal skills they might bring by taking on a personal project.

We are incredibly grateful for all of their hard work, so we wanted to share with you our current team of wonderful volunteers. Thank you all for your support!

Dani Schugg, USA

Service: Oct 15-Dec 15

Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived?

I’m originally from southern California, but lived in Madrid, Spain for the past year teaching English at a primary school.

How did you find out about Playa Viva?
I found out about volunteering at Playa Viva through a family friend who knows David, the owner.

Why did you decide to volunteer?
I was looking for another opportunity to teach English, in Latin America this time, and Playa Viva seemed like a great fit! I was also very intrigued by Playa Viva’s core values as a sustainable hotel and wanted to see what all the rage was about. Also, have you seen the pictures?? They alone will convince you to come to Playa Viva.

What are you working on at Playa Viva?
I have a pretty mixed schedule. I teach English at the local primary school (grades 1-6) twice a week and at the high school twice a week. Then, I work in the kitchen the remaining shifts with the best chefs in Mexico!

What has been the highlight of your experience so far?

In my two months, Juluchuca has become a home away from home. From getting tacos at Lupe’s to chasing the piggies with my camera every chance I get, it’s hard to pick just one highlight. I will miss hovering over Inés, Olga and Abraham watching them work their magic in the kitchen, and I’ll for sure miss my celebrity status amongst the kiddos.

Andy Ollove, USA

Service: Nov 1-Dec 15

Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived?

I’ve been living in New York City for the last 8 or so years and before then Baltimore. Before Playa Viva I was working in local food systems, helping to connect low income communities around the country to affordable and locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Otherwise I spent my days biking around the city and lamping in parks.

How did you find out about Playa Viva?

Me and my girlfriend Sarah found Playa Viva via WWOOF .

Why did you decide to volunteer?

We decided to come for all of the reasons: its social and environmental mission, its location in the beautiful Costa Grande region of Mexico, the opportunity to learn basic farming and gardening skills, and possibly the biggest reason of all: to freshen up our Spanish.

What are you working on at Playa Viva?

At Playa Viva I work as part of the food production team with Abel & Güero, cleaning garden beds, harvesting greens, turning compost, and representing Playa Viva at the weekly farmers market in Zihuatanejo. Additionally I am working with the organizers of that market to run a couple workshops intended to increase the capacity of their market and reach new local customers. This is work that I’ve done in the United States and wanted to share with the community here.

What has been the highlight of your experience so far?

My favorite part of the day is the starry-skied ride to work everyday in the brisk morning on the back of a pick up. Drinking coffee with the sunrise and watching the mist disappear from the water is a great way to begin a day of work.

Sarah Labriola, USA

Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived?

I’m originally from Los Angeles but have been living in New York where I worked for the NYC Parks Department.

How did you find out about Playa Viva?

I found out about Playa Viva through the website WWOOF

Why did you decide to volunteer?

I decided to volunteer because I wanted to learn how to grow food and work on my Spanish. I chose to apply to Playa Viva because the volunteer program seemed more structured and dynamic than others.

What are you working on at Playa Viva?

I have been working on the food production team on the farm as well as helping out in the kitchen.

What has been the highlight of your experience so far?

The highlights for me have been watching the sunrise every morning and jumping in the ocean after a hot day on the farm!

Tristan Borrensen, Denmark

Service: Nov 15 – Jan 1(?)

Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived?

I am from Copenhagen, Denmark and I used to be tour guide around in the Copenhagen canals.

How did you find out about Playa Viva?

By the Mexican WWOOF list

Why did you decide to volunteer?

I have done WWOOFing before in Chile and I desired having more experience in farming and agriculture, improving my Spanish and also learn more about real Mexican rural culture.

What are you working on at Playa Viva?

Currently, I am working on the trails signs. The signs need to be engraved, painted and polished so hopefully they can lead and teach the guests about this wonderful area of Playa Viva for many years.

What has been the highlight of your experience so far?

The first week I was “chaponando”, in other words, cutting weeds and maintaining the trails with a machete. It was pretty hard – but as a true ranchero or “charro” I held on too tight – consequently, I got a bunch of “bulas” on my hands. Secondly, I have repaired and sowed the tent of the turtle sanctuary, which a famous Youtuber has captured and used in his film about Playa Viva. I’ve been training the little kids of Juluchuca in football and also play with the adult Juluchuca team. I’ve been to a quinceañera and have been enjoying some beers with the locals Saturday nights. I have met a lot of great people and the delicious food here abounds and astonishes your eyes.

Johanna Ledermann, Germany

Service: Nov 30-Dec 30

Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived?

I’m from Leipzig, Germany. Before I arrived I was finishing my BA in cultural studies with a thesis focusing on sociology of food and agriculture, working on a biodynamic farm and volunteering in theater and film festivals.

How did you find out about Playa Viva?

I found out through a random search looking for farms to work at in Mexico.

Why did you decide to volunteer?

I was interested in learning more about the flora in Mexico and how organic agriculture is carried out in the context of supplying a hotel. I wanted to work with locals since they are a lot more knowledgeable than many expats starting farms in Mexico and playa viva is facilitating this exchange.

What are you working on at Playa Viva?

Since I’m interested in the whole cycle of food I am working in the production team and in the kitchen. I will happily share my skills in permaculture aligned with the vision of playa viva.

What has been the highlight of your experience so far?

Since I haven’t been here for a long time it’s hard to already identify a highlight, though it was and is definitely amazing to get to see so many different plants I only knew from pictures out in the terrain of Playa Viva.

Mercedes Falk, USA

Service: Dec 1-Dec 30

Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived?

I am from Wisconsin and I was working on a small farm helping produce vegetables and manage food processing in the certified kitchen on site there.

How did you find out about Playa Viva?

I met Melissa, the Volunteer Coordinator, a year and a half ago in Belize and subsequently found out about volunteer opportunities at PV via her awesome posts!

Why did you decide to volunteer?

I decided to volunteer because I had plans to come to Mexico to improve my Spanish speaking skills and I love working with food so much that I wanted to combine my desire for bettering my Spanish with a hands-on volunteer experience on a farm.

What are you working on at Playa Viva?

I am working on the food production team and I will be working in the kitchen. Growing food and seeing it from start to finish is one of my favorite things to do so being on both of these teams seems like the perfect, full-circle experience.

What has been the highlight of your experience so far?

