Forbes Highlighted Pablo Escobar’s Property in Tulum That Is Now a Hotel Complex: “Pure Happiness”

The criminal boom that Pablo Escobar had in the 80s and 90s caused the boss to be able to acquire multiple properties in Colombia, but with his death in 1993 it was revealed that this practice was not only registered in the country and that the leader of the Medellin cartel had properties in other countries.

One of these is located on the beaches of Tulum, Mexico, which in the 80s did not have the popularity it has today and was therefore chosen by the boss with the idea of ​​having a space where he could hide after holding meetings with drug traffickers in that country.

It is believed that in 1992 the mansion was finished being built, so Escobar could not enjoy his property, since at that time he had escaped from prison and the Colombian Government had ordered the Search Block to find the boss dead or alive.

This led to the land being abandoned for several years, until the Mexican authorities took control of the property and sold it to Lio Malca, an art enthusiast who decided to found Casa Malca, a hotel complex that opened its doors to the public in 2015.

Before it opened, the New York native made notable changes to the property to remove any reference to Escobar, which caused the hotel’s opening to be delayed until there was a clear reference to New York art from the 90s.

That is why the hotel has collections by artists such as Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf; in addition, Malca exhibits a large part of his new works here, which has made the complex become a rotating gallery in which there have been sculptures by KAWS or paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Casa Malca has been so successful that Forbes magazine dedicated a report to it, highlighting the work of the American and the transformation he made of the property that would represent Escobar’s legacy in Mexico.

“Casa Malca was designed to fuse the best contemporary art in the world with relaxation and the purest happiness. It is located on one of the most coveted beaches in Mexico, a place that never goes out of style. One of the pools at Casa Malca is shaded by palm trees surrounded by an army of patient hammocks; another occupies a cool and quiet cavern. The general atmosphere, however, is that of a discreet beach house, a friend’s house that always feels like home. The large entrance gate of the complex is made of tree trunks; nearby, antique furniture hangs like swings. Even after all of Malca’s modern renovations, the roots of the property continue to shine through,” the magazine highlighted about the hotel complex.

This place has 42 rooms that are just steps from the beach, all of which are painted in a neutral palette and have washed cement floors. The “Master Suites” are 620 square feet in the room and 600 square feet on a private outdoor terrace.

In addition to art, Casa Malca also stands out for local cuisine, since its restaurant only prepares recipes with local ingredients. “Filosofía, the hotel’s main restaurant, serves Mexican food with an international touch: tacos, huevos divorciados and fresh fish are on the menu, but also shrimp, pizza and beet risotto,” Forbes noted about the restaurants.

It is worth noting that the kitchen is run by chef Jonathan Carbajal, who is known for offering culinary experiences from ambrosia —herbaceous or shrubby plants belonging to the asteraceae family—.

Source: infobae