By Chelle Honiker
Punta de Mita Mexico. Sharing the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands and yet just two hours from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta by air, Punta de Mita is a sleepy little peninsula town whose time has come. Flying into PVR and traveling 45 minutes Northwest, you’ll drive through “Gringo Gulch” – named in the 1960s for the sordid goings on between Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton while filming Night of the Iguana. Leaving the “Gulch” firmly in the rearview mirror, you’re in for a treat. Highway 200 is a straight shot. You’ll be in your private oasis shortly.
Expats rave about the area. The best-kept secret seems to be its overall luxury. Surrounded on three sides by nine and a half miles of Pacific Ocean beaches and coves, it boasts impressive vistas and activities galore, and remains relatively low-key, despite an influx of tech billionaires, expecting great food, top-notch activities, and excellent service. It seems to deliver. For those wanting a simpler lifestyle, a quick rental search showcases Americans renting out owned condos for less than $1500 per month, with two guests. Renting is a great option if you’d like to try before you buy and still spend a month in a fully furnished space.
When you’re ready to commit, you’ll have some options. Punta de Mita refers to the inland area of the town, while Punta Mita relates to a luxury resort and residential development, with homes ranging in price from condos in the $250,000 range to 15 room mansions renting for $16,000 per night. While not many would consider that a retirement option, it is worth noting that the lower priced condos share the same amenities as the mansions while within the Punta Mita development, and if you’re looking for other options there are all-inclusive resorts in Punta de Mita.
Activities abound. Back in the lap of luxury, let’s start with not one, but two Jack Nicklaus golf courses. With temperatures in the low 70s at night and highs around 85, you’re sure to enjoy a long walk spoiled year-round. Spa treatments are plentiful, and many operators will cater to you en suite.
On land, you can choose from Salsa dance lessons, tequila tastings, and cooking classes with world class chefs, teaching the latest food network recipes using fresh local ingredients. You’ll need to rent a bike to work it all off. Or you could go hiking to a nearby waterfall or zip line through the terrain.
While the beaches are some of the best in all of Mexico and you could while away on white sand, you could also take advantage of stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, kitesurfing or wakeboarding.
If SCUBA diving is your thing, you’re in luck. Just off the coast of nearby Puerto Vallarta is the Marieta Islands, a rocky, uninhabited island that was a personal favorite of none other than Jacques Cousteau. He petitioned to have them declared a national park, and they were, sadly a mere six years after his death. His legacy lives on as this island is teeming with ocean life and a hidden beach awaits those brave enough to swim through a short tunnel to the other side.
Restaurants are of a high caliber, too. Boasting 5-star preparation and service, Punta Mita is practical too. A quick search of some of the best also allows for food intolerances and allergies. Naturally, seafood is fresh and abundant, with most chefs choosing their menu for that night depending on what’s available at the market in the morning.
For those considering retirement abroad, you really can’t beat having a pool butler float your mojito to you in the middle of an infinity pool, now can you?