As the sun began to set on our final day in Punta Mita, Mexico, we sat together in a circle on the sand, partaking in a cacao ceremony. With beans in hand, we repeatedly made silent affirmations to ourselves, holding the beans close to whatever needed the most healing. Raising the beans to our lips, we ate them to let them work their medicinal powers on us.
Photo: W Punta de Mita
In Secluded Nayarit, Mexico, the W Punta de Mita Is a Luxury Oasis
“Don’t be afraid to use your voice,” the Huichol medicine woman leading the ceremony told me as she went around the circle, revealing our individual Maya totems. Like with the Zodiac, each of us has a symbol that represents our birthdays and characteristics.
Mine is Etznab, or obsidian. I need to be sharp like the obsidian stone, I learned, slicing away what doesn’t serve me, unafraid to say what needs saying. Little did the medicine woman know how much I needed to hear that or how gratifying it was to hear after a few days of reinvigorating my spirit at the W Punta de Mita.
A hotel paradise with brand new beachview suites
Photo: W Punta de Mita
Paraíso. Paradise. Few other words came to mind when I entered my Marvelous Suite at the W Punta de Mita to find a glass-enclosed, open-air soaking tub basking in the sun’s glow. Amid all the excitement, a labyrinth-esque pattern of stones in the bathroom floor served as a reminder to ground myself during my stay.
I was among the first guests to stay in these brand new suites at the W Punta de Mita, which glimpse the nearby beach. Decorated in neutral tones with a splash of greenery, the suites are a pleasant foil to the vibrant hues found elsewhere around the property. Spacious sunken living rooms allow guests to still see the views even from bed, uninhibited by the couch. It seems that the room’s design pays homage to the splendor awaiting guests outside.
All of the rooms at the W Punta de Mita are inspired by Mexican cultures. The Wonderful Escape rooms are bright and airy with splashes of color, and the spacious Oasis Suites offer the same. You trade in those colors for subtle cultural touch points until you get into the brand new suite categories of Wow, Extreme Wow, Marvelous, and Fabulous.
Photo: W Punta de Mita
Room rates vary depending on the season, available packages, and discounts, but they generally range from around $500 per night for a Wonderful Escape King room to just under $3,000 per night for an Extreme Wow two-bedroom suite.
If you decide to greet the day with a private breakfast in your room, as I did, you can take that one splash further if you stay in any of the new suites. The private plunge pools are the perfect spot for a luxurious floating breakfast. Indulge in some much-needed chilaquiles and fresh juice while wading in the water. Some curious birds like the Sinaloa crow may gingerly join your meal, crouching on a nearby wall or tree branch, waiting for you to drop a tantalizing treat.
When you’re ready to call it a night, a touch screen panel can draw your curtains (including the ones between the bed and the soaking tub area). Or ask the front desk if they can help light your private fire pit and make yourself some s’mores. There’s always something so comforting about a squishy, warmed marshmallow, even after a long day in the hot Punta Mita sun.
Swim, spa, and sweat at the W Punta de Mita
Photo: W Punta de Mita
Access to the water is a requisite for most people who visit Mexico’s coast. At the W Punta de Mita, there are two — well, technically three — options for your daily swim. You can help yourself to the resort’s private white-sand beach or float along in one of its two pools. The first pool, called WET, is located outside of the lobby building. WET Too, the adults-only pool, is right outside of the brand new suites. Both pools have cocktail and snack access, but the WET Deck area has one standout feature: a DJ.
Photo: W Punta de Mita
On the calmer end of the amenity spectrum, there’s the AWAY Spa. Some will quip that it’s called that because it’s quite literally away from the rest of the resort. Indeed, tucked into a corner of the W Punta de Mita, the therapeutic haven lives among towering palms. Removed from the ambient sound and popular music flowing through the resort, you feel far away.
Even if you squeeze a spa appointment into a packed day, leave room for the hydrotherapy afterward. Sipping an herbaceous or fruity tea before gliding into one of the many therapy pools is the best way to end a relaxing session at AWAY. It could also be a nice way to follow up a workout at FIT, the resort’s on-site exercise space, which is located in the same part of the resort as the spa. There, the main attraction is the surrounding jungle, which you can practically see from any angle, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows.
Restaurants at the W Punta de Mita, from formal to food truck
Photo: W Punta de Mita
Overlooking the lake, atop a slice of a tree that once sat on the property, Mesa 1 is an exclusive experience for resort guests. Accommodating up to 10 guests, the private seven-course meal may include dishes such as fresh sea bass, squid, and ceviche, topped off with something sweet such as fresh fruit hugging a housemade chocolate clamshell and macarons.
Since Mesa 1 only seats one group each night, it may not be possible to dine there during your trip. But fear not, you can experience a wide range of dishes elsewhere on property. Including the pool cocktail and snack bars, there are six dining spots at the W Punta de Mita.
Photo: W Punta de Mita
Spice Market serves Asian cuisine, with a particular focus on Malaysian, Thai, and Vietnamese flavors. At the smart-casual Spice Market, try the chicken samosas and Korean BBQ chicken — two flavors you might not expect to sample in the Riviera Nayarit that could top your tasting list for the trip. Be sure to ask your server about the recommended cocktail of the day. Like the food, the cocktails often have a thematic twist on a usual favorite.
Meanwhile two casual dining spots, Venazú and Chevycheria, showcase regional (or regional-adjacent) dishes. Constructed off of a vintage Chevy truck, the Chevycheria serves up the area’s specialty of ceviche and is open for lunch and dinner. Venazú is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you stop by Venazú for breakfast, get the blue corn waffles — the not-too-sweet waffles are like cornbread with a slight crunch. Accompany them with maple and coffee syrup if you prefer. Either way, they’re heaven — I ate them twice during my stay.
The day trip you don’t want to miss
Photo: JackKPhoto/Shutterstock
The W Punta de Mita is fairly secluded. You can’t really step off the property for a bout of shopping or other excursions on foot, but you can reach the beautiful beach town of Sayulita by way of a 30-minute drive. With a vibrancy that mirrors the aesthetic at the W Punta de Mita, Sayulita centers on a town square that’s full of vendors selling earrings, hats, and the cutest shaped straw purses. As you peruse the stalls, remember that you can bargain gently with sellers, only about half of whom accept credit cards or digital payment methods, so come prepared with some cash. (There are also a few ATMs scattered around town.) When you’re ready for a break, grab a margarita at Don Pedro’s Restaurant and Bar. Steps away from the beach, you can watch the goings on while savoring a flavored or classic marg.
Getting to the W Punta de Mita
Photo: W Punta de Mita
Journeying from the Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (Puerto Vallarta Airport) to the W Punta de Mita takes about 45 minutes. You can arrange a shuttle through the hotel or book through another local transportation company. Be aware that the drivers and timeshare folks soliciting at the airport are pushy. Just look for the company that you booked and keep going through to the exit of the airport — your driver will likely be waiting outside or right by the exit doors with a sign. 