Besides staying in Juluchuca and seeing all the pigs and chickens that are freely integrated into the town life, the highlight of my experience so far (all two days of it!) has been how friendly the staff has been in welcoming me and having patience with my gringo Spanish skills.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Melissa, at volunteer@playaviva.com .

Playa Viva’s Horticultural Hike – A Superfood & Herbal Remedy Wonderland

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 21:06:00 GMT

One of the many wonderful things about Playa Viva is that you don’t have to venture far to explore the best that Mexico’s native wildlife has to offer. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your secluded, sustainably-built casita!

Since being here, I’ve spotted humpback whales and dolphins close to shore, three different types of pelican, geckos, hummingbirds, eagles, plus a whole host of flora and fauna species – from aloe vera to moringa to banana plants – all by simply peering out lazily from my balcony.

But for those willing to make just a teeny bit more effort, the Playa Viva Horticultural Hike – a loop of about 2 hours, which winds its way through the site’s 170-acre private reserve, passing lagoons, mangroves and plant nurseries along the way – begins right on your doorstep too.

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be guided around this loop by Alok, the current Playa Viva host/yoga teacher/miracle masseur. Not only does Alok benefit from having worked as a naturalist in California for 10 years, but his constant enthusiasm for learning more about unfamiliar ecosystems is infectious – a distinct bonus for me, who being a city-girl born and bred, still finds it hard to tell the difference between a weed and a vegetable!

Indeed, after only 5 minutes in the company of Alok, I was already nodding enthusiastically and trying desperately to retain even a fraction of the awesome wealth of knowledge he imparted.

Did you know for example that the leaves of the Palma Real are used to thatch the common ‘palapa’ roofing found in the region (including a third of the casitas at Playa Viva)? Or that the ancient Mayans believed that a great Ceiba (Kapok) tree stood at the centre of the earth – connecting the terrestrial world to the spirit-world above?

What was so impressive to me however, was just how naturally rich this area of Mexico is in herbal medicines and highly-nutritional plants.

Here are just a few of the fantastical facts that I managed to absorb about Playa Viva’s sustainable superfood pharmacy – ‘eat local’ has never seemed so enticing!

Moringa: The new plant ‘superfood.’ It contains four times the vitamin A found in carrots, six times the vitamin C of oranges, four times the calcium of cow’s milk, and three times the potassium of bananas.

Kapok (Ceiba): Bark decoctions from this tree are used as a diuretic, aphrodisiac and in the treatment of diabetes.

Tamarind: High in vitamin B, calcium, and used as a natural laxative.

Nopal (Prickly Pear): Rich in vitamins A, C, K, riboflavin, and B6, plus the minerals magnesium, potassium, iron and copper.

Copal: Used against influenza, rheumatism and fever.

Gourd Tree: Cure for sunburn, chapped skin and wounds.

Hibiscus: Used to treat abscess, furuncles, mosquito bites and burns. It also has digestive, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. (Playa Viva happens to make a particularly delicious fresh hibiscus juice!)

Neem: Known as the ‘one tree pharmacy’ in Indian Ayuverdic medicine, it is used to treat a whole host of skin disorders and as an effective insect repellent.

Aloe Vera: Highly nutritional, containing over 200 active components – from vitamins and minerals, to amino acids and digestive aids. It also helps to boost the immune system and detoxify the body, inside and out.

Piedra de Medicina: Ok, not technically a plant, but this rock was used by ancient indigenous tribes to grind and mix plants for medicinal use. (Funny to think that we’re only just starting to rediscover the knowledge and practices that were common-place – and more-so, common-sense – thousands of years ago.)

Want to learn more? Set on 200 acres, Playa Viva is of course home to too many wonder-species to mention here. Why not visit us in person and see how many varieties you can identify!

Guest author: Liz Sutcliffe. Liz, a freelance editor from London, is currently volunteering at Playa Viva as part of our work exchange program

Calling all Volunteers – Farm, Community, Environment and Pastries!

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:14:00 GMT

Core mission of Playa Viva is to “Create Meaningful Community.” Volunteers are becoming a larger and larger part of the Playa Viva community. We currently are at maximum capacity with 6 volunteers spending most of this fall with us. Where do volunteers come from, how do they find us, what do they do and what are we looking for from volunteers?

Where do they come from?

We have volunteers from all over the world. Mostly from North America and Europe. We have had volunteers from the US, Canada and Mexico as well as Germany, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and most recently Australia and New Zealand.  We ask that volunteers stay for a minimum of one month but some have stayed for 3 months.

How do they find us? The largest source of volunteers either come via referral from guests or via voluntoursim websites. These websites include WWOOF Mexico and WorkAway.info . World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF, /ˈwʊf/), or Willing Workers on Organic Farms, is a loose network of national organisations that facilitate placement of volunteers on organic farms. These two websites contribute the bulk of volunteers who come to work on an organic farm to learn and apply techniques of permaculture.

What do they do? Volunteers are asked to work a split shift. In the AM, they work on the farm and in the afternoon they work on a community service or other project of their design. Farm work varies from planting seeds, weeding and tending the garden. It also includes other permaculture related projects in conservation, restoration and general landscape management. These types of work have included mangrove restoration, keyline water projects, forest restoration, maintaining trails or working to build a chicken coop, make organic fertilizers, etc. The afternoon projects vary from cooking in the Playa Viva kitchen to helping out in the local library. The volunteers have self-organized and developed their own Volunteer Manual and Orientation Guide to assist incoming volunteers to know what to expect, provide a list of viable projects and prepare them for their stay in Juluchuca. Volunteers stay in “la Casita Blanca” (the White House) which is a 3 bedroom humble home we rent for volunteers in the town of Juluchuca.

What are we looking for from volunteers? We look for travelers who want more than the “been there, done that, seen that” experience. We are finding travelers of all ages, from those right out of high school to retires and everything in between who want to live “in a community and give back.” They usually love Mexico, enjoy being near and on the beach, are aligned with Playa Viva’s values for sustainability and regeneration and want to learn and giveback at the same time. For example, we had a nurse from Copenhagen stay over a month and work in the health clinic . She spearheaded a project to improve the roof of the health clinic. Another volunteer organized guests to paint the local kindergarten working side by side with members of the local community. We have had local Mexican youth who want to learn more about farming and permaculture come and stay and work on the farm while helping to remodel the local library.

If you are interested in volunteering at Playa Viva, go to this link and just follow the directions . We have limited space as the Casa Blanca only holds 6 people, but if you are committed to “Creating Meaningful Community” and the other core values of Playa Viva, please apply to volunteer with us. Special note: We are looking for a pastry / dessert chef to volunteer with us in the kitchen and cross train with our kitchen staff .

