Naviva – Edge of the World, Four Seasons Punta Mita

A few days in the humid heat of Punta Mita to explore all that is new in the Americas! Sneak peek of the amazing Tent resort affiliated with the iconic Four Seasons Punta Mita. This five-star property has always been our client Number One go to for years and now there is another reason to visit!

Naviva Tent Camp is mere minutes from the hotel, but it feels miles away from civilization! A nature retreat featuring 15 luxury tents nestled amid 48 forested acres on a private peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the unrivaled adult only Naviva experience creates an environment that allows guests to mingle or isolate and absorb the sights and sounds of nature, undisturbed in a jungle oasis.

Naviva Four Seasons Punta Mita

“Naviva is an ambitious new resort concept that offers highly individualized service and innovative design bringing guests closer to nature than ever before,” says Vince Parrotta, Four Seasons President, Hotel Operations – Americas West. “With the debut of this exceptionally personalized retreat, guests will interface one-on-one with knowledgeable guides during thoughtful experiences that embrace the culture and character of Mexico.” Hiking, fishing, stargazing, yoga, meditation or just plain sitting quietly with a book and catching your breath and balance. Disconnect or if you must, the Four Seasons resort is a golf buggy away, Naviva is only for their registered guests, hotel guests don’t have access, this is a private commune with nature!

With only 15 luxury tents designed by Luxury Frontiers – all with private plunge pools – Naviva is one of the smallest Four Seasons resorts in the world. The Resort’s transformative approach and certified Naviva guides come together to create a high-touch, yet unassuming adult-only experience, the name translates to “love of life or living things.”

Naviva, Four Seasons Punta Mita

The natural setting is wild jungle, interspersed with massive boulders, cascading waterfalls and of course, the sparkling Pacific a stone’s throw away. One does feel like you are sitting on the edge of the world, the horizon extends forever…a fishing boat may bob on the waves or in winter your view, will include whales passing by!

Naviva celebrates the bond we have with nature through the combination of natural materials utilized in the overall design – an architectural approach which suggests and connects people to natural surroundings. On arrival, guests are immediately immersed in the outdoors, meeting their guide on a cocoon-inspired bamboo bridge overlooking a deep forest ravine. The bamboo bridge has small platforms jutting over a mini canyon waterfall, the end of the roof line suggests a curved Frank Geary copper rooftop. It’s petite, but quite majestic.

Nature is the host here,  each stand-alone luxury tent features spacious indoor and outdoor areas that seamlessly blend together, allowing guests to take in the sun and smell the ocean breeze along with indirect connections to nature with textures and fabrics that mimic natural patterns found in the surrounding environment.

Naviva, Four Seasons Punta Mita

Luxury Frontiers designed the spaces of each tent with an open-air living room and separate bedroom flowing to a private plunge pool and expansive deck with a hammock and outdoor shower. Luxurious in feel, yet not fussy.

Authentic Local Experiences with a Sense of Place are offered to guests. Daily life at Naviva is tailored to the desire of each guest with certified Naviva guides. Unscripted Naviva experiences such as sampling small-batch Mexican coffees, stargazing, and joining in sunset rituals, are among spontaneous activities for guests to pursue at the exclusive Resort.

Guests can also enjoy Signature Naviva experiences that bring the character, heritage and expertise of local talent and tradition to the forefront, such as visiting award-winning local artist Jose Juan Esparza at his private home and studio, nocturnal forest bathing, sound therapy and breathwork.

Journeys for the Mind, Body and Soul. Deviating from traditional hotel wellness offerings, Naviva offers a series of intimate spaces including two spa pods tucked away in the lush forest, a traditional Mexican temazcal or “house of heat,” an outdoor gym, a serene jungle oasis at the Alma Pool and a private 575-foot expanse of pristine Pacific beachfront – a calming place to practice yoga or mindfulness.

Each area promotes human connection to nature by immersing guests in tangible and intangible aspects of the environment, such as a half-day retreat in one of the cocoon-like spa pods that were inspired by the seed of the local Ceiba tree and provide cocooned refuge, allowing for shifts in internal energy. All holistic rituals at Naviva harness the healing properties of indigenous ingredients, from regenerative reishi and hydrating snow mushrooms to natural gemstones and colored clays found throughout Mexico.

