The Ultimate Guide to Mexico’s Best Beach Town

Punta Mita is poised in a prime location on the Bahía de Banderas, where the Pacific wraps around a bay that boasts warm azure waters, epic sunsets, and bucket-list-worthy surf. Located about an hour north of the busy port town of Puerto Vallarta, the area is marked by a slower pace the modern traveler has come to crave. And hotel groups are taking note. The St. Regis just reopened after a complete renovation, Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve just landed as one of the region’s most ambitious ultra-luxury projects, and practically every major luxury hospitality brand now has an outpost here, with Pendry and Montage arriving in 2027.

Twenty minutes north, Sayulita is the pulse of a younger, more bohemian side of this part of Nayarit, where you’ll find walkable streets full of surfers, backpackers, and local beachcombers. Continue in the same direction and visit the slow pueblo of San Pancho, where you’ll find a relaxed energy grounded in its heavily jungled surroundings. The fishing’s good everywhere (as is the seafood), the waves are world class, and the design-forward hotels are worth the visit alone. Here’s how to make the most of your visit.

W Punta de Mita

WHERE TO EAT

Mary’s Traditional Mexican Cuisine is a family-run spot that nails the fundamentals, most notably their massive chile rellenos loaded with San Blas shrimp—a local Nayarit specialty. Perch at one of the tables on the sidewalk, grab a marg, and watch a soccer match on the screens across the way or simply get fueled up for a day of browsing the boutiques in the area. For an upscale dinner, you’ll want to book in for an evening at renowned Mexican chef Daniela Soto-Innes’s fine dining spot Rubra. Located at the W, the restaurant lives up to the hype of her Mexico City establishments. It’s contemporary, feminine, and unapologetically (and deliciously) Mexicana. The interior feels like an extension of the lush jungle outside, and whoever takes care of the hundreds of tropical plants deserves a Michelin Star for plant daddy-hood.

There’s no shortage of great spaces to watch the technicolored sunsets on the Riviera Nayarit, but Mezquite embodies the barefoot luxury the area is known for. Dine at this restaurant located inside the Conrad Punta de Mita with your feet in the sand, and be sure to order the local specialty, zarandeado fish grilled whole over a live fire. After a day spent in the sun, sometimes all you want is some ceviche and a laid back vibe at Barracuda Sayulita, an open-air bar known for fresh tuna tostadas and chocolata clams. For a similar vibe, visit El Rayo y sus Mariscos, a no-frills seafood stand where the daily catch gets grilled or fried and served with fresh lime and hot sauce. The well-edited menu includes ceviches made with the catch of the day, and seafood tostadas topped with creamy Mexican avocado. The Chevycheria at W Punta de Mita also holds its own in the seafood department. It’s the perfect spot to wait for your room to be ready at check-in while enjoying a margarita.

Vegetarian options can be tough to come by, but there’s a whole menu of plant-based tacos to be enjoyed at Naty’s Kitchen, a cozy homestyle Mexican restaurant. She also does excellent scrambles for breakfast. Or if you’re one of those people who feels that no surf is complete without a breakfast burrito (raises hand), head to Burrito Revolution, where you’ll find creative burritos built from quality ingredients, spot-on execution, and justifiably long lines to match.

Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort

WHERE TO DRINK

There’s a lot of agave-based spirits on the market these days, but Cachasol Farm Distillery is unique in that it’s a working tequila and raicilla distillery set on a lush, off-the-beaten-path agave farm near the ultra-hip surf town of Sayulita. Their vibrant farm-to-glass tours include open-fire dinners at sunset and immersive culinary and mixology classes where visitors forage herbs in the garden and learn to create dishes reflective of the region of Nayarit.

Cerveceria Artesanal San Pancho features rotating Mexican artesanal beers from Santa Sabina and other small Guadalajara breweries on draft, cold, and moving fast on a street where guys on motorcycles roll in to find their crew. The burgers are legit, the fries are excellent, and live music happens most nights—the kind of place that gets better as it fills up. 

When in the town of Punta Mita, Stop by Concha Coastal Bar for salsa dancing lessons and live music, where you’ll work your way around the dancefloor with travelers and locals alike. Don’t miss their excellent mezcalitas, which you can enjoy on their second floor space overlooking the bustling port esplanade downstairs.

As far as coffee goes, for a proper pour you’ll want to visit Nakawe Coffee Surf, an little off-the-beaten-path cafe serving excellent acai bowls and craft coffee drinks. Ramos y Lattes is a new coffee bar that’s also a flower shop worth visiting, too. Try one of their lavender lattes, which come with a single bloom artfully attached to your cup to start your day off with dopamine.

Conrad Punta de Mita

WHAT TO DO

The waves surrounding Punta Mita are world-class in the right season, and the break at La Lancha is a favorite for a reason. El Surf Club is an excellent outpost to ground yourself for surf rentals, fresh coconuts, and instruction, and non-surfers can enjoy the club’s white sand beach, excellent food, fresh coconuts, and top-tier cocktails too. WildMex Surf School & Adventure Center runs group and private lessons for all levels, as well as half-day boat tours to more private spots for more intermediate and advanced surfers. If you’re looking to upgrade your board or just need something solid under your feet, Lunazul Surf School & Shop stocks what local surfers actually want (see: hard-top boards from local and international shapers) and offers high-level instruction for beginners as well. 

For something different, Carricitos Beach has a reef that’s good for snorkeling and carries that day-trip feeling you get when you escape resort life. If you want amenities without committing to a hotel room, Tierra Tropical Beach Club does day passes with food, drinks, and shade. For more nature-based day trips, Monkey Mountain is a jungle hike where you’ll see wildlife and understand just how much green surrounds this coast. And a visit to Laguna de Santa María del Oro, a crater lake, offers a completely different landscape—good for fishing or just sitting with the quiet. For astro-enthusiasts, a trip out to Mayto Astrological Park is worth an overnight for stargazing and unwinding as well. 

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

WHERE TO STAY

There are endless options for luxe accommodations in Punta Mita, but what makes W Punta de Mita special is that it was built into the lush Nayarit jungle rather than on top of it. Vibrant Huichol art extends from the lobby all the way to the beach, which boasts world-class surf breaks. The restaurants, on-site cultural experiences, and point break at the hotel’s back patio make for a stay that you’ll never want to leave. (Seriously, I was looking up the cost of extending on my last day, it’s that great.)

If you’re after a destination wellness retreat, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort is a true bucket-list destination. Designed to mimic a massive bamboo cocoon, the biophilic design signals that guests are embarking on a journey. The programming at this luxury tented camp property includes everything from a traditional temazcal sweat lodge led by local curanderos to tepache-making classes. The property is composed of 15 ultra-luxe safari-style tents, meaning there’s a maximum of 30 guests at any given time, giving it a truly remote, private feel.

Quiet, luxurious, and understated, Conrad Punta de Mita is as prime for proposals as it is a solo spa weekender. Watch the sunset with a margarita in hand (and toes in the sand) at Mezquite bar or book in for a traditional temazcal sweat lodge with local practitioners. The property is close to all the trappings of town, but considering how good the fish tacos and margs are, we wouldn’t blame you for staying in.

A visually stunning home stay, Nico Sayulita is tucked away from the bustle of the surf town of Sayulita, and nails the tropical Brutalist design. Lush greenery drips over the austere concrete structure, where guests can watch chachalacas chirping through floor-to-ceiling windows. Skip the morning report and head straight up to the rooftop deck to take in views of the break at Main Beach. For a low key evening, stop in to pick up local ingredients at one of Sayu’s bountiful markets and make your own meals at Nico’s well-appointed open-air kitchen.