The ultimate in Mexican luxury: Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
Editor's Note
You might associate Four Seasons with the classic, dreamy resorts of "The White Lotus," or stately city hotels thronged with captains of industry.
But one of the smallest Four Seasons in the world is also one of the most distinctive. With just 15 tented bungalows overlooking the Pacific, Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort opened in Punta Mita along Mexico's lush Riviera Nayarit in December 2022.
Since then, Naviva has quietly but quickly gained a devoted following of well-heeled jet-setters looking to kick off those Louboutins for a dose of barefoot luxury. That is precisely the draw of the experience at Naviva, though. It is one of the most high-end hotel experiences that money can buy, and yet it is also one of the most informal.
Each staff member will know you by first name upon sight and inquire about your activity and dietary preferences at intervals just to make sure you have everything you need. You can count on them to always suggest another basket of chips and guacamole to accompany a fresh-cut coconut from one of the nearby trees, to share their favorite picks from the exceptional wine cellar, or to share standout experiences from the roster of excursions.
There is no set schedule of activities at Naviva, though, nor even set mealtimes. Everything, with the exception of some excursions and spa treatments, is included in the nightly rate. That's right: Naviva is an all-inclusive experience taken to the nth degree.
You can order what you want, when you want, where you want. Impromptu beach picnic? No problem. Romantic dinner on your private deck? Claro! Feel like a sunset hike? A guide will be on hand shortly. Be sure, however, to inquire about joining a traditional temazcal ceremony or an oceanfront shamanic sound healing session, which do take place at set times.
Other than that, though, your days and nights here are what you make of them. Don't worry about trying to squeeze every last second of enjoyment out of your vacation. Instead, enjoy the quiet pleasures — dozing off in one of the sheer-curtained beach beds, or lingering on your deck for sunset with a smoky house-made mezcal Negroni. For that's the magic of Naviva: Even the smallest moments will be ones you look back on with outsize delight.
Here's what else you can look forward to during a stay at Naviva, and even a way you can use points to cover the cost and enjoy extra benefits to boot.
Related: The best Four Seasons in the world, according to travel experts who have stayed at them
Standout features
- An incredible, secluded setting along the coast just north of Puerto Vallarta.
- Gorgeously designed tented villas with private plunge pools and screened-in lounges.
- The bounty of Mexico's coastal cuisine is on offer any time, day or night.
- The two spa pods are ultraprivate and tucked into a forested ravine.
Drawbacks
- Because of its small size, you might get boxed out of bookings by buyouts.
- At this price point, only a rarefied few will get to experience Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort.
The vibe at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
A stay at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort is orchestrated to feel transformative, with the tone set from the moment you alight at the entrance. From there, you make your way through a curving, cocoon-inspired, bamboo-trestled footpath and past a waterfall to meet one of the on-hand guides. They will escort you to your bungalow, but only after presenting you with a little gourd filled with a welcome beverage of refreshing coconut milk with tart apple cider vinegar.
Entering feels like crossing a bridge to another plane of existence — one where time slows and every moment is meant to be savored.
Even at capacity, the hotel can only host up to 30 guests, and you might spot a few of them — mostly couples on honeymoons, babymoons or reconnection respites — lazing around the tree-shaded three-level Selva Pool, or hoofing it down to the resort's sun-splashed La Solana Beach. Most, however, seem to ensconce themselves in their sprawling suites, venturing out for a meal or two, a guided hike, or a paddleboard session. Once you see your own accommodations, you might not want to venture out, either.
Accommodations at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
There are just 15 stand-alone bungalows at Naviva. Ten of them are Ocean-View Bungalows encompassing 1,259 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, while five are Ocean-View Grand Bungalows ranging from 1,604-1,722 square feet.
All have large bedrooms with sumptuous Four Seasons beds, tented fabric ceilings and custom furnishings from regional workshops, including Taracea and Baufaktory, to reflect the local landscapes, plus colorful patterned textiles from Mexico City-based Onora Casa.
