This 1,500-acre private peninsula is part of the Mexican state of Nayarit, ten miles from the resort of Puerto Vallarta. On the country’s Pacific West Coast, it has more than its fair share of high-end hotels and faces onto a tiny archipelago of protected uninhabited islands. Punta Mita is ideal for surfing and swimming, boat trips, golfing, humpback whale-watching, hill hiking and shopping. There are spas, fine dining restaurants, a marina, a tennis centre and lots of celebrity homes. Stay here and you can rub shoulders with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Bill Gates and the Kardashians.
W Punta De Mita
This colourfully decorated hotel by W does a great job of harmonising both indigenous and contemporary local culture. Bedrooms in the 119 villa accommodations are decorated like a funky hacienda, with quirky wall murals, bright mismatched cushions and bold patterned floors. Some of the public areas could be mistaken for art installations – an incredible 751,184 tile ‘carpet’ mosaic runs up to and through the beach bar. The uber-contemporary pool area has swinging chairs, in-pool loungers and muslin-slung plush daybeds. W Punta De Mita also boasts six dining options, including a street food-inspired Spice market, a lush spa with an adult pool and a DJ on the decks.
The St Regis Punta Mita
A top-tier Marriott resort, The St Regis is large, but calm. Guests are ferried around the grounds in golf carts and provided with the brand’s signature butler service. 120 bedrooms are housed in a number of casitas, with decor that’s neutral upscale rustic and airy, outdoor showers and modern beamed ceilings. Multiple pools ensure every type of traveller – from families to honeymooning couples – can find their perfect sunbathing corner. Lush, manicured gardens lead onto the white sandy beach, where guests can take a seat on a cushioned teak lounger. The St Regis has five restaurants, several bars, a fitness room, tennis courts and a kids’ club.
Four Seasons Punta Mita
With not one, but two stretches of beach along its perimeter, this is the top choice for water babies – or those wishing to lounge beside the ocean, being served tequila cocktails upon a wicker framed cabana. Waiters will also attend those in the infinity pool (yes, in the pool), bringing drinks to your precise spot. After all, with views this epic and temperatures so warm, you won’t want to budge. Indeed, the service throughout the Four Seasons is five-star attentive, with guests’ every micro-need met. Book a treatment at the Apuana Spa, play some sports, charter a yacht, dine on Las Cuevas beach at Bahía, eat Japanese-Mex dishes at Aramara, snack at the Shack or taco stand… the choice is yours.
Conrad Punta Mita
A resort by Hilton, Conrad Punta Mita is found within the Litibú gated community. It offers a private stretch of beach, three outdoor pools, a spa, a 24-hour fitness suite, tennis and basketball courts and plunge pool suites. The dining options are many, with beach barbecues, an open-air beachside grill, a seafood-forward Aztec-themed eatery, a pool lunch spot and a very child-friendly Mexican restaurant. Plus there’s a coffee house and an artisanal cocktail bar. Connecting rooms and large, modern suites with living areas, make this a good choice for families.
Imanta Resorts Punta De Mita
A unique property tucked within the coastal rainforest, this Relais and Chateaux hotel feels especially intimate and secluded, making it a go-to for A-listers. It has a bar with a hot tub (and further hot tubs on suites’ rooftops), a spa offering locally-themed treatments, a riding ranch, an exquisite boutique and a magical natural-style pool with a graceful waterfall. Expressing the local terroir, its Tukipa Restaurant has spellbinding elevated views of the palm treetops and blue horizon beyond, creating gourmet cuisine from local Nayarita ingredients. While Tzamaika Ocean Grill places diners right on the silver sands, serving the finest fruits of the ocean.
Casa De Mita
For an ultra-boutique stay, book into Casa De Mita, perched in a residential area on Playa Careyeros. A stay here is akin to being a VIP guest in a luxe mansion house. A pool with cushioned loungers and a swim-up bar looks onto the beach, while inside, there are two shared lounges providing a book exchange and coffee machine and seven individually designed rooms with traditional furnishings, local craft pieces and artworks. Staff are on hand to see to anything you need, from generously stocked mini bars, to free paddle board hire. Meals take on a quirky element, in that the location isn’t fixed – dining furniture is moved to ensure the dinner view isn’t the same night after night.
