Playa Viva Review: An Honest Look at Mexico’s Off-Grid Eco-Luxury Resort

Last Updated on July 15, 2026 by Kasey Lynch

There are resorts that promise you’ll leave feeling refreshed, and then there are places that quietly change the way you think about luxury travel. 

Playa Viva falls into the second category.

Tucked along Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Guerrero, Playa Viva is an off-grid, regenerative resort where luxury isn’t measured by marble lobbies or butler service, but by waking to the sound of the ocean, eating food harvested just steps from your table, and falling asleep beneath a canopy of stars in an open-air treehouse.

From the moment I arrived, it became clear that Playa Viva was built around intention. Every decision, from the architecture and regenerative farm to the community partnerships and conservation work, serves a purpose larger than hospitality alone.

If you’re wondering whether Playa Viva is worth the journey, what it’s actually like to stay there, or whether giving up constant Wi-Fi and air conditioning is a worthwhile trade-off, this guide covers everything you need to know. 

Table of Contents

What Is Playa Viva?

Hidden along Mexico’s Pacific coast near the small village of Juluchuca, about 45 minutes from Zihuatanejo, Playa Viva is an off-grid resort built on nearly 200 acres of regenerated coastline in the state of Guerrero.

Unlike a traditional luxury resort, Playa Viva generates its own electricity through solar power, heats its water with the sun, grows much of its food on a 20-acre permaculture farm, and funds one of the region’s most successful sea turtle conservation programs. Sustainability isn’t a feature here. It’s proudly the foundation the entire property was built upon.

That also means this isn’t the right destination for everyone.

If you’re looking for swim-up bars, endless buffets, strong Wi-Fi, and air-conditioned rooms where you can watch television after dinner, you’ll probably be happier elsewhere. But if the idea of slowing down, eating food harvested hours before it reaches your plate, sleeping with the sounds of the ocean instead of a white noise machine, and experiencing a place that actively restores the environment rather than simply occupying it sounds appealing, Playa Viva offers something increasingly difficult to find.

This isn’t just an eco-resort. It’s a different philosophy of travel. One that asks you to disconnect from convenience so you can reconnect with nature and yourself, while learning what true luxury feels like. 

Getting There

Most travelers reach Playa Viva by first flying into Mexico City International Airport (MEX), then catching a connecting flight on a smaller plane to Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa International Airport (ZIH).

That second leg is part of the experience in itself. The plane drops down into a mountain valley, and the airport itself is modest, tucked into the surrounding nature in a way that immediately signals you’re somewhere different. It’s a quiet, unassuming first glimpse of the landscape you’re about to spend the next few days in, and honestly, a pretty fitting teaser for what’s ahead.

From there, Playa Viva takes over. The resort arranges a private shuttle to pick you up directly from the airport, so there’s no need to negotiate a taxi or sort out logistics in a language you may not speak fluently. The van ride is about 45 minutes to an hour, winding first through the edges of town before the road narrows and the scenery shifts — fewer buildings, more jungle, the kind of transition that makes you feel the trip actually beginning. 

By the time the van turns off onto the quieter road leading to the property, you’ve already left resort-town Mexico behind. It’s a small stretch of travel, but it does a lot of work setting the tone for everything that follows.

Where You’ll Stay 

Arrival at Playa Viva starts with something small that stays with you: a welcome drink, handed to you with genuine warmth that immediately tells you it’s safe to relax here.

Mine was served in a short ceramic cup, hand-painted with a delicate dotted pattern in burnt orange and blue against a sand-colored base. The kind of details that make you realize even the smallest touches here are thoughtful and done with care. I couldn’t tell you exactly what was in it — some kind of tea or juice — only that it was delicious, and it felt like the first real exhale of the trip.

From there, you’re led to your casita. This is where Playa Viva really sets itself apart.

If you fly a drone over the property or catch a glimpse on a Postcard picture taken from overhead, you’ll notice the casitas aren’t scattered at random. They’re arranged to mirror the shape of a manta ray gliding through water. One of the ocean’s most graceful creatures, and a fitting blueprint for a resort built entirely around living in rhythm with its surroundings. 

Each casita is handcrafted from bamboo and tucked into the treetops, elevated just enough to feel like you’re floating among the branches rather than simply staying beside them.

