Located just 40 minutes north of Puerta Vallarta in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, Punta Mita is one of Mexico’s best kept secrets. The 15,000 acre fishing village turned exclusive resort town has remained a tight-knit, closed community that offers a level of privacy and prestige that has billionaires snapping up estates as quickly as they become available. Like the sound of having Bill Gates or Beyonce as your neighbour for the weekend? Then read on to find out why Punta Mita is where you should be investing your time and money in Mexico.
The property ‘boom’ in Mexico has been a slow and steady incline, instead of the high-speed chase to the top that the U.S. and Europe experienced in the late 2000’s. This protected it from the inevitable crash down to Earth, and so Mexican investment in real estate has remained a safe, profitable endeavour. Recently, Mexican real estate investment has experienced a second, crystal clear wave of popularity after the peso dropped to a 10 year low in late 2016. The favourable exchange rate had U.S. citizens scrambling for a piece of the Mexican pie.
Suddenly, the deluxe destinations of Mexico have been flooded by eagre investors looking to make a good return on investment. Does this mean the end of private and prestigious Mexican property developments? Fortunately, no. A few luxury Mexican destinations have remained delightfully discreet and Punta Mita is the epitome of low-key, lavish luxury.
Development on Punta Mita began a mere 15 years ago when DINE, a major Mexican development company bought property to begin a resort town like no other. Punta Mita has a rich history dating back to 800AD. It started as a bohemian beach destination with the perfect surf and has now turned into one of the most exclusive communities in the world. The developments that DINE have created for Punta Mita includes the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, the St. Regis Resort Punta Mita and no less than two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses. Mammoth estates and residences are also part of the property portfolio of Punta Mita, with some very powerful people in the world of technology choosing to invest there. Executives from Apple, Amazon, British Telecom, Siebel Systems, Yahoo and many more all choose Punta Mita as their private piece of paradise.
So why are so many tech billionaires drawn to this town on a small, unassuming Mexican peninsula? Punta Mita’s unique location and exceptional development courtesy of DINE create an atmosphere usually reserved for private islands. It is clear that the main focus for Punta Mita is privacy and prestige. The Pacific Ocean surrounds the resort town on three sides, meaning access is limited, but beautiful beaches are plentiful. This feeling of exclusivity is increased by the dedicated security that has been put in place. Guests go through multiple security gates and checkpoints from the village Punta de Mita to their final destination in Punta Mita. The area is also generally a media and paparazzi free area which is a blessing for high-profile tech industry figures and celebrities alike.
Andrés Rossetto is the Managing Director of Punta Mita Development for DINE. He comments on why Punta Mita is so popular: “The very affluent are drawn to Punta Mita because we offer something that can’t be found elsewhere in the world” he said, “A master planned community like Punta Mita would be extremely difficult to duplicate in today’s financial climate, and geographically, Punta Mita is stunningly unique. There is great confidence in the forecast of Mexico’s long term economy and the strength of our country’s relationship within the Americas. Accessibility is another factor. We have an excellent private terminal nearby for our owners who arrive on their own jet or chartered plane.” For those without a jet at their disposal, most major airlines provide direct flights that take as little as 2 and a half hours from the States.
The combined accessibility, safety and splendor have created an extremely valuable property market with the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort both being valued at over $1 million USD per key. These phenomenal numbers have only reassured buyers of the security and potential found in investing in Punta Mita. This level of faith in the future of Punta Mita is seen in recent property acquisitions. In 2014, Cascade Investment Group, which is owned by none other than Bill Gates, made a purchase in Punta Mita that included 48 acres of beachfront property and the Four Seasons Hotel site.
Although Punta Mita offers fantastic investment opportunities, it also knows how to show it’s guests a good time. The two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses offer un-interrupted sport where players can work on their handicap in perfect peace. Just outside the gates of Punta Mita still resides the sleepy fishing village that gave the Punta Mita resort it’s name. Diving, yachting, surfing and many other ocean adventures await guests along the coast. World-class equestrian facilities entice guests to fulfil their ultimate Mexican fantasy of riding horseback under the Mexican sun. Esteemed guests have included Lady Gaga, who has been spotted in the gentle surf of the Bahia de Banderas, the Kardashian clan, who have posted many selfies with the beauty of Punta Mita in the background and highly acclaimed actors such as Matt Damon and Jodie Foster have also spent time there.
Punta Mita is also known for its perfectly executed beach clubs. Kupuri Beach Club is a new addition to the Punta Mita Kupuri resort that takes concierge service to a whole new level. Including a state of the art spa and an Ocean Sports Program, the concierge service at Kupuri guides guests through recreational and relaxing activities. With soft sand, elegant architecture that makes use of the natural materials of the beautiful surroundings and, of course, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Kupuri is a new, exclusive slice of the Punta Mita Lifestyle. Rossetto names Kupuri as one of his personal favourite spots in Punta Mita. Comprising of 36 residences, prices for real estate at Kupuri range from $1,700,000 – $4,500,000k USD.
The name Kupuri is derived from the Huichol Indians who have been natives of the local land for centuries. They believe that nature and the human spirit are entwined in a life-force called ‘Kupuri.’ This sentiment of outer and inner peace, where guests can take the time to unplug and reconnect in a private, safe environment really sums up Punta Mita as a whole.
Although resorts such as Kupuri are extremely exclusive, it is possible to enjoy the delights of Punta Mita without investing outright. Some magnificent residences are available as luxury private rentals. Villa Experience offers villas such as Villa Lunada and Casa Kalika. These two luxury villa rentals offer the full Punta Mita experience with spacious, opulent living areas, extensive gardens with palapas, private pools and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. On call staff, private chefs and beach clubs await guests arrivals so they can cater to their every whim.
Despite the huge success Punta Mita has already achieved, the future looks brighter than ever. Rossetto has confirmed that two new developments include “the exclusive Porta Fortuna ocean-front residences starting at $3 million and Las Marietas condominiums starting just over $1.2 million” that interested investors will have a chance to be a part of. For now, however, Rossetto is happy to sit back and enjoy the tech utopia he has helped to create while waiting for the final residence of the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita 54 private villas to be sold. The residence is priced at $3.2 million and the project as a whole was the ‘first marker of success’ for the DINE development. It’s sale will surely mark a new chapter in the story of Punta Mita. I, for one, can’t wait to see what the rest of the story entails.