Sunsets from the pool a Casa J

Construction continues on Casa J at Chachalaka. Our plunge pool at the end of the terrace is roughed in. The views from the pool will be stunning. Casa J is going to be awesome.

Our first terrace party!

We reached a milestone for Chachalaka. Our first house Casa J now has the upper floor, terrace and pool cast in concrete. It was a very exciting day and something to see when the pumper arrived and set up. No small feat, considering our very small road. Four ready mix trucks later and a lot of hard work, we had a floor, and pool. It was then time to party.

Casa J will have amazing views

It is exciting to see the progress on Casa J at Chachalaka. This photo is from the upper level, living and terrace area. The boards are the beginning of the floor system. A small pool is at the end overlooking the ocean. This will be a very special house.

Chachalaka living

Chachalaka is about a lifestyle. Smart with style, concerned about design, and sustainable. This is a place where you can appreciate what the Costalegre on Mexico's Pacific Coast is really about.

Room with a view at Chachalaka

A lot of progress has been made with the construction of Casa J at Chachalaka. This is the framed view looking to the south down the beach from the large terrace off the master suite. The rest of the terrace is open to the ocean. This on the lower level, and directly above is the living area, terrace and pool, with totally open views. We are very excited to be at this point on this amazing project.

Sunset on Casa J

This view is from across the property on site five, looking at our palapa and Casa J construction behind it. The views are awesome! We just had some friends stop by for a tour of the progress. They did not want to leave.

Protecting the turtles!

Aside from all the construction activity on Casa J, we always take time to enjoy our beautiful beach. Just down the beach from Chachalaka our friend Casimiro single handedly has created his own little turtle camp to protect the eggs he gathers, until they are ready for release into the sea. We applaud and support his efforts.

Our palapa office at Chachalaka

Our palapa on site four next to Casa J construction serves as our "office", and a great place to take in the sweeping vistas of the beach and ocean. Chachalaka is truly the Pacific Coast of Mexico at its best.

A new year begins at Chachalaka

Wow, another year at Chachalaka, and much ahead in the new year. 2012 promises to be a very exciting year as Casa J a very modern, ecological and sustainable house at Chachalaka takes shape. Casa J is the first house at Chachalaka.

Things are growing at Chachalaka

It is exciting to see Casa J taking form at Chachalaka. The ocean, beach and sky seem to be framed in every view. This combination of rebar rising and the delicate winter flowers blooming on our wonderful trees, seemed to signify the year ahead.

Construction has started at Chachalaka!

We are very excited about the start of construction on Casa J. Everything is going as planned and very soon the foundation will be laid. The site sits on almost solid rock and we have no concerns about the strength of the structure. We knew the views would be awesome, but they are going to be better than we thought.

Amazing views from Casa J

This conceptual rendering shows the view towards the ocean and the beach to the south. The open plan on the upper level looks across the living, terrace and pool areas. Fresh air and amazing sunsets and a pool at the end of the terrace. A fireplace that serves the living and terrace areas will provide a gathering place on those perfect winter evenings when the temperature is a comfortable 60F. Casa J is a design that is unique, modern and minimalist, blending well with the environment.

Water is life

We are building systems to reuse water and capture water. Water is our most valuable resource and we are fortunate to have it. Chachalaka will be blue as well as green. We care about our future.

A new season at Chachalaka

We are getting ready to start a new season at Chachalaka. A lot has been done this last year and we are looking forward to starting construction on our first house in the next few months. It will be the first modern house that we know of incorporating built green standards, on the Pacific Coast of Jalisco. We are very excited.

Casa J at Chachalaka

We are making progress with the design of our first casa at Chachalaka. Casa J sits above the beach with amazing views of the ocean and the beach to the south. The flat roofs will hold solar panels, thermal water tubes and tank, and will capture rain water for landscape use. Gray water will also be utilized. The open design will allow natural air circulation and cooling. A pool at the end of the upper terrace will act as a cooler for both the upper level and the master suite below. Chachalaka is unique for a prime coastal development. It may be the first sustainable "Green" upscale community on the Pacific Coast of Jalisco.

A special place

Chachalaka is a very special place. Some have said this is paradise. We could not agree more. Up early to catch the sunrise, a walk on the beach, and the last rays of the sunset, just another day in paradise.

A lot of progress at Chachalaka!

It was a very busy season. We just finished the season with completion of a lot of projects. We have new access roads, trails, a new utility building, a palapa, and a water storage cisterna with pipes running to some of the sites. Much of this work involved Rotilio and some of his crew. We are fortunate to have him available.

Preparing for first house at Chachalaka

The first house is in design and planing at Chachalaka. CASA J will start construction in the fall. It will be sustainable and eco-smart, utilizing solar, black water and gray water systems, and water capture systems. The views of the ocean and beach are amazing. We are very excited to finally be at this point with our project. CASA J will serve as a model for our ideas incorporating off grid systems, and it also will be our house.

A spring sunset at Chachalaka

We never tire of the sunsets at Chachalaka. Spring brings changes in the air and the sunsets can be more colorful and filtered by the clouds. There is also a change in the ocean water temperature and trees are starting to bud. All in anticipation of the coming summer and the welcomed rains. This was photographed from site 5.