For guests who want a more grounded experience, Playa Viva does offer enclosed rooms. But if you’re ready to embrace what this one-of-a-kind resort has to offer, choose an ocean-front casita. There’s nothing quite like sleeping gently cloaked in a mosquito net, open to the air, with the sound of the ocean easing you into sleep as the moon tucks you in for the night. Morning arrives the same way. No alarm, just the soft light and sound of the water pulling you awake. It’s the kind of detail that’s hard to fully explain until you’ve lived it.

If ocean-front isn’t available or isn’t your preference, the jungle-facing casitas are just as wonderful in their own way. Quieter, more enclosed, wrapped in green rather than blue. Both settings offer their own version of stillness; it just depends on which one calls to you.

What Makes It Off-Grid

The term “off-grid” gets used loosely in travel marketing, but at Playa Viva it’s structural, not aesthetic. The resort runs entirely on solar power, generating 100% of its own energy through an on-site solar array rather than pulling from Mexico’s national grid. Hot water throughout the property is handled the same way, through solar water heaters rather than gas or electric systems.

Bamboo does a lot of the structural work here too. The treehouses and casitas are built using bamboo grown on-site, supplemented by sustainably sourced bamboo from abroad when needed. It’s a fast-growing, renewable material that suits the humidity and heat far better than imported lumber would. It’s part of why the architecture reads as organic rather than constructed.

The buildings feel like they grew alongside the palms holding them up, not dropped into the landscape after the fact.

But the deeper story is in the land itself. Playa Viva sits on close to 200 coastal acres in Guerrero, land that was previously degraded by coconut monoculture and slash-and-burn clearing for cattle farming — practices that stripped native vegetation critical to the surrounding watershed, including nearby lagoons, streams, and rivers.

Rather than simply minimizing further damage, Playa Viva operates on a regenerative development model, meaning the goal isn’t neutrality. It’s active improvement of the ecosystem beyond its original state.

That shows up most visibly in the permaculture farm, a 20-acre operation that supplies a meaningful share of what’s served in the kitchen — coconuts, mangos, cashews, tamarind, tomatoes, greens, and more — while also helping rebuild soil health and reintroduce native biodiversity to land that industrial agriculture had hollowed out. A portion of what’s grown is even sold at local farmers’ markets, extending the impact past the resort’s own dining room.

Then there’s La Tortuga Viva, the resort’s turtle conservation program, run in partnership with a marine biologist and a crew of dedicated volunteers. Since 2010, the program has released over 500,000 hatchlings back into the ocean. The sunrise turtle release isn’t a novelty activity tacked onto the guest experience; it’s a genuine conservation effort guests get a rare, close-up glimpse into.

All of this is funded, in part, by guests themselves. Every stay includes a 2% Regenerative Trust contribution, which goes directly into the ReSiMar watershed regeneration project, supporting reforestation, water systems, and community education in the surrounding villages. It’s a small line on the folio, but it’s the clearest illustration of the resort’s whole philosophy: your stay isn’t separate from the land’s recovery; it’s actively funding it.

Playa Viva has also earned outside validation for this approach. It holds B-Corp certification with one of the highest scores awarded to a hotel, and has received two MICHELIN Keys, a relatively new distinction recognizing exceptional stays.

In practice, “off-grid” at Playa Viva means fewer creature comforts than a typical luxury resort. But every convenience that does exist is because the property built the infrastructure to support it sustainably, not because it was easier to plug into what already existed.

What’s On Site at Playa Viva

This is a property built around the idea that luxury doesn’t require excess — everything here is intentional, and most of it ties back to the land itself.

The Turtle Sanctuary 

A few steps up the beach, Playa Viva runs a sea turtle sanctuary and rehabilitation center. If your timing lines up, you can join a morning release by walking down to the shoreline at first light to send baby sea turtles into the water. It’s one of those experiences that’s hard to describe without sounding like a cliché, and yet it fully earns the moment.

Regenerative Farm + Farm Tours 

The resort operates on regenerative farming practices, and nearly everything served in the kitchen is grown on-site or nearby. Guests can take a farm tour to see exactly where their meals originate — not as a marketing add-on, but as a genuine walkthrough of the growing systems that keep the property running.

