Cliff Estate in Nayarit

Above the Pacific, on the wild slopes of Cerro del Mono, El Adivino rises from the cliff in tiers of pale stone. The house takes its name and its form from the Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal, and like its Maya predecessor it feels less built than revealed. Rem Arquitectos shaped it around the rock rather than clearing it, and it went up stone by stone over several years, following the land wherever it led.

Inside, interiors by Tecilli Peña Jiménez bring that same reverence for material and craft. Walls of laja stone, pools lined in cantera, long tables of parota wood, and pieces gathered from across Mexico (woven baskets, blown glass, hand embroidery) give the house a warmth that’s quietly, unmistakably Mexican. It’s ancient and modern at once, and it never tries too hard to be either.

There are five king suites, each with its own private plunge pool and en-suite bathroom, so every guest wakes to the ocean and has a place to slip into the water alone. A flex room with three sofa beds and a family room with two queens bring the house to 14 guests, which makes it just as suited to a gathering of friends as to a multigenerational escape. The main pool sits beneath an old frangipani tree, and an infinity pool looks straight out to the horizon.

Stone steps wind down the cliff to a private beach, where kayaks and paddleboards wait for calm mornings. From December to March, humpback whales move through Banderas Bay, and the team can arrange a private boat to go and meet them. Back at the house, there’s a jungle spa, traditional temazcal ceremonies, and long dinners on the cliff as the sun goes down.

A private chef cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner, leaning into the flavours of the Pacific coast: pescado zarandeado, tortillas pressed by hand, tasting menus for the nights that call for one. A butler, a waiter and daily housekeeping look after the rest, while Omar, the on-site concierge, handles everything from golf at the nearby Jack Nicklaus courses to surf lessons along the Riviera.

Punta Mita is a few minutes away, and Puerto Vallarta airport about an hour by car. Close enough to everything, and still feeling a world apart.

The details: 5 suites plus a flex room and a family room, sleeps 14. Private chef for all three meals (groceries charged separately), butler, waiter, daily housekeeping and concierge included. Six-seat golf cart. Minimum stay of three nights from May to October, five nights in high season, and seven over Christmas, New Year and holidays. Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am. Non-smoking, no pets.