St. Regis Plants Flag in Punta Mita in Booming Riviera Nayarit

The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort swung open its elaborate gates on Nov. 1, following a Four Seasons as the second upscale resort property to debut at the mixed-use Punta Mita development north of Puerto Vallarta.

The new property is Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ first St. Regis-branded outpost in Latin America. Working on more than 22 acres fronting the Bay of Banderas, architects blended a distinct Mexican adobe look into the two-story casitas housing 89 guestrooms and 31 luxury suites.

Along with the usual high-end amenities, St. Regis rooms boast views of the garden, ocean or beachfront as well as terraces or balconies. All feature butler service, and most are nonsmoking. High-speed Internet is available for a fee. Both rooms and suites are light and airy, tastefully decorated in earth tones and pastels with wispy swags over the beds.

Their most distinctive feature is an outdoor shower in a private, walled garden off the bathroom. At the top of the line is the three-bedroom Presidential Suite, adding space and panoramic views to the elegant decor.

The resort features a gym, tennis courts and three infinity pools; one is adults-only and another is reserved for families. Two Jack Nicklaus golf courses are available within the gated Punta Mita community grounds. The Bahia course has just opened, while the par-three “Tail of the Whale” lies in Four Seasons territory, on a course that becomes 19 holes when the tide is out.

Among the on-site Remede Spa’s nine treatment rooms, the couples Deluxe Spa Suite has a private Jacuzzi for a customized mineral oil, herbs and aromatherapy bath. Salon services, wraps, body polishes and various massages complete the menu.

The St. Regis Punta Mita is a 50-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta’s airport, in the rapidly growing resort area of Riviera Nayarit. The town of Punta de Mita, once a small fishing village, now teems with palapa-roofed, beachfront seafood restaurants.