Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
With a monthly average high that never drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, Punta Mita is the ideal escape for those looking to swap snow for sun. The private resort is home to several beach clubs, two top golf courses, a tennis club and a few high-end hotels, including the ultra-luxe Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico.
When you check into this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star escape, you’ll have access to all of the community’s outdoor offerings, including plenty of water sports like surfing, snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding. And during the winter, the Pacific coast hot spot heats up with a jam-packed schedule of festive activities.
From bonfires on the beach and salsa dance classes to movie nights and kayak tours, here is what’s happening at the resort.
Dos Catrinas. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
Eat and Learn
Cuisine is central to the experience at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, and the posh 177-room property will showcase that with the forthcoming restaurant, Dos Catrinas. The two-story space will be designed by Colombian architect Saul Sasson and feature stunning ocean views from both the downstairs dining room and upstairs lounge and bar. Local design elements — black clay, woven textiles, copper lamps and huanacaxtle wood — will be incorporated into the sophisticated yet traditional décor. Diners can look forward to classic Mexican cuisine that is upscale and delicious when it opens in early 2019.
Beyond Dos Catrinas, Four Seasons offers several other quality dining experiences, including seafood at Bahia by Richard Sandoval, Asian fusion at Aramara, and all-day bites at Tamai Pool Bar and The Shack.
If all this talk of food has you thirsty for a drink, you’re in luck. Here, you can learn the art of tequila blending, everything there is to know about the smoky spirit mezcal, and how to build the perfect margarita thanks to regular workshops on offer throughout the property.
For a more laid-back approach, check out the daily tequila tastings or pull up a seat at one of the lively bars and ask the bartender to put together a unique exploration of Mexico’s signature spirit.
Fun in the Sun. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
Be Active
If lounging on the beach for days isn’t exactly your thing, don’t fret — the Punta Mita resort has plenty to occupy the active set. Every morning during the winter season, a Four Seasons staff member leads a walk through the property and peninsula. Partake in a scenic hike and discover flora and fauna native to the area.
Water aerobics is also offered daily at one of the resort’s three pools, and you are invited to participate in beachside activities such as volleyball and bocce.
Those who prefer a little less sand in their shorts can hit the links on one of two gorgeous golf courses or practice their swing at the Tennis Centre.
The hotel’s gym has its own schedule of programming, too. Take cardio kickboxing, spin, CrossFit or an antigravity yoga class. Not into group fitness? Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita also has a team of expert trainers who will customize a workout to your liking. On a recent visit, Memo, the resort’s head instructor, put together a multi-level 40-minute kickboxing class with bags. It was a grueling but fun workout that made afternoon margaritas that much more rewarding.
Finally, if your idea of being active on vacation is a casual ocean swim, get excited. The Four Seasons boasts some of the best beaches on Punta Mita — the waves are gentle, the sand is soft and white, and the water is consistently at a pleasing temperature.
Bahia by Richard Sandoval. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico
Make Long-Lasting Memories
If you want to give the kiddos a cultural experience they will remember for a lifetime, we recommend getting involved with the resort’s sea turtle release.
Several nights a week, a biologist from a nearby sanctuary leads a small group to let baby sea turtles go into the Pacific. Following a short but cohesive presentation on the importance of saving endangered sea turtles, everyone parades outside holding a small plastic container with adorable baby reptiles and gently guides them into the ocean.
Children are also invited to learn about Huichol wood art, catrinas (the skeletons that are most commonly associated with Dia de Los Muertos) and xocolatl (local Mexican chocolate) from the luxury hotel’s cultural concierge.
