Agave Nocturne

Perched on a hilltop above a nature reserve on the Oaxacan coast, this eco-designed villa earns its seclusion. The infinity pool looks out across the Pacific, the dining terrace seats twelve with the ocean horizon as a backdrop, and the main bedroom opens wide to face Punta Cometa and the stars. Open-air bathrooms in the garden suites put you squarely inside the tropical surroundings – birdsong, butterflies, and a breeze that does the work of air conditioning. A cook prepares breakfast on-site, and the beach at Mazunte is fifteen-minutes away by car.

Home truths:
* Getting to the villa requires a bumpy, steep dirt road – so a 4x4 or SUV is essential, not just recommended.
* The windows have mosquito nets rather than glass panes, so rooms stay fully open to the night air. That's part of the villa's eco design – and the sounds of the ocean are a genuine highlight – but it does mean the rooms can feel warm and insect-prone in hotter months, particularly in August.
* You're in genuine tropical hillside territory, so you may encounter scorpions and other local wildlife inside the villa.
* There are thirty steps to reach the main entrance, and the villa is built across multiple levels on a steep hillside. This home likely won't suit guests with reduced mobility.
* While there's no air conditioning here, your host can provide fans for the warmer months.
* Your host can provide a cot for little ones.
* You won't find a television here, but we doubt you'll miss it – this is a place to switch off and recharge.