This is how Punta Mita is inside, the private peninsula where the richest in the world have been confined

It is the place where the absolute elite have taken refuge from the

.

A private peninsula with two

and residences accessible only to the most privileged that has become the golden retreat on one of the most protected and healthy coasts of the Mexican Pacific coast.

It is at the northern end of the Bay of Banderas, just a quarter of an hour from the merriment and bustle of Puerto Vallarta, one of the main tourist destinations in

.

From the famous Malecón of Vallarta, in front of the also very popular Iguana Island, a road runs north along the coast through picturesque neighborhoods such as Mezcalitos, Villas de Vandera, Los Amores or Mesa Quemada and looking out to the delicious La Manzanilla beach.

At the end of the short journey, at a bend in the road that leads to the condominiums and sandy areas of Punta Negra and Playa Lobo, already in the state of Nayarit (Puerto Vallarta is in the neighboring state, Jalisco), is the peninsula of

, the place that the legendary golfer

defined in his day as “paradise on earth”.

Nicklaus was still active when he began to frequent the peninsula in the late nineties.

Years later, as early as 2005, local developers invited him to design in this place what many consider

.

They made available 200 acres of land overlooking the sea on which the Ohio golfer designed two twin circuits, 18 holes each, baptized as Bay and Pacific.

Five of them are located on the ocean shore, a few steps from El Faro, a majestic beach frequented by surfers and very popular on Instagram.

Two others are at the top of a gentle hill, a place with magnificent views from which, in the winter months, it is possible to contemplate the passage of humpback whales on their migratory route to the south.

In addition to designing a par 72 course suitable for both beginners and advanced players, Nicklaus indulged himself:

, also known as Whale Tail, is the only

the world located on a natural island.

At low tide, it is possible to access it by a narrow path.

As soon as the waters rise, it's time to row to indulge in the unusual luxury of playing golf surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

In this year of pandemics, the twin Nicklaus camps, exclusively accessible to residents and their guests, have been more active than ever.

The tourist complex has hosted a larger community than usual in recent months.

Guests, mostly from the South and West of the United States who have chosen to confine themselves in this exclusive corner of the Mexican Pacific, taking advantage of its comforts, its program of healthy outdoor leisure activities and its relaxed but very effective protocol. of social distancing.

The complex even has

, inaugurated in June 2017 and which, according to one of its managers, Dr. Sam Najmabadi, “is one of the most advanced medical centers not only in the state of Nayarit, but in all of Mexico, a state-of-the-art facility at the level of the best hospitals in the United States ”.

Punta Mita is a private peninsula that is home to two hotels, the Four Seasons and the St. Regis, of the Marriott chain and a total of 54 villas grouped in 16 exclusive residential communities.

Some of its luxury residences, such as Casa Aramara or Villa Tesoro, are only available to Hollywood stars, Silicon Valley top executives and other members of the absolute US, Mexican and global economic elite.

A very small group of

that distribute the slightly more than six square kilometers in which the

is located

, sharing coves with restricted access such as La Solana or Playa Cuevas and enjoying an almost unlikely concentration of

and other luxury swimming pools and pools .

Not within the reach of any millionaire

The plots of this paradise are not within the reach of any millionaire.

Last July, the couple of model

and musician

went public on social media that they had rented the highly coveted Villa Tesoro, a complex of seven

semi-detached

that costs around $ 8,500 per night in the low season. .

As for Casa Aramara, owned by the controversial film producer

, since its opening it has hosted such illustrious guests as

,

,

or various members of the

family

starting with Kim, who celebrated his They honeymooned with

in the spring of 2014. The Californian model and businesswoman has contributed to popularizing both the villa and its attractive surroundings by turning it into one of the settings for

a mobile game that represents, for The common of mortals, the best (or, at least, the cheapest) opportunity to peek into the beauty and opulence of Punta Mita.

As

, director of public relations and communication at the Four Seasons hotel in Punta Mita,

explains by email

, in recent months, the complex has specialized in clients with high purchasing power who were looking for a healthy place to take refuge from the covid -19: "The average stay in our facilities has gone from around nine days to more than 23".

The hotel kept its doors open even in the worst moments of the first wave of infections thanks to its very comprehensive program of private residences: “Some of the guests have spent the entire period of confinement in our facilities.

Specifically,

He suffers from multiple sclerosis and has found here the conditions of safety, health and health care he was looking for, so for now he has decided to stay ”.

According to the Californian journalist Sheila Marikar, Four Seasons has also offered a complete

(a play on words between holidays and school) open to the children of all families residing in Punta Mita.

It is coordinated by

, a pedagogue who has lived in the peninsula for 10 years, and is based on the holistic philosophy of Rudolf Steiner.

More than 30 students have enrolled in this program of face-to-face classes with a high degree of interaction and which have preferably been developed outdoors and with scrupulous respect for the rules of social distancing.

