Review: Conrad Punta de Mita

Why book? Contemporary in its appeal, Conrad Punta de Mita offers a fresh and inviting coastal respite along an impressive, palm-lined swath of beachfront in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

Set the scene: As if entering a dark tunnel and emerging into paradise, the entrance of Conrad Punta de Mita impresses with expansive views of its dreamy, palm-dotted coastline. The lobby and the property’s main breakfast restaurant, Arbol, open to the heart of the resort, a child-friendly area and an adult’s only area of swimming pools split straight down the middle and conjoined by a central infinity-style pool, where guests clad in oversized hats, sunglasses and chic swimsuits hang over the side, drink in hand, to watch the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash into the beach.

The backstory: Set on a mile of white-sand beach, Conrad Punta de Mita slid under the radar when it first opened, mostly due to timing. One of the leading luxury brands of the Hilton Hotel Group, it first began welcoming guests back in September 2020. Now, it's slowly picking up buzz as frequent travelers to other Mexican beach regions—say Los Cabos or Oaxaca—are eager to find a new destination to explore. Contemporary and fresh by design, the resort is subtly inspired by the local Huichol culture, with built-in motifs such as the ojo de dios (a kite-like protection symbol that translates to the eye of god) and the peyote cactus effortlessly incorporated into almost every space within the property.

The rooms: The rooms are split between two areas: the main building, which looks towards the center of the resort towards the beach, and five separate (and smaller) beach-facing buildings. While the oversized penthouses are in the main structure and ideal for families or groups, the most sought-after rooms of the resort are by far the beachfront suites. Each comes equipped with a large indoor seating area, a patio with lounge chairs, and a private plunge pool.

Food and drink: The resort has four restaurants total, each with a varying degree of formality. Breakfast dishes like chilaquiles and eggs served with hand-made tortillas are served near the lobby at the bright and airy indoor-outdoor restaurant Arbol. Meanwhile, at poolside option Paleta, it’s all about light snacks and drinks; think burgers, ceviche, and poke bowls. Mezquite is the property’s laid-back beachside eatery, offering wood-fired, seafood-forward cuisine; all meals end with sweet treats like silky charcoal *paletas—*or popsicles. Of all the restaurants at the resort, Codex is the most upscale—think lightly smoked Pacific oysters, crispy soft-shell crab served with a dash of mole, and buttery tuna tartare with avocado cream. There’s also the lobby's bar, Tuki, and café, Colibri, named after the hummingbirds of the area and offering fresh-baked pastries and espressos.

The spa: Guests can take their spa experience to the next level by booking one of the property’s outdoor thatched domes for their treatment. The constructions—and the overall mysticism of the spa, with its incorporation of indigenous products such as native jackfruit and copal-infused clay—is inspired by the ancient Huichol culture of Mexico, which still thrive in Riviera Nayarit today. Though all guests can soak in the outdoor pool after their treatment, the domes built for two come equipped with their own private plunge pools. There’s also an on-site temezcal, where, upon request, a Huichol shaman from the local community leads a four-part sweat purification ritual that’s invoked through meditation, chants, and herbal steam brought forth by pouring water on heated rocks placed in the stone dome’s central pit.

The neighborhood/area: Located in Riviera Nayarit where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sierra Madre Mountains, Conrad Punta de Mita is set amidst towering palm trees in the Litibú gated community. When guests stay here, they have access to top-notch golf courses, clay tennis courts, and six miles of sprawling golden beach. Though the areas sound similar, Punta de Mita is separate from Punta Mita, an exclusive peninsula enclave punctuated by popular resorts such as Four Seasons and St. Regis that rests on the opposite, north end of the peninsula on the Bay of Banderas.

The service: The service is as expected of a top-tier Hilton brand, with every guest's want and desire catered to with ease and delight.

For families: Conrad Punta de Mita is unique in that it caters to both adults and families in an effortless way, mostly due to the property’s well-considered layout. The resort is split down the middle as far as kid-friendly areas go. Looking to the ocean, the right side of the property is adults-only, with a sequestered swimming area offering privacy ideal for couples. The left side of the property, on the other hand, is home to the resort’s all-day poolside cafe, Paleta. Popular amongst families, the area is adjacent to a kid-friendly pool replete with a chicly-disguised waterslide and a splash pad pool with water fountains. There’s also a kid’s club that offers arts-and-crafts classes inspired by the Huichol culture.

Accessibility: Almost the entire resort is equipped according to ADA standards with plenty of ramps, elevators, and wheelchair accessible rooms available.

Anything left to mention? Though Punta de Mita gets sunny days about 90 percent of the year, on the off chance that there is a rainy day, adults will love the hang-out room next door to the kid’s club. There’s a pool table and table soccer, among other games. There’s also the Agave Studio, where the in-house mixologist leads guests through a tasting of several Mexican spirits, including sotol, tequila, mezcal, and raicilla.