Cuna del Cielo — 37720 San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

A four-bedroom hilltop villa of water gardens above San Miguel de Allende

Viktor Hackl was born and raised in Vienna, and has spent his adult life studying and using naturopathic and alternative methods of healing. He made San Miguel de Allende his base and created Cuna del Cielo as a retreat space for like-minded people. His own therapeutic focus runs to orthomolecular medicine, fasting, diet research and water therapy, and he describes experiencing the magic of self-healing as among the richest experiences of his life. The villa sits on a hilltop a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk from the main town square, surrounded by the botanical gardens of the Charco del Ingenio, with its canyons and waterfalls. Reflecting that landscape, the building was designed around water gardens that flow constantly through the property, bringing the views and the nature into the interiors. The house describes itself as a sanctuary of creation and recreation. There are four bedrooms, each with its own garden and terrace, Scandinavian-style minimalist decor, custom wood furniture and an ensuite bathroom finished in Tadelakt. The World Loft, at 106 square metres, is the largest, with a private library, a fireplace and a large round window over the gardens and countryside. The Star Suite, Sun Double and Moon Twin complete the house, several of them reached through the pond. Linens are natural, and essential oils, incense and sage are used after each guest to cleanse the rooms energetically. Shared spaces include a lounge, open kitchen, spa facilities and a rooftop deck, and fresh smoothies are provided each morning. The villa has hosted Reset, a weekend detox immersion combining guided exercise, hydrotherapy with a sauna and cold pool, nutritious meals, a nature walk and self-inquiry in the botanical gardens, a Burning Circle and a Sound Journey Meditation. Guests may rent individual rooms or the whole villa. It is not a party venue: it stands in a residential zone, and loud music is not allowed after 11pm.

Traditions: Hydrotherapy, Naturopathic Healing, Orthomolecular Medicine, Fasting, Sound Journey Meditation, Burning Circle

Programs: Reset Weekend Detox Immersion, Guided Hydrotherapy Session, Morning Exercise, Nature Walk and Self-Inquiry at the Botanical Gardens, Burning Circle, Sound Journey Meditation, Ecstatic Dance, Massage and Optional Health Treatments