Thanks to him, the children have dedicated part of their time to familiarize themselves with the local turtle varieties or to learn artisanal fishing techniques in Las Marietas, a small archipelago of volcanic islands just a quarter of an hour by boat from the peninsula that they woke up in their day the interest of the explorer and marine researcher

and four years ago they became a nature park with restricted access.

As Miguel Peregrina explains, until just 20 years ago, Punta Mita was an almost virgin stretch of coast in the surroundings of Puerto Vallarta that was home to a small fishing village.

In it, "the first luxury community in Latin America" ​​was established.

Four Seasons settled in this environment because it sought "to locate itself in a safe, attractive, isolated place in Mexico with enough potential to attract a group of regular guests."

The hotel brand headquartered in the Canadian city of Toronto was particularly attracted to "the possibility of establishing a gated community there with enough space to host more

luxury

in the medium term

.

A Mexican farm integrated into a mysterious landscape

In less than a decade, between the arrival in the peninsula of the first real estate developers and the inauguration, in 2009, of the golf course designed by Nickalus, Punta Mita had equipped itself with a state-of-the-art sports facility and some of the most luxurious villas attractions of the Mexican coastline without sacrificing the beauty and exuberance of its natural environment, "with glorious views of the Mexican Pacific," according to Peregrina.

The place where both the Four Season and the St. Regis are located is, as the communication director describes it, "the section of the most rugged peninsula and the most interesting topography, since the rest are plains."

The area offers direct access to three large, impeccably preserved beaches, Playa Cuevas, Playa Manzanillas and Playa La Solana.

The Four Seasons has the appearance of a lavish Mexican villa, perfectly integrated into the landscape.

The project was inspired by the Mexican

, whom

considers one of the best residential architects in the world.

Professionals in architecture and interior design have also worked on the project, such as the tandem formed by the Mexican Ofelia Uribe and Erica Krayer or the Kollin Altomare Architects, Vita Planning & Landscaping Architecture and Anderson Miller studios.

Villaseñor had very much in mind in his general development plan for the

the tradition of the two most representative indigenous ethnic groups in the state of Nayarit, the Cora and the Huichol, as well as a defined natural environment, in his opinion, “for beauty, magic and the mystery ”.

The veteran architect, designer and landscaper remained faithful to his commitment to "a building style of contemporary sensibility, but one that is guided by nature, the physical environment, its surroundings, its climate and its aesthetic atmosphere."

Theirs is

that aims to resist "the current trend towards a more homogeneous world, rescuing and reinterpreting local identities, new and old, without conforming to the answers of the past to the problems of the present."

Indigenous crafts for a luxury 'resort'

Currently, the resort is embarking on a gradual renovation process that is expected to conclude, according to Peregrina, "within four summers."

The months between June and September are those that are dedicated to this in-depth reform of the facilities, given that "summer is the low season in Punta Mita, as it is a very hot and humid season in the Mexican Pacific."

The resort is being transformed in a way that is fully consistent with the master lines set out by Villaseñor 20 years ago: "We are betting not only on materials, but also on

,

explains Peregrina, "with preferential use of woods such as partota or el huanacaxtle, copper works very typical of the region, local glasses and other techniques with deep local roots ”.

Four Seasons will thus complete “five additional buildings, a new main pool and a renovation of two of the four presidential suites, which today are presented as Beach Houses”.

The other hotel on the peninsula, the St. Regis, is also associated with the high degree of exclusivity and somewhat eccentric luxury that characterizes Punta Mita.

emphasizes that she offers her residents "the optional services of a private butler."

The St. Regis was inaugurated in 2008 and two years later received 5 Diamonds from the prestigious AAA (American Automobile Association), which has recognized hospitality excellence for decades.

Also in 2010, the

magazine

highlighted the work of its architect and interior designer, the Mexican

, defined as “daring, eclectic and avant-garde”, winner of a Design Icons award, for a decoration concept defined as “a cross between Provençal and Mexican influences ”.

The furniture is a unique combination of exclusive designs purchased in the French region, Spain and Belgium, and unique pieces of traditional Mexican crafts.

The sophisticated rustic style is provided by the use of traditional fabrics such as linen, cotton and silk, as well as the hand-embroidered cushions from the Las Marietas restaurant.

In this environment of exquisite luxury and without fanfare,

and a very complete range of active leisure activities.

Among the very frequent activities, stand out outdoor exercise tables, exploring the environment, fishing in nearby fishing grounds, releasing sea turtles, learning coral conservation techniques or whale watching.

The

includes, just in the

Four Seasons

environment

, 14 bars and canteens and a total of five restaurants that cover both traditional Pacific cuisine and Asian food,

grilled meat and fish or vegan options.

Peregrina also mentions the possibility of exploring the surroundings of the Riviera Nayarit, with visits to the aforementioned Marietas or the villages of Sayulita or San Francisco (San Pancho, for the locals), highly valued by surfers and viral photographers for their splendid waves.

An exclusive paradise, in short, in the ancestral home of the Huichols.