Mexico Family Travel: What to Do in Nayarit, According to a Travel Editor

AFAR

Join Senior Travel News Editor, Michelle Baran and son, Niko Baran as they show us around Punta Mita, Mexico, a great, family-friendly travel destination in the Nayarit region. See what makes it such a great family travel destination, alongside inspiration of things to do and where to stay on your own trip to the area.  ---- CONNECT WITH AFAR Afar.com is a digital and print magazine that publishes travel tips, guides, news, and stories: https://www.afar.com  Get updates on the latest articles, travel news, and more from AFAR by signing up for the AFAR newsletter: https://afar.com/newsletters  Follow AFAR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia Follow AFAR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/afarmedia  ---- CREDITS  Claudia Cardia - Video Editor Jessie Beck - Senior Manager, SEO & Video Elizabeth See - Designer Sarika Bansal - Editorial Director Michelle Heimerman - Photo Editor Michelle Baran - Senior Travel News Editor   FOOTAGE / PHOTOGRAPHY Michelle Baran Four Seasons Punta Mita  ---- 0:00 - Overview 1:05 - Four Seasons Hotel Tour 3:00 - Whale Watching 3:35 - El Surf Club 4:00 - Nature Walk 5:00 - Sayulita

Transcript

00:00 Where are we going guys? Mexico!

00:05 Hi, Michelle here. I'm at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita with my son Nico.

00:10 Hey Nico!

00:12 Nico and I are going to take you on a quick tour of the property, which has some new kids programming we're checking out.

00:17 And we're going to show you around Punta Mita to see what makes this part of Mexico so special.

00:22 Nico, you ready? Yeah!

00:28 We're going to take my horse to the old town walk.

00:32 Punta Mita is on Mexico's west coast, about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in the larger Riviera Nayarit region.

00:40 It's a unique development that's part residential community and part resort.

00:44 There's a Four Seasons with its recently opened adults-only tented camp, Naviva, and a St. Regis here.

00:50 A little further south there's a newly opened Aubert's Resort, a Conrad Hotel, and a W.

00:56 All of them are sandwiched between a beautiful rocky coastline on one side and a lush tropical rainforest on the other.

01:02 During our stay in Punta Mita, we're calling the Four Seasons home, a resort that is extremely family-friendly.

01:09 We're going to show you our ocean casita room at the Four Seasons Hotel Punta Mita. Let's go!

01:15 Alright, show us around Nico. Here's our closet and our bathroom.

01:22 Wait, let me look at the bathroom. They even put a little step stool for us and some bath toys.

01:30 And here's the grandma bed and here's the kids bed.

01:35 Right, which is a sofa during much of the day. And then, want to go outside?

01:41 And this is the view of the...

01:46 There's a Kids for All Seasons club that is free for children ages 5 to 12.

01:50 Really good guys.

01:53 Oh look, I colored it.

01:55 Special kids menus at all the dining venues where kids 6 and under eat free.

01:59 Two family-friendly pools, babysitting services, and cultural activities for everyone in the family to enjoy.

02:06 One thing that drew us to this property is that in 2022, it became the first in the worldwide Four Seasons portfolio to introduce a new Kids Well program.

02:15 This unique programming focuses on kids' mental health and well-being through activities aimed at reducing stress and anxiety such as nature walks and connecting with local wildlife.

02:25 Set on 52 acres of land, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita offers that perfect mix of natural beauty and top-notch amenities,

02:38 including a full-service spa, numerous restaurants, and a new mez bar with a massive mezcal collection.

02:45 I highly recommend getting a babysitter for an hour to do the mezcal tasting that is accompanied by some 20 different flavored salts.

02:53 From December to March, visitors have a very good chance of spotting humpback whales in Banderas Bay.

03:05 So, for our first activity, we're heading out to try and find some with outfitter Punta Mita Adventures.

03:10 Humpback whales were once at extreme risk and some populations are still considered endangered or threatened.

03:16 Nico and his younger sister, Catalina, are totally mesmerized by the humpback whales slapping their fins against the water and breaching.

03:23 I also like that the boat keeps a safe distance from the whales so we can appreciate their beauty and movement without feeling like we are harassing them.

03:33 After some incredible whale watching, we are heading off the resort for dinner at El Surf Club, a super relaxed oceanfront restaurant with tables right on the sand.

03:42 With a resident DJ, it definitely has a bit of a club vibe, but honestly, this setting is ideal for families too.

03:50 We let the kids run around and play on the beach while we enjoy refreshing cocktails and Baja fish tacos.

03:56 As for the DJ, turns out kids love music and dancing too.

04:00 One thing we are all really loving about Punta Mita is the area's rainforests, home to animal species that we definitely don't get to see at home in California.

04:14 We've seen iguanas of all sizes and colors and Nico has decided to give them all names.

04:20 And what's this little list?

04:22 It's my list of people and their names. You can check it out.

04:28 Fire, bomb.

04:30 We'll sure miss firebomb and treecutter. Not to be overshadowed by the animals is all the plant life.

04:36 Today we've opted for a guided jungle hike to witness first hand all the fascinating survival techniques and defense mechanisms of these rainforest trees.

04:45 The kids are loving roaming among all the flora, making walking sticks, observing ants and termites in their element and just taking it all in.

04:55 Last up on the itinerary, we've rented a car and are heading to the seaside town of Sayulita, about 35 minutes north of here, for some lunch and shopping.

05:03 We've decided to grab some food at La Rustica, a super cute Italian restaurant with great wood fired pizzas.

05:09 With no real plan of what to see or do, we're just ducking into random shops that catch our eye.

05:18 Some of our best finds include 80s style shades the kids found in the main square and mezcal for the adults.

05:25 I can't go there.

05:27 Are you trying to change?

05:30 Yeah.

05:32 We have had such a wonderful time exploring Punta Mita and we're so glad we got to share this beautiful place with you.

05:37 All told, my kids love this Mexico adventure and we could totally see how other families and groups of friends would love it too.

05:43 Whether you're into swimming or snorkeling, resting and relaxing poolside, or immersing yourselves in local cuisine and culture,

05:52 you're sure to find something that suits the interests of everyone in your crew.

05:55 Let us know what you think and where we should travel as a family next.

05:59 Thanks for watching this video by far.

06:02 Please remember to hit that like button on your way out and subscribe to our channel for more travel tips and inspiration.

06:07 I'm controlling it, Carolina.

06:09 Yeah, I'm taking them.

06:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Category

Transcript

Recommended