I stayed at a 5-star Tulum resort that once belonged to Pablo Escobar, and the luxury amenities blew me away

I stayed at Casa Malca, a resort that once belonged to Pablo Escobar. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Casa Malca, a luxury resort in Tulum, was once a mansion owned by Pablo Escobar.
I spent the night there and was wowed by its delicious restaurants and gorgeous pools.
There are also multimillion-dollar works of contemporary art in every room and corner of the resort.

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Originally a laid-back hippie town, Tulum has fast become a go-to destination for more than just bohemians. Celebrities have flocked to the resort-lined jungle on the Caribbean coast, while the wild beach clubs and restaurants are now a huge draw for partygoers.

I was heading to Tulum for a bachelorette party and booked a few extra days so I could explore. And at the top of my bucket list was Casa Malca.

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Casa Malca was once a mansion owned by the Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.

Casa Malca is Pablo Escobar’s former mansion in Tulum, Mexico. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The mansion was abandoned following Escobar’s death in 1993 and wasn’t discovered until 2003. It later caught the attention of renowned Colombian contemporary art collector Lio Malca, who bought the estate in 2012.

“I purchased the property because I thought it was insane,” Malca told Cool Hunting in 2016. “I could not believe that in this world, a property like this still exists and hasn’t been taken over by a corporation.”

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Lio Malca transformed the mansion into a five-star resort filled with his own art collection.

One of the bars is covered with Keith Haring’s original Tokyo Pop Shop wallpaper. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Casa Malca opened in 2014 with eight rooms in the original mansion and has since expanded to 71 suites offering views of the private beach or lush gardens. There are also three restaurants, two bars, and a spa.

But it’s Malca’s personal touch that really makes the resort stand out. Each room has been curated by the gallerist himself, with priceless works of art in every nook and corner. Search for Casa Malca on Instagram and you’ll see a Keith Haring, Basquiat, or Jeff Koons pop up on an influencer’s grid.

There’s also an air of exclusivity. While tourists can access Casa Malca by paying a $110 food and drink minimum at any of its restaurants, most of the resort — including its popular Instagram spots — is reserved only for guests.