Punta Mita, is one of Mexico’s most prestigious gated communities and resort destinations, as well as a mosaic of experiences and memories. It is the sensual breezes of the Pacific Ocean and a clear evening sky peppered with stars. It is the gracious and attentive staff of Punta Mita Beach Clubs. It is Oceanside Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and fiery sunsets. It is families, friends and colleagues gathering to share adventures.
The Many Sides of Punta Mita
In 1993, Puerto Vallarta was a ritzy beach resort city and Punta de Mita was but a dot on Mexico’ s Pacific Coast – relatively uninhabited, inaccessible ande intoxicatingly beautiful. For prominent owner/developer DINE, it was paradise. This virgin peninsula, with its vast unspoiled beaches and sleepy fishing village, had the potential to redefine the Mexican experience for the ultra-luxury market and create a highly exclusive, international residential resort community that would consistently rank among the world’s most desirable.
DINE brought in golf icon Jack Nicklaus to create not one, but two championship oceanfront golf courses – including the game’s only natural island green; Four Seasons to lend its coveted stamp of legendary luxury and hospitality; and a globally renowned team of planners, architects, designers and landscape architects to sculpt roads, villas, amenities and a multimillion-dollar master plan where once there was only a jungle.
FULFILLING ITS DESTINY
Like most resorts, Punta Mita is looking ahead to stay relevant and meet the needs of multiple generations. Unlike any resort, Punta Mita is blessed with 1730 acres (700 hectares), 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) of coastline, five beaches, five surf breaks, four offshore islands, three oceans, coral reefs and one private peninsula to fulfill its destiny into the next decade and beyond.
For those who think they know the many sides of Punta Mita, the adventure has only begun. Punta Mita’s next chapter promises to enrich this corner of paradise with inclusive experiences inside an exclusive community that capture the multifaceted allure of true Mexico.
IN NATURE’S SANCTUARY
With 1730 acres, the Punta Mita lands are big enough to get lost in, yet intimate enough to provide close encounters with Mexico’s wild side. Lush jungles that march up hills and peaks are home to a fascinating variety of tropical creatures, including hundreds of indigenous and migratory birds and butterflies whose calls and colors fill the air. An abundance of trees – from the impressive white fig to the iconic coconut palm to the sacred ceiba, the Mayans’ tree of life- provide refreshing canopies and add to Mother Nature’s artistry.
From secret coves to shallow reefs, from primeval jungles to Careyeros Mountain, Punta Mita’s rare splendor and rich diversity beckon. Owners and guests can spend days here and barely scratch the surface.
The Islands
THE GALAPAGOS OF NAYARIT
Just a short 15 mile boat ride across the blue waters of Bahía de Banderas lies one of Mexico’s most memorable experiences – Las Islas Marietas. This small archipelago of volcanic, uninhabited islands and islets is so fauna-filled and valuable that famed conservationists Jacques-Yves Coustean worked tiressly during the 60s to protect the Marietas from military bombing exercises. In 2005, the Marietas Islands were designated a national park, safeguarded from hunting and fishing. Now a UNESCO Biosphere, the Marietas offer Punta Mita owners and guests another side of enchantment, education and adventure.
EXCURSIONS
Groups could board Punta Mita’s research boat with Punta Mita Expeditions for fascinating voyage to the islands’ warm, crystal-clear waters and rocky caverns, where mind-boggling marine life includes gentle sea turtles, giant manta rays, octopus, wild dolphins and more than a hundred species of tropical reef fish – all protected from hunting and fishing.
True Mexico
A deeper emphasis on creating a true Mexico experience will appeal to culture-seekers who want to tap into al things local without necessarily leaving the peninsula. From art and history to language and cuisine, the connection to the mainland Mexican culture should be woven into every corner of Punta Mita.
THE ARTS
Punta Mita has a greater opportunity to connect to the local community of Punta de Mita by bringing in locals to lead classes in ceramics, folk arts and other traditional crafts.
CULTURAL CENTERS
In the beginning, Punta Mita made a strong connection to its roots as a costal gateway for the indigenous Huichol Indian tribe who still calls the remote Sierra Madre Mountains Home. Their artistic contributions to the Mexican Cultural palette and their preservation of pre-Columbian traditions could become the focus of a new Cultural Center at Punta Mita.
LOCAL EXCURSIONS
When the urge strikes to explore beyond Punta Mita’s private peninsula, the resort could facilitate day trips to nearby Sayulita, San Pancho, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Bucerias for a taste of local town and a chance to connect with locals.
The Sports
On the sporting side, Punta Mita already boasts some of the best sonorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, surfing and golf in the world. It’s all about getting outdoors, weather by land or sea.
LAND PURSUITS
Oceanfront golf on two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses is a given, but there’s an opportunity to make the game more family friendly in off-peak-times, like creating fun hole-in-one events at the Tail of the Whale. Consider golf and tennis camps for kids and teens, including special programs geared towards girls.
Biking has replaced golf as the go-to resort sport, creating the need for more mountain bike paths that offer adrenaline-pumping rides. Families could explore miles of hiking trails through the native forest and the manicured grounds of the Botanical Garden, where bird-watching and annual flower festivals would be favorite pastimes.
WATER ACTIVITIES
The impeccable ocean experiences offered by Punta Mita Expeditions span a broad range of activities, including surging, marine safaris, wild dolphin adventures, whale watching encounters, scuba and hookah diving, deep-sea fishing and catamaran cruises.
