A Guide to Punta Mita with Kids

**Updated February 2023**

Punta Mita is a peninsula on the west coast of Mexico just north of Puerto Vallarta. Punta Mita is surrounded on 3 sides by Pacific Ocean beaches and coves and is known for its surfing and surf towns. We enjoy Punta Mita for its beaches and luxury resorts, and we also seek out the opportunity to learn about and experience the local culture with our kids. Here are some amazing things to do in Punta Mita Mexico with kids, including delicious places to eat, great places to stay, and activities adults will love too!

Best Time to Visit Punta Mita

There is no bad time to visit Punta Mita. However, the best time to visit Punta Mita is during the dry season, November through June, when temperatures are warm (highs from the mid-70s to mid-80s) and rainfall is minimal.

Getting to Punta Mita Mexico

The easiest way to get to Punta Mita is to fly into Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and then drive approximately 45 minutes north to Punta Mita. PVR is the closest major airport to Punta Mita.

There are direct flights to PVR from many US cities, including short 2-2.5 hour flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco, making Punta Mita an easy getaway for Californians like us. From San Francisco, we can get to the west coast of Mexico for a beach vacation a lot faster than we can get to Hawaii or the Caribbean.  When trying to maximize vacation days or minimize travel time (especially with kids!), this is a huge bonus!

Getting from the airport to Punta Mita

When flying anywhere, we always pre-arrange our transportation from the airport to the hotel ahead of time, especially when traveling out of the country. Here are some options for getting from the airport to Punta Mita:

• Many hotels and resorts in Punta Mita have airport shuttles that will pick you up at the airport and take you directly to the hotel.
• Hire a private transportation service.
• Take a taxi or bus
• Rent a car. This really depends on how much driving you plan to do. We have always relied on hotel shuttles or local taxis to take us to restaurants or activities. 

Is Punta Mita Safe?

Punta Mita is a popular tourist destination and is generally considered safe, along with the surrounding areas of Riviera Nayarit and Banderas Bay. We always check the US Department of State for travel advisories before booking any international trip and then use our best judgment.

Activities with Kids in Punta Mita

Surfing in Punta Mita

Our kids have always enjoyed surfing and we will often try to fit in at least one surf day while on a beach vacation. Because the kids don’t surf regularly, we have always signed them up for lessons. Instructors help the kids manage the boards, provide tips on how to catch the waves, give them pushes, and most importantly, encourage them. We chose surf lessons with Wildmex in Punta Mita. Mike and the kids went out with two instructors for two hours. They got a lot of individual attention and the instructors were great about teaching to their different levels and making surfing Punta Mita fun for the kids.

Book directly with Wildmex here

Marietas Islands Tour

Cruising to the Marietas Islands is a great day trip from Punta Mita. The Marietas Islands are a group of uninhabited islands about 5 miles southwest of Punta Mita. They are occasionally called the “Mexican Galapagos” because of the stunning wildlife, like Blue Footed Boobies, plus beautiful coral, colorful fish, dolphins & humpback whales.  The Marietas Islands are a National Park protected by the Mexican Government which limits the number of daily visitors.

There are a handful of tours operating daily to the islands. We chose to go with Ally Cat Sailing Adventures which leaves out of La Cruz Marina near Punta Mita. On our way to the islands, we searched for whales (the crew even put microphones in the water so we could hear them singing). Once we arrived at the Marietas Islands, we went snorkeling, explored a hidden sea cave, and had lunch on the boat. On the way back, we stopped to swim & paddle board and they put out a cargo net that the kids (and adults) got to hang onto and get pulled behind the boat. Seriously an amazing day!

You can also book this catamaran cruise to the Marietas Islands which is almost identical to the one we went on but departs closer to Puerto Vallarta.

More details & pictures of our Marietas Islands Tour

Zip lining in Punta Mita

We had a great day zip-lining at Rancho Mi Chaparrita just minutes outside of Sayulita. The zip line course was nestled in the jungle and had gorgeous views out towards the Pacific Ocean from the top of the course. The kids rode upside down, raced down duel lines, and got splashed with water along the way (which was quite welcome considering how warm it was!). Our fantastic guides were full of energy and went out of their way to make our daughter feel special as we happened to be there on her birthday. After the tour, we sat in on a complimentary tequila which was fun.  You can book the same zip line tour here.

This canopy tour is almost identical and located a little bit closer to Punta Mita

Read about all about our adventures at Rancho Mi Chaparrita here.

Visit Sayulita

Surfing, shopping, eating….there is a lot to do in Sayulita.  This cute little beach town is an easy day trip from Punta Mita and totally worth it.

Read all about our time in Sayulita (where we ate, shopped, and played) here

Meet Local Artisans with Human Connections

One of the most memorable things we’ve ever done on a trip was spending a day with Human Connections in Bucerias. Their goal is to connect local people with international audiences to empower local communities while fostering conversations that shift perspectives and increase understanding. We spent the morning visiting three local artisans, learning about their trades, and listening to their stories.  I highly recommend this tour if you are anywhere in the Punta Mita/Puerto Vallarta area.

Our first stop was a visit to the Lopez Lopez family where we learned multiple generations of the family work together to create beautiful handmade toys.  We learned all about their lengthy process: from raising sheep in Chiapas to weaving fabric out of the wool and then creating amazing animal toys by hand.

