If you wish to keep away from the throngs of vacationers who descend on common Mexico locations like Cancun and Tulum, attempt Punta de Mita, the middle of an opulent seashore scene within the Riviera Nayarit area. Nestled alongside Mexico’s Pacific coast within the shadow of the dramatic Sierra Madre mountains, Punta de Mita provides a quieter however no much less gorgeous various to different beloved Mexican locations.
Except for its sapphire waters, uncrowded sands and upscale vibe, Punta de Mita entices with a brand new beachfront getaway, Conrad Punta de Mita, which debuted in September 2020 with the whole lot from scorching swimming pools to must-try agave tastings. Right here’s why it’s best to go to right here and test into the lodge:
The Cultural Touches
Descendants of the Aztecs, the Huichol Indians are indigenous within the space and stay among the many last-remaining folks within the Western Hemisphere who nonetheless reside by pre-Columbian beliefs and traditions.
The Conrad pays homage to their wealthy cultural heritage all through the property in methods massive and small. A recurring design component is the Huichol ojo de dios (or “eye of god”), a diamond sample that subtly seems all through, from the rooms’ wooden headboard and bedside desk handles to Mezquite restaurant’s black lava rock wall and the foyer’s wooden flooring. The lodge enlisted an area curandero (a shaman) to carry out a two-hour ceremony when deciding the perfect place for the temazcal (sweat lodge) — the primary one in Punta de Mita and amongst Hilton lodges — and the spa holds shaman-led periods within the white stone dome that assist purify and heal.
The Grounds
The Huichol revere nature and the posh lodge strives to make it a part of your expertise. Lush vegetation covers the manicured 12-acre grounds. Paths from the foyer to the seashore wind by way of fuchsia bougainvillea, pink hibiscus and clusters of palm bushes, making you are feeling such as you’re strolling by way of a backyard.
The Conrad encourages you to spend time taking within the pure environment with balconies within the rooms, alfresco eating places and out of doors spa huts. Even the foyer, which seems to be extra like a contemporary artwork museum with suave seating and a sculptured ceiling, calls you to the outside with an open again wall that frames the verdant grounds and the ocean.
The Lodging
Every of the 324 lodging overlooks the water, which is precisely what you need when staying at a seashore retreat. The view impressed the blue-and-tan up to date interiors from SB Architects (whose work contains Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico and AMARA in Cyprus).
The 2 penthouses in the primary constructing provide respite from the seashore scene and afford essentially the most privateness, essentially the most perks (together with a eating room, a lounge, an workplace and a kitchen) and the perfect vistas. Perched on the fifth flooring, they afford wide-ranging views of the grounds and past. For those who choose to be nearer to the sand, go for the beachfront suites, which include spacious terraces and an outside plunge pool going through the rolling waves. For an much more stress-free vibe, slip into the suite’s roomy standalone tub in a beige stone rest room stocked with Byredo’s woodsy Mojave Ghost toiletries.
The Spa
One of the best place to unwind is on the 10,000-square-foot spa. For those who want a reprieve from the extraordinary solar and humidity, its air-conditioned lounge (stocked with cool drinks like orange, cucumber and mint water) and remedy rooms await. However step again exterior for what makes the Conrad Spa particular. Stroll by way of the vine-covered cover to seek out remedy huts made to resemble the indigenous peyote plant. {Couples} ought to retreat to particular huts for them, which comprise side-by-side therapeutic massage tables and a scorching tub.
Whereas there, partake in Huichol-inspired companies just like the Xíetecacaríiya Candy Honey Facial, which makes use of the nourishing nectar and hydrating cucumber to revive your pores and skin, or go for the Mara’akame physique remedy, which cleanses you with native herbs and copal smoke, detoxifies with copal clay, helps your vitality circulate with a therapeutic massage and rebalances you with Huichol oils and natural poultices.
Permit further time to calm down additional within the spa’s alfresco lounging space. Sit underneath a pergola constructed with thick branches or take a dip within the pool or scorching tub, all nestled inside thick foliage. You gained’t need to go away the tranquil house.
