My girlfriend Joja joined me on my trip to Punta Mita as my ‘babymoon’ companion! What a great friend!
A Punta Mita, Nayarit Eat, Stay, Play Travel Guide
It may not have been the babymoon I had pictured but my recent trip to Punta Mita, Mexico ended up just being just what I needed.
If you are new to my Youtube channel or blog, my husband Adam and I have been slowly renovation our Toronto Victorian home for the past 18 months and after a year of renovations we finally moved back into our house this past May, got married in Italy this September and found out I was pregnant the same week we got back from our honeymoon in Croatia. This past year has been nothing if not momentous and knowing the next phase of our renovation was just on the horizon, I knew if I didn’t go visit my parents at their new condo in Punta Mita now, I probably wouldn’t get another opportunity for at least 10 months. So off I went!
Unfortunately for me, the timing did not work for my husband who was swamped at work so instead of being the babymoon I had pictured, I invited a friend to join me as my pregnancy companion to enjoy some warm weather and sunshine while I can.
It had been a quite some time since my last trip to Punta Mita 9 years ago and so much had changed. Previously, Adam and I had gone there with my parents and stayed at a family friends’ place but this time around, my girlfriend and I would be staying at their newly built condo and could visit the new Punta Mita beach clubs that had opened since and dine at all the best restaurants.
If you have never been to Punta Mita Mexico before, it’s a luxurious 1,500-acre private residential community located on a spear-shaped peninsula that features two luxury hotel properties (the Four Seasons Punta Mita and St. Regis Punta Mita) and numerous world-class amenities including two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses.
Where is Punta Mita?
Situated 45 km (28 miles) from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, it takes about 45-50 minutes to get to Punta Mita by car, but once there you are surrounded on three sides by nine and a half miles of beaches. Outside the gates of Punta Mita you will find Punta de Mita, a small artisan, merchant and fishing village with restaurants, stores, markets and cafes to explore. Access into Punta Mita is only available to guests staying at the hotel or property owners and their invited guests making it a very private and exclusive destination that attracts celebrities and international elite visitors alike.
The view from our table at Pescadora Restaurant in Punta de Mita
To help you make the most of your time in Punta Mita and the surrounding Nayarit areas here is an Eat, Stay, Play guide to one of Mexico’s best playgrounds.
Bump Style! Outfits I wore while on vacation in Punta Mita!
Where to Stay and Luxury Punta Mita Hotels
Rental Properties in Punta Mita - Coming with a large group or want to plan an extended stay? There are a wide range of properties available for short and long term rentals in Punta Mita that would appeal to a variety of tastes and preferences. From the charm of traditional Mexican-style villas to sleek, modern and chic condos, Punta Mita’s rental properties always feature high-end amenities, top-of-the-line appliances, state-of-the-art electronics, and high-speed internet. They also come with access to all the beach clubs (and spas that are associated with them), hotels, concierge service, housekeeping, golf club access and so much more. There are minimum night stay requirements when renting a vacation property in Punta Mita but it varies depending on the season so it’s always best to double check.
The St. Regist Punta Mita Resort
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort - A fantastic place to relax and be pampered, the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort is a luxury haven settled on 22 lush acres featuring expansive beachfront villas. With 120 exquisite guest rooms and suites with luxury amenities like golf and the rejuvenating and pampering treatments available at the The St. Regis Spa, the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort offers upscale luxury amid a private intimate hideaway that is perfect for those in need of some rest and recharging.
Four Seasons Punta Mita - For those who can’t sit still for long, The Four Seasons Punta Mita not only offers the luxury hospitality offerings they are known for, but numerous activities and experiences to keep you entertained. From private cooking classes to private yacht charters, horseback riding, ATV tours, fitness and yoga classes, tennis club access, and spa treatments, not to mention access to two Jack Nicklaus designed courses, there is no such thing as a dull moment when staying at The Four Seasons Punta Mita.
Map of Punta Mita
Map taken from the Punta Mita website. A more interactive version of this map is available on their site - CLICK HERE TO VIEW
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Kupuri Beach Club! One of four beach clubs in Punta Mita that are open to residents and vacation property renters.
