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A snake-shaped Airbnb has cave-like hallways near a botanical garden and mineral cave in Mexico - take a look inside

Lauren Edmonds   

A snake-shaped Airbnb has cave-like hallways near a botanical garden and mineral cave in Mexico - take a look inside
El Nido de Quetzalcóatl resembles the feathered serpent god of the same name.Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl
  • Architect Javier Senosiain designed El Nido de Quetzalcóatl - or Quetzalcóatl's Nest - in Naucalpan, Mexico.
  • There are 10 apartments inside the 16,500-square-foot building, which is shaped like a serpent.
  • Its design resembles the feathered serpent Quetzalcóatl with hallways that mimic a snake's belly, a botanical garden, and a mineral cave.

Mexican architect Javier Senosiain designed El Nido de Quetzalcóatl, or Quetzalcóatl's Nest, in the Naucalpan municipality of Mexico.

Mexican architect Javier Senosiain designed El Nido de Quetzalcóatl, or Quetzalcóatl
A rendering shows the entire scope of El Nido de Quetzalcóatl near Mexico City.      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

Nestled among rolling hills and lush forests, a serpent-shaped residential complex called El Nido de Quetzalcóatl invites travelers across the globe to its tranquil landscape. Javier Senosiain, an award-winning architect based in Mexico, designed the eccentric structure after the Mesoamerican feathered serpent, Quetzalcóatl, according to a press release.

The complex's exterior is lined with iridescent colors like golden emerald and deep violet-blue to mimic Quetzalcóatl's feathers. El Nido de Quetzalcóatl, located about an hour away from Mexico City, began construction in 2001 and finished after six years.

Travelers can book a stay at El Nido de Quetzalcóatl through Airbnb, where prices start at $385 per night.

The residence is popular with celebrities like Dua Lipa.

The residence is popular with celebrities like Dua Lipa.
El Nido de Quetzalcóatl was featured on Netflix's "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals."      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

Senosiain styled El Nido de Quetzalcóatl using organic architecture, a term coined by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900s, according to PBS, which refers to creating a balance between human habitation and a natural environment,

The nature-friendly complex has become popular with travelers, including singer Dua Lipa who shared an Instagram post of her visit to El Nido de Quetzalcóatl in July.

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl houses its apartments on an 80,298-square-foot plot of land. The complex is 16,500 square feet.

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl houses its apartments on an 80,298-square-foot plot of land. The complex is 16,500 square feet.
Javier Senosiain wanted El Nido de Quetzalcóatl to blend into the surrounding landscape seamlessly.      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl was built on "irregular terrain," making it challenging to create the serpentine complex, according to the press release. It houses 10 apartments surrounded by an oak forest, gardens, and waterways.

All of the residences are located in the snake's back with three apartments upstairs and seven downstairs.

The apartment walls feature soft curves and a rounded shape to fit the residence's serpent theme.

The apartment walls feature soft curves and a rounded shape to fit the residence
A glimpse inside one apartment featured all-white walls paired with wood accents and minimal pops of color.      Courtesy of El Nido de Quetzalcóatl

The interior of each apartment is 21 feet high by 28 feet wide with "internal vaults, walls in warm, earthy and semi-curved colors, and different windows with surprising views towards the gardens," according to the press release.

The apartments can comfortably house up to eight guests at a time, according to the press release.

The apartments can comfortably house up to eight guests at a time, according to the press release.
Each guest also has access to nearby gardens and streams.      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl's apartments each have five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a laundry center. The apartments are connected by several multicolored hallways that resemble tunnels.

This apartment's decor uses neutral tones to contrast the bright colors featured across the landscape.

This apartment
The featured apartment included wood chairs and accents that integrated with the neutral tone.      Courtesy of El Nido de Quetzalcóatl

Guests can enjoy activities like meditation, nature walks, and yoga while visiting the vacation spot. A nearby park called Parque Quetzalcóatl invites guests to explore under colored glass windows that give a kaleidoscope feel.

Another space is dubbed "The Egg."

Another space is dubbed "The Egg."
Large, rounded ridges were incorporated into the walls in "The Egg."      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

"The Egg" is a round room with pristine white walls and a lounge space, according to the Airbnb host.

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl's land is vast, with a botanical garden situated nearby.

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl
One of the several snake heads featured among the foliage at El Nido de Quetzalcóatl.      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

El Nido de Quetzalcóatl has various gardens that guests can visit. Architectural Digest reported that there's a cactus, herb, and mineral garden, as well as a grass-covered amphitheater.

Several streams were incorporated into the El Nido de Quetzalcóatl.

Several streams were incorporated into the El Nido de Quetzalcóatl.
El Nido de Quetzalcóatl's structure weaves alongside the region's hills and trees.      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

The Airbnb listing notes that the complex utilizes nearby water sources that help El Nido de Quetzalcóatl's ecosystem.

"On the terrain we can find several streams that are indispensable as they are key elements for the ecosystem," the press release said. "Carbon dioxide is absorbed, oxygen is produced, the temperature is regulated and humidity is maintained."

Discarded water is filtered back into El Nido de Quetzalcóatl's ecosystem.

Discarded water is filtered back into El Nido de Quetzalcóatl
El Nido de Quetzalcóatl houses a botanical and herb garden.      Courtesy of El Nido De Quetzalcóatl

According to the press release, discarded water from the apartments passes through a treatment plant where it is then "used for irrigation of all green areas."

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