A wide range of amenities warrant the luxury label for hotels. In tropical Mexico, that might include infinity pools, beachside bars, and oceanfront dining. But these fancy features are rarely the main reason a property stands out. What really makes a tropical resort feel special to me is its careful attention to cultural representation through dining, design, and experiences.
Photo: Conrad Punta de Mita
From Huichol Folklore to Hyper-Local Fare, This Luxury Punta Mita Resort Runs on Mexican Culture
Such is the case for Conrad Punta de Mita, a roughly 55,000-square-foot resort located on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The Conrad has all the luxury amenities you could possibly want for a tropical getaway — an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, world-class beachfront dining, suites with oceanfront plunge pools, and a massive full-service spa. But where the Conrad sets itself apart is in its unwavering admiration of Mexico’s regional culture.
Cocktails at the Conrad aren’t just created with local tequila, for example. They routinely incorporate locally sourced fruit including Ataúlfo (the only mango with a Mexican Denomination of Origin) and Xoconoxtle (cactus fruit) juice. The spa is another area where the Conrad embraces its heritage, with treatments directly inspired by Indigenous culture and spiritual lore.
Learning about local culture the luxurious way: Wellness at Conrad Punta de Mita
Photos: Conrad Punta de Mita
Wellness at the Conrad centers around a 10,000-square-foot spa that’s deeply inspired by the mysticism of Huichol culture. The Huichol (or Wixaritari) are an Indigenous group from the Mexican states of Jalisco, Zacatecas, Durango, and Nayari (where Punta Mita is located). In addition to treatments like “anti-aging” facials and “mom-to-be” massages, the Conrad’s spa dedicates an entire section of its catalog to “the local collection.” These treatments range from a shaman-led meditation held in a temazcal (sweat lodge) to a cocoa massage inspired by chilate, a traditional cacao-based drink from Mexico’s West Coast.
I signed up for the resort’s Tatewari experience, which is named after the “Grandfather of Fire” in Huichol folklore. The experience began with a sound therapy session using Tibetan singing bowls, which created a soothing atmosphere before the main event: a warm stone massage. I also added an aloe treatment when I learned that the aloe was sourced locally. The experience concluded with a foot treatment complete with a nopal (prickly pear) mask.
When the massage was over, I wandered over to the spa’s outdoor section, which included a private pool, several cabanas, a jacuzzi, and a proper cold plunge. An employee served me cucumber water and nuts while I gathered the mental strength to embark on a three-minute cold plunge (not for the faint of heart but very energizing if you’re feeling adventurous).
Feeling relaxed and refreshed, I ventured back to my room to freshen up before dinner. No matter how many times I opened the door to my beachfront suite, the luxuriousness of my accommodations never ceased to impress.
Beachfront suites and daily salsas: The rooms at Conrad Punda de Mita
Photo: Conrad Punta de Mita
Accommodations at Conrad Punta de Mita are loosely broken down into three categories: rooms, suites, and residences. The first time I entered my suite, I was blown away. It included a spacious living room area, a large bedroom with a perfectly firm king-size bed (lined with elegant white light LEDs across the bedframe), and a massive bathroom complete with an oversized shower and bath. But the highlight of my suite was a beachfront balcony with a plunge pool where I had a floating breakfast served to me in the mornings.
The entrance to the balcony was a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that took up two walls on the suite’s oceanfront side (plus almost the entire east wall in the bedroom). This striking layout is a testament to the immaculate Mexican climate that maintains a routinely pleasant atmosphere throughout most of the year. (The annual average temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and the sun is shining for 90 percent of the year).
Exemplifying the Conrad’s hospitality, every time I entered the room there was a new salsa to try, created entirely from local ingredients, hand-delivered with warm tortilla chips, and accompanied by fresh hibiscus mezcalitas (a mezcal-based margarita). This small detail reinforced the resort’s dedication to delivering a luxury experience with a distinctly local flavor — although it was the on-site dining that showed me just how much reverence the resort has for Mexico’s food culture.
Sustainably sourced ingredients: Dining at Conrad Punta de Mita
Photos: Conrad Punta de Mita
Nowhere does the Conrad flex its commitment to localism better than its food service. Every ingredient its restaurants use is sourced within an approximately 60-mile radius of the property. That includes a lavish breakfast buffet — complete with a smoothie bar, a breakfast taco station, and a fresh honey bar (dripping from an actual honeycomb) — plus several options for lunch and dinner, including the standout Zarandeado Beach Barbecue experience and Codex.
The Zarandeado Beach Barbecue experience features sea-to-table dining served directly on the beach. The main course features a catch of the day (mine was sea bass), which is caught in the village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and brought to the grill by fishermen fresh from the boat. Grilled octopus, shrimp cocktail, salsa frescas, and several other regional dishes occupied the table from start to finish, accompanied by fresh hibiscus mezcal margaritas and Champagne.
Dinner at Codex — the Conrad’s most luxurious restaurant, which takes its name from an Aztec manuscript — was equally impressive and authentic. The chefs provided a cultural background on every dish, which included fish tiradito (local fish with coconut aguachile, seaweed caviar, and mango), tuna tartar molete (filled savory pastry with yellowfin tuna tartare, plantain, and fried chili sauce), lobster meloso rice, and Huitlacoche enchilada (huitlacoche stew, black chilhuacle chili, cashew and pumpkin nut cream, and morita chili). Huitlacoche, a type of fungus that grows on corn, is considered a delicacy in Mexico.
Chef Jose Torres explained that, while all the ingredients used for Codex dishes are sourced within less than 20 miles of the restaurant, there’s one ingredient he’s particularly proud of — the mole, which comes from the chef’s family’s farm in Puebla, Mexico.
Exploring Sayulita’s culture and coast: Things to do near Conrad Punta de Mita
Photo: Erik Clegg/Shutterstock
As much as the Conrad aims to bring elements of the Mexican experience into the resort, it knows that the most authentic interactions with a destination typically occur beyond hotel walls. That’s why the resort organized a group trip to the neighboring town of Sayulita to check out the PALÚ art gallery. Curated and designed by Paulina Gutiérrez and Anne Luna, PALÚ’s paintings and photographs depict adventures, animals, and people across Latin America with stunning vibrancy. The gallery also has an open-air coffee shop with locally sourced beans.
Eventually, I wandered away from the art gallery toward the beach, where I discovered a solid surf break and great company at Lunazul Surf School & Shop. I rented a longboard for about $7.50 and enjoyed some mellow waves for the afternoon. Then, I returned my board and ventured to Don Pedros and chowed on pizza and margaritas with my toes in the sand.
Getting to Conrad Punta de Mita
Conrad Punta De Mita is a quick 45-minute drive from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). Luckily, there are plenty of direct flights into PVR from international airports across the country, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Denver. Once you land, the Conrad will happily send a driver to escort you to the resort. If you’re feeling more independent, you can rent a vehicle and follow the signs for Highway 200 toward Punta de Mita in your own car.
Once you’re settled at the resort, you’ll want to check out the neighboring town of Sayulita. I’d recommend setting up a ride through the Conrad’s shuttle service, which can be set up directly at the front desk. Sayulita is less than a 30-minute drive away, but the road is a bit bumpy and out of the way. 