DREAMING IN PARADISE The newly opened Conrad Punta de Mita is Hilton’s first and only Conrad brand resort in Mexico. Written by Bridget Williams Mexico colors my dreams with a vibrancy I find nowhere else in the world. Each time I visit, symbols of ancient gods, the traditions of its indigenous people, the food, and the landscape—from bustling cities to the mystery of mountain peaks cloaked in seemingly impenetrable jungle—come to life shortly after my head hits the pillow. My most recent stay, this time at the newly opened Conrad Punta de Mita in the Riviera Nayarit, was no exception. Located approximately 40 minutes from the international airport in Puerta Vallarta, the property sits within a lightly developed area that's part of the gated Litibu golf course community. Proof once again that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, from the backside, the hulking main structure of the resort gives little indication of what lies inside. Once you pass the COVID protocols—bag, hand, and shoe sanitizing and a temperature check—you are invited to pass through a corridor framed with wood "ribs" that leads to a soaring lobby with views to a verdant lawn, a trio of swimming pools and the breaking waves of the ocean. Once the feeling of being gobsmacked by the vista wears off, you begin to notice the complexity of the interior design, which pays subtle homage to the indigenous Huichol people and traditional Mexican craftsmanship in a handmade-modern way. The Conrad Punta de Mita is the first full-service Conrad brand resort in Mexico. Each of the 324 guest rooms, spread out over the multi-story arc-shaped main building, and nine beachfront casas, 60 slmag.net
each with 12-15 rooms and suites, boast views of the Pacific Ocean. Request Superior King Oceanfront suite 1436, or similar, for views that stretch from the ocean and across a wide swath of mangrove forest to the emerald Sierra Madre Mountains. Spacious guest rooms continue the theme established in the lobby of mixing traditional aspects with clean-lines. Inside my ocean-front casa room, I admired the cerused wood trim and doors in the bathroom, beauty dish-style LED-lighted mirrors over the double vanity, Huichol-inspired artwork over the coffee bar, and crisp bed linens with navy blue trim. A large balcony offered space for alfresco dining, as well as a comfy daybed that served as an open invitation to savor the sound of the strong surf. Rising before sunrise, you'll spy an army of attendants attending to the manicured grounds. Ideal for both family travel and couple's getaways, a large family pool includes a water slide (that this bid kid also loved) and a zero-entry splash pad for the littlest fish. An infinity activity pool fronts the ocean, and an adults-only pool with a champagne bar concept in the works, rounds out the aquatic options. Surrounding each pool are cabanas and loungers with some of the thickest and most comfortable cushions I've encountered. The wide, uncrowded beach has packed sand that's ideal for running or walking. While there is another hotel sharing the waterfront in not-too-close proximity on one side of the property, on the other, there's at least a mile of undeveloped waterfront to relish.