Mountaintop Cacao 

A short distance away, Playa Viva also grows cacao on a nearby mountaintop, with excursions offered to visit the farm. Weather didn’t cooperate during my stay, but it’s on the list for next time. Regardless of weather, you can buy a bag of cacao in the resort shop, ensuring you get to taste the rich, essentially unrefined Mexican cacao that you’ll be savoring until the very last nibble. 

Jungle Gym + Dual Yoga Studios 

Fitness here doesn’t feel like an obligation or a guilt-trip. There’s an open-air, jungle-style gym for guests who want to keep a routine, plus two separate yoga studios positioned right along the water — ideal for sunrise or sunset practice depending on your rhythm. The entire eco-luxury resort offers ample opportunity to do what feels good to you that day. It’s up for you to decide where that internal compass will lead you. 

Cooking Classes 

Given how central the farm-to-table philosophy is, it’s no surprise Playa Viva offers on-site cooking classes*, giving guests a hands-on look at how the ingredients they’ve been eating all week come together.

*Some product offerings and availability might have changed. Check with the staff to see what you can participate in during your stay.

Spa Services 

The spa menu is more extensive than you’d expect from a property this size — facials, Thai massages, and a full range of treatments designed to match the resort’s “unplug and reset” ethos. I booked a facial, and it was hands-down one of the most relaxing facials I’ve ever had. The treatment room is tucked behind one of the yoga studios, in a wonderfully cool, quiet spot where a kind, attentive esthetician takes you straight to bliss, with ocean waves in the background, practically lulling you to sleep.

The Shop 

Small but well-curated, the on-site shop carries local pottery and handmade goods — the kind of pieces you’ll find yourself mentally rearranging your suitcase to fit.

The Treehouses 

And then there’s where you sleep. The open-air treehouse-style casitas overlooking the ocean somehow manage to feel both rustic and elevated all at once. Waking up in one feels like a dream.

A Day in the Life at Playa Viva

Sunrise 

Mornings here start early, but not in a way that feels demanding. If timing lines up with hatching season, you’ll head down to the beach at first light for a turtle release with the La Tortuga Viva team, sending that day’s hatchlings into the water as the sky shifts from lavender to gold. 

Even if there’s no release that morning, the pre-dawn walk down to the open-air common area is worth it on its own: thermal carafes of coffee, hot water, and cinnamon tea waiting by the water’s edge, with nowhere to be and nothing to check.

Morning 

Playa Viva runs beachside yoga daily at 8 a.m., open to any guest who wants to join, in one of the property’s two ocean-facing studios. Afterward, breakfast is served family-style — black beans, fresh papaya, made-to-order eggs, whatever the farm and kitchen pulled together that morning. 

If it’s on the day’s schedule, this is also a good window for the farm tour, where the permaculture team walks you through the 20-acre garden supplying most of what’s on your plate.

Midday 

This is the stretch built for doing absolutely nothing, and Playa Viva makes that easy. Hammocks, the pool, a slow walk along the mile of private beach. If you want to stay active, the jungle-style gym is open-air and ocean-adjacent, or you can grab a board — the resort offers boogie boarding, with an informal tips-and-tricks session often held later in the day for anyone who wants pointers before paddling out.

It’s important to note that the warning flags are not to be taken lightly. The coastline boasts deep drop-offs, creating large waves that will contest even the strongest swimmer. 

Afternoon 

Depending on the season, this is prime time for an excursion: a cacao farm visit up in the Sierra Madre mountains, a snorkel or kayak trip, or — if you’re visiting during whale season — a marine biologist-led whale watching excursion in partnership with Whales of Guerrero, where guests help record sightings and data. Prefer to stay on property? The spa’s beachside cabanas offer everything from facials to Thai massage, or you can book a cooking class to learn the farm-to-table dishes you’ve been eating all week.

Sunset 

As the light drops, the boogie boarding sessions tend to peak, or you can simply post up at your treehouse. Most face west, so sundown becomes something close to ceremonial. Some evenings include a cacao ceremony, rooted in indigenous tradition rather than staged for guests.