Things To Do in Punta Mita
Relax at the numerous Punta Mita Beach clubs - As a resident or vacation property renter you gain access to the numbers Punta Mita beach clubs including Kupuri beach club which features the Navi Spa and Coritas Kids Club (an air conditioned clubhouse that accommodates toddlers to teenagers with a roster of activities including wading pools and video games), Sufi Ocean Club, Sea Breeze Beach Club, and Pacifico Beach club. Each beach club features their own array of ocean sport activities, a variety of swimming pools as well as culinary offerings.
Get Active - There are so many ways to stay active in Punta Mita. With close to 6.5 km (4 miles) of recreation trails to the Tennis and Fitness Centre, and water sports (paddle boarding, boogie boarding, sailing, wind sports and snorkelling equipment are all available for rent or can be paired with lessons), there are so many ways to stay active. Of course, for those interested in golf, The Four Seasons Golf Course features two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses that offer views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Bahía de Banderas and the Pacific. It also features the world renowned “Tail of the Whale” – the world’s only natural island green (can only be played at low tide). Adam and I played the course 9 years ago when we were last in Punta Mita and although Adam is a much more of an experienced golfer, it is a beautiful course that is well worth planning ahead for.
Blend your own Tequila! - Had I been able to drink or had Adam been with me, I would have done this experience in a heartbeat!. Offered through the Four Seasons, you can pay to participate in a two hour guided tasting where you explore different versions of tequila and then blend a unique tequila that reflects your own tastes and preferences. My mom did this experience and vouched for how great it was not to mention makes a great souvenir to take home at the end of your trip!
Go Shopping - There isn’t much shopping to do in Punta Mita itself (unless you need a new golf shirt in which case head to the club house) but as soon as you leave the gates and cross the street into Punta De Mita you will find numerous little boutiques to explore. Two of my favourite included a home decor store called Un Pueblo, and a clothing/accessory store called Belem del Mar where I found the cutest pair of father - son matching bathing suits I had to buy for Adam and his soon-to-be mini.
Spend the day at the spa - As a resident or vacation property renter, not only do you have access to the Navi Spa at Kupuri Beach Club but you can also access the spa at both the Four Seasons Punta Mita and the St. Regis Punta Mita, which leaves only one question, which do you try first?
Book a medical treatment - Not something you may typically think about when planning a vacation but worth keeping in mind is that Punta Mita does have an outstanding private hospital with spectacular medical team that uses state-of-the-art technology. Looking for a quick MRI, suffer from a heart condition, or want to talk to someone about infertility treatments, Punta Mita Hospital offers an array of services and specialties to help you. Not to mention, Punta Mita makes for an ideal destination to relax by the sea while going through recovery.
My girlfriend Joja picked the best table for dinner at Pescadora in Punta de Mita. I mean, just look at that ocean front view!
Best Restaurants in Punta Mita
Asai Japanese - If you love Japanese food you have to visit Kupuri Beach Club’s Japanese restaurant serving delicious Asian Cuisine By Chef Yasuo! Using a mix of traditional methods and flavors with creative innovations you can choose from all the traditional sushi dishes you love like rolls, sushi, nigiri, dim sum, noodle soups, and bowls while also indulging in new creations featuring a clear influence steaming from Mexican cuisine. Seafood doesn’t get any fresher when in Mexico so why not indulge in some delicious Japanese food while there. Just be sure to save room for dessert because the ‘crispy ice cream sandwich with roasted hazelnuts, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate ganache was also out of this world.
Restaurant Sufi - Located inside Sufi Ocean Club, Restaurant Sufi combines the flavors of Mexico and the Mediterranean to create a cuisine dubbed “Mexiterranean." This was one of the first places we ate at for lunch while in Punta Mita and not only are the ocean front views amazing but so is the food! Definitelyy one of the best restaurants in Punta Mita to enjoy lunch if you ask me!
Majagua Pop Up at St Regis - Serving delicious Mexican favourites like tacos, ceviche and cochinita, The St. Regis pop up restaurant on the beach is definitely worth a visit while it lasts. We ended up going here twice actually because not only do they have a great selection of tacos (something I seem to always be craving while pregnant) but their menu featured this Zucchini in green sauce with cojita cheese that was just out of this world! I need to figure out how to make it because it looked so easy and was just that good.
Highly recommend grabbing a seat on the beachfront patio at Tuna Blanca in Punta De Mita. We got to enjoy the most spectacular sunset during our meal!