Halcyon Days with Master Mixologist Don Johnny

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:54:00 GMT

Guest Blog by guest Jim Neeley with photographs by Tom Seawell

We are just back

from spending five

wonderful days

celebrating

a 25th anniversary

at Playa Viva.

A group of 14 friends

and family joined us

for the celebration.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Seawell

Lazy days were filled

with morning yoga,

quiet conversation,

napping in hammocks,

sharing great meals,

riding the gentle surf

and being pampered

by the gracious team

that is Playa Viva.

Guests were invited

to participate in meal

preparation in the open

kitchen.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Seawell

And to learn a few

of the secrets from

the irrepressible,

never at a loss for words,

activities organizer extraordinaire

and Master Mixologist

Don Johnny.

More than a few of his

trademark cocktails

were poured for our guests

over these five halcyon days.

Actually a lot more

than a few drinks.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Seawell

Our very special friend and

professional photographer,

Tom Seawell with an

impromptu stylist assist from

his wife Laura created

these beautiful images

of a few of Johnny’s concoctions.

Cheers!

Photo Courtesy of Tom Seawell

Turning the Tables on The Team

Sat, 01 Mar 2014 01:47:00 GMT

Right after the holiday rush, we had a little break and Julia took advantage of this lull to take the entire service team out to a “fancy” dinner. This was both a “thank you” as well as a training moment as many of the team who are supposed to be providing a luxury level service for our guests have never experienced that level of luxury themselves. The perfect choice for this dinner was at one of our favorite local little boutique hotels in Zihuatanejo – Amuleto . NOTE: We hope to be able to visit with all the other great boutique hotels in Zihuatanejo to share your great service and offerings with our team…one at a time.

Everyone had a great time, maybe too good a time…ask Julia to tell you the stories of the late night in Zihuatanejo.

The only downside of this “perk” was that all the other team members (the permaculture and security team) wanted to know why they weren’t invited as well. In fairness, they all go out as a group more often, just not to such “luxurious” locations.

To our guests, we thought you would enjoy seeing the tables being turned and seeing Abraham, Olga, Elisea, Miguel, Inez, Johnny and Julia being served rather than doing the serving.

Farming Life Long Relationships

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 07:20:00 GMT

Contribution by Rose Winters, WWOOFer/Volunteer, Playa Viva Oct-Dec 2013.

Playa Viva really made me realize how fast two months could pass. My sense of time which I was accustomed to most of my life was based on being in a classroom and not in in the setting of a place like Playa Viva.

Looking for a change of scenery and a different perspective than the town I’d lived in my whole life, I looked for a way to travel to Mexico in an affordable way. I discovered the organization called WWOOF (World Wide Organization of Organic Farms) , which led me to the Playa Viva website, and after convincing the owner of Playa Viva that I was a viable WWOOFing candidate, I was off to Playa Viva.

Upon arriving at Playa Viva I met, unknowingly at the time, people that I know I will stay in contact with for years to come, people that would become my best friends and nearly constant companions for the next two months. I spoke very little Spanish when I arrived. The songs about wolves and sheep that I had learned in my high school Spanish class did surprisingly little to help me through a conversation with anyone in Mexico. I found it frustrating in my first few weeks in Playa Viva; I wanted to talk with people, to laugh with them, but instead I found myself desperately trying to translate what was being said, while awkwardly staring into the distance.

Needless to say, many conversations were lost. And jokes, that were funny at the time they were told, had lost most of their humor after five minutes of explanation. Despite the minor challenges that I had learning Spanish, the notorious “language barrier” did little to affect the relationships that I grew to have with the Playa Viva staff. The patience of the people at Playa Viva with my repeated attempts to understand and speak their language, along with an abundance of jokes inspired by my mispronunciations and Spanish mishaps, led to a drastic improvement in my Spanish.

My time at Playa Viva has really proven to be life changing, not only because it was my first real time traveling away from home, let alone another country, but mostly because of the connections I have made, and the people that have helped me out and befriended me along the way. Whether it was being invited to go to soccer games in the nearby town of Petatlan, to go swimming in the mountains, to go to the few parties in the small towns of Juluchuca and Rancho Nuevo, to go to the church for December 12th where the young girls were fascinated by my long, curly, light colored hair, I felt accepted and welcomed by everyone I met.

I feel so lucky and grateful to have made this “second family” of mine that is mostly made up by the staff at Playa Viva. Instead of leaving with a bag of souveniers that I have bought from Mexico, I have a notebook filled with names, email addressees, personal notes, and phone numbers. Leaving the place and people of Playa Viva was sad; my time at Playa Viva was very temporary, but the memories and experience I have from this place will stay with me my whole life.

Season 4 Photo Contest – Winner Announced

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 04:19:00 GMT

Season 4 Photo Contest is finally complete. The book has gone to the press. The judges all got their votes in and while we had way too many great images all three judges only had 4 images that they all three agreed upon. When the book went to press, this image by Anna Hennings won our grand prize, a free stay at Playa Viva. So many great photos didn’t even make it into “the book.” We thank you all for your submissions and thank our three photographer/editor judges: Jay Premack , Amanda Holmes and Bryce Lankard for their time and energies as judges. Thank you and come visit us in Season 5.

So, how did we decide on which photos to include, first a photography had to have at least two votes to be included in the book. with over 500 photos submitted many had just one vote, but only a total of 37 images had two votes and 8 had three votes. The final selection of the winning photograph out of the top 8 photos came down to a very simple editorial process. Which of these photos looked best on the cover of the book and which embodied the themes of this years entries. The themes that permeated the winning photos were fun/whimsy/sense of humor along with nature/peace/joy. The cover photo by Anna Hennings contained all these great qualities of the simple joy that we all share in heading out to the shore with a bucket full of baby turtles to release. Congratulations to Anna and thank you to all of you who submitted so many great photographs.

Home Made Soap at Playa Viva. Perfecting the Process.

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:43:00 GMT

During a recent visit to Playa Viva, we made our second batch of soap with Lorraine, currently on tour of duty as the Yoga/Massage/Host at Playa Viva. She just sent us this note related to continuing with our soap making efforts.

“I was able to make soap on Sunday with Gabriel. The minimum amount being 10 liters. After re-reading the information sheet on bio-diesel it states that for every 1 liter of soap 50 milligrams are required of essential oils. I experimented with one liter adding chocolate and peppermint. The remainder I left un-scented. This being the 3rd batch ready for use 2/21/13.

