“The Closest Thing to Heaven on Earth.” —Tim Blixseth
“El Tamarindo, an oceanside retreat, is surrounded by an untamed jungle between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, Mexico,” said owner and developer Tim Blixseth. “It is the ultimate beach destination with luxurious living quarters, a scenic golf course, creative Mexican food, outdoor massages and privacy.”
By Edward F. Pazdur, Chairman & CEO
Costalegre, Mexico: “Yes,” said Blixseth, “it’s in a real jungle and it’s beautiful with three elegant and tastefully opulent oceanfront estates, a two-story Presidential Villa and 29 open-air casitas. And it’s all in a tropical climate.
“El Tamarindo is private, gated and positioned within a 2,040-acre nature preserve fronted by two miles of private beach,” vaunted Blixseth. “Our personal services and amenities exceed five-star standards. Every aspect of it has been purposely designed to help you escape the hectic world and reconnect with yourself.”
President & CEO Dieter Huckestein is particularly fond of the addition of three new luxurious beachfront residences. Each has four bedrooms, a sumptuous kitchen, dining area, living room, swimming pool, out door BBQ, and a magnificent view of the ocean.
“It’s private and secluded with only one entrance in and out. You can hear the birds, see the animals, and enjoy the vistas. The dress code? You can come barefoot, in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. No ties. No jacket—all day.
“The peaceful sound of the surf, the wind, and the birds overcome your senses. To me, it’s an exhilarating experience for couples and families, “said Huckestein.
Worldwide private golf community and resort developer, Tim Blixseth, is pictured relaxing at El Tamarindo, his favorite haunt, where he annually celebrates his birthday with a gathering of eclectic friends from the world of music and business. |
“When you arrive at the Manzanillo airport you are met and greeted by our driver. He picks up your baggage, escorts you to our van, and provides you a bottle of cold water with a napkin and a towel,” said El Tamarindo’s Director of Sales Kate Gerogianis. “Flight time from Los Angeles and Chicago is less than four hours. Then it’s a fascinating 45-minute drive, from the airport through small towns, villages and banana/coconut plantations to El Tamarindo.”
LPGA superstar Lorena Ochoa enjoyed a round of golf at El Tamarindo with Director of Golf Alexandro Martinez. |
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An Ultimate Boutique Beach Resort
“We don’t sell homesites, hotel rooms, villas or casitas,” explained Gerogianis. “We create memorable experiences in a boutique beach destination surrounded by an undisturbed jungle.
“El Tamarindo is popular for family vacations, couples, and corporate meetings for companies like GM, Boeing, IBM, and Cartier. Everyone loves the ambiance, privacy, cuisine and amenities. You will too,” said Gerogianis.
Skinny Dipping: A Golf Tradition
The first time you encounter the ocean is at the 3rd hole “where we have a neat Beach Club on the 3rd fairway,” said Director of Golf Alexandro Martinez. “You can stop playing, walk over to the Beach Club, change into a bathing suit, and take a swim in the ocean. Then, after the swim, you take a freshwater shower and return to the 4th hole tee.”
Your round gets even more interesting when you make the turn. You’ll want to stop for lunch at the club’s open-air, thatched palm roof snack shop to relax and enjoy a magnificent view of the ocean.
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“The peaceful sound of the surf, the wind, and the birds at El Tamarindo overcome your senses. Dress code? Come barefoot in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. No ties. No jacket. All day.” — Dieter Huckestein |
Lorena Ochoa Didn’t Buy It
“Just before you tee up at the 12th hole,” said Martinez, “tradition requires you skinny dip in the ocean. It’s a favorite among Europeans, but LPGA superstar and Mexico’s most prominent player, Lorena Ochoa, didn’t buy it during her visit here,” jested Martinez.
Best’s Golf Guide To Mexico rates El Tamarindo’s golf course one of the top 10 in the world and No. 2 in Mexico.
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Executive Golfers Love To Be Pampered
Successful businessmen are successful because they are demanding at work and in luxury/leisure destination places. Aside from accommodations, the top three personal gratifications are golf, massage and cuisine. A perfect day is an enjoyable round of golf, followed by a mesmerizing massage and closed with a delectable dinner.
