Just an hour away from the airport of Puerto Vallarta, my friends and I arrived at paradisiacal hotel W Punta Mita, where a very special weekend awaited us; I’ll now tell you the details of this experience.
The hotel is located at Punta de Mita, a beach that has become a luxury destination, especially for foreigners who visit us on holiday. This place began with two five stars hotels, the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, which have through time turned Riviera Nayarit into the perfect destination where to enjoy the sun, sea and sand within a luxurious and sophisticated ambiance. Unlike those two, W just opened its doors a little over a year ago, being the newest hotel in the area intended to attract younger guests in the second property of this hotel franchise in Mexico, after the W Mexico City, renowned for being the coolest hotel in the Polanco area.
This property is an homage to the colors and traditions of huicholes and the bohemian surf culture found surrounding the Banderas Bay, and Sayulita, the fishing town nearby. From the moment you arrive at the hotel, you notice the attention they devoted to tghe hotel’s interior design, led by Aset in collaboration with Mister Important Design.
Upon getting out of your car, they’ll drive you on colorful tuk tuks (golf carts) to the lobby, where you’ll see a Huichol sculpture nearly 10 feet high, and the well-known Huichol path that goes through the hotel and offers a spectacular view of the beach, made with over 700,000 mosaic tiles, you’ll definitely want to take pictures of it!
The hotel has 119 rooms in a variety of styles to satisfy all types of tastes. The Jungle Escape rooms have sliding doors and make you feel as if you were amidst the jungle, while the Ocean Escape offer a view of the wonderful water mirror at the center of these rooms with the sea as its backdrop. If you would rather have a direct view of the sea, opt for the spectacular suites with their own private pool and jacuzzi.
All of the rooms are decorated with traditional Mexican details that combine modern furniture with unique details, such as headboards shaped like surfboards or made of handmade perforated tin with ornate designs similar to those found in the local churches, embroidered pillows and colorful wicker furniture, all these contributing to the distinctive and fun style to the rooms.
W does not lag behind regarding cuisine, an important element for current travelers. For lunch, I recommend having a ceviche at la Chevichería, a very casual place with a straw roof exhibiting an original design that transforms a Chevrolet 3800 from the 1950’s into a bar by the sea, offering fresh ingredients from the catch of the day. Ideal for having something light next to the pool, my favorite dishes were the Peruvian ceviche with tuna, soy and avocado, and the Yucatan ceviche with spicy shrimp and octopus. Ask if the grill prepared by the chef is available and don’t miss the shrimp tacos with chipotle mayonnaise or the catch of the day, delicious and nutritious!
For dinner, I recommend trying both restaurants found on the property: Venazú and Spice Market. The first option is much more casual with international foods, especially good are the tortilla soup, beef carpaccio, grilled catch of the day with risotto and the lobster tacos.
Spice Market, on the other hand, is the renowned restaurant by Jean-Georges Vongerichten inspired by the street foods of Thailand, Vietnam and Malasya and the New York restaurant by the same name. Start your dinner with a lychee martini or a watermelon cocktail. For an entree, I recommend the spicy col Thai salad, chalotts and pears; the mango salad with ginger dressing; or the grilled satay chicken with peanut sauce. As the main dish, the red snapper with napa cabagge on the wok, and the traditional vegetable pad thai garnished with coconut rice and mini corn cobs with lemongrass, delicious!
During your stay at the hotel, you must visit the Away Spa to relax and detox. Choose from a variety of massages and treatments done with organic ingredients and effective spa products by Babor and Einence. After your massage, go to the relaxation terrace, which is surrounded by a natural waterfall amidst the jungle.
If you prefer more action sports, like I do, book a surfing class at the hotel. Despite being my first time on a surfboard, the instructor succeeded at making me stand up, which I believe was nothing short of a true feat.
Lastly, it is worth noting that the hotel is somewhat isolated; if you are planning on leaving the premises, we recommend renting a car to make it easier. If you wish to join activities or tours through the area, we suggest going on the excursion to Islas Marietas, especially the spectacular hidden beach you may book through the hotel’s concierge, or spend the afternoon at Sayulita, where you can visit the local crafts store and have dinner while enjoying the sunset at Don Pedro’s, or enjoy really good pizza at La Rústica.
The W Punta de Mita is ideal for a romantic weekend with your partner or as a getaway with the friends you wish to enjoy a site that offers you the best beach and cuisine while surrounded by a design that will amaze you.