What I did do was re-melt the remaining pieces left over after cutting the 2nd batch and scenting two samples and adding oatmeal to one. I left the rest un-scented which smells nice and not overly fragrant. This will be ready for use 2/27/13.

I cut round pieces and asked the housekeeping team to place them in the rooms instead of the regular soap. We now make a point to inform the guest about Playa Viva soap in the rooms. Since then we have had a total 4 sales at $5.00 for a three pack. The guest love it!

The only thing I would make other than bar soap would be the liquid soap that is used for general cleaning because the glycerin would be good for all wooded surfaces.

My recommendation: in order for your soap product to come out, once the proportions are established would be to:

Lorraine”

Birthday Without Presents? Yes, This Is a Happy Story…

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:38:00 GMT

When Maya celebrated her birthday recently she did something very, very special. Rather than contribute to conspicuous consumption she made a sacrifice few kids would make. She forsook the treasure trove of toys in exchange for giving back to nature. Read the details in our interview with Maya below.

Playa Viva – “ How did you get the idea to raise money for the turtle sanctuary?”
Maya – “Because I always got presents and I knew how long I played with them which was just one day, and I thought maybe I should do something else for this birthday.”

Playa Viva – “How did you pick La Tortuga Viva?”
Maya – “Because it is the only one I know of and I really like how it helps save the most endangered turtles.”

Playa Viva – “How did you raise the money?”
Maya – “I asked everybody that came to my party not to bring gifts and to instead donate that money they would have been spending on presents.”

Playa Viva – “Did you learn anything about turtles and how people rescue turtles?”
Maya – “Yes. I learned that turtles are very endangered because people eat them and take the eggs from their nests and eat them too. That causes there to be fewer turtles in the world, and their population is going down. To rescue them, they cut off the beaches from cars and people. After they hatch, they help the baby turtles into the ocean so they can be free.”

Playa Viva – “Was it fun and what did you enjoy about doing a fundraiser for your party?”
Maya – “It was fun because I knew the turtles would be safe and I knew I was doing something good.”

Maya, we applaud you for your sacrifice and commitment to making a contribution to promoting biodiversity and improving the chances of survival for marine turtles. The funds raised by Maya were used to purchase cyclone fencing to expand the turtle sanctuary in order to have room to protect more eggs and thus more turtles. Thank you Maya and to all who attended your party and gave generously.

Vegan Omelette Recipe

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:36:00 GMT

This is my favorite new recipe from the Playa Viva kitchen, a vegan omelette. It looks so much like a real omelette that guests who aren’t vegan were putting it on their plate and enjoying it as if it were an egg omelette. Recipe by summer intern Hunter Conrad from Chef “Chuckie” with photos by summer intern Monica Oyarzun. Enjoy and let us know how it works for you.

Vegan Garbanzo Bean Frittatas (makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:
• 2 cups dry Garbanzo beans
• 4 cups Water
• Teaspoon on salt
• A pinch of black pepper
• 4 Tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 2 Tomatoes

Preparation:

Note: For a real treat, add sweet potato, if you get the color just right, when you serve it will look like a cheddar cheese omelette.

Perfect Timing

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:39:00 GMT

The day after I arrived at Playa Viva I hopped on a 4-wheeler and rode a few minutes over to the Tortuga Viva turtle sanctuary. The rows and rows of markers looked a little like miniature headstones, but instead they served the opposite purpose. As the mother turtles had come onshore the night before to deposit their eggs, local volunteers were there to gather them and transfer each batch to the safety of the sanctuary. Now, they were marking last night’s finds so they’d be ready when in two months’ time these eggs hatched into baby sea turtles.

¿Número?

174.

¿Fecha?

7 de agosto.

¿Huevos?

63.

¿Tipo?

Golfina.

As I watched, the volunteers marked each of the previous night’s finds—recording the nest number, the number of eggs, the type of turtle, and the date.

—

Fast forward one week and I’m back at Playa Viva, relaxing before the start of a new week, when I hear the 4-wheeler headed down the beach from the turtle sanctuary. The volunteers arrive carrying a bucket, and when I peer inside I see tens of scrambling baby sea turtles – the first hatchlings of the year!

My timing couldn’t have been better: one week earlier I was watching eggs go into the ground for their two month incubation period, and now here I was looking at the season’s first set of turtles ready to be released into the ocean. Julia (Playa Viva’s manager), the two volunteers, and I made our way down to the waves where they poured the turtles onto the sand and we all watched as they scrambled toward the ocean.

Tortuga Viva’s volunteers told me that last year they released more than 100,000 baby sea turtles into the ocean. My fortunate timing—seeing eggs buried one week and baby turtles entering the ocean the next—is the result of the time and dedication these volunteers devote to gathering and caring for the eggs that mother turtles leave on Juluchuca’s shoreline. They protect the eggs from predators and poachers and shepherd the baby turtles back to the ocean when they hatch. Playa Viva supports and partners with local volunteers to support these conservation efforts.

Check out the video below to see this year’s first release, or, better yet, come down to Playa Viva to see it for yourself!

[vimeo 28335602 w=400 h=300]

Nick’s Turtle Video from Playa Viva on Vimeo.

Tortugas

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:07:00 GMT

Morning came; I woke up with the sun elegantly beaming through my casita netting. The sound of the waves crashing awakened my senses at the right moment. No alarm clock was needed. Seven thirty is the perfect time to arise here at Playa Viva, just in time for breakfast number one. I showered in the outdoor/indoor cool streaming waters and after headed for morning coffee before walking twenty minutes to release the Golfina baby sea turtles into the ocean. Playa Viva supports a local turtle sanctuary that helps protect the local endangered species of turtles. It’s a sad thing knowing that only few survive once released, however it is a life cycle. With our help here at Playa Viva the local endangered turtle population (such as the Leatherback) will increase.

Walking back twenty minutes to Playa Viva through the soft sand, ocean waves and washed up jelly fish made us all ready for a relaxing yoga session. Jamie, the yoga instructor and massage therapist enlightened us with a sun salutation session as we faced the Pacific ocean.

Breakfast was served. Scrambled eggs and red sauce, cantaloupe, salsa, cereal, and pancakes with caramel sauce filled everyone’s bellies. The atmosphere of the staff and guests is just astounding. Everyone is at peace, happy, and serene as they all experience the still world of Playa Viva.

