Discover the New Luxury All-Inclusive Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico with Hidden Beaches and Private Trails

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, opened on Dec. 1 with 15 over-the-top tents. Guests enter Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, which opened in Punta Mita, Mexico, on Dec. 1, through a covered bridge. Canopied in woven bamboo, the bridge is meant to evoke a cocoon. Here’s the idea: Guests walk through, past the picturesque waterfall on the left and an open-air lounge on the right, and emerge in a 48-acre sanctuary, transformed into a space removed from the stresses of everyday life.

My husband and I arrived at Naviva on a Friday night, two weeks before the resort opened, after a long work week. We were in desperate need of a cocoon to transform us, even briefly, into versions of ourselves unbothered by emails and property taxes.

We hadn’t eaten since breakfast at LAX, but Ronny Fernández, the resort manager at Naviva, who has been with Four Seasons for 19 years, greeted us with welcome news: They were smoking cochinita pibil 20 yards from the kitchen, six feet below the earth. The pork shoulder, swaddled in banana leaves and smothered in achiote paste, had been in the pit since 7 a.m.

By the time we got to Copal Cocina, the hotel’s restaurant-lounge, chef Galo García de León Bravo had laid out the chopped cochinita next to bowls of guacamole, salsa roja, salsa verde, cilantro, and pickled onions. Mezcal margaritas in hand, we leaned up against the counter behind which the chef was shaping and pressing blue corn tortillas. Fernández invited us to assemble our own tacos.

I was floored. At the Four Seasons’ newest resort, where nightly stays start at $3,950, there was no seven-course welcome meal. Instead: perfectly smoked meat, fresh-pressed tortillas, and an array of mezcals, some stirred with tepache (pineapple blended with brown sugar and cinnamon) and ice, while others were served straight with Tajín-dipped limes.

“It’s the best version of Mexican food, but it’s not as expected for a Four Seasons dining experience,” Fernández explained. “Most guests are seeking authenticity and a genuine local experience.”

Naviva is leaning into an authentic experience, unapologetically going against the classic Four Seasons resort model. With 15 stand-alone tented suites on 48 acres, Naviva will welcome only 30 guests at a time. This means 1.6 acres per guest. In comparison, sibling property Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita has 203 total accommodations on 52 acres. Rather than offering butler service, Naviva assigns each guest a guide, who facilitates fishing, surfing, and hiking excursions.

The idea of rigid schedules or even reservations is foreign to Naviva. The resort is committed to fostering “unscripted experiences.” The goal is to leave room for spontaneity. “We’ll inform guests if the chef is lighting up the pit tomorrow for barbacoa and invite them to join us for dinner,” Fernández suggested, painting a picture of Naviva’s relaxed hospitality.

For my husband and me, leaning into the unplanned manifested in a sunset bonfire overlooking La Solana, one of two beaches on the property, accompanied by carajillo coffee cocktails. The next day, spontaneity led us to the “secret beach,” where we viewed hundreds of crabs on the barnacled rocks, also providing ideal spots for whale watching.

While I would love to report that I also fished, paddleboarded, and hiked off-site, the truth is, I came to Naviva with the goal of relaxation. I spent the majority of my time in my 1,700-square-foot tent. Graeme Labe, managing director and principal of Luxury Frontiers, the architects behind Naviva, noted that the tents are designed to be a “refuge.” The roofs are designed like a butterfly, reinforcing the cocoon metaphor. With an outdoor shower, a private pool, a fire pit, a sun deck, multiple lounging areas, and an indoor free-standing tub with an ocean view, each tent offers an extravagant escape, blending wilderness with comfort.

Luxury Frontiers, recognized for biophilic design, develops properties that seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. They have completed one other property in North America: Camp Sarika at Amangiri. However, Labe emphasized they “didn’t want to replicate something from Africa in Mexico.” Instead, Naviva features materials sourced locally, and products made by Mexicans, including the Oaxacan robes available in each tent. The colors and textures reflect natural surroundings. “It offers a gentle interpretation of Mexican design,” Nadia Ghillino, head of interior architecture and design at Luxury Frontiers, noted.

“Our goal was to shift away from traditional Mexican experiences toward something more attuned to nature,” she explained, highlighting the focus on an uncluttered relationship with the outdoors.

I cherished the tranquil moments in the screened-in lounge area, overlooking the outdoor deck and fire pit. Being partially outdoors allowed us to hear the waves crashing below, while we sipped mezcal and relaxed with a book. Such serenity, where each tent offers ample space, cannot be overlooked. Naviva enforces a minimum stay of two nights, with entry costs starting at $7,900. This rate is all-inclusive and covers food, beverages, and various experiences, including guided hikes and wellness treatments.

It is noteworthy that Four Seasons Punta Mita guests cannot access Naviva without booking a two-night stay. “We want Naviva to remain uniquely exclusive,” Fernández stated.

Protection of guests’ privacy and serenity is paramount. The spa, surrounded by nature, felt quite isolated. With only two spa pods at Naviva, it offers a more intimate spa experience. Guests can unwind at daybeds and hot tubs encircled by lush palms, while a temazcal allows for traditional sweat bathing.

Next, we enjoyed the three-tiered Selva pool, which is situated in the heart of the jungle, blending beach life with lush surroundings.

“Luxury Frontiers has creative freedom to shape this sacred land,” said O’Sullivan, reflecting on the shamanic blessing upon it. Notably, this is not the first adults-only property for Four Seasons, but it is a significant milestone in tented luxury in the Americas, echoing the brand’s commitment to sustainability with solar-powered operations and responsible water sourcing.

My exploration of the Source Water fountain by the Selva pool was fascinating. Notably, the setup captures ambient humidity to provide refreshing hydration, playing into the eco-friendly ethos of the resort.