Compositions and methods for delivering cargo to cells are provided. One aspect provides a synthetic vesicle containing caveolin 1 or a fragment thereof in an amount effective to form lipid rafts in the vesicle. The synthetic vesicles can be used to deliver polynucleotides, proteins, therapeutic agents, or a combination thereof to specific membrane-bound compartments of a cell. In certain aspects, the synthetic vesicles can deliver cargo to cellular organelles such as mitochondria.