beachfront restaurants in the village as well as at the Four Seasons Resort and the city of Puerto Vallarta is just 25 miles away.

The spectacular 19-hole championship golf course, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, features eight holes facing or playing along the ocean. Playing 199 yards from a mainland tee box to an island green in Banderas Bay, the optional 19th hole is a par-3 called the “Tail of the Whale.” A second Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is now under construction

Skim the local waters on a luxury sailboat, or go bodysurfing, sea kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming. The kids will delight in a “Swimming with the Dolphins” experience. Sport and spear fishing enthusiasts will want to try their luck at catching Blue, Striped and Black Marlin, Dorado, Amberjack, Sailfish and Wahoo. From November to March, watch the Humpback Whales as they arrive to reproduce and birth their calves. A day trip to the Maritas Islands is a popular destination. This wildlife sanctuary is home to tropical fish and birds and Lover’s Beach is accessible only by swimming through a volcanic archway.

There are many other unusual adventures nearby: a jeep safari through the Sierra Madre Mountains and rainforest; a visit to a rural village of the Huichol Indians whose history goes back more than 2,000 years; and a Rainforest Canopy Tour which allows you to traverse high above the rainforest floor on a series of zip lines that take you from platform to platform.

You can buy fresh fish from local fishermen who sell the fish right from their boats at the dock. Dorado (Mahi Mahi) and Huachinango (Red Snapper) are local favorites. The local markets have locally grown fruits such as bananas, coconuts, sugar cane, pineapple, limes, oranges, grapefruit and mangos.

There are a string of beachfront restaurants in Punta Mita where you can watch the sun set over Bandares Bay while sipping a margarita or an ice cold beer. Some of our favorites are Margarita’s, Tino’s, El Dorado and the famed Café des Artistes of Puerto Vallarta, known as “one of the best restaurants in the world,” just opened a location in Punta Mita. Café des Artistes owner and Chef Tierry Blouet has been recognizecd with prestigious designation of Maitre Cuisiniere de France (Master Chef of France).

Don’t miss the surfing village of Sayulita with its atmosphere of old Mexico. Scattered throughout the town are a number or art galleries and shops selling works by contemporary Mexican artists as well as Mexican folk art and textiles. There are several jewelry shops that make stunning pieces from semi-precious stones including Joyeria de Sol and Annie Bonannie Jewelry. The beach is lined with seafood cafes, restaurants and surf shops.