P.S. Don’t be surprised if you find a snake in the bathroom by the pool after sunset (speaking from personal experience). Simply use another stall and notify an employee in case it needs to be relocated. 

Evening 

Dinner is communal, farm-driven, and unhurried, and a good excuse to trade stories with other guests over a coconut or a mezcal drink from the bar. I highly recommend spending quality time with the bartender, as every employee here radiates a genuine warmth, making seemingly mundane interactions sparkle. 

Some nights end with a bonfire on the beach; others just end with the sound of the ocean through the mosquito net, the moon doing exactly what it did the night before.

The Food at Playa Viva

If Playa Viva’s regenerative philosophy has a heartbeat, it’s the dining table.

Nearly every meal begins just steps away in the resort’s 20-acre permaculture farm, where produce is harvested daily based on what’s ripe rather than what’s expected. Menus shift constantly, reflecting the seasons instead of following a fixed rotation, making every meal feel deeply connected to the landscape around you.

Breakfasts are served family-style and often include tropical fruit picked that morning, creamy black beans, fresh tortillas, eggs cooked to order, homemade salsas, and handmade muesli. Lunches are bright and simple. Vibrant salads layered with herbs, grilled vegetables, local seafood, and anything you could want from the modest bar. 

During my stay, I joined one of Playa Viva’s cooking classes and helped prepare that evening’s dinner. Mole was on the menu, along with a cactus salad and several traditional side dishes.

We were introduced to the largest mortar and pestle I’ve ever seen, where spices and ingredients were ground by hand, before watching everything come together in a beautiful oversized ceramic pot that looked more like a piece of handcrafted art than a cooking vessel. It was a reminder that some of the best meals are recipes rooted in traditions passed from one set of hands to the next.

If you have the opportunity to cook alongside the people who pour so much love and intention into every meal, don’t pass it up. It gives you an even deeper appreciation for the food that arrives at your table each day and the care behind every ingredient.

If you have dietary restrictions, Playa Viva is remarkably accommodating. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs are handled thoughtfully, not as an afterthought. Because so much of the menu is built around fresh produce, the kitchen adapts naturally while maintaining the same quality and creativity.

What stood out most wasn’t a single dish. It was how fresh everything tasted. Tomatoes were sweeter, herbs more fragrant, tropical fruit impossibly vibrant. After touring the farm, learning about their complementary planting methods, and helping prepare a meal yourself, every bite means a little more.

It’s difficult to separate the food from the place because they’re so deeply intertwined, and that’s exactly what makes dining at Playa Viva so memorable.

Beyond the Resort: What to Do Nearby

While Playa Viva is easily the kind of place you could stay planted for your entire trip, the surrounding area gives you a reason to venture out for a day if you want a change of pace.

Zihuatanejo Town

About 40 minutes from the resort, Zihuatanejo is a working fishing town that’s managed to stay low-key despite its proximity to more developed tourist zones. The waterfront malecón is a good place to start — lined with seafood shacks, local vendors, and a slower rhythm than you’ll find in most Mexican beach towns this scenic. It’s worth carving out an afternoon here just to wander without a fixed plan.

La Ropa Beach

A short taxi ride from town, La Ropa is calmer and more swimmable than some of the region’s rougher stretches, with a string of casual restaurants right on the sand. It’s a nice contrast to Playa Viva’s untouched, private coastline — more social, more built-up, but still far from crowded.

The Local Market

Zihuatanejo’s municipal market is where you’ll find the town’s actual day-to-day rhythm — produce stalls, local spices, handmade goods, and food vendors serving dishes you won’t find on a resort menu. It’s a good stop if you want a more grounded sense of the region beyond the resort’s curated version of it.

Ixtapa

If you want a taste of a more traditional resort strip, Ixtapa is nearby and offers larger hotels, golf courses, and a more polished (if less distinctive) beach scene. Most travelers who choose Playa Viva aren’t looking for this experience, but it’s worth knowing it’s an option if you’re traveling with others who want more built-out amenities for part of the trip.

Temazcal Ceremony

There’s a local spot where you can participate in a traditional sweat lodge ritual, also known as a Temazcal ceremony. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but if you’re looking to release anything that no longer serves you, it can be an incredibly transformative experience.