There is an hour to an hour and a half walk through the gardens surrounding Playa Viva. Jamie was explaining to us the regenerative plans in the level 1, 2 and 3 areas around the resort. Level 1 is the restoring process. Level 2, Playa Viva is letting nature take its course, the preserving process. They have regenerated the natural soil to enhance the natural ecosystem and the rest, Mother Nature will provide. Level 3 is a cultivating process where gardens are maintained by the local people.

From my experience thus far, Playa Viva works hard to sustain, promote, and restore the nature surrounding the resort. Not only with physical environmental work with the local area, but with the resorts initiatives as well. Having no television, an organic digester for the filtration systems, solar energy, saline pool, wide open spaces (no air-conditioning), locally grown and caught food, involvement of the guests’ participation in local sustainability initiatives such as baby sea turtle releasing, informational garden hike and trips to the local wildlife refuge.

The sun is softly setting over the Pacific coast, it’s time for dinner.

Unplugged and Loving It

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:02:00 GMT

In the Escapes Section of The New York Times, September 12, 2008, Steve Bailey writes in the article entitled, “Unplugged“, “Many people say that they want their weekend place to be a refuge from the modern world, a place to disconnect and reconnect.” Wow. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. While many folks ask us how we can create a place that is luxury and not have “a TV in every room”, the answer is simple, luxury is not about granite counter tops and gold plated fixtures, nor is it about TV’s, mini-bars and hairdryers in every room, luxury is about really disconnecting and reconnecting. Luxury is about creating an environment that allows you to disconnect and reconnect with grace.

Steve goes on in the article to state, “But a little tech subtraction can add up to the weekend experience you really want, creating a sense of togetherness in what might some might consider a poorly equipped vacation house.” We have owned and operated another property, Casa Viva, for about 7 years.

We have watched guests go through a process of detoxing from the need to be connected all the time. You see them pacing, as if they have forget something or something has forgotten them. Then eventually they sit, still, for a moment or maybe longer and they peer out farther than the distance between them and a screen (either in their hand or on a desk) and they see nature. They see the iguana basking in the sun of a nearby rock, the pelicans diving for fish in the shore just beyond, the fisherman tossing his net out to sea, and the moment grabs them and they reconnect. Mr. Bailey, thank you for confirming our basic assumptions behind the design of Playa Viva.

Sustainable Beauty

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:14:00 GMT

When I told my husband “it will cost a little more, but I feel much better about it”, he did not groan. This is the last reaction I thought I’d get. Not only didn’t he complain, he added, “if you can’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your skin.”

Call it a mid-life beauty crisis, whatev— I’m switching the routine.

I wish I was one of those naturally gorgeous women who did not have to concern myself with this stuff. *sigh* I’m your typical 50 y.o. mom, wife, athletic-type, business owner. Dry skin, crows feet, dull hair– the whole can ‘o worms. I need all the help I can get. As a sort of ‘girly-girl’, I admit that I love browsing the beauty section of the drug store as much as anyone. But, for the love of our health!… have you read the ingredients of this stuff we slather on our bod’s?! It isn’t anything we should ingest by mouth, or skin!

I have changed a great deal about my beauty (ahem) regime. Starting with the lotions / potions I put on my skin. I have been a long time fan of a small company in Berkeley, CA– Grateful Body . I love their stuff. (The 30 + skin care is amazing). Their philosophy, leadership and offering all works in our best interest. I keep myself well-stocked with GB and anything from Dr. Hauschka .

Additionally, I have decided to do away with all the chemicals I have been treating my hair with. It’s a nightmare what it does to our eco-system and health. I just signed up to go totally natural w/ haircare. While doing so I also support an incredible women in our local community. I have an upcoming appointment at Isvara — if Elizabeth can’t keep my head natural, no one can.

Finally, here’s my ultimate hedonistic committment to a healthier planet: Good Clean Love. These potions rock and provide us with more reason to keep love sustainable. (Maybe this is the real reason my husband isn’t complaining).

Better Play, Better Kids

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:06:00 GMT

Continuing with the theme of “ Nature Deficit Dissorder ” and “ Where have all the children gone “, this story aired on NPR this morning, “ Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills “. Key to the story is the concept that we over-regulate our kids, that play has moved from being activity based to being object based, the object being a toy, a video-game and that their time is overly supervised and regulated by adults due to concerns about safety. The story states, “for most of human history what children did when they played was roam in packs large or small, more or less unsupervised, and engage in freewheeling imaginative play.” This is how I grew up mostly and this is how I want my children to grow up. This is the type of environment we want to create for our children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters. This is what we mean by “ Everyone Needs Wild Places “. We need places to let our (inner) child roam in packs engaging in freewheeling imaginative play within the right environment for that type of activity to flourish.

I encourage you to read or listen to this story. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514

Good Vibrations

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:20:00 GMT

Television, computer games, leaf blowers, loud generators inflating those gawdawful lawn decorations…

This holiday season, I’m reminded of how lovely it is to hear the sounds of nature. The simple calming music of streams, birds, waves. These are the vibrations I think of when I reflect on Playa Viva. The sounds of nature. The centering effect it has on my spirit.

It’s a part of what makes our environment so soothing. Always there, yet subtle. I believe it is the sounds of nature that finally take over my heart about the second day of my stay. I wasn’t completely aware of this until I was rushed along a busy city street, this week. The part of Playa Viva that hits you the minute you arrive. Calm. Relaxed.

I hope each of us finds some time this holiday week to quietly sit and listen to the sounds of nature.

“Playa Viva exceeds my expectations in every way!”

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:37:00 GMT

Fielding calls about Playa Viva from all over the U.S., I’m meeting a lot interesting, visionary people. Even among this group there was something special about the landscape contractor / designer from Utah I met last month. She was so inspired by what she saw on our website that she basically decided to jump on a plane and come down the next week to see the project for herself.

Long interested in buying vacation property in Mexico but daunted by the headache of individual ownership in a foreign country, she said that Playa Viva was just what she’d been searching for. This was opportunity to enjoy a beautiful natural environment with her family, meet new like-minded people but most importantly do something real to help the environment.

Describing herself to be on the “radical side of environmentalism,” she said she often gets frustrated with development projects that try to “green wash” buyers, calling themselves sustainable just because they do slightly less damage to the environment than others.

As we walked the trails of the land with permaculture designer Odin Ruz she saw first-hand what regenerative development looks like. After releasing tiny turtles into the ocean we made our way through the palms to the estuary. Bending over new seedlings of endangered mangroves sprouting on the banks, she had a look of awe on her face. “You all are really doing it,” she said. “This project exceeds my expectations in every way.”

