Beachfront Villa in Garrobo

The house clings to a cliff in Punta Garrobo, the private headland at the southern edge of Zihuatanejo Bay, and it seems to face nothing but the Pacific. It’s built across three levels down the rock, and every one of them opens onto a terrace. The ocean is in view from almost everywhere you stand, and in the evening the sun sets right in front of you.

The materials keep it grounded. There’s parota wood, the dark, warm hardwood of the Mexican coast, alongside marble, cantera stone, granite and exposed concrete, so the house feels cool and solid against the heat outside. The infinity pool sits under a palapa roof at the cliff’s edge. Close by are a covered terrace with a round parota table that seats ten, sun loungers, and a cabana with four daybeds for the hottest part of the afternoon.

There are five suites, each with a king bed, air conditioning, its own bathroom and a balcony or terrace of its own. The main suite adds a private jacuzzi. Indoors, an open-air lounge looks straight out to sea, and a TV room with a deep sectional sofa is there for slower evenings. The kitchen is air-conditioned and fully equipped, with a granite island and a breakfast bar for mornings that start slowly.

Housekeeping runs through the day, from eight until five. A private chef, airport transfers, extra staff and grocery shopping before you arrive can all be arranged for an additional cost, so the house can be as self-catered or as looked-after as your group prefers. Staying here also gives you access to the Punta Garrobo beach club, with its pool, restaurant-bar and loungers on the sand, plus the padel and tennis courts at no extra charge. Book them a day ahead. Zihuatanejo’s beaches and town are about ten minutes away.

Life on a cliff comes with a trade-off. There are stairs between all three levels, and the pool and balconies are unfenced so nothing interrupts the view, which means the house isn’t suitable for small children. One private level, with a gym and office, is kept for the owners and isn’t part of the rental. There are security cameras outside at the entrance and pool, and none inside.