Participating in a ritual conducted in another language gives you a unique opportunity to focus on what you’re feeling instead of what you’re hearing. The woman who guided my ceremony has been leading this ritual for over 30 years, creating a space that feels deeply supportive.

That said, I’ll warn you—it’s done in complete darkness. The shape of the lodge and the absence of light are intentional, symbolizing the mother’s womb and offering an opportunity for rebirth. From there, it’s up to you to surrender, allowing yourself to release and relax, purging emotions or burdens you may not have even realized you were carrying.

The ceremony is broken into two segments. The first is the longest, though it personally felt like the shortest. Afterward, you take a 15-minute break outside in the shade, wrapped in a white cloth to help your body adjust gradually to the temperature change. You’re also given a delicious warm tea to replenish the electrolytes you’ve lost. (Pro tip: wear a bathing suit. It may feel outside your comfort zone at first, but you’ll be much more comfortable during the ceremony.)

The second segment is shorter but, for me, felt much more challenging.

One thing to know beforehand: don’t clap inside the sweat lodge. The space exists to provide safety and bear witness to your healing, not to offer a performative burst of positivity. It’s a place to approach with reverence, openness, and curiosity.

The experience has a way of pulling you in completely. It depletes you physically, mentally, and emotionally, yet somehow leaves you wanting to return and experience it all over again.

You won’t exit the sweat lodge as the same person that entered it. I’ll also note that if you encounter others afterwards who did not participate, it can feel unknowingly performative. If you do book this experience, allow yourself the remainder of the day to witness your thoughts, be one with nature, and ease back into your life slowly. 

What to Pack / Know Before You Go

1 Pack light — seriously 

This isn’t the destination for a massive rolling suitcase. Between the sandy paths, open-air casitas, and lack of elevators or paved walkways, lugging around oversized luggage becomes a nuisance fast, not a convenience. 

I traveled with one backpack duffle and one small carry-on, and it was more than enough. You could get away with a little more space than I did, but if you’re used to packing heavy, this is a good trip to practice packing light.

2. Reef-safe, DEET-free sunscreen and bug spray 

This one matters more here than at a typical beach resort. Playa Viva is entirely off-grid, which means the water systems, the surrounding reef, and the turtle sanctuary just up the beach are all directly affected by what guests bring into the ecosystem. 

Conventional sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate are known to damage coral reefs and disrupt marine life, and DEET-based bug sprays carry similar concerns for the local waterways and wildlife the resort works so hard to protect and regenerate.

Look for mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, and opt for plant-based or DEET-free bug repellents instead. It’s a small swap, but it’s a meaningful one — you’re staying somewhere actively rebuilding its ecosystem, and the products you bring either support that effort or work against it. 

Pack enough for your entire stay, since specialty reef-safe products can be harder to find locally.

3. Bring extra to donate 

If you have the space, consider packing a few additional bottles of DEET-free bug spray or other eco-friendly essentials. Playa Viva accepts donations of these kinds of items, which get used to support the resort and surrounding community. It’s a small, easy way to give back beyond your stay.

4. Breathable, natural-fiber clothing + swimsuits

Lightweight, natural fabrics will serve you far better than synthetics in this climate — linen, cotton, and similar materials breathe better and hold up against the humidity. It’s also recommended that you pack two to three swimsuits. 

Whether you’re swimming in the ocean, relaxing in the infinity-style pool, or participating in the sweat lodge ceremony, you’ll want a suit you feel comfortable moving in all day. Being able to jump in the water to cool off at a moment’s notice is one of the perks of this immersive location.

5. A light sweater or layer 

Mornings can be cooler than you’d expect, especially if you’re heading down to the beach before sunrise for a turtle release. It doesn’t need to be heavy — a light cardigan, flannel, or breathable long-sleeve does the job — but you’ll be glad to have it for those early mornings and the occasional breezy evening near the water.

6. Cash 

You’ll want to arrive with pesos in hand rather than figuring it out once you’re there. The easiest option is exchanging currency at a money exchange kiosk in the Mexico City airport during your layover. The rates are generally reasonable, and it saves you from scrambling once you land in Zihuatanejo. 

Alternatively, check with your local bank before you fly out; many can order pesos for you ahead of time, sometimes at better rates than airport kiosks.