Bioneers — Who are we?

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:28:00 GMT

Bioneers is a conference that takes place in Marin, California each year sometime in October. It is a “…forum for connecting the environment, health, social justice, and spirit within a broad progressive framework.” I have a science / engineering background so I appreciate the more technical elements of Bioneers, although at times must confess to feeling like the conference is a bit light on the science. I also have to say I have been incredibly inspired and even moved by this conference. The love, devotion and concern of these bioneers for our planet is outstanding, and part of why I quit my job (building catastrophe simulation models for insurance and reinsurance companies) was motivated by my rising concern for the health of our planet that was made apparent to me during these conferences: It seems to me that building sustainable community is the only real cure for reducing global warming and at the same time enriching our lives. Check out www.bioneers.org for more info.

What’s a Guy to Do?

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:29:00 GMT

We have recently been fielding a lot of questions from folks looking to become co-owners at Playa Viva and interestingly many of the questions have to deal with activities. As one person stated, “for my husband, fly fishing is everything, if there is no fly fishing nearby, it is a deal killer.” Another wanted not only a list of internationally renowned surf spots nearby but wanted photos as well. Luckily, Playa Viva has plenty of both. Again, it depends on the type of fly fishing you do and surfing level you require, but within minutes ore within hours, we have plenty of variety of both.

The estuary that borders and runs through Playa Viva and the lake up in the archaeological site provide plenty of places to fish right on site. Both of these areas will be part of the Private Reserve we are creating for the use of owners (and guests). This is part of the un-calculated financial benefit of ownership, at the risk of sounding too “salesy”, you not only get co-ownership of your Casita and other buildings, but you are co-owner of 160 acres of woods, estuary, archeology site and 1.2 kilometers of beach front.

Beachfront, that takes me to surfing . Playa Icacos is the beach off the mouth of the Juluchuca river and the estuary formed by the sand bar that closes most of the year. On the map included here, you see Juluchuca as one of the top surf spots in the State of Guerrero. This area also includes La Barrita and Loma Bonita. About an hour away is Troncones and nearby sites (Salulita and El Rancho).

So what do you want to do while on vacation. For some, it is the community engagement, for others surfing and fishing, for others its just taking it easy. We want to hear from you about what you expect out of your vacation time in Playa Viva.

Seeds of connection

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:33:00 GMT

As the Director of Sales I have the privilege of seeing the project come to life from a various angles—getting to know the architect and his amazing plans for building tree houses, tip-toeing through delicate, newly planted mangrove seedlings on the banks of the estuary to setting a tiny turtle on the sand and watching it make it’s first steps toward the ocean.

But for me what really makes this project come to life are the people. From the fascinating conversations I’ve been having with prospective buyers from all over the US and beyond, to the gradual familiarity I’m gaining with members of the local community. Playa Viva is about connecting and finding common ground in deep and unexpected ways.

Over the past week this has meant taking an early morning walk on the beach with a group of elderly Mexican women in Juluchuca and realizing that though we come from different generations and different cultures (not to mention the formative language barrier), we were not so different. As we walked we talked about our shared love of cooking, sharing recipes and stories of family and friends.

Several hours later I was in Troncones greeting a group of prospective buyers and supporters of Playa Viva. Another fascinating group. There were surfers from Southern California, two lively women from San Francisco, a landscape architect from Utah and a Canadian Yoga instructor. Thanks to Playa Viva we were not just meeting in passing but exploring the land together and sitting down to shared meals, allowing conversation to flow and time to make real connections.

Looking back on my week I realize that this is a very important (though easily overlooked) aspect of our project. We are creating an especially fertile environment for communication—bridging the distance between people and cultures—to see what takes root.

7000 Plants and Trees

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:58:00 GMT

It has been a real treat spending the last week giving tours of Playa Viva while Odin Ruz, our permaculture specialist, has been on site. We now have a nursery nearby with over 7000 trees and plants of all varieties.

Included are two very special trees grown from the seeds of “mother” trees located on Playa Viva. These two trees are the Zapotillo and the Guayacama, the later being a very hard wood, and we are lucky to have one of each still left on our land to serve as a mother tree.

Several other trees are native but no longer found on the site. For example, we are re-introducing Cacao to Playa Viva, this is the source of Chocolate, native to Mexico. Archeological records show that cacao was one of the tributes to the Aztecs from this area.

Another success for the Playa Viva permaculture team is the seeding of mangrove, a tree that is very hard to reproduce. By clearing the banks of the estuary of invasive species, the team allowed for the mangrove seedlings to find fertile soil to sprout. We now have several mangrove saplings sprouting up around the banks of the estuary.

Odin also showed us several techniques for irrigating plants in remote locations. In one case, clay pots that are unfinished and thus porous are used as a drip system to keep the root system of small trees growing in the hot dunes. The other is using a 2 liter coke bottle and putting a small opening in the top. The key is to make the hole small enough to let the water last for two days, then the team comes around and refills the bottles.

I hope you can join us on site to see all these wonderful activities in action, to learn directly from Odin and his local team, and to hike the trails and see the results of the permaculture specialists in person.

The 2030 Challenge: What difference are we really making?

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:04:00 GMT

Not only do we need to make a difference, we need to figure out how to make the best choices. And I admit, it is sometimes difficult to know where to put your energy. For example, the CO2 output from one medium sized coal power plant (500 MW) will in just 10 days of operation completely offset the planting of 300,000 trees. And in the United States today, there are over 150 conventional coal powered plants on the drawing board. Not to mention China, where there is a new conventional coal powered plant being brought online every week.

Sometimes I feel like we are fighting an uphill battle.

But still, every tree we plant DOES make a difference. Every time I leave my house now, I try and power down all my electronics. And I just spent tons of time and resources putting expandable caulk into the seams of this ancient modified A-frame I live in, in Truckee, CA, at 5600 ft above sea level. Its cold here, and it is costing me a lot of energy to stay warm in this poorly insulated house. So what right do I have to tell China not to build more coal power plants?

According to Ed Mazria at the 2030 challenge (www.architecture2030.org), the problem can be solved with no more coal — even if we were to burn ALL the remaining gas and oil reserves, we still would not reach a critical thermal mass in the atmosphere to fully trigger global warming. But coal is the factor that will push us way over the edge of this precipice.

