A mural of the hammerhead-shaped peninsula known as Punta de Mita.

Punta de Mita is the extreme northern point of the Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Banderas). This point is a pennisula shaped like the head of a hammer. In the middle of the hammerhead is the town of Corral del Risco. The surrounding area is occupied by high-end resorts, condos, hotels, and golf courses. It is much like Nuevo Vallarta.

Punta de Mita is just about the most schizophrenic area in Mexico. As you approach the town, the poverty hits hard and is heartbreaking. This changes dramatically as you enter the town center. The surrounding resorts and golf courses are simply oppulent. Some homes sell for as much as $12 million. Resort rates can be as high as $11,900 per day. Ouch!

I wonder how the wealthy can just block off all that poverty just outside their gates? I would think that the wealthy community could and would spearhead a drive to clean up and fix the local infrastructure. Oh well, what do I know?

Anyway, the town’s public beach is very shallow for a long way out. This results in some great waves for beginner surfers. The waves are mostly small to moderate, but they break well off-shore and continue to run for 100s of feet, giving beginners easy waves that keep going and going. We watched several surfers practice on these ideal “trainer waves”. Even little kids were mastering the craft with ease.

Punta de Mita has its share of street taco joints.

About 2/3rds of the town is built on a plateau. The remainder, along the oceanfront, is on the ocean level. This is the view from the higher ground looking down on the lower level.

The plateau section is protected from erosion by this giant wall.

The touristy section of town is very modern.

You can’t have too many beach and trinket shops.

A great octopus mural.

There are plenty of funky beach restaurants along the oceanfront.

A view of the downtown from the beach.

The harbor where all the tour boats are moored.

Net fishing.

Great beginner waves.

A solidtude mangrove tree.

Punta de Mita is the gateway to the Islas Marietas, a group of uninhabited islands just off the peninsula formed by an ancient volcano. This is a diving and snorkeling haven. Snorkeling boat tours cost 700 pesos ($35 US). We hope to return soon and book a tour.

The real prize of the Marietas Islands is the hidden beach. The islands were once used by the military as target practice. Bombs created a unique beach covered by a ceiling of rock with a gigantic hole in the middle. Ironically, considering its origin, the beach is stunningly beautiful.

The islands are now a National Park. To protect the hidden beach from the onslaught of tourism, only a limited number of people are allowed to visit. You must get a coveted ticket and that jacks up the price. A 30-minute hidden beach experience starts at 2000 pesos ($100 US). We will probably skip this.

Sadly, like Nuevo Vallarta, much of Punta de Mita is off-limits to the general public. It was low tide so we walked a small stretch of the nine miles of the beach. We got to see one of the multitudes of golf courses and some of the lesser condos. The $12 million homes are well tucked away.

Before leaving, we stopped off at a beach restaurant for drinks and guacamole with chips. We got a mountain of delicious guacamole.

Thank goodness my tastebuds have evolved over my lifetime. I was a ridiculously picky eater as a kid and young man. I would never have eaten avocados back then. Now, I can barely get enough. That goes for a lot of foods. But I still don’t like brussel sprouts or beets. Maybe in my next lifetime.

Obviously, part of a golf course. Punta de Mita is a golfer’s paradise featuring many courses.

One of the “cheaper” resorts along the golf course near town. They are nice, but lack even a hint of Mexican charm. The “Real McCoys” are well hidden in the pennisula.

We pulied up a seat in this comfortably breezy beachside reastaurant for refreshments.

We completed the day with a Friday night walk around Bucerias. The town was jumpin’. We stopped off at a new place, Mr. and Mrs. Fish, for an evening supper. As the name emphatically and unambiguously screams, this is a seafood joint. We had grilled fish tacos and grilled shrimp tacos. They were terrific.

Two rival roaming mariachi bands filled the evening with traditional Mexican songs. We got to hear a vibrant rendition of the Mexican Hat Dance.

All the street food carts were hopping tonight.

Only in Mexico - a nightclub on the roof of a convience store.

This is an example of the golf carts from Banderas Bay Carts. We reserved a cart for when my sister, Donna, comes for her visit on Monday.

Outdoor seating at Mr. and Mrs. Fish.

Our grilled fish and shrimp tacos.

A nice logo at a new restaurant in Bucerias.

Grilling fish at a high-end restaurant.

Dave and Wanda

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