A Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers

By Hailey Bethke | Photography courtesy of MUSA

To be part of a place before it becomes well-traversed is a gift. Witnessing a virgin paradise during the earliest stages of a new creation is a fleeting experience to be cherished and met in a state of pure presence.

An amalgam of work and play, sustainability and cunning design, this destination fulfills both community interactions and restful solitude. As I stand on my balcony, I realize that I have landed somewhere surreal yet tangible. A sweet-smelling breeze rustles palm trees as far as the eye can see, the vibrant jungle greenery and nearby lagoon bordering unobstructed miles of beachfront. This is the Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers, shortly known as MUSA.

A premier residential and hotel-serviced community in Guerrero, Mexico, MUSA spans 177 acres of lush jungle and coastline between the Sierra Madre mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. It was founded by Mexico City-born designer Andrés Saavedra and Canadian entrepreneur Tara Medina, a visionary team passionate about returning to the basics. To them, this means minimalist design that celebrates tropical modernist living, serving nature and the local community, and fostering connection between individuals from all walks of life. “We imagine MUSA as a town where like-minded people—adventurers, travelers, entrepreneurs, and creatives—can enjoy infinite adventure, fresh food, and good vibes within inspired dwellings for living and working,” explains Medina.

To them, this means minimalist design that celebrates tropical modernist living, serving nature and the local community and fostering connection between individuals from all walks of life.

 

“We imagine MUSA as a town where like-minded people—adventurers, travelers, entrepreneurs, and creatives—can enjoy infinite adventure, fresh food, and good vibes within inspired dwellings for living and working,” explains Medina.

Saavedra grew up visiting Zihuatanejo as a child and instantly fell in love with Guerrero’s natural beauty through underwater dives and surfing Loma Bonita’s legendary swells. Soon after recognizing his passion for the region, he moved there from Mexico City. Around the same time, Medina began visiting the area with her family on vacation. Although the two would not meet until years later, one of their first interactions led to discovering the property MUSA is situated upon; they both immediately recognized its potential, and in 2020 (nearly a decade later), they purchased the acreage together.

The master plan for MUSA is bold—as any vision should be. It includes the construction of a “biopool,” a naturally purified freshwater lake with an accompanying pool deck designed for comfortable lounging and recreation. This recently completed element is at the center of the Hideaways: “surf shack” inspired properties uniquely designed by Saavedra and available for purchase. The newest addition, opened in March 2023, is the boutique, thirteen-bedroom beachfront Hotelito and adjacent Beach Club, which will complement the construction of a self-sustaining organic farm, multipurpose exercise facilities, and a bike park.

“We’re really trying to create a model community that is built from the heart and takes care of everybody and everything around us. Everything about MUSA, everything about what we’ve been building here, is dedicated to doing good business, doing right by the environment, and doing right by our people,” Medina explains. That includes treating the staff as family. By providing jobs, transportation, language programs, and ethical working practices, Medina and Saavedra are closing the gap in the often unjust proprietor-to-laborer relationship. The team is frequently brought together to share experiences such as sound baths or boating excursions aboard the Society’s private day yacht, The Fjord. Here, everyone is known on a first-name basis. “MUSA represents a vision of an evolving Mexico—a place with the freedom to live outside lines previously drawn, a place to learn, explore, and create without boundaries. We hope to define a new era of education as we play an active role in building a positive future for ourselves and the local community,” the founders say.

In addition to developing organic gardens, MUSA’s chef, Rodrigo “Mole” Serna, takes great pride in preparing elevated cuisine from seasonal and local ingredients. Just thirty miles south of the property lies Puerto Vicente, a sleepy seaside village known for its rich history, generational divers, and local fishermen. Here, commercialized overfishing is nonexistent, leaving skilled free divers to harvest mollusks and crustaceans from the biodiverse waters.

These delicacies are then used to craft vibrant plates back at MUSA’s restaurant, all while keeping sustainability at the forefront.

The property has three spaces to host curious travelers: the aforementioned Hotelito; Casa MUSA, a five-bedroom home complete with an infinity pool, palapa bar, and five “glamping” tents—perfect for hosting private groups and retreats; and Base Camp, which features three boutique guest rooms centered around an open-air kitchen and bar, cozy hammocks, and a sleek saltwater pool. At all premises, guests are encouraged to make a positive impact during their stay through community-centered excursions, such as a half-day trip to the nearby sea turtle conservation sanctuary, La Tortuga Feliz Campamento. Founded by brothers Fredy de la Cruz Solís and Rey Baltazar de la Cruz Solís, the sanctuary aims to protect thousands of sea turtle hatchlings from various threats, including poaching, commercial fishing, and the degradation of local habitats. Following a ten-minute ATV ride down the beach from MUSA, Fredy briefs visitors on the various turtle species before guests guide emerging hatchlings from their nests into the ocean. Education and ocean conservation combine in an enriching experience that leaves visitors with long-lasting memories and provides the sanctuary with funding to continue conservation efforts year-round.

MUSA’s transformation is one of excitement, anticipation, and paradox: can it stay like this forever? But with each new addition to the property, I become more assured of its inevitable success. One phase at a time, MUSA is an exemplary pioneer in redefining community and what it means to stay connected to ultimate meaning and value.

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