Is it possible to conserve our way to sustainability? The road is long, and must begin with more awareness. And Playa Viva is a medium to communicate this message of awareness, tolerance, and respect for the people and natural environment we live in.

Love The Oceans & Win A Trip!

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:58:00 GMT

Not a bad deal. If you love the oceans, (and who doesn’t?!), you have to check out Ocean Champions . Ocean Champions is the only national, bipartisan political voice for the oceans. That’s right. They actually work to get pro-ocean political candidates elected, thereby securing healthy ocean policy. They have done lots of outstanding work that you should know about. As one of their supporters stated, “The oceans are the only reason we all haven’t died from CO2 poisoning.” Makes you feel kind of protective, huh?

As part of OC’s campaign to attract ocean enthusiasts supporters, they are offering a contest where you and friends can come down for a visit to Playa Viva!

Okay, you got me. OC is indeed a strategic partner of Playa Viva. So, of course I shamelessly promote their efforts. We love everyone who stands for the health of this beautiful planet.

Check it out. You may win the trip down to visit us in Zihuatanejo. (There’s some great surfing down here!).

This must be the place!

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:02:00 GMT

Entirely different vibe here. Leaving SFO- ‘homeland security’ had found a place to reside in the back of my neck. You know, that spot just between the shoulder blades. Bye-bye USA… hello MEXICO!!!

From the moment I land in Zihuantanejo/Ixtapa (ZIH) Airport I felt my breathing change. My shoulders were slowly leaving my ears. Hey! Everyone is smiling. What’s up with that? That lovely warm breeze. Okay. This feels more like it.

Being a surfer from Norcal, it’s hard to imagine paddling out without my full 4.3 neoprene body girdle. Even though I’m here to ‘work’ and check out the progress of the Playa Viva site, it would be a lie to tell you I had anything else but surfing on my mind. It didn’t get any easier to wrap my brain around work at baggage claim. (grin!)

Sustainable Perspectives

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:12:00 GMT

Green building is a hot topic these days. According to the U.S. Green Building Council , the annual U.S. market in green building products and services is now over $12 billion dollars, with more than 3 billion square feet of building space involved with the LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

The December issue of Environmental Design+Construction magazine (67,000 pass-along readership) gathers industry leaders to address the past, present, and future of green building issues in their annual Sustainable Perspectives series . Playa Viva developer David Leventhal was asked to reflect on the future of green building.

We encourage you to read his article – Participatory Green Building is Regenerative .

Top Turtle

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:06:00 GMT

Just got the stats from the turtle sanctuary team for November. Over 42,000 baby turtles were released in November. The Tortuga Feliz is running at 64% higher than last year and are either the number one or number two largest turtle sanctuary in all of Mexico. With our support, they are now expanding to add more area and better facilities. I have thought about setting up a non-profit and seeing if we can help drive donations from the US and other “wealthy” nations to support this all volunteer team, but as of now, we will do our best to support them directly.

Also, good news, Baltazar, the head of the team, reports that they have “tenemos un nido de la especie Laúd de 79 Huevos y otro de la especie negra con 110 Huevos” – Translating to: we have 70 eggs from the leatherback turtle (critically endangered) and 110 from the black (actually Green) turtle (also endangered). How wonderful it is to be part of saving something so threatened. See what team biologist Gerardo Ceballos has to say about this in a short video about > La Tortuga Feliz (see multimedia section of Playa Viva website).

Nature Deficit Disorder

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:34:00 GMT

That’s the term coined by author Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods , an account of how children are slowly disconnecting from the natural world. A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle discussed a new poll of 333 parents by the Public Policy Institute of California addressing this very topic. The poll found that 30 percent of teenagers did not participate in any outdoor nature activity at all this past summer. Another 17 percent engaged only once in an outdoor activity like camping, hiking or backpacking.

A nationwide study conducted by the University of Maryland found that between 1997 and 2003, the proportion of children ages 9 to 12 who spent time hiking, walking, fishing, playing on the beach or gardening declined 50 percent.

Depending on where you live, there are usually no shortages of activities in which to partake. The problem may be the countless distractions. Can beaches, hikes, and family time compete with iPods, cell phones, and MySpace?

At Playa Viva, we think they can. Releasing baby turtles, sleeping in a treehouse, or horseback riding on the beach are the antidotes to nature deficit disorder. For both kids, and parents alike.

A Sense of Urgency

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:55:00 GMT

I’m attending the United States Green Build Council’s annual Greenbuild Conference in Chicago, Illinois ( www.usgbc.org ), and there is a palpable sense of urgency permeating all the talks, sessions and impromptu meetings going on here. Its like we have finally reached a tipping point — no longer is the existence of global warming being debated, but rather how severe the effects will be and when will they manifest. And there is a recognition that if we keep up with ‘business as usual’, we are going to be seeing a major assault to our way of life, our country and the entire world within as soon as 10 years. Due to our addiction to cheap energy, specifically coal (See Ed Mazriya’s talk, more on that in another blog…). Bill Clinton’s keynote address on Wednesday was a call to arms: President Clinton’s message is that the environtal movement needs to be the biggest countrywide and worldwide call to action since World War II in order to stem the tide of global warming. And not only will this massive effort reap benefits to the overall health of our world, but the positive economic effects will be staggering as well, in a positive way. There is evidence of this in all countries that have adopted the Kyoto Protocol.

Seeing Paul Hawken talk yesterday brought a distinctly personal message to the movement: Environmental sustainability and social justice are inseparable. This movement is not about supplying healthier air and living wages to the rich — it is about treating everyone who lives on this planet with humanity and respect. Only when we recognize that we are all deeply connected can we affect positive change to the world we live in.

We have a lot of work to do, but the journey, while deeply distrubing at times, is a beautiful journey into the possibility of how we can find deeper meaning in our lives, not just mine, but all of our lives.

I’m flying back home, to Truckee CA this afternoon (yes, I recogize the hypocricy of flying…) then driving to San Francisco for yet another green festival — the SF Greenfest. More later…

Restoration

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:38:00 GMT

Together with the trees that are already there such as, Crataeva tapia and Bursera excelsa, the idea is to recreate the original vegetation of the dunes. With this project we hope to stabilize the dunes, suppress the proliferation of plants with thorns, improve the soil and cool the climate by trapping humidity and adding more shade. These trees will also protect the orchards from the salty breeze of the ocean.

