We pulled onto the sand pathway that leads to nothing but Cariló and the Atlantic Ocean, and I knew one thing: I’d be spending the whole week barefoot.
Cariló is tucked away in a manmade forest about 225 miles south of Buenos Aires. Throughout the stay, I kept trying to draw comparisons to familiar places. Culturally, its reminiscent of California’s Carmel-by-the-Sea — think linen pants and crisp white wine and Restoration Hardware. But the sand streets! The beachside forests! The sunrises! Cariló, from the ground up, is unique.
Quick history recap: A century ago, an ecologically ambitious family initiated a forestation effort along the coastal area. Their project transformed what was once desert sand dunes into an oasis for the well-heeled.
My heels after a week sans shoes? Not so well off.
Mixing work and play
During the month of February, my company rents three houses for us employees to spend a week at a time living together and working remotely.
My colleagues and I had the good fortune of landing a week over the four-day Carnaval holiday weekend, so we spent much more time sunbathing than sifting through emails.
Throughout our stay, we marveled at how much the whole getaway felt like summer camp. We ate themed meals, stayed up late talking and formed those tight bonds that can only come from spending 24/7 together and not hitchhiking home. As adults mostly under age 35, we also enjoyed the added perk of boozy dinners. Cheers!
On our last day, my closest friend and I woke up at dawn to watch the sunlight stretch across the ocean. After the rays warmed our faces, we walked back to the house, toes sinking into the sandy streets.
[envira-gallery id=”616″]
