Conrad Punta de Mita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - A Pacific Paradise Discovered

Getting There

The resort is about an hour’s drive (plus or minus, depending on traffic) from Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). I arranged transportation through the hotel concierge, but car rentals are also available at the airport.

Room Options

The Conrad Punta de Mita has a multitude of room options. It has a main building set back from the beach as well as a number of “casas” that surround the pools and are closer to the beach. The casas have various room configurations. Some are personal concierge suites with king beds. And some are multiple-bedroom options designed for larger groups or families. Also, there are beachfront and oceanfront rooms and suites. These have single or multiple-bedroom options as well. Many of the casas have private pools/plunge pools.

The main building has a number of room/suite options with partial or full ocean-view rooms. I stayed on a high floor in the main building and had a huge balcony with a fantastic view. The suite itself was massive, and I was ready to move in for good!

Overall, many room/suite configurations are available to offer up whatever level of luxury you seek.

Restaurant/Bars

This is where the resort really stood out for me. The seven bars and restaurants are fantastic! The food is all designed and prepared to honor the Mexican Pacific. The Zarandeado style of cooking, which originated in that part of Mexico, just makes for a flavor explosion. I’m a seafood guy, so I couldn’t get enough of the tuna, octopus and ceviche that I experienced.

And don’t get me started on the craft cocktails, Mexican wine and mezcal - the options seemed endless. The first day I was there, I was chatting with a bartender (Hector), and he ended up taking me on a mezcal journey for the next several days. He educated me on the various types and where they were made. He also gave me tastings to sample so I could try and understand how they were different. And he made a variety of cocktails with local ingredients so I could experience as many flavors as possible. Needless to say, I came back a huge mezcal fan.

That week was one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had.

Pool/Beach

The pools are huge and accommodating. There is a kid's pool and splash pad, a family pool and an adult pool, which wraps around toward the edge of the beach and turns into a beachside infinity pool. Talk about the perfect place to take in a sunset!

There are plenty of lounge chairs, umbrellas and cabanas scattered throughout the pool areas. And no shortage of helpful attendants looking to take your drink of choice order. My favorite was a hibiscus mezcalita.

The beach is beautiful and was very quiet when I was there, which I’m OK with. There isn’t much development around the resort. No high-rise condos to be found.

Spa/Fitness Center

The resort also has a spa and fitness center. While I didn’t take advantage of either, they both appeared to be fully equipped to handle whatever kind of workout or relaxation you’re looking for. The spa had some roofless massage and relaxation areas, and the music emanating from there was definitely calming.

Weather

It is a tropical destination, so be prepared for warm and humid weather. Bring plenty of sunscreen for the intense sun, and know that afternoon showers come and go. There were storms almost every night when I went, but most of the activity was out over the ocean. Which made for a captivating light show when hanging out on my balcony.

The Conrad Punta de Mita is ideal for a resort-centric beachside retreat that will take your taste buds to new levels. The pool area is perfect for relaxing, the beach is quiet but big enough to wander and the variety of bars and restaurants will keep everybody happy. And I can’t forget to mention the incredible level of service everywhere I went. This resort is tailor-made for beach time with extended families, an escape with the kids, or a romantic getaway.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Mexico. In need of further inspiration? Check the guide, Travel to Punta de Mita - Maximize Your Fun in the Sun.