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he drive to Punta Mita is quite easy and smooth, approximately 40-45 minutes from the airport.
Imanta: Since Imanta is up on a cliff, the ride up to the resort is a little steep and the roads are not perfect, not great for anyone who gets car sick easily. The grounds driving up to the property are lush and green, very reminiscent to a rainforest. On the drive up alone we spotted wild horses, boars, and too many crabs to count. Once you arrive at Imanta’s main arrival Palapa you are faced with a clear and beautiful view of the ocean. You are then greeted by staff and taken to reception Palapa via golf cart. You are presented with Hibiscus water, fresh towel and a resort tour. The resort is very intimate with only 12 keys. This is absolutely a romance destination for couples. Even when at full capacity, you hardly ever see other couples. There is about 80 staff on property each day, so the guest to employee ratio is fantastic, which makes for impeccable service. The hotel is a Relais & Chateaux property, so of course the food is amazing. Advisor Tip: If you get chance to relax with a great bottle of wine, be sure to try their Malbec from Patagonia, Argentina called Ruta 22, its fantastic!
The rooms were immaculate and very well laid out. I suggest booking rooms with the hand carved rock bath tubs. All accommodations, except two, have private pools. Also, a few of the bathrooms do not have doors to the toilet area, which can be an issue for some travelers, so be aware when booking. Minibar is complimentary with stay and filled daily. Beach service was, by far, my favorite part of my stay. There was never a shortage of chairs or day beds, and someone was always there to whip you up a drink or serve you lunch (either at your chair or at the beach restaurant). Again complimentary snacks were prepared daily at the beach for your to enjoy, like the fresh sliced raw coconut and the crudité.
With the resort being on the cliff, the walks to the beach and main buildings could be very treacherous. Rocks and handmade rails were part of the path. Heels are not an option. They do provide golf cart transportation on property, but some rooms are still not easily accessible with the cart. I do not recommend guests who have difficulty with stairs or those with bad knees/hips.
The Treehouse at Imanta: The hotel recently added a “treehouse” which is located on the 520 acres of the property but is on the other side of the mountain. This “treehouse” comes with its own private beach. Its four (4) stories tall and the epitome of luxury and exclusivity. Imanta provides a shuttle to and from the main building whenever requested, but there is no need to leave, you can even order directly from the restaurant or have a private chef cater to you in the treehouse.
Okay, now on to yet another amazing property in Punta Mita……
The Four Seasons Punta Mita was fantastic as most of my experiences with this brand. The entire staff was beyond fantastic and over accommodating. Although, the resort is very large it never felt crowded, and I was able to walk everywhere within 5 minutes. The Four Seasons Punta Mita is the perfect property for everyone. It is very romantic, yet has wonderful accommodations for multi-generational families which includes three (3) pools; a main family pool, an adult only pool (which actually has two pools, and a hydro therapy area), and a lazy river that also has a pool area. All the food was fantastic, but Bahia was my favorite. Bahia is a beach front, open air restaurant where everything is grilled. The grilled avocado appetizer and grilled octopus were some of the best I have eaten.
The Villa rentals, although not directly on the beach, are a great option for families. Some villas have up to 5 bedrooms which includes a private pool, full kitchen, outdoor entertaining area (including a grill), hammocks, and hot tubs. Each Villa rental also comes with a golf cart for transferring to and from the main hotel, and a 2nd cart can be rented, for an additional $60/day, if needed. As far as Villas go, I prefer the beachfront and oceanfront Villas, as they have the best views and are closest to the property.
Advisor Tip: The spa was fabulous and I highly recommend the Punta Mita Massage and the Punta Mita Pedicure. The spa locker rooms have everything you need in them, mouthwash, lotions, combs, hairdryers and even hair ties for the ladies. No sauna, but there is a steam shower that is very clean and very spacious.
Overall stay in both properties was extremely wonderful and a great get away for any couple or family.