Villa Zihuatanejo

Zihuatanejo Bay curves below the hillside of Monte Cristo, a gated enclave on the slopes above town. This house sits high on that hill, and the arrival is designed to hold the view back until the last moment. A discreet entrance opens onto tropical planting, which leads into a central courtyard of bougainvillea and running water. From there a wide stone staircase climbs up to the main terrace, and the whole bay opens out at once.

The architect Enrique Zozaya built the house around traditional coastal Mexican forms, with stone, open courtyards and a great palapa roof at its centre. Under that roof is where most of the day happens. An infinity lap pool runs along the edge of the terrace, with a jacuzzi and a plunge pool alongside, a full bar and plenty of shaded lounging facing the ocean. There’s Wi-Fi and a Bluetooth sound system throughout. Inside, the line between indoors and out is mostly a suggestion. There’s a gym with ocean views and a smaller media lounge for evenings in.

Six suites are spread through the house, each with a king bed, its own bathroom and a view of the water. Most open onto a private balcony or terrace. The primary suite has its own plunge pool looking straight out over the bay.

The house comes fully staffed. A house manager doubles as concierge, a private chef cooks in-house, housekeeping comes daily and a driver is on hand for trips into town or along the coast. Nothing is shared with other guests. It’s a private residence first, and it’s run as one, so it’s best suited to families, couples travelling together and small wellness groups. Events and large celebrations aren’t hosted.