Hotel Snapshot
Some hotels make a lot of noise about what they are. Lunaya doesn't need to. Tucked beside an ecological reserve just steps from Zicatela Beach in La Punta, Puerto Escondido's most soulful pocket, it isn’t a hotel in a traditional sense. Rather, Lunaya is four independent villas (and a newly constructed penthouse) arranged behind a brutalist concrete façade and a 660-pound front door that swings open to reveal a serene getaway that’s aggressively unpretentious about the fact that it's one of the most underrated places to stay on Mexico's Oaxacan coast. James Vybiral, a British travel photographer, and his wife Llana Boren built it after falling for Puerto Escondido and deciding to build something that reflected its spirit. Three years, one pandemic, and considerably more budget than originally planned later, they did exactly that.
Design & Character
Walking through that aforementioned front door for the first time, the quiet hit me before anything else did. Then the materials did. Vybiral worked with Puerto Escondido–based firm Perma Casco Arquitectura on the project, and together they committed to a vocabulary that is almost willfully restrained: exposed concrete, chukum-washed walls (the Yucatecan resin the Mayans used as a natural finish, which here ends up lining the pools too, thanks to its water-repellent quality), macuil wood doors built by local artisanal carpenters, white stone marmolina floors. Smoked clay kitchenware sourced from the Oaxacan Sierra. Every hour the light does something different inside these rooms, and the whole place glows in a way that feels like a warm hug.
The Rooms
Each of the four villas spans around 645 square feet and functions as a fully self-contained world: king bed with memory foam mattress, kitchenette with induction stone and filtered water, AC, and a private saltwater plunge pool with a submerged sunbathing shelf.
Here's what I keep coming back to, though: the bathrooms. Three of the four villas have macuil wood beams overhead that track the sun across the day, throwing shadows that shift and lengthen as the hours pass. It sounds like a small thing. It isn't.
For those looking for something a step up, there's also a new penthouse with ocean views, a two-person bathtub, and a private terrace built for sunset-watching; all positioned about 150 feet from the beach. I didn’t book this option but wish I did for at least a night. Maybe next time—I’m sure I’ll be back.
Food & Drink
There’s no on-site restaurant here, but that’s not a shortcoming. La Punta is one of the more pleasantly walkable stretches of the Oaxacan coast, with local restaurants clustered right outside the door. I personally loved ENNA at Ennea Hotel, and the killer Peruvian cuisine at Chicama. Lunaya was less than 10 minutes on foot to both.
If you do want to cook your own meals, the kitchenette included in each villa has all the cookware you’d want.
The Amenities
Having my own saltwater plunge pool and a concierge who operated like a thoughtful host were both great, sure. But the real allure of Lunaya? The fact that it offers a level of privacy and quiet that makes you feel like you owned the entire property. I booked this stay after a few weeks partying across Mexico City and Puerto Escondido, and it centered me in a way that no spa treatment could.
Location & Neighborhood
La Punta is Puerto Escondido's creative, low-key counterpoint to the busier stretches of the coast. It’s drawn surfers for decades, but over the past few years a wave of artists and architects have descended into town, giving the neighborhood a distinctly creative energy.
Villas Lunaya sits right in the thick of it—steps from the beach, and close to the best local restaurants. I've stayed in a lot of well-located boutique properties in Mexico. This is among the best of them.
Fast Facts
Location: Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Address: Calle Nuevo Leon 1284, La Punta, Puerto Escondido, Mexico 71980
Vibe: Brutalist-meets-barefoot. A minimalist sanctuary with private saltwater pools, local artisan craftsmanship, and a serious commitment to privacy.
Rooms: 4 villas + 1 penthouse
Pricing: From $278 a night
Dining & Cocktails: No on-site restaurant; La Punta's best spots are steps from the door. There’s a kitchenette with an induction stove and cookware if you want to cook your own meals.
Amenities & Services: Free WiFi, private saltwater plunge pools, concierge service, AC, king beds with memory foam, kitchenettes with filtered water
Gathering Spaces: Your private pool or the beach two minutes down the road
Nearest Airport: Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM)
Puerto Escondido, Mexico