Next, we met with Teresa, a jewelry maker. Her bracelets, earrings, pins, and necklaces were stunning. I loved the story of how she got her start: she was admiring a bracelet at a local booth, but she couldn’t afford to buy it. So she went back several times to ask lots of questions and slyly watch how they made the bracelets. Then she went home and tried to mimic what she had seen. Eventually, she sold some of her own creations and as she got more money, she would buy new designs from other vendors and disassemble them to learn how they had made them.  Now she comes up with her own designs and is very successful with her jewelry.

Finally, we stopped at El Barco, a loncheria, owned by Nallely & Omar. As we sat in the restaurant enjoying our meal, Omar explained how he launched his business, what types of meals he prepares, and who his usual customers are.  He also runs a cooking workshop for tourists right out of his restaurant.

It was really fun to connect with local artisans, learn their stories, and see a side of Punta Mita that we otherwise wouldn’t have.

Punta Mita Resorts

There are quite a few luxury resorts in Punta Mita to choose from. We’ve stayed at both a resort in Punta Mita as well as a private villa (next to a resort). We liked both accommodations – though the next time we go, I want to check out one of the resorts we haven’t yet been to! Here’s where we’ve stayed and what I have my eye on for future stays!

Four Seasons Punta Mita

We have stayed at the Four Seasons Punta Mita twice as a couple. We’ve never brought our kids, but I think they would love it, especially the pool with a gorgeous ocean view and the lazy river. The Four Seasons Punta Mita has a variety of accommodations suited for couples, families, or groups, including multiple-bedroom residences & villas as well as traditional casita rooms. Some rooms even come with a private plunge pool!

The Four Seasons also has all the amenities you’d expect like tennis, golf, a spa, a kids club, local excursions, restaurants, etc.

St Regis Punta Mita

St Regis Punta Mita is another luxury resort where you can’t go wrong. While many choose the St. Regis for its amazing golf course, there are plenty of other reasons to stay here. The resort is gorgeous and spread out to create a feeling of seclusion, it has 3 infinity-edge pools (including one for adults only), multiple restaurants, a spa, exercise classes, lots of excursions, a kids club, and plenty of beach activities.

Auberge Punta Mita

Susurros del Corazón, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, recently opened at the end of 2022 and would be another fabulous Punta Mita resort to try! This luxury resort offers 3 infinity-edge pools, a private beach, four eateries including an oceanside farmhouse restaurant serving farm-to-table dishes, a spa, Morritos Kids Club, as well as local excursions.

Los Veneros at the W

On our most recent trip to Punta Mita, we booked a 3 bedroom villa with a private pool at Los Veneros through our Inspirato membership. We had access to 2 other pools, the beach, the spa/gym at the W next door, plus all the restaurants.

We loved our villa as it had plenty of space, a kitchen, gorgeous views, and was a 2-minute walk from the beach. The benefits of being next to the W were that we had easy access to restaurants and the gym. But we didn’t love the W as it catered to a younger crowd with loud music and more of a party atmosphere. If you are looking for a fun & young atmosphere then the W is a great choice. Los Veneros is separate and was generally more mellow and quiet.

Disclaimer: we stayed here over New Year’s so this likely played into the party-vibe we experienced. It may not be like this all the time, but it was our experience.

Restaurants in Punta Mita

Eating at a resort is easy, but we love trying local restaurants when we travel. There are many great restaurants in Punta Mita with a fun atmosphere serving a variety of different cuisines. I’ve found Trip Advisor is a reliable way to find good restaurants and so is asking the concierge at the hotel – this is how we found most of the restaurants on our last trip!

Rosa Mexicana, Punta de Mita – Authentic Mexican cuisine served at tables outside (and guacamole prepared fresh at our table!) with beautiful ocean views.  They also had a live band serenading the tables which I normally don’t love, but these guys were so entertaining the whole restaurant was really into it.

Tuna Blanca, Punta de Mita – A feast of fresh, organic ingredients and the traditional cuisine found at the Mexican Pacific coast. Tuna Blanca is elegant, yet relaxed.  Our table was outside on the sand with a great beachy vibe.  The kids kicked off their shoes and ran around on the beach while we finished dinner.  Our concierge must have alerted the restaurant it was our daughter’s birthday because they brought out a mini-surfboard covered with dessert and sparklers flaring.  This was definitely our family’s favorite meal.

Frascati Ristorante, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle – I thought it was unexpected to find a cute little Italian place on the harbor in La Cruz.  The restaurant is on the second floor and we sat by an open window with views of the harbor and all the lights.  The food was surprisingly good for an Italian restuarant in Mexico!  Our kids enjoyed the calamari and pizza.

Don Pedro´s Restaurant, Sayulita – Located right in front of the beach area in Sayulita, underneath a big palapa this is a great place to enjoy a nice casual lunch or dinner by the beach in Sayulita.

Venazu– this restaurant is at the W and we ate here our first night.  It was an easy 5 minute walk from our villa at Los Veneros.  Outside seating and a surprisingly delicious taco station set up that night.  We each ordered a couple to start (they were tiny) and then kept ordering more!

What did I miss? What should we do next time? Where should we eat? Stay?  Would love to hear your feedback in the comments!

** I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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