Before the gate and the golf courses, Punta Mita was a quiet fishing village frequented mainly by surfers. In the late 1990s, developer DINE transformed the Nayarit peninsula into one of Mexico’s most celebrated private resort communities, now spanning 1,500 acres along Banderas Bay with views of the protected Marietas Islands offshore.

Unlike most destinations, Punta Mita doesn’t divide itself into tidy neighborhoods. Instead, it features a series of residential enclaves tucked among golf courses, beach clubs, and two of Mexico’s most celebrated resorts: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.

© Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

At the tip of the peninsula, La Punta Estates offers custom oceanfront homes with walking-distance access to three surf breaks, including El Faro, a long right-hand point that can peel for thousands of feet. Nearby, Porta Fortuna is anchored by Sufi Ocean Club, with a saltwater pool and direct bay access via Punta Mita Pier. Sufi Restaurant next door serves a fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine with a beachfront view.

Hacienda de Mita offers the only beachfront condos inside resort gates, fronting a longboard wave on the bay. Las Marietas comprises just 42 residences beside the 18th hole of Bahía Golf Course, steps from Mita Mary, The St.Regis seafood spot on the sand. Across the resort, Chef Richard Sandoval helms Bahía at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mira, one of the area’s most celebrated tables.

© Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

On the north coast, Iyari Estates and Villas, designed by architect Jaime Barba, sits above a private beach exclusive to residents and its guests. Pacifico Beach Club has been the community’s main gathering spot since the early days with two pools, a restaurant and Navi Spa. Newer Kupuri Beach Club offers a robust ocean sports program, including paddleboarding, sailing and snorkeling, alongside a kids’ club and Kupuri Restaurant. The annual Gourmet & Golf Festival, International Jazz Festival and Pacific Cup International Amateur Tournament bring the community together each season. Just outside the resort gate sits Corral del Risco, the original fishing village, with beachfront restaurants, surf schools and a more casual side of the peninsula worth an afternoon.