Article and photos by Dylan Clements

‍Last updated: July 2026

I had been looking forward to visiting The St. Regis Punta Mita following its US$45 million renovation. I had stayed here before and was curious to see just how much had changed.

Mexico’s Pacific coast has no shortage of exceptional luxury resorts. Four Seasons Punta Mita, Naviva, One&Only Mandarina and Susurros del Corazón have all raised the bar in recent years, so I was interested to see whether the St. Regis had done enough to put itself back among the very best.

After spending a week enjoying the resort, I can confidently say it has.

Getting to Punta Mita

The St. Regis sits within Punta Mita, a large private resort and residential complex at the northern end of Banderas Bay. It's around 26 miles, or 42 km, from Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The journey generally takes around 45 minutes, although I would allow longer when traffic is heavy.

For this trip, I hired a car because I was visiting and inspecting several resorts in the area. Most of the main road from Puerto Vallarta is four lanes, and apart from the seemingly endless speed bumps, it is a comfortable and straightforward drive.

Punta Mita: More Than Just The Resort

One of the biggest advantages of staying at The St. Regis Punta Mita is that you are staying inside the private Punta Mita community. This 1,500-acre gated peninsula is home to some of Mexico's finest resorts, private residences, beach clubs, golf courses, and restaurants.

Access to Punta Mita is controlled through a staffed security gate, with 24-hour security throughout the community. It creates a noticeably quieter and more relaxed environment than many other beach destinations in Mexico. During our stay, we regularly saw people walking, cycling, jogging, and using golf carts throughout the community at all hours of the day.

While many guests spend their entire stay at The St. Regis, there is plenty to explore beyond the resort itself. The Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is only a few minutes away, along with a collection of excellent restaurants and beach clubs spread across the peninsula.

At busy times, dining at Four Seasons is not always possible, particularly if the resort is full or prioritizing its own guests. That is not a major drawback, as Punta Mita and the surrounding area have plenty of other high-end restaurants. The St. Regis concierge can help with reservations and arrange transportation, so it is worth booking the more popular places well in advance.

Golf is another major draw. Guests have access to the two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses, the Pacific Course and the Bahia Course. The famous "Tail of the Whale" island green on the Pacific Course has become one of Punta Mita's best-known landmarks and is one of the most photographed golf holes in the world.

Although Punta Mita feels private and exclusive, it never feels isolated. The surf town of Sayulita is around 30 minutes away, while Puerto Vallarta  is usually less than an hour's drive.

One of the reasons we enjoy returning to Punta Mita is that it offers far more than a single luxury resort. The combination of excellent security, outstanding restaurants, championship golf, beautiful beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere makes it a destination in its own right rather than simply somewhere to stay.

Arrival and Check-In

On arrival, I was greeted at the car and escorted through to the lobby, where I was offered a welcome drink. There is no traditional check-in desk, which immediately made the arrival feel much more relaxed.

That first impression carried through the rest of the stay. The resort feels polished and professional, but never overly formal, and the arrival gave a good sense of that balance from the start.

The lobby itself sits at one of the highest points on the property, with palm trees, pools and gardens leading down towards the Pacific.

The check-in itself was a little stiff and more drawn out than it needed to be, especially compared with the relaxed arrival. It took a while to complete everything and receive the room keys, but once that was done, the tone of the stay became far more easygoing.

First Impressions

Before arriving, I wondered whether a resort occupying only 22 acres might feel crowded.

It did not.

The entire resort is covered in what must be hundreds of palm trees, along with dense tropical planting that gives it a very lush appearance. The landscaping also helps separate the different parts of the property, so guests never feel on top of each other.

You spend far more time walking through gardens and beneath palm trees than walking past large accommodation buildings.

The resort is also very easy to explore on foot. At Four Seasons Punta Mita, golf carts are often needed to move between different areas. At The St. Regis, I could walk from my room to the pools, restaurants, beach and lobby without having to call for transportation.

It feels compact, but never cramped.

The renovation has left the resort looking very luxurious, but it does not feel stuffy. It still has plenty of Mexican character and feels relaxed rather than overly formal.

My Casita Ocean View Room

I stayed in a newly renovated Casita Ocean View Room. At the time of writing, all guest rooms at the resort have now been renovated.

