Casona Sforza Day Pass

The Casona Sforza day pass is the easiest way to spend a slow, sun-soaked day inside one of the most striking hotels on the Oaxaca coast. On the southern edge of Puerto Escondido, Alberto Kalach’s brick barrel vaults curve toward the Pacific like something that grew out of the sand. We booked it to celebrate our 35th birthday, and it became one of the best days of the whole trip.

We came for the architecture and stayed for the food. An adults-only crowd, a pool that felt almost private and a kitchen recognized by the Michelin Guide make the Casona Sforza day pass a day for couples who would rather eat well and do very little than hop between beach clubs. If long lunches, good design and a proper sunset are your idea of a perfect day, keep reading.

What Is Casona Sforza?

Casona Sforza is an 11-room, adults-only boutique hotel in La Barra de Colotepec, a few steps from the beach on the south side of Puerto Escondido. It was designed by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, and its silhouette is unmistakable: a cluster of curved brick barrel vaults built with local materials, placed to catch the views, the privacy and the sea breeze. The hotel holds a Michelin Key, and its restaurant, La Bóveda, cooks hyper-local Oaxacan ingredients with global flavors and French technique.

Don’t judge it from the entrance. From the road it gives away almost nothing. Only when you walk through to the main restaurant and the pool do the vaults open up around you, and that first moment is worth the drive on its own.

Casona Sforza Day Pass Price & What’s Included

Here is exactly what we paid and what came with it on our November visit:

• Price: $1,750 MXN per person
• Food and drink credit: $1,500 MXN per person comes back to you to spend at La Bóveda, so the real cost of entry is $250 MXN each
• Hours: 10am to 6pm
• Included: the pool, loungers, towels, beach access, showers and wifi
• Wellness: a 20-minute sauna and ice bath experience
• Payment: cash and card are both accepted

Prices can change with the season, so confirm the current rate when you message the hotel. If you want a massage during your day, ask about adding one when you book.

How to Book the Day Pass

We booked directly with the hotel over WhatsApp, on the same day we went. It was low season and the hotel was nearly empty, so there was no trouble getting a spot. In high season and around holidays, we would message a few days ahead, and ask about any deposit or cancellation policy while you are at it.

A few house rules to know before you go:

• Adults only. No children, which is a big part of why it feels so calm.
• No pets. Animals are not allowed.
• Strict photography rules. Ask the team what is allowed before you take your phone out.

How to Get to Casona Sforza

Casona Sforza is in La Barra de Colotepec, just south of Zicatela and La Punta, so from Puerto Escondido town it is a short drive or taxi ride. If you take a taxi, agree on the fare before you get in.

We rented a car and drove up from Casa Yatí, our base near Mazunte, which took us around an hour along the coastal highway. Having a car made the day easy: we arrived after breakfast, stayed through sunset and drove back at our own pace. From Huatulco, plan on roughly two hours by car. Ask about parking when you book. Staying on that side of the coast? Read our La Valise Mazunte review, the clifftop hotel we moved on to after Casa Yatí.

Our Day at Casona Sforza

1. 12pm
   Arrive

   Coffee and a slow look around

   We arrived around noon, claimed two loungers by the pool and ordered coffee before doing anything else. Then we went exploring. The property is not big, and that is the point: the pool area is intimate and private, and the whole place has the feel of a hidden, off-the-beaten-path hideaway rather than a resort.

2. 1pm
   Swim

   Pool, ocean, repeat

   Next came a dip in the pool and a quick one in the ocean. The sun here is strong, even in November, so reapply often and use the shade. You can burn faster than you think.

3. 2pm
   Snack

   A snack worth fighting over

   For something light we ordered the yogurt bread with hummus and eggplant. I ate the first plate before my husband got a bite, so we ordered a second. It was that good.

4. 3pm
   Unwind

   Massage, wine and the sauna

   My husband went off for a massage while I stayed on my lounger with a glass of wine. He came back calling it the best massage he has ever had, and he is someone who gets a lot of massages. Then we did our 20 minutes of sauna and ice bath together. We never felt rushed or timed. The team brought towels, water and an herbal tea, and the whole thing felt like ours.

5. 4pm
   Sunset

   Late lunch as the light turns gold

   After one more wander around the property, we sat down around 4pm for a late lunch that slid into an early dinner. The sun was setting, and the light across the vaults was beautiful. The team surprised us with a birthday dessert and a candle, and we finished with an affogato made with Pueblo del Sol coffee and vanilla ice cream before driving back to Casa Yatí.

Food & Drinks

La Bóveda’s menu changes with the seasons, so you may not see the same dishes we did, but everything that reached our table was excellent. Oaxaca is known for some of the best food in Mexico, and this kitchen does it justice.

• Yogurt bread, hummus and eggplant: the perfect pool snack. Order two from the start.
• Beef tongue carpaccio: our favorite dish of the day. It blew us away with flavor.
• Affogato with Pueblo del Sol coffee and vanilla ice cream: the right way to end a long lunch.

Our $1,500 MXN credit each covered most of it. We spent around $500 MXN extra because we wanted to try everything, and we left a generous tip on top, because the service was spectacular.

Is the Casona Sforza Day Pass Worth It?

Yes, without hesitation. Since $1,500 MXN of the $1,750 MXN price comes back to you in food and drinks, you are mostly paying for a long lunch at a Michelin-recognized kitchen, with a world-class piece of architecture, a pool, a sauna and an ice bath thrown in. The team went above and beyond for our birthday, and in low season we had the hotel almost to ourselves.

You will love it if you are a couple who travels for food and design and wants a slow, quiet day by the water.

Skip it if you are traveling with kids, want a lively beach club with music, or plan to spend the day swimming in the sea. The beach is swimmable, but the waves are strong. The pool is where we spent most of the day.

The only thing we would change next time: stay the night.

Tips for Your Casona Sforza Day

• 01Book on WhatsAppWe booked the same day in low season. In high season, message a few days ahead and confirm the current price.
• 02Arrive after breakfastThe pass runs 10am to 6pm, which is more than enough for a slow day. Come early for the best pick of loungers by the pool.
• 03Respect the sunThe sun is strong and the waves are too. Pack reef-safe sunscreen and plan to spend most of your time in the pool.
• 04Stay for sunsetBook your late lunch around 4pm so you are at the table when the sunset light turns the brick vaults gold.

Where to Stay Near Puerto Escondido

Want more than a day? Casona Sforza’s own 11 rooms are the obvious choice, and next time we will stay the night. If you’d rather be in town, Notto Zicatela puts you minutes from Zicatela beach, and Punta Pájaros is a collection of villas near Puerto Escondido. All three are an easy drive from the day pass.

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