El Tamarindo easily meets all three. We’ve already described its golf venue, so this treatise will also review its special spa features and its gourmet cuisine offerings for you.
Tropical Hut Spa
Because of its year-round tropical climate, El Tamarindo’s spa is comprised of small tropical huts. Its design is open-air, outdoor architecture, its construction is bamboo with palm-thatched roofs, and its location is a natural beach setting. |
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Cosmetologist Luz Martinez is the chief masseuse and manager with a special gift of perception. “The oils and type of massage I give depend on the person in front of me,” said Luz. “Most golfers enjoy a deep massage of the lower back, hips, legs and arms because they just got back from a round of golf.
Spa manager, cosmetologist and
chief masseuse, Luz Martinez, also
has a special gift of perception.
“You would be amazed to realize how much tension there can be in a body—even in a child. Tension is not just muscular. It can at times be emotional, especially in children” implied Luz. “You can feel it in the muscles.”
“What creates tension in children?”
“I’d say it’s because they are worriers,” replied Luz. “They worry about whether they’re pleasing their parents; they worry about homework; or about their parents. They love massages because it’s like a caress. It’s human contact. A massage makes them feel loved and taken care of.”
“What’s the most interesting massage you give?”
“At times,” Luz laughed, “we do have chocolate facial and body exfoliation for couples.”
“You mean real chocolate?”
“Yes, real chocolate.”
“You put it on their bodies?”
“Yes,” replied Luz, smiling broadly. “Chocolate, as you may know, is a famous moisturizer and aphrodisiac. But, our Tamarindo massage is the most popular because it’s tailor-made for the person receiving it. We use essential oils, extracts of plants, and apply deep tissue or soft massages to the specific needs of each individual, adult or child. We also feature a Temazcal, [an indigenous sweat lodge] for a unique ritual and experience in cleansing your body,” said Luz.
Why El Tamarindo Is Paradise Lost
When asked how he would describe El Tamarindo, General Manager Alex Moya said it is nature at its best. “With development taking place at such blinding speed all over the world,” said Moya, “we could say Tamarindo has been put on hold. It’s on standby. It’s untouched by developers and remains natural. That’s nature at its best.
“Our guests have a wonderful opportunity to see a place like no other on earth with amenities that are designed to put their minds, bodies, and souls at ease. Our accommodations feature free-standing, thatched-roof casitas harmoniously blended within tropical gardens; large outdoor terraces; an outdoor living room with a dining area; spacious bedrooms; and oversized bathrooms. All oceanfront casitas have a small pool and an outdoor Jacuzzi,” said Moya.
“If you’re inclined toward more space and more luxury, we have a two-story Presidential Villa at $3,000 per day; and two very sumptuous, four-bedroom oceanfront residences that can accommodate up to eight adults at $6,000 per day.
“If you come here and see our spacious oceanfront villas, the beautiful architecture, our creative Mexican food, great golf, memorable spa treatments, our gardens, the sea, and the sense of privacy, you’ll be captivated. It’s unprecedented. Very few resorts in the world compare to what we have to offer,” insisted Moya.
Tim Blixseth: A Distinguished Philanthropist
Founder and owner of El Tamarindo, Tim Blixseth, is also a distinguished philanthropist.
He appeared on NBC-TV’s Today Show following Katrina, in 2005, and pledged to build 1,000 homes and to provide $100 million to help Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical Christian housing ministry devoted to eliminating poverty housing for the homeless.
On May 21, 2007, Blixseth reappeared on the Today Show to report 1,002 homes had been built—and counting—plus over $140 million had been raised up to that point in time. He started the fund with a personal donation of $2 million.
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“Very few of the world’s 5-star resorts can compare to what El Tamarindo has to offer.” — General Manager Alex Moya |
Blixseth’s love of music inspired him to write and record Heart of America with a 90-piece orchestra that was performed on NBC-TV’s Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza. “It’s a song that embodies the best America has to give,” said Blixseth.
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