There are places in Mexico where luxury does not scream, but is felt everywhere. Punta Mita — just such a case. A private peninsula on the Pacific coast of the state in the northern part of Banderas Bay, north of Puerto Vallarta, has long been transformed into a closed world, where pristine nature and architecture are combined, designed for those who are accustomed to the maximum level of comfort.
The road here itself sets the tone. Just fifteen minutes separate Vallarta's bustling Malecon from a turn from which a different rhythm begins. The road runs north along the coast, through the picturesque areas of Mescalitos, Villas de Vandera, Los Amores and Mesa Quemada, and the short route also overlooks La Manzanilla Beach. The coast is gradually becoming quieter, the landscapes — cleaner, and the ocean line — wider. Beyond the white beaches of Punta Negra and Playa Lobo lies a peninsula that legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus once called “heaven on Earth.” And this is not an exaggeration, but a fairly accurate description of what is happening here. The place is built so that a person feels not only comfort, but also a sense of isolation from the rest of the world.
Punta Mita — it is not just a resort, but a carefully planned area of about six square kilometers. There are 54 residences and villas hidden among the hills and coves and grouped into 16 exclusive residential complexes. The number of infinity pools and other luxury items is simply off the charts. Rates for the highly sought-after Villa Tesoro, a complex of seven private apartments, reach around $8,500 per night in low season. Summer in Punta Mita — This is the low season due to the heat and humidity.
Here are (only!) two fromelements, which have become architectural and service examples for the entire region. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is perceived as a modern interpretation of the Mexican estate, where traditional materials and forms are combined with minimalism and indoor spaces. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, on the other hand, plays on contrasts, combining local artisanal elements with European aesthetics and bringing the service to complete precision, where even the smallest details are thought out in advance. The hotels are located in the most inaccessible part of the peninsula with the most interesting terrain, from which there is direct access to three pristine beaches — Playa Cuevas, Playa Manzanillas and Playa La Solana.
In addition to other necessary infrastructure, Punta Mita has a private hospital, which is one of the most advanced medical centers not only in the state of Nayarit, but throughout Mexico — a state-of-the-art facility that can compete with the best hospitals in the United States.
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The architecture of the peninsula is not accidental. The project is largely associated with the name of Diego Villaseñor, who sought to escape global unification and return the identity of the place. The craftsmanship uses tropical woods, copper, glass and fabrics that reference the culture of the Cora and Huichol peoples. This is not a storization, but an attempt to embed luxury in a context where it contrasts with the environment, but emphasizes it.
Separate luxury — golf. The courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus, are considered among the best in Latin America. They stretch along the ocean, go to the beaches and climb the hills, from where in winter it is possible to observe the migration of whales. The most famous element — hole «Whale Tail», located on a natural island. During the low tide, you can walk to it, and when the water rises, the game turns into an unforgettable experience: golf in the middle of the ocean, where the boundary between land and water is constantly changing.
Life on the peninsula is arranged in such a way that there is no need to leave its borders. There is everything here, from restaurants with Pacific cuisine to places for secluded relaxation, where the main element is not the interior, but the view of the ocean. Infinity pools seem to continue the line of the water, and villas such as Casa Aramara or Villa Tesoro transform the stay into a private format, where every detail, from textiles to layout, is subject to privacy.
Punta Mita has long been a place of attraction for the world elite. Actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, people for whom travel — not a change of scenery, but a search for a place that suits their lifestyle. Eva Longoria, Demi Moore, Jennifer Aniston, the Kardashian family… By the way, Kim Kardashian spent her honeymoon with Kanye West here in the spring of 2014. But despite all its closedness, the peninsula does not break away from the surrounding region. Nearby are the Marietas Islands, which were once explored by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and in addition the surfer villages of Sayulita and San Francisco, where life flows at a completely different rhythm.
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Just a few decades ago, the territory of Punta Mita consisted of several small fishing settlements. Today it is one of the most expensive and carefully guarded resorts in Mexico, but its development did not follow the path of mass construction from fir trees. It maintains a balance between nature and architecture, and this is what makes it unique even among other elite resorts.
Punta Mita — This is not only the answer to the question of where to have a luxury holiday. This is an example of what modern luxury can look like: discreet, integrated into the landscape and yet absolutely uncompromising in detail. There is no need to prove status here. It can be read in the silence, in the distances between the villas, in the way the ocean becomes part of every morning and every sunset.