Set deep on a hillside with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of the Valle del Sierra Oriental, Heinz Legler and Veronique Lievre have created Verana, a small yet unforgettable retreat comprised of a cluster of secluded bungalows.
Open for its first full season from November 2000 through May 2001, Verana maintains a remote and unspoiled location just 20 minutes south of the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta. Offering all of the amenities necessary for a transformative get-away, Verana was designed for travelers with a sense of adventure and an appreciation for tranquillity. A unique haven carved out of the lush and verdant Mexican jungle, Verana provides guests with all the tools necessary to enjoy the simple pleasures of leisure with a rustic yet sophisticated style.
Designed by Legler, a film architect, and Lievre, a prop stylist and set decorator, Verana is a modern hybrid of the traditional and the contemporary. Through combining indigenous methods of construction and the natural landscape of the jungle with a modern design sensibility, Legler and Lievre have given Verana a style which is distinctly its own.
Each of the four guest houses maintains a uncomplicated and elegant aesthetic while remaining authentic in feel and function. Set within luxuriant tropical gardens, each room has its own spacious terrace with panoramic ocean views , mosquito-netted beds, and furniture as well as fixtures designed by local artisans. Solar powered electricity is available but the use of candles and oil lamps is encouraged to conserve resources. Bottled drinking water is provided in all accommodations.
“We built Verana originally as our vacation home, and the hotel’s design has grown organically from our own needs and personal taste. We are continually inspired by the work of local artisans, the vibrant colors of the jungle, the sea, the light–everything. We imagine Verana continuing to evolve over the years as we add new elements and continue to find new inspiration from life here in Mexico,” states Legler.
From ocean kayaking to fishing, whale and bird watching, hiking jungle trails, or visiting “the pie lady” on the beach of Yelapa, an extensive array of activities and excursions can be arranged for guests. Of course, a day can also be well spent in Verana’s beautiful spring water swimming pool with its 180 degree view of the mountains and the sea, or reclining in a hammock with a book from the hotel’s library. Massages in the privacy of one’s room can also be arranged. A full service spa–featuring hot baths set in the unique naturally-occurring rock formations neighboring the hotel–is scheduled for completion by Fall 2001.
Food at Verana is prepared in an authentic Mexican style and draws on fresh organic produce which is either grown in Verana’s gardens or is available from the village of Yelapa.
Depending on the season, the garden at Verana produces mangos, bananas, papayas, limes, coconuts and pineapples. Taking inspiration from traditional, pre-Hispanic cooking, the menu will include regional recipes from across Mexico. Both breakfast and dinner are served on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace which boasts a spectacular view of the bay and the open ocean.
The full breakfast includes coffee, tea, juices, fruit, breads and pastries which are freshly baked on the premises, as well as an array of other morning delights such as crepes, bocaditos and eggs prepared in a variety of styles. Each night Verana’s chef will prepare a three-course dinner featuring recipes ranging from Mole Negro de Oaxaca, sopa de coco and fish tamales to squash blossom quesadillas, Fish Filet Papillon and Mint Shrimp Diablo.
With freshly caught fish readily available, the restaurant will offer a variety of seafood specialties including Ceviche de Caracol and their fantastic Verana Sashimi. The restaurant also houses a full bar which offers a comprehensive list of the finest tequilas available–all of which are produced in the region. Special dietary requests can be forwarded in advance of one’s stay.
Yelapa, located on Mexico’s west coast, is accessed by air through Puerto Vallarta. A Verana representative will meet all guests at the Puerto Vallarta airport immediately following luggage collection. Transfers to Verana are complimentary and include transport to the port of Boca de Tomatlan where the Verana water taxi awaits. A short hike through the jungle–or mule ride if one prefers–follows the 20 minute boat ride and brings guests to their idyllic treetop home. Luggage is brought up separately by mule. At the end of their stay, guests are again brought by boat to Boca de Tomatlan where a taxi will be arranged for return to the Puerto Vallarta airport (approx. $30).
Room rates are $1,500 for 7 days/6 nights, and includes breakfast and dinner. (This is based on double occupancy. The same room is $1300 for one person, $1,800 for three.) Lunch and beverages are a la carte. There is an additional daily charge of $35 for children aged 6 to 12 and no charge for children younger than six. A three night stay, as well as group rates are also available. In addition, Verana is available for commercial photo shoots at a special day rate.
