Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Punta de Mita sits on the far northern tip of Banderas Bay in the Mexican state of Nayarit, a green peninsula wrapped by Pacific coves, surf breaks and some of the bay's best sunsets. The village of Corral del Risco keeps a fishing-town feel, while the wider peninsula holds resorts, golf courses and quiet beaches.
Corral del Risco
Punta Burros
Islas Marietas
Bucerías
+2 more places
Punta de Mita is about 40 kilometres northwest of Puerto Vallarta and is surrounded on three sides by roughly fifteen kilometres of Pacific beaches and coves. Gentle sea breezes keep the weather comfortable much of the year, and the late afternoon light turns the water gold.
The area works for very different travellers. Surfers come for seven reliable point breaks, families for calm coves, and nature lovers for the boat ride to a protected marine park.
Corral del Risco is the beachfront village that gives the peninsula its everyday character, and its beaches are public. Wander the waterfront, watch the boats and look for evening street food stalls near the main bus stop.
Corral del Risco is the village at Punta de Mita with public beaches. Photo: Lynx Burgos, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
El Anclote is the best place on the peninsula to learn longboard surfing because the wave is long, slow and forgiving.
La Lancha is another longboard spot that works best as the tide comes in or goes out. It is a walk of roughly thirty to forty minutes from the village, or you can hire a small boat.
Some surfers rate The Cove as the best wave in Banderas Bay, especially at high tide. It is also a thirty to forty minute walk or a short panga ride from town.
Punta Burros lies south of the village near the Palladium resort and is popular for its easy access. The right side of the point gives a longer, softer ride suited to both shortboards and longboards.
Punta Burros is a popular, easy-access surf spot south of the village. Photo: Lynx Burgos, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Litibú is one of the coves along the peninsula's Pacific side and offers a quieter beach day. Pack water, shade and snacks, because facilities vary from one stretch of sand to the next.
Islas Marietas National Park is a short boat ride from Punta de Mita, about 15 minutes, and is a protected area with reefs, caves and seabirds such as blue-footed boobies. Its famous Playa del Amor was formed by old bomb tests and erosion.
Islas Marietas lie about 15 minutes by boat from Punta de Mita. Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
From December to March humpback whales visit the bay, and tours leave from Punta de Mita. January to March is the most reliable window.
Bucerías is a small beach town east of Punta de Mita with a long, uninterrupted white sand beach. It suits a lazy day of swimming, walking and seafood lunches.
Bucerías has a long, uninterrupted white sand beach. Photo: La Llave Key to Riviera Nayarit, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sayulita is a laid-back surf town about 17 kilometres to the northeast, with shallow water, jungle hikes and a lively little plaza.
Sayulita is a laid-back surf town along the Riviera Nayarit. Photo: Carlos E. Sáinz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a fishing village about 25 kilometres from Puerto Vallarta, with a busy marina and a relaxed waterfront. It is a good place to see working boats and sample seafood in simple restaurants.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a fishing village with a marina on Banderas Bay. Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Nayarit cooking centres on the sea. The signature dish is pescado sarandeado, a whole fish, often bream, marinated with lime, soy sauce and chile, then grilled over mangrove wood and served with onions, tomatoes and tortillas.
Cool down with tejuino, a lightly fermented corn drink sweetened with piloncillo and served cold with lime and ice. It is popular across Nayarit, Jalisco and Colima.
In Corral del Risco, look for evening street stalls near the bus stop that sell corn snacks, tacos and quesadillas.
Popular dishes to try in Punta de Mita
Corral del Risco is the best base if you want a village feel, public beaches and a short walk to surf and street food. It suits independent travellers and surfers.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a calm fishing village with a marina, a good choice for sailors, couples and anyone who enjoys a relaxed harbour atmosphere.
Sayulita suits travellers who want nightlife, shops and a social surf scene, while Bucerías offers a long beach, restaurants and a more laid-back local feel.
Where to stay in Punta de Mita
The dry season runs from November to May, and the most comfortable weather arrives from late December to March.
From June to October the wet season brings humidity, heavy rain and the risk of hurricanes. UV levels stay high all year, so carry strong sun protection.
Surfers visit year round, and the water is warmer from April to October. Check local calendars for festivals and holidays during your dates, since they can fill accommodation quickly.
Most visitors fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport and drive northwest along Federal Highway 200 to Punta de Mita, about an hour.
Without a car, direct buses run from the airport to Punta de Mita. Cross the pedestrian bridge to the highway to find them.
Taxis are common but unmetered, so agree on the fare before you get in. Between surf spots you can walk, take a taxi or hire a small panga, and bicycles work well along the quieter roads.
Settle in at Corral del Risco, stroll the waterfront and have an early dinner of pescado sarandeado.
Take a surf lesson at El Anclote, then spend the afternoon on the beach at Litibú or Punta Burros.
Book a morning boat trip to Islas Marietas, or a whale watching tour from December to March, then relax in the village.
Drive to Sayulita and Bucerías for beaches, shops and lunch, and finish at the marina in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.
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