Punta de Mita & Playa El Anclote

Punta de Mita occupies the northern tip of the Bahía de Banderas in Nayarit, where the fishing village atmosphere of Playa El Anclote meets a strip of upscale resorts along the point. The beach itself is calm and shallow, sheltered by the bay's geography, making it one of the more swimmable stretches of coastline in the area, while a row of open-air seafood palapa restaurants lines the sand serving fresh catch and shrimp tacos. The village functions as the main departure point for boat tours to the nearby Islas Marietas, and the harbor is lined with fishing pangas and tour operators offering whale watching in winter and surf trips to nearby breaks. A walk along the malecón and beach, combined with a seafood lunch, typically takes two to four hours. The point itself, El Anclote, forms a long right-hand surf break that draws surfers particularly during summer south swells. Afternoons bring the most activity from tour boats and beachgoers, while mornings are quieter and better for a calm swim or a walk along the point before the day's heat sets in.