Punta de Mita

By Denise Joy Fiske_Chow

Not long ago, Punta de Mita was a place virtually undiscovered by the outside world. Pristine beaches lined the shore, locals spent their Sundays splashing in the crystalline blue-green water and surfers regarded it as the best place to catch a good ride. Then, Mexican President, Salinas de Gotari started to “develop” it, calling it the next Cancún. Now, there are championship golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, mega hotels such as the expensive Four Seasons, and condominiums and timeshares selling like hotcakes. The good news is there is still plenty left for the rest of us to experience.

The peninsula of Punta de Mita lies at the north end of Banderas Bay in the state of Nayarit, Mexico, separating the bay from the open ocean. The translation of Punta de Mita means “point in the middle.” Just 22 miles from the famous resort town of Puerto Vallarta, in an area known as Costa Banderas, it offers some of the finest coastline seen in Mexico. The road from highway 200 to Punta de Mita is currently under construction for a much needed widening, probably to accommodate all of the beach-seekers heading to Mita’s welcoming shores. You will find luxury hotels, golf courses, and world-class sports fishing for marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi and sailfish. The area is great for surfing, featuring numerous reef and beach breaks. The beach area of El Anclote features a restaurant row, including international delights such as authentic Mexican food, sushi, seafood and European cuisine.

While sitting in one of the beach restaurants, enjoying a cold cerveza and wiggling your toes in the sand, you can look out and see the Marietas Islands. These three small islands sit in a group offshore, and you can hire a local fisherman to motor you out in his panga. Here you can gaze into the clear blue water and catch a glimpse of giant manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins and whales, depending on the time of year. The islands are also a good spot for scuba diving, and have been designated a protected area due to the nesting colonies of endangered blue-footed boobies (apparently not only humans flock to Punta de Mita).

The small town of Emiliano Zapata (named for the revolutionary leader) neighbors El Anclote and has a few tiny markets where you can buy basics. There is a small hotel and lots of condo rentals available. The next biggest town is La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, close to the turnoff from highway 200. The main attraction setting this town apart from its other coastal companions is a gas station.

The future will bring more golf courses and a pedestrian walkway along the beach front, with shops, beach access, restaurants, and public rest areas. But as developed as it is, Punta de Mita retains the charm of a place not yet discovered. It offers abundant wildlife such as deer, parrots, peccaries and falcon, and the remote beaches, tropical vegetation and swamps are just waiting to be explored.