Cliff Villa in Zihuatanejo

The house steps down a hillside above Zihuatanejo Bay, high enough to take in the whole sweep of water and close enough to hear the town below. Fishing boats come and go across the bay through the day. In the evening the sun drops straight into the Pacific, and the terraces are built to face it.

The architect Enrique Zozaya designed it around those views, and each of the four bedrooms looks out over the bay from its own angle. The rest of the house follows the slope in a series of terraces, with an infinity pool that seems to run straight into the water and a jacuzzi for after dark. There’s a lot of room to spread out, with about 11,000 square feet across indoor and outdoor spaces, so a group can be together or apart as the day calls for it.

A private chef, a waiter and daily housekeeping are all part of the stay. Breakfast can be on the terrace, lunch by the pool, dinner whenever the light is right, and the house is quietly put back in order while you’re at the beach.

You don’t need a car for the best of Zihuatanejo. Playa Contramar is just steps away, and Playa Principal is about a five-minute walk along the bay, with the town’s restaurants and seafood spots a short stroll beyond. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport is roughly 25 minutes by car, and Ixtapa itself about ten.