Either way, don’t count on finding convenient exchange options once you’re at the resort. Playa Viva is remote by design, and the closest local town, Juluchuca, isn’t set up for last-minute currency conversion. 

Cash comes in handy for the on-site shop, local excursions, tips, and anything you pick up during a day in Zihuatanejo town, so it’s worth having enough on hand for the full length of your stay.

7. Low expectations for wifi and AC 

This is genuinely off-grid, and it’s worth resetting your expectations before you arrive rather than being caught off guard once you’re there. Wifi is limited to common areas, so don’t count on a steady signal from your casita. If you need to send an email or check in with work, plan on doing it during a specific window rather than staying connected throughout the day. 

Most rooms don’t have air conditioning either. By design, the architecture is built to work with natural airflow and shade instead. Come ready to actually disconnect rather than trying to find workarounds, because that disconnect is a cornerstone of what makes the stay feel the way it does. 

8. A reusable water bottle 

A stainless steel or reusable water bottle reduces plastic waste and fits the resort’s broader sustainability ethos. Filtered water is available on-site, so there’s no need to rely on single-use bottles during your stay. It’s a small addition to your packing list, but it’s an easy way to align with the same values that shape everything else about Playa Viva.

Is Playa Viva Worth It? (Honest Take)

Here’s my honest answer: yes, but only if you know what you’re signing up for.

Playa Viva isn’t a resort in the traditional sense, and if you’re expecting the polish and predictability of an all-inclusive with 24-hour room service and reliable AC, this isn’t that place — and it’s not trying to be. 

What it is is something rarer: a property built with genuine intention, where the sustainability isn’t a marketing bullet point but the actual foundation everything else is built on. The off-grid power, the farm that feeds you, the turtle sanctuary, the regenerative work happening on the land itself — none of it is performative. You feel that difference the moment you arrive, and it only deepens the longer you stay.

It’s also not a place for everyone. If you need constant connectivity, climate control, or a packed schedule of curated entertainment, you’ll likely find the slower pace and off-grid limitations frustrating rather than restorative. 

This is a destination for people who actually want to unplug — not just say they did — and who are open to a little discomfort in exchange for something that feels real. The sweat lodge ceremony is a good example of that trade-off: it’s not comfortable, and it’s not meant to be. But it’s honest, and so is the rest of the property.

What sold me wasn’t any single amenity. It was the cumulative effect of small, considered details. The welcome drink in a hand-painted cup, the manta ray-shaped layout of the treehouses, the sunrise turtle releases, the way every meal traced back to a farm you could actually walk through. 

Nothing about Playa Viva feels rushed or manufactured. It feels lived-in, cared for, and deeply connected to the place it exists within.

If you’re looking for a trip that resets something in you rather than just photographs well, Playa Viva is worth every bit of the journey to get there. If you’re looking for luxury in the conventional sense — polish, predictability, constant comfort — you may want to look elsewhere. But if slower, quieter, and more intentional sounds like exactly what you need right now, this is one of the few places I’ve been that actually delivers on that promise.

Stay Scorecard

Final Thoughts

Some destinations give you a checklist of attractions to cross off. Playa Viva invites you to slow down enough to notice the ones you normally overlook.

It’s in the coffee waiting for you before sunrise, the sea turtles making their first journey into the ocean, the meals prepared from ingredients harvested hours earlier, and the conversations with staff who genuinely care about the land they’re sharing with you. It’s in the quiet moments between activities that somehow become the ones you remember most.

No, Playa Viva isn’t perfect for everyone. It asks you to trade convenience for presence, certainty for curiosity, and constant stimulation for stillness. But if you’re willing to make that exchange, you’ll likely leave with something far more valuable than a typical beach vacation.

I arrived expecting a beautiful eco-resort. I left with a deeper appreciation for what travel can look like when it’s designed not just to take from a place, but to actively give back to it.

Long after the tan fades and the suitcase is unpacked, I suspect what you’ll remember most isn’t the treehouse or the ocean views (though both are remarkable). It’ll be how Playa Viva made you feel: more connected to nature, more present with yourself, and maybe even a little more hopeful about the kind of impact travel can have when it’s done thoughtfully.