Where to begin? I don’t even know!! I don’t think I can accurately describe this paradise; you just have to go! I also can’t believe I’m writing this because I don’t want it to get too popular, but then again, it’s TOOOOO GOOD not to share!
Punta Mita is a 1,500 acre private peninsula situated about 40 minutes (25 miles/42km) north of the Puerto Vallarta (PVR) airport. It is located on the Bay of Banderas and is home to the St. Regis, Four Seasons, and amazing luxury homes and villas. Most people have heard of Puerto Vallarta and the colorful town of Sayulita but few people have experienced Punta Mita. Part of the reason for this is that you must be staying in Punta Mita, at one of the resorts I mentioned above or a rental property, to even enter the fully guard gated grounds.
So why is this one of my favorite family vacations? And why did my husband and I look at each other and say we may never go back to Hawaii? Where did we stay and what did we do?
First getting there is a breeze. It’s a quick 2-3 hour flight from the West Coast and Central United States. It’s a relatively small airport and on the two occasions I have been there the customs and immigration went faster than deplaning. You can either rent a car, use Uber or arrange through your hotel or rental transportation to and from the airport. I suggest you arrange transportation since most places come with a golf cart to get around once you’re at the property. I explain more on that in this post.
Second, if you are staying within the gates of Punta Mita you are granted access to your hotel or rental properties pool along with the four beach clubs (free of charge) within Punta Mita: Kupuri Beach Club, Pacifico Beach Club, Sufi Ocean Club & Sea Breeze at the St. Regis. Kupuri Beach Club and Pacifico were the kids’ favorites because of the kid’s pools and the kid’s club. I’ve outlined all of the beach clubs here. You may be thinking, “you took kids to a beach club?,” but it’s just a term they use to describe a place to gather for food, drinks, beach and pool. In fact, it was so peaceful and quiet and the exact opposite of a “club” as we use the term here in the United States. You also get access to the tennis courts, fitness centers, pickleball courts, spa at Four Seasons & St. Regis, and two Jack Nicklaus golf courses. The beach clubs also offer activities throughout the day that you can sign up for like surf lessons, yoga, or water aerobics just to name a few. Some are at a fee, and some are free. If you need a list of more things to do inside and outside of the gates of Punta Mita, you can find them here. There is something for everyone of any age all day long!
The beaches were some of the prettiest I have seen in Mexico. The water was warm, as in you can dive right in. The water is clear, there is no seaweed and the waves are small. It’s perfect for kids of any age to get in and swim. The beaches are clean and the sand is white and soft. The weather is in the 80s and sunny every day. If it does rain it usually happens at night after dinner and into the wee hours of the night. In fact, it stormed 3 out of the 6 nights we were there any we didn’t see any rain because it was all at night. And the sunsets – they are breathtaking! We even compared the beaches, sunsets, and greenery to that of Hawaii but minus the swarms of people. It was really that good without all of the crowds.
The food is also fabulous! First of all, who doesn’t love Mexican food?! And the best place to get it… probably Mexico! If you love fish, they have a huge selection of fresh local caught fish. When it comes to seafood it doesn’t get any better than that. There’s definitely a great selection of restaurants for any palate. If you are looking for recommendations, I highlight some of my favorites in the post.
Our Punta Mita rental also offered us a golf cart which seems to be standard with most all rentals – just verify before booking. This is the standard mode of transportation within the gates to get to and from the beach and dinner. You can even take it out of the gates of Punta Mita to restaurant row, the few shops in town, and the local mart. The whole family absolutely loved the golf cart and every night we would drive around after sunset to catch the wild animals that live in the lush lands.
The best part of the condo was that it felt like we were staying at a resort. It came with a full-time concierge person who was able to arrange massages at home for us, dinner reservations, transportation to and from the airport, and that a crib be at the condo on arrival. Now for the seriously best part, in my tired, “this is my vacation as much as theirs”, mother opinion, the housekeeper who came every day from 7:30AM-3:00PM. She made breakfast, cleaned the house, did our laundry, and after we had been at the beach all morning, she had a hot lunch and cold margarita waiting for us when we can back for nap time. As a parent, I don’t think it gets any better than this folks.
Punta Mita is no different than the rest of Mexico as far as Spanish being the main language, pesos as its currency, and an abundance of seafood, Mexican food, and margaritas! If you’ve researched or been to Mexico before, the only thing that sets this place apart from the others is the luxury and sense of tranquility and peace you feel in the lush gardens, serene ocean views, and quiet grounds. This isn’t an all-inclusive (like our Cabo trips) and this isn’t a party scene. This is true relaxation, fun, sun, ocean, and overall paradise.
Thank you so much Brittany for posting this. An absolutely amazing vacation at such an affordable price compared to the amount of amenities and the first class commendations that we received. Can’t wait till we go back.