Punta Mita Travel Tips
- LisaBarlow
- May 30, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: May 31, 2024
We left the harbor in Puerto Vallarta on a friends' boat, excited to explore the coast. It was 1995, and I had already been coming to Banderas Bay for about 10 years. After sailing north, we dropped anchor and had lunch on a pristine beach. Locals served us tacos under a shaded canopy, our plastic chairs in the sand as we gathered around the table and marveled at the view. I had no idea that I'd soon return to this same beach, and that so much would have changed.
I'm from Northern California, and I have been coming to what's now called Riviera Nayarit for decades. I've explored the area extensively with my family, and now use this knowledge and passion for the area to manage a luxury rental condo in Punta Mita. My rental condo is steps away from the beautiful beach I first explored in 1995, and I've watched as Punta Mita has grown from a locals' secret surfing spot to an international destination. Here are my top Punta Mita travel tips.
Top Travel Tips for Punta Mita
I've been renting out my condo in Hacienda de Mita since around 2008, and in that time helped hundreds of guests plan their vacations. Here are practical tips to help you plan your trip to Punta Mita.
Best Times to Visit Punta Mita
My guests love visiting Punta Mita from about mid-November until August. Summer is most popular with families who are working around school schedules, so although it can get hot and a little more humid, I find that there's a lot of demand for summer dates. Winter temperatures are ideal, and many guests come to Punta Mita to escape the snow and cold at home. November to March are also a great time to catch humpback and other whales in Banderas Bay. These are also ideal months for those just getting into surfing, as Punta Mita has a number of surf breaks. The waves are often mellow during this time, and we have an excellent beginner surf break in front of our condo, called El Anclote. We've had guests report that grandparents sat on our lanai and watched the family take surfing lessons right in front of the condo. November to March are also high season, so expect more crowds and rental rates to be the most expensive of the year.
August to October can be rainy, humid and hot. We've occasionally had a tropical storm pass through nearby, and had a scare last October with Hurricane Lidia. Although there were a few trees that fell at the resort, the damage was otherwise minor. Hurricane season is technically June 1 to November 30th, but most activity in recent years is between August to October, and there has not been a storm that caused major disruptions in Punta Mita.
Getting to the Resort from Puerto Vallarta airport
Our concierge team sets up airport transfers for our guests in a private suburban or larger van if needed. Their costs currently are $120 USD one way or $220 USD round trip. The driver meets guests outside of the airport, directly outside the arrivals area. They will have a sign with the guests' name on it. Some people prefer taking a taxi, which you can rent inside or outside the airport, or renting their own car. Finally there is Uber in Mexico, and I've used it multiple times from the airport to Punta Mita. However, friends used Uber for their first trip to Punta Mita and the Uber driver had never been inside Punta Mita before. They relied on maps and the security guards to help find our condo once inside the resort, and took a lot of wrong turns on the way. It's important to note that the Punta Mita security will not allow an empty Uber vehicle into the resort to pick guests up. In addition, security will not allow guests to exit the resort carrying their suitcases, either via the beach access or through the security gate. (This isn't an issue for properties in other developments, but since Hacienda de Mita is located close to town, some people have tried this in the past and have been turned away) I've heard reports of guests planning to catch an Uber in town and being blocked by security as they're on their way to meet the Uber, and missed their flight.
For a seamless experience getting back to the airport, plan on hiring a private transportation company to pick you up. An added bonus of using a private suburban from a transportation company is they are able to meet Hacienda de Mita guests at the beach club, which is much closer from HDM 101 than the top of the parking garage, where taxis are instructed to meet.
Where to Stay in Punta Mita
Punta Mita is home to the St. Regis and the Four Seasons hotels, two golf courses, and multiple housing developments. These housing developments range from beach-front condos like Hacienda de Mita, to townhouse style houses, and multiple private residences scattered around the resort. These properties can subscribe to different membership levels for the beach clubs and golf courses. When renting a condo or house in Punta Mita, make sure they have a Premier membership so that guests can have access to all of the beach clubs. Most owners that rent their property do have this, but the Sport membership doesn't give guests access to all of the beach clubs.
How Much Money Should I Bring on my Punta Mita Vacation?
Guests often wonder if vendors and shops in Punta de Mita take credit cards, US dollars, or Pesos, and how much cash to bring for their trip. I've found that almost all restaurants take credit cards, and I always pay for meals with my credit card instead of cash in Punta de Mita. Your credit card company will get a better exchange rate than what the restaurant will be willing to offer. Plan on bringing cash for surfing/SUP lessons and rentals, massages, as well as for grocery services from our concierge, paying for transportation to/from the airport, and for any excursions you book through the concierge.
Years of trial and error have found that the best ATMs are found at the airport, or in towns on the way to Punta Mita. At the Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, or PVR, wait until you've cleared Customs/Immigration, passed through the hall of vendors, and exited to the main area of the airport where families are waiting to meet arrivals. Look to the right wall before the shops, and you'll see about 4 ATM machines. These historically have had fair exchange rates, better than anything you'll see in Punta de Mita. Don't use the currency exchange booths inside the airport; there are some between Immigrations and Customs, and more outside of arrivals, but we've found that their rates are much higher than the ATMs at the arrivals area of the airport.
Inside the Gates Versus Outside the Resort
This can be confusing for first time guests, and it's an important difference. "Punta Mita" refers to the resort that is a premier luxury development. Punta Mita is gated and entrance is restricted to owners and their guests. It is sometimes referred to as "inside the gates", and if you're planning on visiting the beach clubs, golfing, playing tennis or pickleball, you'll want to ensure that your rental is located within Punta Mita. Rental prices are much higher for properties inside the Punta Mita resort property.
"Punta de Mita" is the small village near the entrance of the resort, and it features some of my favorite restaurants in the area. There are also many housing options in Punta de Mita, as well as SUP and surfboard rentals, small grocery stores and convenience stores, a hospital and a sandy beach that's great for surfing and boogie boarding, Stinky Beach. Housing located in the town of Punta de Mita does not have access to the beach clubs or the other amenities in the resort, but many people prefer the more laid back and rustic experience in town. Access to the surf break at El Anclote is available from town, and so is access to La Lancha from the Pemex gas station south of Punta Mita. Park at the small strip mall there and cross the highway to the path through the jungle. There have been crocodiles in the swamp along the path, so proceed with caution. We have occasionally seen one sunning itself on the beach between the swamp and ocean.
Top Activities in Punta Mita
Punta Mita is probably best known for the two golf courses, Bahia and Pacifico. These courses are managed by the Four Seasons and Pacifico is home to the "Tail of the Whale" hole 3b, which is the only natural island offshore hole in the world. Surfing is also a popular activity in Punta Mita, and there are multiple surf shops in town that can rent boards or provide lessons. We love to play pickleball at the courts in the evening, when the temperatures drop a bit. Reserve your court earlier that day so that they leave the lights on for you--it's one of my favorite activities in Punta Mita. Many guests have reported that renting a boat and whale watching (November to March) or heading to view the Blue-footed Boobie birds who live on the islands near Punta Mita. Residents and guests use golf carts to get around the resort, and most rental homes come with the use of a golf cart.
Dining in Punta de Mita and at the Beach Clubs
In the next blog post, I'll cover our favorite restaurants in Punta de Mita, which have everything from delicious street tacos to gourmet dining. Plus, I'll cover food available at the different beach clubs around Punta Mita.
Images © Doug Burke Photography, 2024.