What I liked most about the accommodation is that the rooms are not grouped together in one huge block. Instead, they are arranged in smaller clusters that feel more like private residences. From what I could see, the Garden View Casitas are generally on the lower level with direct access to the gardens, while the Ocean View Casitas sit above them. It seems like there are four casitas per building.

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Walking into the room, there was a small, decorated foyer before reaching the main bedroom. It immediately made the room feel more like entering a private home than a standard resort room. Waiting for us was a generous Marriott STARS welcome amenity of Mexican red wine, cheese, fruit and breadsticks, accompanied by a note from the general manager.

The bedroom itself featured a king-size bed, a daybed and a two-seat dining table. The table was large enough for me to comfortably work from during my stay, and I liked that there wasn't a traditional hotel desk. It was a small detail, but it made the room feel less corporate and much more homely.

The terracotta tile floors and exposed wood-beamed ceilings gave the room a genuine Mexican casita feel. One criticism I have had of some Marriott rooms is that they can feel a little generic, even at resorts, but that was not the case here. The design has plenty of character while still feeling fresh after the renovation.

At 600 sq. ft. (56 sq. m.), the room is already generous in size, but it felt even larger thanks to the layout and the amount of natural light.

Floor-to-ceiling doors opened onto a spacious terrace with a daybed, two lounge chairs and a dining table. It became one of my favourite places to sit with a coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening.

The view from my terrace was pleasant, although I would describe it as a partial ocean view rather than a full, direct ocean view. If having a better view is important, I would ask the resort about the exact room location before booking.

The bathroom was one of the highlights of the room. I describe it as an indoor-outdoor bathroom because part of it extends into a completely private enclosed courtyard.

Outside, there was an outdoor shower surrounded by tropical planting, while inside there was a deep soaking bath, double vanity and plenty of space. It felt much larger than a typical resort bathroom.

The bathroom was also exceptionally well stocked with amenities. It sounds like a small detail, but having everything already there meant I never needed to call the front desk to request anything.

The blackout curtains worked extremely well, which was appreciated in a room with so much natural light.

Overall, I thought the Casitas were one of the biggest successes of the renovation. The combination of the smaller room clusters, Mexican-inspired design and generous indoor-outdoor layout made them feel far more personal than staying in a conventional resort building.

The Pools

There are three main pools at The St. Regis Punta Mita, and each has a different atmosphere.

The main pool is the Las Marietas Family Pool, which sits beside Las Marietas Restaurant and Bar.

Many of the restaurant tables are directly beside the pool, which works well for families. Children can play in the water while their parents sit on the terrace with lunch or a drink and still keep an eye on them.

This area was lively with families and children each time I visited.

The Sakana Adult Pool is far enough away from Las Marietas to feel peaceful. Sakana Restaurant & Bar is also fully adults only, rather than just the pool itself.

The restaurant serves Nikkei-inspired food, including sushi, sashimi, poke bowls and lighter seafood dishes, along with cocktails and wine. Cabanas are also available around the pool.

The Sea Breeze Pool is closer to the beach and offers something between the busy family atmosphere at Las Marietas and the quieter adults-only setting at Sakana.

It is a good option when you want to move between the beach and pool without spending the day in the livelier family area.

The Beach and the Little Island

The beach at The St. Regis Punta Mita was one of my favorite parts of the resort. It was kept exceptionally clean throughout my stay and never felt crowded, even in the middle of the day. There was always plenty of space between the loungers, so it never had that packed beach club feel. It's very easy to find your own little piece of beach.

Unlike many beaches along Mexico's Pacific coast, the water here is generally calm and swimmable. The bay is protected, making it suitable for swimming, paddleboarding and simply cooling off in the ocean. While conditions can vary from day to day, the gentle waves make it one of the better resort beaches in the region for spending time in the water.

Beach attendants regularly came by to offer fresh towels, drinks and food service, so there was very little reason to leave your lounger once you had settled in for the day.

One feature I particularly liked was the Coconut Station, where fresh coconuts were prepared throughout the day. It was a nice touch and perfect after spending time in the sun.

Remède Spa & Wellness

Although we didn't have time to book a treatment during this stay, the resort kindly showed us around the spa, and it is one of the most impressive wellness facilities in Punta Mita.