Peak Season

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:33:00 GMT

We just got the monthly stats in from the turtle sanctuary, Tortuga Feliz, at Playa Viva . This is definitely peak season. The team reported for Sept: 714 new nests, 67,451 turtle eggs (avg of 95 eggs per nest) and 29,723 turtles released. In October, the numbers are off the charts: 439 nests, 41,574 eggs and 64,787 turtles released. These are incredible numbers. The work of this group of all volunteers should be highly commended. We hope to help find additional funds to support their activities. The leaders of the Tortuga Feliz told us they believe they are either the largest or second largest turtle sanctuary in all of Mexico.

We just visited the site on Oct 26th and released 2722 turtles. We were told that over 4000 turtles were released the day before. Joining us were new Playa Viva team member Sadie Kaufman, Catherine Krantz (Editor of local magazine “ Another Day in Paradise “), Real Estate Agent Tim Sullivan (from Ixtapa Real Estate ) and Brian and Kristen Furano (from The Grain Collective ).

We hope you can join us in supporting and visiting the Tortuga Feliz.

Good News, Bad News

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:28:00 GMT

A recent report released by the Travel Industry Association outlines the results of a survey into habits and choices of the green traveler. According to the report, 50 percent say they would be more likely to use an airline if they knew it took the initiative to offset carbon emissions, used newer, more fuel efficient jets, or implemented recycling programs. Almost six out of ten (56 percent) stated the same thing for car rental companies (those offering more fuel efficient and hybrid cars). And fully 54 percent stated they would be more likely to patronize hotels or resorts they knew practiced environmental responsibility.

13 percent of travelers would be willing to pay higher rates or fares to use suppliers who demonstrate environmental responsibility.

According to the survey, consumers would favor properties that actively tried to prevent beach erosion (oceanfront hotels), allowed guests the option to reuse towels and sheets, reduced their energy consumption by using energy efficient lighting/low flow toilets and showers, and supported community environmental causes.

And, not surprisingly, Americans’ sense of environmental responsibility manifests itself in many other ways: eight out of ten (78 percent) U.S. adults consider themselves “environmentally conscious,” according to the survey. In fact, more than half:

• Turn out the lights when they leave a room (85 percent);

• Practice energy efficiency by regulating air conditioning and heating when not at home (67 percent);

• Recycle trash (60 percent);

• Shut off water while brushing teeth or shaving (60 percent);

• Try to use more energy efficient light bulbs (59 percent);

• Keep showers short (53 percent).

Good news – The report validates some of the basic ideas behind our business model. Today’s traveler is getting greener and greener in their purchases.

So what’s the Bad News – Travelers are not necessarily willing to pay much more for environmentally friendly choices.

Film Crew On Site Captures Turtles Laying Eggs

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:20:00 GMT

Gaston and Carlos, who are filming a documentary of the “Making of Playa Viva”, were on site in September to catch the sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. A short film of this will be posted when completed.

Blog – Blog Eport

Why We Care Where Our Stuff Comes From

Playa Viva’s Commitment to a Transparent & Regenerative Supply Chain

Small Tweaks, Big Impact

Looking Ahead

Back to the Soap

Empowering Women, Regenerating Your Health

Moringa

Hibiscus

Turmeric

Cacao

Chaya

Hoja Santa

Yuca

WordTrails and Playa Viva: A Shared Journey of Connection and Giving Back

“Maintenance is a Man’s Job”

Culture and Community with Yara Landa

Playa Viva, the Antidote to AI

Scout and her Radical Sabbatical

Empowering Tomorrow’s Environmental Stewards: The EcoAgentes of Juluchuca

How We Turned Used Plastic into Gold

Excellence in Tourism- Playa Viva awarded at FITUR in Madrid

What do the cliff divers of Acapulco, the Posadas de Taxco and Playa Viva have in common? All have been recognized by the The Excellence Awards by Groupo Excellencias!

Playa Viva’s Power Couple: Eli & Serafin

Because it Feels Like Home

Johnny’s Famous Basil Margarita

Julia on 15 Years Leading the Playa Viva Team

Quickfire Qs

Julia’s story from the very beginning…

Quinceanera: Playa Viva Turns 15

Honoring Place: A Note from our Co-Founder and steward, David Leventhal

Regenerating a Watershed: How Playa Viva’s Culinary Offerings and Guest Experiences Shed Light on Efforts to Regenerate the Region

Redefining roles for women- Juluchuca Women’s Cooperative

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Supporting the 2,000 Year Old Tradition of Artisanal Salt Production – Dona Quintina and her Family

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Cultivating Culture- Mario’s Milpa

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Off the Grid Farm – Cacao and More – Gutierez family

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From Farm to… Gastronomic Showcase

When Guests Become Family

Children Driving Systemic Change

This field trip was designed as part of a larger effort of immersive community experiences which are important to our wider project to regenerate the watershed.

Playa Viva Achieves Highest B-Corp Certification Score Awarded to a Hotel to Date

Community, Environment & Guest Experience All Come First

Words From Our Owner on This Honor & the Path Ahead

Join Us

Deepening the Design Process by Honoring a Sense of Place

A Personal Evolution Toward Regeneration

Meaningful Design Predated Unavoidable Economic Realities

The Playa Viva We Know & Love

For the Welfare of Pets and Our Community

Training Course for Sea Turtle Camps in the State of Guerrero

﻿ Dream Day for the Turtle Team

Looking Forward to What’s Next for La Tortuga Viva

Regeneration of the Juluchuca Micro-Watershed: ReSiMar

Creating a Common Good – A Vision Statement for the Juluchuca Micro-Watershed

What’s Next for ReSiMar

Red Regenerativa de Cuencas y Comunidades (Regenerative Watershed Network)

Unexpected Delights at Playa Viva

3 Vacation Pleasures I Never Anticipated

Help Secure Water for the Town of Rancho Nuevo

Regeneration: Problem Solving in a Mexico Watershed

Regeneration: Problem Solving in a Mexican Watershed

Playa Viva’s Treehouse Village: Inspired by Nature, Built Regeneratively

A Mobula Ray Migration Into the Palms

Playa Viva Leads with Local — for Building & Connection

Our Gifts From the Coconut Tree & Her Fruit

The Story of Playa Viva’s Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil

Detailed Steps of Making Coconut Oil

An Ever-Evolving, Hyperlocal Production Process

1 Element Inside a Dynamic System With Many Functions

Coconut Palm Wood & Natural Building

Coconut in the Kitchen

Play Your Part at Playa Viva

Sponsor a Student; Change a Life

Sponsor a Student; Change a Life

Join Us as a Sponsor

Program Details

Dream Day for the Turtle Team