The San Miguel Edit: Sustainable Living in San Miguel: Where Design, Community, and Nature Align
When my husband and I first moved off-grid outside San Miguel de Allende, we wanted more than a solar-powered home, we wanted to live in harmony with the land. Over time, we’ve met others who share that same devotion to conscious living, especially within and around the eco-residential enclave of Águila Real, a community designed around sustainability, open space, and respect for the natural environment. Its neighbor, Hapori Eco Aldea, shares that same vision, a like-minded community where regenerative living and soulful design exist beautifully side by side.
Just twenty minutes from Centro, both communities feel grounded yet forward-thinking. Founded by Mike (from New Zealand) and Pau (from Mexico), the name Hapori means “community” in Māori, the perfect reflection of their guiding philosophy: to create a neighborhood rooted in connection, respect, and regeneration.
We first met Mike and Pau through a local permaculture group here in San Miguel and instantly connected over our shared passion for restoring the land and reimagining what sustainable living can look like. Their vision for Hapori struck a chord with us, not as a lofty concept, but as a tangible, evolving example of what’s possible when design, ecology, and purpose work in harmony.
A Living, Breathing Ecosystem
Hapori isn’t about living off the land, it’s about living with it. The community takes a place-based approach to sustainability, regenerating once-grazed terrain into thriving native ecosystems. Each lot purchase supports this process, preserving mature trees and helping the soil slowly return to health.
Architecture here is as mindful as it is striking. Natural materials, adobe, timber, and sillar are paired with passive solar and thermal design to create homes that stay cool in summer, warm in winter, and seamlessly integrated with the surrounding landscape. These are homes that breathe, endure, and tell a story of reverence for place.
Living Lightly Without Sacrificing Comfort
Sustainability doesn’t mean giving up luxury, it means redefining it. Imagine waking up to the sound of wind through the mesquites, taking a dip in a natural biopool, working from a sunlit studio powered entirely by solar energy, and ending your day in the communal temazcal or beside a shared firepit under a sky full of stars.
Hapori’s shared spaces from the palapa and common house to the sauna and kid’s play area nurture connection. Residents share ideas, meals, and resources, creating a rhythm of community that feels intentional and alive. It’s not just a neighborhood, it’s a philosophy in motion.
A Model for the Future
As someone who lives off-grid and believes deeply in conscious design, I see Hapori Eco Aldea and Águila Real as glimpses of what the future of sustainable living in Mexico can look like, thoughtful, intentional, and beautifully integrated with nature.
In a world that often feels disconnected from the earth, these neighboring communities offer a gentle reminder: we can build differently, live purposefully, and still have it all, comfort, beauty, and conscience.
For me, it’s proof that sustainability isn’t about sacrifice. It’s about design with soul, community with purpose, and a richer kind of luxury, one that leaves the land better than we found it.
About the Author
Tiffany Paige is a design-driven real estate advisor with The Agency San Miguel, combining market expertise with creative vision. A branding veteran turned off-grid lifestyle expert, she approaches real estate as both an art and a strategy, blending beauty, sustainability, and thoughtful expertise in every move.