A new palapa at Chachalaka

We are constructing a palapa on site four at Chachalaka. This will serve as the first structure at beach front and provide a place to sit and take in all that Chachalaka has to offer. We are continuing with plans for the first house on site three with construction starting in the fall after rainy season in October.

Chachalaka from the water

We hired a panga from Tehuamixtle to view Chachalaka from the water. Late afternoon is the perfect time for a little sightseeing by water. Following that we all stopped at a favorite spot in Tehua for beer and guacamole.

Early fall morning on the beach at Chachalaka

Fall is a great time to be at Chachalaka. Everything is green from the summer rain and colors are starting to change. The place is rich with flora and fauna. This particular morning had a special quality as the early sun light highlighted a walk on the beach. Chachalaka is truly paradise discovered.

Chachalaka beach from site five

We have completed additional access to Chachalaka building sites. This view is from the upper end of site five. It is a beautiful vista of the beach and ocean, with a fresh breeze and privacy. We are now showing off our piece of paradise to a few. The response... Wow!

Chachalaka from the air

This aerial photo of Chachalaka shows the beach front portion of the land. Chachalaka has it's own coves of beach, interesting rock formations and easy beach access at the middle of the property. Building sites are well situated above water levels, affording privacy and outstanding ocean views. We are fortunate to have both views and easy beach access.

Chachalaka. It's peaceful, unspoiled, beautiful

A place where time is yours alone.

Discovering paradise

A short drive south of Puerto Vallarta Mexico, lies another world of endless beaches and coast line that is unique in flora, fauna, and terrain. A place we call Chachalaka. By many definitions, this is paradise. Perhaps a place that one wishes for and thought no longer existed. Far enough away from all the tourist trappings, yet close enough to the amenities of the modern world. Our little neighborhood is ready to grow a bit. This coming year we expect to be talking to prospective neighbors who might share our approach to life and create a home where you can hear the surf and the birds sing. A place that you are really in, not merely at.

People we meet along the way

One of the things we love about our little piece of Mexico are the people we meet in the surrounding areas. We are always making the trip between Chachalaka and Puerto Vallarta - an easy drive of less than two hours. El Tuito, a real cowboy town with a history dating back to the Spanish, is about halfway and a great place to stop and visit. We caught this photo on a recent visit. A very elegant gentlemen from El Tuito. This short You Tube video highlights some of -"The People of Cabo Corrientes".

Creating a small community

As they say in Mexico - little by little. That is how we are approaching Chachalaka. We are fortunate that we have no obligations that force us to make hasty decisions that might not serve the best interests in this beautiful place. We are continuing with preparing the land for limited development and are very happy about the reservoir project that will provide us with additional water supply. Since we are creating a very small community, we have approached inquires without a lot of sales chatter. In fact, we are really interviewing potential neighbors. This is a very special place now, and it is our intent that it remains so in the future. We are continuing to consider all our plans around creating a green building standard and as small a footprint as possible.

Chachalaka concept study

We are developing concept studies for each building site. All structures follow the terrain and are terraced into the land. No two structures will be alike. In almost every case, the entry is visible as a one story simple profile. We are fortunate to have a lot of special trees that will be part of each setting. All living is designed for indoor/outdoor and plans maximize the vistas of the ocean and beach. Each site is planned for natural ventilation and optimal sun and view exposure. The concept shown is for what we call site number three and you can see a photo in the previous post - at sunset.

The end of a perfect day at Chachalaka

The setting at Chachalaka is special because of the terrain and the trees. The sound of the surf and waves, a beautiful sunset, and the expansive view and beach, make us feel very fortunate to be here. This view is from where we call site three.

Water at Chachalaka

We have good quality water at Chachalaka. The well is finished and we are planning the first part of our water system. We believe that water is a precious resource and everything we do will conserve water as well as energy.

Design ideas

We are gathering ideas from some of our favorite places. Verana in the hills above Yelapa has always been inspiring. We are thinking about a pool at Chachalaka, that incorporates the natural terrain and vistas.

Discovery and possibilites, Chachalaka 2010

We like this video as we start the new decade. It makes us think about discovery and possibilities. Closer to home and the sea, we are developing our plans around preservation of our surroundings and utilizing natural materials in our construction at Chachalaka.

A lot of birds and Whale watching

There are many species of birds feeding on fish this time of year and we spotted a lot of whales in the area. This is the start of the migration for the Humpback whale and they should be around for a while. We hope we can catch a good photo.

Cotton moon at Chachalaka

We caught this image during the last full moon at Chachalaka. The clouds were like balls of cotton moving quickly across the sky, revealing the moon as they passed. We are always refreshed after a fews days at Chachalaka.

Chachalaka, a short video

We just posted this short video on YouTube. It is a highlight of the Chachalaka area. More to come as we gather content. In the meantime we continue to make progress on our development plans.

Sketching Chachalaka

We are making study sketches of structures on proposed building sites. Our approach is to let the land and elements be our guide. We have a blank canvas from which to create something original.

