La Casa Que Canta, "the house that sings"... how's that for an alluring introduction to one of Mexico's most charming small luxury resorts?

Hugging the rocks above La Ropa Beach in Zihuatanejo, a Pacific coast city in the state of Guerrero, the resort is only a short taxi ride from town but offers a complete immersion into a different world, and a different way of life. Its beautiful architecture and sculpted reddish adobe construction almost make it seem as if the hotel grew straight out of the ground. Overlooking Zihuatanejo Bay, La Casa stops right at the water's edge, virtually dipping its feet into the Pacific before pulling back.

For a romantic, luxurious retreat to a place overlooked by the vast majority of tourists who come to Mexico, La Casa Que Canta certainly rewards the knowledgeable traveler, and it has the accolades to prove it. Its trophy cabinet includes perennial nods from the likes of Condé Nast Traveler and Forbes.

La Casa Que Canta, "the house that sings"... how's that for an alluring introduction to one of Mexico's most charming small luxury resorts?

Hugging the rocks above La Ropa Beach in Zihuatanejo, a Pacific coast city in the state of Guerrero, the resort is only a short taxi ride from town but offers a complete immersion into a different world, and a different way of life. Its beautiful architecture and sculpted reddish adobe construction almost make it seem as if the hotel grew straight out of the ground. Overlooking Zihuatanejo Bay, La Casa stops right at the water's edge, virtually dipping its feet into the Pacific before pulling back.

For a romantic, luxurious retreat to a place overlooked by the vast majority of tourists who come to Mexico, La Casa Que Canta certainly rewards the knowledgeable traveler, and it has the accolades to prove it. Its trophy cabinet includes perennial nods from the likes of Condé Nast Traveler and Forbes.

But it's not just the experts who sing about this resort. Guests love the seclusion it affords, the understated opulence of the accommodations and especially the hotel's outstanding service. Need proof? Before you arrive, you will be emailed by the hotel with a questionnaire to ascertain your personal needs and desires. Secondly, this place was rated number one in all of Latin America for service by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

This is an exclusive address in Mexico. With only 25 suites (11 of them with private pools), each named for a Mexican song, the hotel artfully conveys a sense of privacy and seclusion. The rooms celebrate Mexican folk art with elegant personal touches, such as the flower-petal mosaics the staff arrange on your bed each day, the hammocks hanging under a thatched roof in each terrace, or the beautiful, hand-crafted Mexican furniture and vibrant local art on the walls. Each suite is unique, but they all share the common theme of comfort over style and intimacy over grandeur.

One of the most welcoming and visually stunning places at La Casa is the freshwater infinity pool, which is built on a promontory overlooking the bay and seems to drop off directly into its waters. Another, a saltwater pool with adjacent Jacuzzi, lies closer to the ocean below.

La Casa also boasts one of the best hotel restaurants in the country, featuring a seafood-heavy Mexican menu. A relatively new addition is its wellness center, which includes a full-service Clarins spa, yoga, and a small fitness center.

And if you dare leave this pleasing cocoon, the hotel has plenty of off-site activities for you, ranging from deep-sea fishing and golf to scuba and snorkeling excursions. For the romantic couple, a sunset tour of Zihuatanejo Bay is available.

has been writing about the best places to stay in North America since the day after graduating college in 1984. Since then she has written over 35 guidebooks and for countless websites and print publications. She is also the editorial director of a forthcoming website on the best places to stay and the travel acquisitions editor for Countryman Press.