The Mexico Hideaway No One’s Talking About (Yet)

It’s a bit hard to believe, but Mexico still has an up-and-coming luxurious hideaway. It’s nowhere near the Riviera Maya. Instead, it’s tucked away in the southern tip of the Nayarit state. Just under an hour drive from the Puerto Vallarta Airport is Punta de Mita. The peninsula is home to an array of upscale resorts, including The Four Seasons, Conrad, and the ultra hip Susurros Del Corazón, an Auberge Resorts Collection. 

Susurros Del Corazón, which translates to “whispers of the heart,” is a laid-back, barefoot luxury escape right on the beach that opened in November 2022. Upon arrival, you’re greeted with a complimentary cocktail made with fruits, such as fermented pineapple, with the option to add tequila blanco. Yes, please. 

After enjoying your cocktail, find your way to your accommodation in one of the 82 guestrooms and suites. Each guestroom features a massive open floor plan. They boast floor-to-ceiling windows with ocean or garden views, and private terraces. The decor is beach-chic, using natural materials and textiles. Mexican crafts, like hand-dyed throw pillows, add splashes of color. Housekeeping leaves little gifts for guests, too. Like hand-woven fans and all-natural body oils and scrubs. They’re perfect for the cozy bathtub after a day in the sun, surf, and sand. 

If you’re visiting during the humpback whale season from December to March, it’s likely that from the resort’s private beach you’ll see countless of the massive creatures breaching in the Pacific Ocean. Legally, beaches in Mexico are all public. However, the property’s beach is surrounded by cliffs and is only accessible to resort guests. It’s the perfect haven for an intimate beach escape. And if you’re a surfer, you can catch some of the most epic waves in Nayarit right in front of the hotel. 

Beyond the white-sand, turquoise-water, picture-perfect beach, you’ll find one of the largest spas in Bahia de Banderas (which includes the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta). ONDA, an Auberge Spa, means “vibe.” It hosts world-renowned practitioners who offer treatments such as the 120-minute El Cuerpo Ritual. This ritual includes a yerba maté foot soak, a body scrub, and an oil body massage. The hydrotherapy area is separate for men and women. It is free for all guests, even without a spa reservation. The amenities include a hot tub, a sauna with halotherapy from Himalayan salt blocks, a steam room, and an outdoor cold plunge pool. There is even a private pilates studio where guests can book guided classes. 

There are many on-site activities for guests, too. Including daily complimentary yoga classes, beach bootcamp, and other group fitness classes by the beach. Sound bowl healing helps relax the body and mind. Guests can also enjoy fun food-centric experiences, such as making their own Chocobanana—a phenomenon ultra-famous in the nearby beach town of Sayulita—topped with their favorite ingredients. 

For an additional fee, guests can also partake in local cultural experiences such as cacao ceremonies and a spirits-and-chocolate pairing lesson. Sombrero de Alma is the most unique workshop available, and you get to take home your very own customized hat as a keepsake to remember your trip to the “Gateway to Paradise,” as Punta de Mita is known. Guests can decorate their own locally made hats while enjoying a wonderful cultural exchange with the workshop’s host. The host will share stories about the local Indigenous people who weave the hats. She’ll help you choose from a collection of adornments, including feathers, customized embroidery, and charms, explaining their symbolism as you go. You can also select from pre-made beaded hat bands that declare Viva la Vida, meaning Long Live Life.

While the restaurants and bars are well stocked with tequila and mezcal, the resort also boasts an impressive sake collection. Enjoy a cocktail or two from Acapulco, a swim-up bar at the adults-only swimming pool. Or learn more about agave spirits at the Alchemy of Tequila class. 

The open-air dining establishment, Camamilpa, prepares an array of dishes with local Mexican flavors, while La Boquita is beachfront and offers evenings with Japanese dishes with tables set in the sand. The Good Vibrations Cafe, in the resort’s spa ONDA, serves farro bowls, grilled palm heart salads, and fresh juices, all prepared with local Mexican ingredients. 

Last year, the resort launched Beach Grill, a twice-weekly dining experience that transformed Susurros’ shoreline into a culinary event, featuring a menu prepared from the region’s bounty over an open flame of freshly grilled seafood, locally sourced meats, and dishes made with seasonal produce. 

Enjoy a coffee or matcha with a fresh Mexican pastry while browsing keepsakes at Don Surf. The shop has a curated selection of locally made items. Clay mugs, candles, woven baskets, swimwear, and more. And in the afternoon, enjoy a tasting of wine and spirits available for purchase at the shop.