The Antidote Brings a Singapore-Born Philosophy to Oaxaca’s Pacific Coast
What led you and your husband to design and build Villa The Antidote in Mexico?
In 2020, living in Singapore with the world at a standstill, we started a small yacht charter business, and being out on the water became, quite literally, our antidote. When the chance came in 2022 to build in Huatulco, we brought the name ashore. The name that began on the South China Sea now lives here, on the Oaxacan coast. The philosophy is the same. The address changed.
Where is the villa, and how close to the airport and the sea?
Above Tangolunda Bay in Huatulco, on Oaxaca’s Pacific coast. HUX (Huatulco) airport is 20 minutes away; the beach is about 200 metres, a two-minute walk.
How is the villa designed?
The bones are by architect Jorge Herrera and interior architects Marisol Flores and Andrea Manzano. The soul came from the fabricators they introduced us to, makers who share our ethos, and the handwoven chandeliers, carved wood, textiles and art we chose together. Four en-suite bedrooms sleep eight, with a saltwater pool, gourmet kitchen, sauna, cold plunge and sunset BBQ terrace.
Five key words?
Intentional. Elemental. Restorative. Soulful. Curious.
Top to bottom: The living room opens seamlessly to the pool and terrace, with the outdoor kitchen extending the space beyond. The primary suite overlooks Tangolunda Bay through floor-to-ceiling glass, while guest suites face a planted courtyard framed by warm wood and a celosía screen wall.
How do guests book?
Through My Huatulco Vacations via theantidotemexico.com or email reservations@myhuatulcovacation.com directly. Their concierge team also may arrange car transfers, groceries, chefs and boat days.
Can guests arrange a private chef?
Yes, booked ahead through the concierge. Oaxaca is the home of mole and mezcal, and it is best tasted at your own table.
Your most memorable experience?
Our first sunrise in the finished villa. In Singapore, the koels had always woken us before dawn; here, the chachalacas started the chorus, then the orioles, until the whole jungle had joined in. Coffee in hand, we watched Tangolunda turn from rose to amber to a burning orange-red, and the bay glittered gold. A new chorus, the same golden morning.
Favourite spots, day and night?
By day: the hidden cove, a five-minute walk from the villa, before anyone else is up. Then La Crucecita, a small, authentic Oaxacan town, where the market stalls and cafés around the main square serve tlayudas, mole and the best shrimp tostadas on the coast, and the shops are full of handwoven textiles, black clay pottery and hand-painted alebrijes. For surf days, Barra de la Cruz is the point break that has twice hosted the World Surf League Championship Tour.
By night: a private chef’s dinner under the stars at the villa, or one of the favourite restaurants we share in our house guide, all less than ten minutes away.
Top to bottom: A morning paddle begins just beyond the front gate, with Playa Tangolunda only a two-minute walk away, followed by a roadside mezcal stop in the Oaxacan countryside. At blue hour, dinner unfolds on the terrace, with the outdoor kitchen, grill and pool just steps from the table.
Why is Mexico a favourite holiday destination?
Like Singapore, Mexico is a place where many cultures live side by side, but here the pace is slower. Oaxaca alone is home to 15 Indigenous peoples, each with its own language, crafts and cuisine, so the discoveries never stop. And Huatulco, with no high-rises and a protected coastline, still feels like a secret. One we’re happy to share with those who travel the way we do: curiously, intentionally, and with an eye for design.
How do yachting and the sea still shape your life in Huatulco?
The sea is still the centre of our days. Many of Huatulco’s nine bays are reachable only by boat, so we charter for the day, paddleboard straight off Tangolunda, or head out for sunset. Boards, a beach tent and coolers are waiting at the villa. Same philosophy, new waters.
When is the best time to visit?
November to May brings clear skies, calm seas and warm water: perfect for boating, diving and escaping winter. June to October is lush and quiet, with passing afternoon showers, and summer swells light up the right-hander at Barra de la Cruz.
Images courtesy of Diana Britt, Villa The Antidote.
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