The Eating places
Among the many seven eating places and bars on the property, CODEX is a spotlight. Hidden amongst mangroves, the in-the-sand, fine-dining restaurant focuses on fashionable Mexican fare with suave plating. After arriving, you’re welcomed with a Huichol ritual that pays respect to the pure components. Then sit down and revel in a number of heat bread, together with a flavorful chipotle croissant.
Strive the tuna tostada starter (with contemporary fish, dots of avocado, pipicha, dehydrated tomatoes, soy foam and candy lime) sitting on a mattress of huge, clean rocks. Then, transfer onto the crispy Veracruz soft-shell crab with a trio of sauces — charred eggplant puree, ancho chili and black garlic, and a citrus jocoque related in texture to bitter cream) — topped with celery salad. For dessert, the cacao y pasilla is a chic dish with chocolate mousse encasing a pasilla core, a cacao financier and currant gel. Even the mignardises get a chic presentation — a passionfruit macaron, a coconut marshmallow and an almond truffle relaxation on stones in a plume of thyme smoke.
Remember to add pairings to pattern Mexican wines usually tough to seek out overseas. You’ll take pleasure in glasses of finds like a 2020 Casa Madero 3V and a 2018 Guanamé malbec.
The opposite culinary standout, Árbol, seems upscale takes on conventional Mexican delicacies. Your meal begins with tortilla chips and salsas, together with a garlicky, spicy pumpkin possibility. Order the outsized San Blas shrimp al ajillo (marinated in garlic) on a mattress of creamy rice studded with corn and guajillo peppers and a pool of chili oil for some warmth — it’s pure consolation meals.
Save room, although, for dessert favorites just like the tres leches cake topped with berries and the churros with arroz con leche (rice pudding) and Chocolate Abuelita (a sort of scorching chocolate) dips.
The Agave Studio
Don’t miss a tasting in The Agave Studio, a vibrant, glass-walled house lined with bottles and barrels tucked inside Árbol. Tequila is the best-known agave spirit, nevertheless it’s not the one one — Mexico boasts greater than 250 totally different agave vegetation. A educated mixologist will introduce you to mezcal, tequila’s smokier, sweeter cousin; raicilla, the oldest agave spirit, which has similarities to moonshine (style it within the lodge’s scrumptious coconut-laden welcome cocktail); and sotol, which hails from solely three Mexican states.
Our tasting got here with appetizers, like guacamole topped with a grasshopper in addition to mahi ceviche, and we tried six pours, together with Flor del Desierto, a sotol made with rattlesnake venom, and Código 1530 Rosa, a rosé tequila that will get its pink hue by soaking in French white oak wine barrels. Our wonderful mixologist Stefan made studying the historical past and nuances of the spirits informative and leisurely. Plus, he shared many nice suggestions, like how tequila must be sipped from a champagne flute because it doesn’t have many aromas.
If you’d like one other style, the studio additionally provides an agave-pairing dinner and make-your-own-mezcal-blend workshops.
The Swimming pools
The Conrad units up cream umbrellas and lounge chairs on its two miles of sand, however the swimming pools are the resort’s scorching spot. Adults sink into the submerged loungers within the infinity pool peering out on the ocean or hunt down loungers within the curvy infinity pool with wood-slatted cabanas, a swim-up bar serving ice-cold drinks and music pumping from the audio system.
The lodge is family-friendly, so dad and mom and youngsters have their very own separate place to chill off. They will spend their days on the kiddie pool full with a waterslide and a splash pad.
Different Facilities
Whereas there are many water actions, starting from browsing to fishing, the Conrad offers different methods to remain energetic throughout your go to. The luxurious lodge resides within the non-public Litibu improvement, which homes an 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf course open to company. As well as, the property accommodates courts for pickleball, tennis and basketball.
Youngsters have their very own actions on the colourful children membership, the place they’ll make crafts just like the ojo de dios with yarn, or play foosball, ping pong, pool, air hockey or video video games within the sport room.