hurlinghampolo.com
TA L K
17
Imagine flying over Mexico, seeing an
eight-mile-long pristine coastline and
saying, ‘I want that!’ Well, that was the dream
of Gian Franco Brignone in 1968. A dirt
road was all that connected northern point
Puerto Vallarta and southern point
Manzanillo, where the movie
10
, featuring
Bo Derek and Dudley Moore, was shot on
location at Las Hadas Resort in 1978.
A large coconut plantation was visible,
as well as the jungle, but almost nothing
else. Brignone and his friend Luis de Rivera
thought they had found heaven. Starting with
some small bungalows on the Playa Rosa
beach – one of the most beautiful bays on
the coastline – they developed a hotel called
El Careyes, characterised by vibrant colours
featuring Mexican and Mediterranean
architectural influences, building casitas
on the hillside overlooking the beach.
El Careyes Club and Residences is now
a proper village, just minutes from the
beach, home to seven restaurants and 65
large villas with owners from all over the
world. The polo fields were the vision of
Brignone’s son, Giorgio, who became
enamoured with the sport in his early 30s,
and created two mature Bermuda grass
fields 30 years ago. The polo facilities have
expanded over the years, and since the polo
club was formed in 1990, it now provides
stabling for 150 horses.
Polo is currently played four days a week
and tournaments are scheduled throughout
the season from November to April. There
are 60 playing ponies suitable for all levels
of play on site during the season, ready with
grooms and full tack.
The famous Agua Alta tournament
that was held in 2000 saw Costa Careyes
Polo Club become a truly international
club. Michael Butler, Antonio Herrera,
L I F E ’ S A B E A C H
Susan Stovall explores the evolution of Mexico’s Costa Careyes
resort as it celebrates its 50-year anniversary
