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From Narcotrafficking Refuge to Luxury Tourism Symbol, the Former Mansion of Pablo Escobar in Tulum Became the Casa Malca Hotel, with Suites of Up to 120 m² and Daily Rates Above R$ 4,900.
What was once the refuge of one of the world’s most feared criminals is now a luxury destination sought by tourists. One of the former mansions of Colombian Pablo Escobar, founder of the Medellín Cartel and inspiration for the series “Narcos,” has turned into a sophisticated and colorful boutique hotel in Tulum, in the Quintana Roo region, near Cancun.
From Mansion to Luxury Resort
Called Casa Malca, the place currently offers 71 suites and rooms ranging from 60 to 120 square meters, built on the beach and in the gardens adjacent to the original mansion.
When it opened in 2014, however, the space accommodated guests in only eight rooms.
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The renovations that transformed the venue into its current mini resort eliminated the gloomy air of the past but preserved part of its peculiar structure — the walls remain bulletproof, as revealed by Architecture Digest.
A Past of Mystery and Escape
In Escobar’s time, the location was chosen for its privacy and security, surrounded by jungle and sea. After the trafficker’s death in 1993, the property was closed, changed owners, and ended up in the possession of the Mexican government.
In 2012, businessman and art collector Lio Malca discovered the property and decided to transform it. “I bought the property because I thought it was insane,” he told Cool Hunting in 2016. According to CNN, Malca even kept some of the escape tunnels supposedly installed by Escobar.
Art and Sophistication in Every Detail
Casa Malca brings together luxury and contemporary art in a unique experience.
Guests have access to a spa, two pools — one indoors and one outdoors — and three restaurants: Filosofía, Ambrosia, and Head of a Mad Men. The walls display works by renowned artists such as Jeff Koons and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Persian rugs, curtains, and Victorian furniture share space with rustic pieces, while the bar draws attention with the original Tokyo Pop Shop wallpaper by Keith Haring.
The most expensive suites remain in the original mansion. The exclusive Malca Suite, where Escobar slept, has a rate upon request. In March, the rates for the simplest accommodations in the gardens started at US$ 942 (around R$ 4,930), with reservations already exhausting for the high season.
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