Pablo Escobar's Tulum mansion, now a luxury hotel

Pablo Escobar, you know the one, took over this mid-century beachfront mansion in the 1980s at the height of his reign as an infamous Colombian drug lord, making the luxurious location his playground. Abandoned after his death, the villa was rediscovered in 2003 and was returned to its original owner before being put up for sale only to be snatched up by New York art collector and gallery owner, Lio Malca in 2014.

Casa Malca, the now five-star boutique design hotel sits along one of the most desired oceanfront stretches in Tulum and is filled with pieces from Malca's own art collection, including works by Keith Haring, KAWS, and Marion Peck.

Casa Malca is a work of art in itself, set in a natural wonderland surrounded by the lush Mayan jungle. The entrance is over the top with suspended arm chairs and a sofa swinging from heavy draped curtains, restaurant stylized with the ornate antique furniture and creepy old toys, and to best showcase it all, a rooftop bar with 360-degree views to take in Tulum's sunsets.