Imagine yourself lounging in a hammock, being tickled by the warm Mexican Rivera breezes, and being lulled to by the sound of the Pacific Ocean crashing onto rocks below you. This is what you will find when you stay at the Four Seasons Punta Mita.
Rumored to be the best Four Seasons in the world, this resort, which sits 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, is set in a 400-acre nature preserve on a private peninsula just northwest of Puerto Vallarta on the Bahía de Banderas. The hotel started a luxury revolution in a little town called Punta Mita...and forever changed the landscape for vacationers. The Four Seasons took residence in Punta Mita 10 years ago and because of this high-end establishment, the St. Regis and very high-end real estate (estates, developments, etc) started popping up in the area. This hotel provided a sanctuary for vacationers looking for a slightly off the beaten path trip but didn't want to lose the luxury of big city life.
The hotel is situated on a large campus overlooking the Pacific, which is 17,000,000 square feet. There are 173 rooms, of which there are: 135 guest rooms, 38 suites, 48 private villas, and 25 four seasons residence clubs. The hotel is designed with traditional Mexican style casitas with red-tiered roofs and extensive gardens, along with a contemporary Mexican art collection. The hotel also has a fantastic spa, four restaurants and three lounges, 10 tennis courts, A Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course --Pacifico Golf Course ($195/18 holes), and amenities galore (tennis lessons, golf lesions, snorkeling, water toys and equipment, whirlpools, fishing, horseback riding, scuba diving and surfing). There are four pools (all a constant temp of 30 degrees Celsius), a lazy river and Game rooms for the kids, and meeting/corp rooms!
Last but not least, they also have an In-house cultural center, which offers exhibits and lectures on Mexican, and contemporary art, private yacht excursions and “Gift of the Gods” lecture. I didn’t attend any of these lectures but I want to next time I visit.
Enough of the specifics, the resort is fantastic. As you arrive, they greet you by name with fresh squeezed juice and an icy cold towel and walk you to a lobby table, which is overlooking the ocean. This is where they go through your reservation (while sitting down sipping your juice…. not standing in line or behind a desk) and then carts you to your room via golf cart. The greatest thing about the Four Seasons is the level of service. The service here is no exception and the staff is ready and happy to abide your latest request or inquiry.
The room we stayed in was an ocean view suite…which is the exact room where I fell asleep on the balcony, in a hammock, overlooking the pacific ocean listening the waves crash against the rocks below. This place is magical. The bathrooms are good sized with double vanity sinks, a large bath Jacuzzi and a stand up shower. They use L’Occitane products (like most Four Seasons) and ensure the room is stoked with fresh bottled water (free) – it is Mexico. In the room, we had a King sized bed which had clean silky sheets and firm bedding. All around the room is a winner –but the room isn’t where you want to spend your time.
The pools, the restaurants, the beach…this is where you soak in the Mexican sun and unwind. Remember that if you visit the Four Seasons Punta Mita…don’t pack your watch. You’re on PM time.