The spa is tucked away in its own quiet part of the resort, separated from the pools and restaurants. Within a few minutes of walking through the entrance, it feels as though you have left the rest of the property behind. The sound of the ocean gives way to water features, tropical gardens and quiet treatment courtyards.

The design continues the same Mexican style found throughout the resort, with natural stone, timber, water features and soft lighting creating a calm atmosphere rather than something overly modern or clinical.

The treatment menu covers everything you would expect from a luxury resort spa. There are traditional massages, facials, body wraps, couples' treatments and beauty services, alongside therapies inspired by local Mexican traditions and native ingredients.

One feature that stood out was the hydrotherapy circuit. Guests move through a series of hot and cold experiences designed to prepare the body before a treatment or simply provide a relaxing wellness experience on their own. It includes steam rooms, saunas, plunge pools, experience showers and quiet relaxation areas.

The treatment rooms themselves are spacious and private, with several designed for couples. Many open onto small outdoor courtyards, adding to the feeling of privacy and tranquility.

The fitness facilities are equally impressive. The gym is a little compact but bright and equipped with modern Technogym equipment for both strength and cardio training. There is plenty of space, and it never felt like an afterthought, which is often the case at resort gyms.

Yoga and fitness classes are offered throughout the week, while guests can also make use of tennis courts, pickleball courts and the wider resort grounds for walking or jogging.

Even if you are not planning to book a treatment, the spa is worth visiting. It is one of the quieter parts of the resort and gives you a good appreciation of how much thought has gone into the wellness side of the guest experience.

If spa facilities are important to you when choosing a resort, The St. Regis Punta Mita is up there with the best we have seen in Mexico. It combines excellent facilities with a peaceful setting that feels completely separate from the rest of the resort.

Families and Children

We did not have children with us on this trip, but I always look closely at the family facilities because so many of my clients travel with children.

The main family pool is especially good for younger children. It has a large shallow section where babies and toddlers can play without immediately being in deeper water. There are also water jets that spray up into the air, which seemed to keep the children entertained every time we passed.

The pool is right beside Las Marietas, so parents can sit on the terrace for breakfast, lunch or a drink while still keeping an eye on the children in the pool.

The Kids Club also appeared to make good use of the resort rather than keeping every activity indoors. On one of the days, the team had set up an arts and crafts table on the beach beneath the shade of the trees. It was a good idea and gave the children something different to do while still being close to the ocean.

The St. Regis Punta Mita works well for families because the children’s facilities are good, but they do not take over the whole resort. Couples can still find quieter areas, while families have a good pool, a Kids Club and enough activities to keep younger guests occupied.

Food and Drinks

For a resort of this size, there are a surprising number of dining options.

You could stay for a week without becoming bored, especially when you also consider the many restaurants elsewhere within the wider Punta Mita community.

Las Marietas

I had breakfast at Las Marietas every morning during the stay. The restaurant was redone as part of the renovation, and they did an excellent job, particularly with the matching woodwork throughout the dining room and bar.

The breakfast buffet was huge and covered just about everything. There were all the usual American options, including eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, waffles, cereals, pastries, yogurt and fresh fruit.

The Mexican section was just as extensive, with chilaquiles, tortillas, beans, several salsas, Mexican pastries and a changing selection of hot dishes. There was enough variety that I never felt as though I was eating the same breakfast every morning.

During the day, Las Marietas becomes a relaxed poolside restaurant and bar. It sits directly beside the main pool, which has a shallow section that works well for babies and younger children. Parents can sit on the terrace for lunch or a drink while keeping an eye on the children playing in the pool.

The bar is open and informal, making it an easy place to stop for a cold beer, cocktail or casual lunch without leaving the pool area. It works particularly well for families, but the restaurant itself never felt noisy or chaotic.

Mita Mary

Mita Mary was one of my favorite dining experiences at the resort. It sits directly on the beach and feels more like a relaxed Mexican beach hut than a hotel restaurant.

The tables are set in the sand beneath white umbrellas, with the ocean only a few steps away. I ate with my feet in the sand, which gave the whole meal a very casual feel and suited the setting perfectly.

The seafood was extremely fresh, and the menu felt right for a restaurant on the beach. Nothing was overly complicated or too formal. It was simply fresh seafood, cold drinks and a view across the water.

