Tania Ritchie was sailing the globe with her husband when their friends from Canada asked for a stop to see property.
Punta Mita is a former fishing community on a private peninsula on the Riviera Nayarit’s southernmost point, just 30 miles from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It lies between mountains and the endless Pacific, on a crescent-shaped stretch of pristine beaches. Funny thing happened as they traveled around the globe: The Ritchies were the property buyers and called off their sailing trip.
She says, “We thought we’d settle down in Paris.” “We didn’t intend to buy in Mexico, but we just knew that we would. And here we are thirteen years later.”
Tania shared her story about how she came to be in this palm-shaded paradise with its warm breezes and oceanfront holes. I was there for the 10th Annual Golf & Gourmet and competed alongside Craig Stadler, Lorena Ochoa and Jean Van de Velde. This is the most anticipated event in the gated community. It’s a four-day celebration of food, drink, teeing off, and tastings. This is a modern-day Bacchanalia, with celebrity chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers flying in for a weekend full of culinary excellence. It’s a trip that everyone should take, golfers and not. (If you need a partner, I am available.
Punta Mita’s Bahia Course, Mexico (Adam Schupak/Golfweek).
Because it was too early for me and my wife to be apart from our 10-month-old daughter, I went solo. My better half, not to mention the best golfer in our family, promised me that I would one day make it up. Never had I expected that I would fulfill my promise less than one year later. But, I did it in October. It felt like a late babymoon to be away from our daughter the first time we separated. She was left in good hands with my two sisters-in-law.
This southwest point on Riviera Nayarit, a spot popular with hardcore surfers, was little more than a place to go off-the-grid 20 years ago. One could not have imagined that 1,500 acres of jungle in Banderas Bay would yield two championship golf courses, multimillion dollar villas, and two luxurious resorts, Four Seasons or St. Regis.
It didn’t take long for me to realize why tourists and Ritchies who enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing are drawn to Punta Mita. I was particularly impressed by the Four Seasons Resort where guests are welcomed at its thatched roof – which the locals refer to as a “palapas” – and open air lounge before ascending to the sparkling infinity pool. Be amazed by the stunning views that score an 11 for “Wow!” factor.
My accommodations were elegant and modern. I opened the sliding door to let in the breezes from the electric-blue ocean. This is a place you want to spend as much time as possible in.
I could have made my home in the infinity pool where the bartenders dive into the water to deliver drinks. I saw sunbathers drinking straws from coconuts so I asked an American middle-aged tourist what the name of this bizarre concoction was. He said that the mix of vodka, gin and lime was called “Coco Loco”. It’s a Long Island Iced Tea with tequila. One is enough.
The St. Regis offers luxury living at its best, with a personal butler and champagne toasts for guests each Friday at sunset. Two more five-star resorts are planned to be built in the next phase of the development. One of them will be managed by Montage Hotels and Resorts
My wife and I stayed at Tau Residences when we visited. It had a beautiful terrace pool, and you could see Bahia’s 17th Green from the master bathroom. The decision is simple: stay at one of these resorts to enjoy the amenities, or you can choose to rent from the many properties available. You will have access to five beach clubs on the property and treated like a member-owner. It’s like choosing between lobster tail or filet mignon for dinner. You can’t go wrong if you have tried them both.