Tuna Blanca by Thierry Blouet - An upscale (well as upscale as it gets in Punta De Mita) seafood restaurant with a large air-conditioned indoor dining room as well as a beachfront patio for those who like to enjoy their meals al fresco. We started off our meal at Tuna Blanca with a table side prepared Caesar salad, followed by roasted artichokes, tuna tostada, and ended with a plate of steamed mussels in a white wine and creme sauce! Yum!
ParrotFish Punta Mita - This Asian/Latin fusion restaurant is also located in the town of Punta De Mita and uses locally sourced high quality ingredients in all their dishes. My parents visit this restaurant weekly and absolutely love their shrimp tempura as well as their creative sushi rolls and “A La Piedra” Tuna slices marinated in a citrus ponzu. This is probably the best restaurant in Punta de Mita for dinner if you want to try something outside the luxury hotels.
The roasted beet salad from La Pescadora in Punta de Mita
La Pescadora - This open-air barbecue and seafood restaurant located right on the beach in Punta de Mita offers great sunset views set in a causal atmosphere. We had dinner here on one of our first nights in Punta Mita and it was an obvious hangout for people looking to watch the game under a large Palapa while drinking margaritas. Honourable menu mentions include the shrimp fettuccine, roasted beet salad, and their catch of the day grilled and sautéed in lemons juice, capers, and a touch of butter.
Bump Style! Vacation pregnancy outfits I wore in Punta Mita. Love showing off my growing bump!
Casa Teresa Punta Mita - Who would have thought you could find a traditional Italian style Trattoria in the middle of Mexico?? Not I! But here we are! The menu at Casa Teresa features many traditional Italian dishes including numerous pasta dishes. Highlights of this menu include the Buratta and roasted beet appetizer, the Caprese with roasted Gala Apple Salad, and the Italian Lemon Octopus. I also loved the chocolate brownie they offered for dessert and my girlfriend said her Carbonara was delicious.
Boca Deli - A little cafe and coffee shop in Punta de Mita that serves sandwiches, salads, smoothies, Boca Deli is a fun little place to visit for breakfast or lunch. My girlfriend and I grabbed some ice coffees here while wandering around the shops of Punta de Mita after lunch and found it to be a cute little spot right beside the food and vegetable market that was worth even a short visit.
While in Mexico, my mom’s housekeeper/cook also taught me how to make authentic Baja fish tacos using the Mahi Mahi fish and shrimp we got at the market in La Cruz. If you are interested in the recipe, check out my Baja Fish Taco Recipe blog post! Here’s a little preview below!
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One of my favourite things to do is go shopping in Sayulita as there are so many cool boutiques to check out!
Quick Road Trip And Places To Explore Around Punta Mita
Sayulita, Nayarit and San Francisco (aka San Pancho) - Located about 30 minutes up the coast from Punta Mita you will discover two fun and vibrant Mexican towns with their own unique charm and appeal. Sayulita, Mexico is full of expats and locals alike and features numerous cafes, restaurants, hotels hostels and bars to hang out at along with a busy beach where you can swim and admire the surfers. San Francisco on the other hand is much quieter than Sayulita with less booming music, but still offers the same charm you would expect from a small Mexican town. We spent a day in Sayulita and San Francisco during this recent trip to Punta Mita and my girlfriend loved it. For those travelling alone or those interested in more of a party scene, Sayulita would definitely be your vibe where as if you wanted something more authentic and relaxed, San Pancho is for you as the streets and beach are noticeably less busy.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle - Another great place to explore if you are staying in Punta Mita long term is La Cruz. Located 30 minutes down the coast towards Puerto Vallarta is a small, developing Mexican fishing village with a large marina and of course a fish market (Mercado del Mar). You don’t need more than a morning to explore the whole town but there is definitely a few restaurants worth trying, a small knick·knack market to explore, and of course a large beach. Deep sea fishing is one of the main water activities of La Cruz, thanks to the abundance of fish species such as tuna, marlin and mahi-mahi, so if you are interested in a chartered day trips you will find plenty of businesses offering just that out of the marina in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. My mom and I did a little road trip to La Cruz to have lunch with her friends and purchase fresh fish from the local fisherman for that night’s dinner and even though I was there for only a short amount of time, I found it to be quiet charming. My mom also told me that on Sundays they have a great market set up on the pier with around 170 vendors to explore.
Thank you so much for checking out my Eat, Stay, Play, guide to Punta Mita, Mexico. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comment section below, otherwise don’t forget to subscribe as I’ll be back with more travel content soon. Hsta Pronto!
- Soheila
