Pablo Escobar's Palace Starts Accepting Guests

Pablo Escobar, a controversial drug lord who passed away following a famous 1993 shootout in Medellin, Colombia, has now entered the 'family-resort section' of pop culture.

The Independent reports how the renowned drug kingpin who rose to infamy in the 1980s once owned a palatial property in Tulum, Mexico.

That exact property has now opened as a resort “for friends and family” according to Casa Malca’s website, which showcases an enticing and truly beautiful property that boasts 35-rooms. Its renovation and repurposing is thanks to New York art dealer Lio Malca who now owns the compound.

Rather than spur on International governments, sell billions of dollars of cocaine and generally wreak havoc like the previous owner, Malca is thankfully content to build a paradise for vacationers in search of peace instead.

CoolHunting.com spoke with Malca, who explained a bit on what drove him to acquire the property: “I purchased the property because I thought it was insane. I could not believe that in this world, a property like this still exists and hasn't been taken over by a corporation.”

Interestingly enough, Malca tells Cool Hunting that he had been in the market for the property for some time but had been told that it was not for sale as it was owned by the Mexican government.

That recently changed when the owner before Escobar reacquired the location that sits just in front of 180 meters of beautiful beachline.

Escobar was once the head of the Medellin Cartel, a highly successful drug syndicate. He was also listed among the richest people in the world, a title legitimized by Forbes in 1987. A more recent article explained how Escobar rose to prominence:

“Escobar's biography from the 1987 inaugural Forbes Billionaires issue reads like a how-to guide for ambitious, P.R.-savvy entrepreneurs: from a lowly position as smuggler, enforcer and bodyguard, Escobar worked his way to the top, first by saving enough money to invest in his own cocaine business. By 1978, Escobar was moving about 35 kilos of coke a month out of Medellin. He took over a Medellin newspaper, became influential in politics, and successfully ran for public office.”

His exploits have also become the basis for a hit Netflix show “Narcos,” which retells the Escobar story with flourishes from Hollywood.

Escobar’s legacy now includes a popular show and a beautiful vacation spot. It’s like Disney albeit with an insane history of violence, drug smuggling and International intrigue.

As The Independent notes, if you make your way out to Tulum to see Casa Malca, you won’t have anything in the way of an Escobar experience—although we have yet to see the powder room.

Casa Malca’s website paints a vivid picture of an enormous property that somehow feels quaint and inviting: “A spacious beachfront villa, perched above the sand, Casa Malca is a home unlike any other. Beautiful yet, rustic, the house invites ocean breezes, and the sound of lapping waves.”

The rooms run €450 (about $514) a night. Thankfully, they don’t require guards standing nearby in case any other kingpin wants in on your territory.

Source: Travel Pulse