I also returned several times during the day for a drink. With the tables set directly on the sand and the ocean just beyond them, it was an easy place to stop for half an hour and end up staying through most of the afternoon.

There are more formal restaurants at The St. Regis Punta Mita, but Mita Mary was the one I kept coming back to.

The St. Regis Bar

The St. Regis Bar sits close to the lobby in the more elevated part of the resort.

From here, you look across the property and out toward the Pacific.

The furniture is oversized, so you can sink into the chairs rather than sit upright in a formal bar.

For me, this was more of a nightcap bar. During the day, I usually preferred Mita Mary or Las Marietas.

Carolina

Carolina is the resort’s signature adults-only restaurant and has received the AAA Five Diamond Award. The Daimond Award is a very big deal in Mexico and and a respected ratings organization so to have an AAA rating is a big deal. This is also the fine dining restaurant of the resort.

The menu focuses on contemporary Mexican food, with tasting menus and à la carte dishes using ingredients from the sea and the surrounding region. There is also a strong focus on Mexican wines. We got one of the tasting menus on offer and we could not fault it at all.

The outdoor terrace appeared to be especially popular and seemed to fill quickly.

If you want to eat outside, I would reserve in advance rather than assume a terrace table will still be available after you arrive.

Sea Breeze

Sea Breeze is the resort's laid-back beach bar and one of the easiest places to spend an afternoon. Located beside the family pool, it has a relaxed atmosphere where guests drift in straight from the beach or pool without worrying about dressing up.

The large circular bar is stocked with an impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals, making it a great place to try something local or simply enjoy a margarita while escaping the midday heat. If tequila is your drink of choice, you'll have plenty to choose from.

There are also several large-screen TVs showing live sport, which gives Sea Breeze a different feel from the rest of the resort. It is one of the few places where you can sit back with a beer, watch a game, and enjoy the ocean breeze at the same time.

The menu is casual, with tacos, ceviche, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and fresh seafood, making it an easy option for lunch between time at the pool and the beach.

It may not be the resort's signature restaurant, but we found ourselves stopping here several times during our stay. It is relaxed, unpretentious, and exactly the kind of place every beach resort should have.

A Tribute to the Pacific Coast Sunsets

There are many reasons to visit The St. Regis Punta Mita, but one of the biggest is something the resort has no control over. Every evening, the Pacific puts on a show.

The sunsets here are among the finest I have seen anywhere in the world. As the afternoon fades, the sky slowly changes from soft gold to deep orange, then pink, purple, and finally a rich blue as daylight disappears. No two evenings ever seem quite the same.

Because the resort faces west, there are sunset views from almost everywhere. You can watch from Mita Mary, Carolina, one of the pools or directly from the beach.

We have stayed at many of Mexico's top beach resorts, including Four Seasons Punta Mita and One&Only Mandarina, and the sunsets here are every bit as impressive. It is one of the main reasons we keep coming back. Even after several visits to the Pacific coast, we still stop what we're doing each evening to watch the sun disappear into the Pacific.

If you are staying at The St. Regis Punta Mita, set aside time for sunset every evening. It is one of the highlights of the resort and one you won't want to miss.

Service

The service was one of the best parts of the stay.

Staff were friendly, easy to talk to and happy to help without making everything feel overly formal. It felt personal rather than rehearsed, which suited the relaxed atmosphere of the resort.

The valet team were especially good when my rental car broke down. It had nothing to do with the resort, but they still helped me deal with the rental company and arrange a replacement.

Service around the restaurants, pools and beach was also very good. Staff were attentive without hovering, and I never felt as though I had to chase anyone for help.

The only issue came with a cocktail-making class listed on the resort activity programme. When I arrived, the staff did not seem to know anything about it, and there was quite a bit of asking around before someone stepped in and took control.

It was sorted out in the end, but it was the one part of the stay that felt disorganised.

Before arriving, I had read several older Google reviews mentioning service issues, and photos from before the renovation made the resort look quite dated. Our experience was very different. The property looked fresh, and the service was polished and confident.

The resort has been operating since 2007, and that experience showed. Compared with some of the new resorts opening across Mexico at speed, the team felt established and comfortable in what they were doing.

Pet Friendly

For this trip, I brought my 11kg (24lb) dog, Henry.