Naviva also gives guests the opportunity to focus fully on their physical wellbeing. Workouts at Naviva include cliffside yoga sessions at Risco Terrace, scenic hiking and running trails, and strength training in the outdoor open-air gym overlooking the Pacific, where guests can incorporate existing formations such as boulders and trees, connecting to nature with every stretch and every breath.

Memorable Meals and Moments Overlooking Coastal Seascapes. Rustic luxury is brought to life overlooking the coastal seascapes of the Pacific at Copal, the heart of Naviva. More than simply a restaurant, the shared space is designed to evoke the feeling of being in a living room and kitchen of a private home, inviting guests to gather for games, reading, conversation, ideas, and music. Handmade games such as backgammon and a foosball table fashioned from reclaimed wood by Mexican artisans are available for playful competition.

At Copal Cocina, guests can feel the live cooking energy of the open-air kitchen, which is at the center of the space and features all natural open-fire cooking methods with traditional BBQ pits, wood-fire grill rotisseries and wood-fire ovens. Bountiful sea catches and seasonal produce are the inspiration and foundation of fresh daily offerings.

Faraway Feeling, Yet Close to Home. On Mexico’s Pacific coast, within the Riviera Nayarit, Naviva is located at the northern tip of Bahía de Banderas on the same peninsula as Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. Just 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, this self-contained paradise is nestled within a 48-acre cliffside forest.

Luxury tents include all meals and snacks at any time of the day throughout the Resort, 24-hour in-tent dining, pool and beach service, all beverages including premium wine and spirits, one 60-minute spa treatment per guest, community activities, mind and body classes, Unscripted Naviva experiences, guide planning and in-tent amenities. Signature Naviva experiences, rare or specialty-ordered beverages, additional spa treatments, private classes or training, and airport transfers are available for an additional cost.

Naviva, Four Seasons Punta Mita

Naviva guests also receive full access to the adjacent Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, located just five minutes away. The Resort features ten restaurants and bars, two golf courses, three pools, two beaches and additional spa and fitness facilities. 

I’ve visited and I have a favorite Tent, near a massive Ceiba Tree, the deck hangs on the edge of the Pacific and the soaking tub has unobstructed views of the sparking sea and the winter whales.  Rustic Luxury abounds. Opening December 1, Festive stays are available. Begin the New Year composed, calm and centered.

Thank you Four Seasons for the fun day escape to Naviva and for the images!

Highly Recommend!

Four Seasons Punta Mita Sharing Chilaquiles

At its best, travel is a transformative experience, not just in the meeting of local peeps, but in the cuisine and beverages we savor. Who doesn’t love going South of the Border? Food and spirits are vital elements of Mexican culture. Come to the Four Seasons Punta Mita for the relaxed pace, the sensational adios to the sun at day’s end, delectable dining and cooking classes, there is also a fun informative Tequila Blending Class. Just say Si!

Four Seasons Punta Mita

We are dreaming of our next escape to the Four Seasons Punta Mita. One of our most reserved Four Seasons properties, the congenial GM, John O’Sullivan, has become a good friend over the years. Many years ago, on my first site inspection in September which is a particularly humid month, we enjoyed breakfast together. Sharing my collection of press articles, he said: Oh, I don’t need those. I thought he was dismissing me, then he said where are you going now? Me: site inspections at another hotel. John: Don’t go, I’ll host you here. Me: But this is what I do. I moved to another property and in the midst of a meeting, a courier delivered a note from John with his book of moody Irish poetry. We’ve been friends ever since and as you can imagine our clients are beyond spoiled at the Four Seasons Punta Mita, besides our usual Preferred Partners amenities!

Benjamin & I visited again in a humid September, I enjoyed the luxurious Presidential Suite and Benj was next door in his own suite. We, of course, attended meetings and took classes, a site inspection isn’t merely lounging about, it’s becoming an expert on a property. Chef Jorge González  prepared these yummy Chilaquiles for our breakfast.

And for your upcoming Spicy Mexican Brunch – Chilaquiles! We hope you are healthy and dreaming of traveling soon.

Chilaquiles, Four Seasons Punta Mita
Chef Jorge González Four Seaons Punta Mita

Chef Jorge, after we begged for the Chilaquiles recipe – true to Four Seasons exceptional service, the recipe was delivered to my Presidential Suite before I returned! We loved chatting about food and culture with Jorge, do follow him on Instagram- his posts are mouthwatering! Jorge González (@jorgehglez)