The enormous limestone bathrooms are sanctuaries unto themselves. Their large vanity areas have basin-style stone sinks and walk-in skylit showers with enough standing room for a traveling band. Those who prefer a soak can settle into the stand-alone tub under romantic basket-woven hanging lanterns.
There's also a door leading to a sunny outdoor shower and an entrance to the suite's private plunge pool.
During the heat of the day, screened-in living rooms, complete with inviting sectionals and Marshall Bluetooth speakers, as well as hand-crafted classic games fashioned from reclaimed wood and glass by Rasttro, provide welcome reprieves from the sun.
Of course, you could also go for a refreshing dip in your plunge pool before taking a nap on a cushy lounge chair in the shade.
Guests can also use the provided beach bags and sun hats when they want to explore.
While the standard bungalows have small decks, those in the larger category also have sunken outdoor sectionals surrounding a fire pit, plus prime Pacific panoramas. If you aren't in a romantic state of mind when you arrive, you will be after your first sunset out here.
Food and drink at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
There are no set menus or dining schedules at Naviva. Feel like pancakes at midnight or lobster tacos at dawn? All you have to do is call the service line or send a WhatsApp message, and someone will be knocking at your door within a half hour.
Guests can communicate their various preferences to the resort well ahead of their stay to ensure the kitchen is provisioned with all their favorite foods.
That said, we were happy to stick to standard-ish hours, grazing on whatever was freshest and tastiest throughout the day.
One morning, we lingered on our deck over a breakfast of made-to-order egg tacos with black beans, cotija cheese and avocado; steel-cut oats; pink grapefruit juice; seasonal melon; and, of course, the resort's house-roasted coffee.
Another day, we made our way to Copal Cocina, the breezy, open-air central restaurant, and looked for dolphins in the distance as the on-duty chefs prepared our breakfast of hearty chilaquiles with eggs and avocado atop crunchy totopos drizzled in a sauce that was equal parts tangy and spicy.
Copal Cocina also proved to be a romantic spot for dinner under enormous trees strung with fairy lights (after a stiff, smoky mezcal cocktail at the bar, of course). The chefs always had four-course menus prepared, but guests could order anything else they liked, either ahead of time or on the spot since Naviva's sister property, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, was right next door, and ingredients could be procured on a moment's notice.
We mostly stuck to the quotidian options, though. One evening, our dinner included just-caught tuna with avocado and leche de tigre, huitlacoche consomme with mushroom duxelles, and sizzling New York strip with a dry spiced rub and a panela cheese-stuffed poblano pepper before a dessert of tropical fruit meringue in warm vanilla sauce. You can order anything you like to drink, but we stuck with the suggested pairings of Mexican wines from well-known regions like the Valle de Guadalupe and San Luis Potosi.
For lunch, we stayed poolside or at the beach, feasting on fresh-caught grilled fish and shrimp tacos with chipotle aioli and tomatillo sauce and a heaping club sandwich with crispy fries and a fruit smoothie.
One evening, we decided to venture out for a sunset beach picnic at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, complete with Moet & Chandon Champagne, transmontanus caviar with blinis and potato gaufrettes plus all the fixings, plump local prawn cocktail, smoked salmon on sourdough toast with lemon zest and fresh cheese, and little fruit tarts for dessert.
The setting was perfect as we watched the sun dip below the horizon and sheets of lightning begin to crackle out at sea before an overnight storm set in.
Amenities and service at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
You might not know how many other guests are at Naviva at any given time since many either stick to their ultraprivate bungalows or strike out on individual activities.
Every so often, however, you can find others lounging in the handful of spread-out daybeds on La Solana Beach, or around the three-tier Selva Pool, which has various seating areas and is at the heart of the resort. Soak in the sun as you float toward its infinity edge and listen to the chachalaca birds clamoring overhead.
The hotel has two bamboo spa pods tucked discreetly into an overgrown gorge, each with a treatment room complete with private bath and changing areas, plus an outdoor patio with a plunge bath. Treatments include unique options like gemstone facials utilizing jade, amethyst, quartz, pyrite, fire opal and obsidian ($350 for 90 minutes), and a rainforest-inspired nature massage ($580 for 90 minutes) with a choice of oils including chia, jojoba, apricot and damiana.
