Villa Capullo
Set in the heart of the city, the villa is a minimalist-style jungle oasis that exudes a boutique hotel vibe. It features eight bedrooms and a gorgeous swimming pool surrounded by tropical garden.
What was your inspiration to create Casas La Veleta? What is the story behind it?
I’m originally from Germany and studied political science before working as a journalist in the northeast. So I don’t have a background in hospitality, construction or design. But it was always very appealing to me.
I loved to take pictures and travel. When I was travelling, I always loved staying in boutique hotels and experiencing the vibe.
I was doing a long trip of around two years that included Australia, the United States, Cuba and Mexico. I’d already travelled a lot in Central America and Mexico wasn’t a destination I was really excited about. But it felt like somewhere I should visit.
When I came to Tulum, I was really impressed by the beach, the colour of the water and how fine the sand was. The hotel zone felt so romantic, private and exclusive.
After living in northern Germany, I’d always wanted to live somewhere with beautiful weather. And from my childhood, I’d had an interest in tropical plants. In Tulum, I had the opportunity to plant and landscape in a tropical climate.
There are lots of interesting people living in Tulum, including my business partner, who introduced me to the area back in 2017. We started our development company with a small, boutique building. This was followed by two more buildings.
In 2023, we got fully engaged in the project, with the vision to offer bigger houses (they all have three bedrooms) and a high-end, design-driven experience. Beautiful landscaping, unique textiles, lots of privacy — these were priorities.
In Tulum, lots of people have money for the build, but not for the interiors. I think it needs to be aligned if you want to create something unique. Our idea was to control the whole process, from selecting the location and land to the interiors and the finished project.
In total, there are five houses, each of which is different and completely custom-designed. At Casas La Veleta, we design the houses, then sell them and later manage them for the owners.
Please tell us about the atmosphere and interior design. What does it feel like staying there?
When you arrive at Casas La Veleta, there’s the sensation of something completely unexpected. It’s beautiful and you have the idea of being transported to another place. Yes, it’s Mexico. But it could also be a riad in Marrakech, a finca in Ibiza, a country house in Puglia.
We did a lot of trips to Europe for inspiration - there are influences from the Mediterranean and Morocco. At the same time, we are trying to preserve the Mexican design concept.
Casas La Veleta is somewhere to relax after a day of exploration. It’s design-driven and has very luxurious touches, with high-end finishes and technical installations. The houses are very quiet and there’s a lot of privacy, but you are still in the centre of everything.
