Punta de Mita From Outer Space
(Note that the Coastline on the Southern Side is Full of Points
and that the Normal Northwest Breeze Blows Directly Offshore!)

Punta Mita (or Punta de Mita as it is known locally) resides at the very northern tip of Banderos Bay, which is famous because it is the home of the city of Puerto Vallarta. It is a huge bay that delves deep into the country of Mexico and at its depth almost reaches the Sierra Madre. It is known for its lush jungle, beautiful beaches and quaint Mexican culture. The very tip of the peninsula was owned by the Mexican Federal Government, but was settled by locals who found the environment much to their liking. Over decades the settlement grew to become a village of well over 1,000 inhabitants. Surfers discovered Punta de Mita in the late 1960s and many chose to live in this settlement, as the surf break of Bahia and El Faro (among others) were then considered to be world class. It was the best of all worlds...cheap living, excellent surf, friendly people and Puerto Vallarta International Airport was only about an hour away.

When the Four Seasons Hotel chain approached the Mexican Government to purchase the entire area of Punta de Mita they agreed that it would be an excellent idea. The government relocated the population of the village to the villages of Emiliano Zapata and Corral del Risco where they were given ownership of their property. Many people view this occurrence as an affront to the population of the village, but they all knew that they were residing on "ejido (or government owned)" land as squatters and had no rights of ownership. As it turns out, many of these individuals have done quite well with their property given the following chain of events.

One of the Many Pools at the Four Seasons Hotel
Overlooking the Beaches of Punta Mita and the famous "3b" green on the island

The Four Seasons Hotel started construction along with the Punta Mita Golf Club. The hotel was an immediate success and quickly became the flagship property of the Four Seasons Chain. The golf course, became an instant "must play" for every serious golfer. Its eight ocean front holes and par 3, "3b" hole of 197 yards that requires the golfer to tee off from the mainland and find the green on an offshore island. It is the only hole of its kind in the world. At high tide, the golfers must travel to the island in an amphibious vehicle to complete the hole.

While the Four Seasons Hotel chain had visions of developing the Punta de Mita property for condominiums, other hotel sites and private residences, Fonatur, the Mexican Government Tourism development bureau decided that the Punta de Mita area would be the perfect place to create a "super luxury tourism district" in Mexico. Its master plans called for luxury hotels, shopping areas and all of the infrastructure to support it. Overnight, Punta de Mita became the focus of International investment. Fonatur constructed a highway from Sayulita to Punta Mita where there was once only a dirt trail. The road into Punta Mita that was once a little over a lane and a half and took almost an hour to traverse is now a major highway. Plans call for an airport in Punta Mita and several luxury hotels, condominiums, shopping centers and private residences. Who knows where it will all go? But the reason for all the hoopla hasn't changed. Punta Mita has its own magic that has captivated everyone who has visited its fabulous beaches, charming people, excellent surf, fishing, snorkeling and diving.

Fortunately for my wife and I (and for you) we acquired our condominiums before the real estate prices went through the roof and we are able to offer you the opportunity to enjoy Punta Mita at affordable prices, yet still enjoy luxurious surroundings and the "real" Punta Mita experience.

OK, Where is Punta Mita?

Punta Mita is on the very northwestern tip of Banderas Bay in the Mexican state of Nayarit. It is located some 40 miles northwest of downtown Puerto Vallarta and on 30 miles or so from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

Punta Mita Sunset

What is the Weather Like?

Punta Mita is blessed with perfect weather. It is located in the jungle north of Jalisco, Mexico and has 345 days of sunshine every year. It is the exact same latitude as Hawaii and its weather has been said to be like Hawaii's only much better. While June through September are considered the rainy months, only August and September have 15 days of rain each. The summer months are blessed with nice mornings that turn into rain in the late afternoon and tropical storms during the evening. The balance of the year sees consistent sunshine and dry weather. The average temperature during the daytime averages the mid 80s and the water temperature is around the mid 70s in the winter and mid 80s in the summer. The average number of days with any rainfall at all during the winter months is 2 days per month.

How Do I Get to Punta Mita?

It all depends on your vacation strategy. Sometimes we rent a car, but when I go down by myself, I just use the Mexican bus system.

The Punta Mita Bus

Buses leave El Anclote every 15 minutes for Puerto Vallarta and stop everywhere along the way. The local bus fare all the way to downtown Puerto Vallarta is a measly 20 pesos (about $1.90) each way. They are very efficient and somewhat comfortable. Since El Anclote is the last stop on the bus route, there are always buses to catch. Simply go over the skybridge, down the stairs and climb onto the next bus to leave. You can pick the bus up at the airport by simply walking over the overpass to the northbound side of the road and look for the bus that says "Punta Mita" on it. Just stay on the bus until its final stop and then walk up to El Anclote Condominiums and check with the security guard at the entrance. You can take your luggage onto the bus (but surfboards from the airport are going to be difficult).

We always rent a car from Gecko Rent a Car (Phone: 001-52-329 298 0339 or e-mail geckorentcar@hotmail.com because they have the best rates and are surfer friendly (they even rent surfboards at their facility). They will pick you up (or arrange for a taxi that they pay for) at the airport and take you to their office in Bucerias. The owner, Denis Beauvais lives near Punta Mita and is always just a telephone call away if you ever need him. I would recommend Gecko over the other more traditional car rental outfits by the airport. When it is time to leave Punta Mita, simply drop by Gecko's office and they will take you to the airport immediately. A car is handy to have if you want to explore all of Nayarit's wonderful surf spots, but be aware, roads are not up to U.S. standards and driving in this part of Mexico is much different than anywhere else. See the "Mexico Driving Tips" page for more information.

What is There to Do From Punta Mita?

One of the rally wonderful things about Punta Mita is its location to many wonderful spots to visit. Following are some of the more obvious things that you can do;

Take a Day Trip to Puerto Vallarta: This one is a natural, especially if you have not been to Puerto Vallarta before. This article tells you exactly how to do it and what to see.

Take a Short Day Trip to Bucerias: If you want to go shopping for Mexican souvenirs and products, don't waste your time going to Puerto Vallarta (unless you have not been before) just hit Bucerias' "Flea Market". Bucerias offers a lot to visitors in a small and compact package.

Take a Day Trip to Sayulita: Next to going to Puerto Vallarta for the day, taking a trip to Sayulita is something you should consider. Sayulita is becoming a destination upon itself and after spending some time here, you will find out why. It is quite possible to do Sayulita in the earlier part of the day and then hit the flea market in Bucerias on your way home. This is killing two birds with one stone.