Guests are also invited to take part in various other complimentary wellness activities, such as a traditional temazcal heat lodge ceremony and seaside sound healing that becomes a blissed-out meditation session by the shore.
If you feel the need for fitness, there is, as the staff puts it, an outdoor "Flintstones" gym with barbells made from rocks.
Among the other complimentary activities guests can enjoy are coffee, tequila and wine tastings — we enjoyed the latter, sipping our way through the cellar of natural and biodynamic wines from female-led wineries in Mexico, including a semieffervescent verdejo from Bixo, Lechuza chardonnay and La Santisima Trinidad reserve cabernet sauvignon.
Feeling peckish one afternoon, I also dropped by Copal Cocina for a ceviche-making class where I helped prepare a squid-ink aguachile with fresh fish and shrimp that was utterly delectable, if I do say so myself.
The resort can also arrange excursions like shore fishing, guided snorkels, nocturnal forest bathing, boxing and private hikes around Punta Mita. There are paid options, too, including a private boat trip out to the nearby Marietas Islands (starting at $1,000), which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Service is informal yet impeccable — everyone is on a first-name basis, but happy to attend with alacrity to any request, great or small. Each interaction feels like another informative snippet — that wine you just tasted was made by the chef's friend, for instance, or the general manager might join you for the temazcal and micheladas afterward to talk about mystical experiences. Basically, the human element is not only central to the experience at Naviva, but it also enriches guests' time there.
Accessibility at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
The entrance to Naviva does not have steps. Nor do the guest bungalows, though due to the hilly nature of its location, you will need to enlist the services of the on-call buggies to get from place to place. Copal Cocina is likewise step-free.
The pool, beach and spa, however, all require the use of steps, so wheelchair users will have limited access to some of those amenities as well as to their bungalows' private plunge pools.
As always, call ahead to determine whether the hotel has accommodations and amenities that will meet your specific requirements.
Getting to Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
Naviva is in the tony outpost of Punta Mita, about an hour's drive north of Puerto Vallarta's Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) along a well-maintained highway. You can rent a car or catch a taxi or Uber for around $80 in each direction. You can also book a private transfer from the resort for around $350 round-trip.
Booking details for Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort
Rates at Naviva start at around $3,520 per night, including taxes and fees, for an Ocean-View Bungalow and $4,705 per night for Ocean-View Grand Bungalows.
Those prices make it one of the most expensive resorts in Mexico, but believe it or not, there are ways to cover the cost using points.
The hotel is a member of Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, so those with the American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express who make a booking through amextravel.com can enjoy benefits like room upgrades based on availability, a $100 on-property credit to use during their stay and guaranteed late checkout.
However, the best option might be booking through The Edit from Chase Travel℠. If you have an eligible card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) and make your booking through Chase Travel, you can take advantage of Chase's new Points Boost feature. By doing so, instead of paying $3,500-$4,700 per night, you can redeem around 176,000-235,000 Chase points per night. That's still a lot of Chase points, but if you've been banking them for years, it might be within reach. And you'll enjoy The Edit perks, including a $100 on-property credit and even a chance at an upgrade. So, if you were to book a regular Ocean-View Bungalow, you might be upgraded to an Ocean-View Grand Bungalow and snag yourself an extra $1,200 in value per night.
Checking out
Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort represents hospitality at its best. It is a place that makes you feel at home the moment you arrive, but with surprises and delights around every corner. You might enjoy a lavish tasting menu for dinner, then come across an armadillo trundling along the path on your way home. Or you might while away the afternoon in a sonic sound bathing session and awaken to the sight of whales breaching in the distance. You will certainly come here expecting to make the most of every moment ... and then relax knowing that every moment will become a fond memory. And what more could you want out of a trip than that?
Related reading:
- The best Four Seasons hotels in the world
- The Edit by Chase Travel: How you can get elitelike perks without status
- The best hotel credit cards
- Get free breakfast, upgrades and more with the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
- The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.