The St. Regis is genuinely pet friendly, and the welcome they arranged for him was wonderful.

Waiting in the room were dog biscuits with Henry’s name written on them, along with a plush dog bed.

He quickly made himself at home and thoroughly enjoyed the beach, where he could walk along the sand and investigate all the new sights and smells.

It did not feel as though the resort merely allowed dogs. The welcome showed that someone had spent time preparing for his arrival, which I appreciated.

For anyone who travels regularly with a dog, this is one of the better luxury beach resorts in Mexico that I have experienced.

The official rules of bringing a pet to St Regis Punta is: one pet per room weighing up to 25 kg, with a US$100 non-refundable fee per stay. Dogs are permitted in guest rooms and on the beach, although they must remain on a leash while around the resort.

Leaving the Resort

Another advantage of staying here is that you do not feel locked inside the resort.

Many luxury resorts along Mexico’s Pacific coast are isolated, and going anywhere outside the property requires a long drive and an expensive taxi fare.

From The St. Regis, I could easily leave the resort and explore Punta de Mita, visit local restaurants or go elsewhere within the larger Punta Mita complex.

There are enough restaurants within the resort to remain on the property throughout the stay, but it was good to have the choice.

Booking Through Marriott STARS

The St. Regis Punta Mita can be booked through Marriott STARS.

When booked on an eligible STARS rate with your Marriott Bonvoy number attached, you can still earn Bonvoy points and Elite Night Credits, as you would on a qualifying direct Marriott reservation.

You can also retain any applicable Bonvoy elite benefits while receiving the additional STARS benefits.

These generally include:

• Daily breakfast for two
• A resort credit during the stay
• An upgrade, subject to availability
• Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
• A welcome amenity
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

The exact benefits and credit can vary, so I confirm them at the time of booking.

Guests pay the resort directly, and booking through Clements Travel does not add a booking fee.

St. Regis Punta Mita or Four Seasons Punta Mita?

Having also stayed at Four Seasons Punta Mita, which many people consider the benchmark for luxury resorts in the area, I would now place The St. Regis on the same level.

The decision comes down to the type of resort you prefer.

Four Seasons is larger, with more facilities and like St Regis it has been around for a long time so the service is polished.

The St. Regis feels smaller and easier to navigate. The accommodation is arranged in small clusters, and everything is within comfortable walking distance.

For guests who want a larger resort with a wider range of facilities, Four Seasons may have the edge.

For guests who prefer something more compact and intimate, I would lean toward The St. Regis.

Was the Renovation Worth It?

US$45 million is a significant investment in a resort of only 22 acres, and the money is visible throughout the property.

The rooms have been completely reworked, the restaurants feel refreshed and the public areas have been updated without stripping away the Mexican character of the resort.

It would have been very easy for the resort to look newer but also more generic.

Instead, the Casitas still have a strong hacienda influence, and the resort continues to feel connected to Mexico rather than looking like it could be anywhere.

The renovation has placed The St. Regis Punta Mita firmly back among the leading luxury resorts on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Final Verdict

The St. Regis Punta Mita surprised me.

I expected the small footprint to make the resort feel busy, but it never did. I also expected the rooms to feel more corporate, but my Casita had far more character than I anticipated.

I loved the privacy of my room, the landscaping, the range of restaurants and how easy it was to move around the property.

The only point I would watch is the room category. My Casita Ocean View had partial ocean views rather than the direct ocean view the name might suggest.

Would I return? Yes.

I would happily stay in the same room category again, although I would ask for the exact room location and view before confirming it.

The renovation has brought The St. Regis Punta Mita back to the top level of luxury resorts in the area. Choosing between it and Four Seasons Punta Mita is now less about which is better and more about whether you want the scale of Four Seasons or the smaller, more intimate feel of The St. Regis.

Ready to Experience the Renovated St. Regis Punta Mita?

Don't book standard rates when you can enjoy a fully VIP experience. When you book your getaway through Clements Travel, you pay the resort directly with zero booking fees while enjoying exclusive Marriott STARS perks.

Your Marriott STARS St. Regis Experience Includes:

• Complimentary daily breakfast for two
• Exclusive resort credit to use on dining or at Remède Spa
• Room upgrade on arrival & flexible check-in/check-out (where available)
• Welcome amenity waiting in your casita

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