Approaching storm at sunset

It was an amazing sky as the storm clouds approached before sunset. The sky was black to the south with thunderheads and lightening and the sun was starting to set. As the clouds rolled in the sun dropped into the ocean.

The window goes here!

This is one of our favorite sites and a great place to sit and take in the beach and the ocean. This view is walking up from the draw and the path to the beach. All the sites are great and we cannot make up our mind which one is our favorite. That is not a bad problem to have. We will be shooting some video in the next few weeks. Hope to post something soon. In the meantime we are planning projects for the winter.

Surf fishing in the morning

The area around Chachalaka has some of the best surf fishing in the world during the months of August and September. This particular morning was beautiful and the fishing was good. While we are working, there is always time to relax and enjoy this amazing place. We have put up the additional pages on our web site chachalaka.com and we are starting to develop preliminary design plans. It is a very exciting time as we start to visualize buildings on the sites.

Chachalaka sunset

We were ready to enjoy a sunset and relax. There has been a lot of activity this summer at Chachalaka. The well project is making good progress, we have hit a good supply of water and the quality is very good. We will be finishing the well and planning the system to deliver water to the sites. Additional pages on our web site will be up soon and we are pleased by the interest in Chachalaka.

Chachalaka is going live

We have just launched chachalaka.com our web site. We thought this photo of Juan, who is helping us with a lot of site work was appropriate. He represents a lot of the hard work on site at Chachalaka. We have completed the initial clearing of six sites on the property and are now drilling a well. The web site is the first part of our plan to share Chachalaka with a select few. The web site will provide more specific information about the property and provide contact information. We are excited about all this site work, both on the ground and on the internet.

Afternoon ride on the beach

The beach at Chachalaka continues south all the way to La Cruz de Lareto. Riding a horse or a Moto offers endless miles of pristine beach. We caught this photo from one of our building sites above the beach. One of our nieghbors in Villa de Mar keeps horses. I am sure we will get to know him better.

A room with a view

As we are starting design planning for Chachalaka, we are taking cues from things we see and like. This is from a friend and neighbor's place. We always like a room with a view. Most rooms at Chachalaka will have views. Much of Chachalaka will be open to the ocean and the spectacular vistas. The land allows the design to be terraced creating multi-level structures without being overly tall.

Moon setting at Chachalaka

The last full moon was spectacular. We are always posting photos of sunsets, and just happened to be up to catch the moon setting very early one morning. It is an ever changing palette of textures, colors and patterns at Chachalaka.

A panorama view of Chachalaka

We are continuing to select sites on the property. This view from Chachalaka Beach gives you an idea of the topography. There are many sites - all with views, and easy beach access. We are indeed fortunate to have secured this amazing parcel of land.

Music Mayto style

It was a big family birthday celebration with Fernando providing the entertainment. We ate goat that had been marinated and carne asada from the grill. Plenty of cerveza and tequila to wash it all down. The next morning everyone was up a little later than usual. There are never bad days in Mayto, some are just better than others.

Photographs of Chachalaka Beach

We have been working hard at Chachalaka clearing trails and brush. The views are spectacular and we have identified several prime building sites - all with ocean views. It had been a long time since we just walked the beach and spent the afternoon sitting and soaking it all in. The rocks on Chachalaka beach not only add interest - they create private hiding places. Chachalaka is truly special.

Why Chachalaka is special

This video makes you realize that the world we live in today will be different tomorrow. The fortunate few will be able to escape. That is what we are creating at Chachalaka. We cannot stop, nor would we want to, the momentum of this change. We can, however, take refuge from all this and rediscover our soul in a special place away from the noise.

Chachalaka gets a road

We just put a road into the property. It is very low impact and gently winds around trees, saving the trees and also creating a very inviting entrance. All the locals have commented on how good it looks. Most roads just go in a straight line and this is a new concept for them. After a hard days work, it is time for a break. We all enjoyed some cold refreshment.

Chachalaka is about one hour from El Tuito

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The drive to Chachalaka is about one hour from El Tuito, or two hours from Puerto Vallarta. You first come to the community of Mayto, then continue towards Tehuamixtle, at the fork in the road you go left for another ten minutes. Chachalaka is just before the community of Villa del Mar.

Cabo Corrientes beaches

The beaches of Cabo Corrientes include Mayto, Tehuamixtle, and Villa del Mar. Chachalaka is located near Tehuamixtle and we can see it from the beach at Chachalaka. This beautiful area along the south of Cabo Corrientes has been discovered by those seeking the peace and quiet of miles of unspoiled beaches.

El Tuito, the gateway to beaches

The road paving project between El Tuito and Tehuamixtle is continuing to make progress. A section out of El Tuito is finished. Contracts have been let for other sections and the road from Villa del Mar to La Cruz de Lareto is now being paved, starting at La Cruz. When all this is done, this important part of the coast will be easily accessible.

Sunset at Mayto Beach

Another beautiful sunset at Mayto beach. This beautiful beach is just minutes from Chachalaka and Tehuamixtle. We are starting the planning phase at Chachalaka. It promises to be a very exciting winter as we work on the design and concept for this unique destination.