Things to Do in Punta Mita in December: Whale Watching, Surfing and More

Key takeaways

• December is the start of whale season. Mexico's environment ministry opened the 2025-26 Banderas Bay humpback season on December 8, and the bay's waters closest to Punta Mita are a protected nursery zone where tour boats can't go.

• The Hidden Beach on the Marietas Islands has strict entry rules. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, groups of up to 15 swim in at low tide, and each visit lasts 30 minutes.

• Winter surf suits beginners. El Anclote, the wave in front of Punta de Mita village, is a slow right suited to longboards and first lessons.

• Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is our top pick for a December stay. It runs whale-watching trips, surf lessons from age four and a family holiday program, and it has two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses.

• Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort is the pick for couples. The adults-only, all-inclusive tented resort hosts a whale weekend led by a marine biologist on December 18 to 20, 2026.

Punta Mita in December: what the month is like

Punta Mita sits at the northern tip of Banderas Bay in Nayarit, about 45 minutes by car from Puerto Vallarta's international airport. December is the first full month of the dry season. Puerto Vallarta, the nearest long-record weather station, averages a December high of 81°F and a low of 59°F, with about 1.1 inches of rain across the month, and the sea sits around 77°F.

In December, three things happen at once: humpback whales arrive to calve, the winter swell is small and clean enough for beginners, and the holidays bring processions in Puerto Vallarta and festive programs at the resorts. The week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest of the month, so boat tours, surf lessons and restaurant tables for those dates are worth booking early.

The list below starts with what's only possible in winter, then covers what you can do any time but that suits December well.

1. Go whale watching in Banderas Bay

Humpback whales travel to Banderas Bay each winter to mate and give birth. Mexico's environment ministry, SEMARNAT, sets the official viewing season every year, and the 2025-26 season ran from December 8 to March 23. The notice also bans whale watching inside a 2 km strip of coast from Punta Mita to the mouth of the Río Ameca and within 1.5 km of the Marietas Islands, because mothers and calves gather there.

Mexico's federal standard for whale watching, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, caps each encounter at 30 minutes per whale or group and allows no more than four boats with one group at a time. Swimming with the whales isn't allowed. Tour operators put the peak in January and February, so early December sightings are possible but less certain than later in the season.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita runs private whale-watching trips with hydrophones on board, so you can hear the males singing underwater. Tours also leave from the marina at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and from Puerto Vallarta. Whales can sometimes be seen from shore at Punta Mita too.

2. Visit the Marietas Islands and the Hidden Beach

The Marietas Islands lie about 8 km southwest of the Punta de Mita peninsula, roughly 20 minutes by boat. They're a national park and part of the Gulf of California's UNESCO World Heritage listing, and blue-footed boobies nest there.

The main draw is Playa del Amor, the Hidden Beach, a small beach in a hollow open to the sky that you reach by swimming through a short tunnel. Under the rules set when it reopened in 2016, the beach is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, visitors swim in at low tide in groups of up to 15 with a life vest and helmet, and each group has 30 minutes on the sand. Only authorized operators can take you, and entry is capped at 116 visitors a day, so book well ahead in holiday weeks.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita's Hidden Beach trip is open to ages 10 to 65, asks that guests be strong swimmers, and recommends booking at least two weeks in advance. If the swim isn't for you, snorkeling and paddleboarding around the outer islands don't require entry to the beach.

3. Take a surf lesson at El Anclote

In winter, northwest swells bring smaller, glassier waves to the Punta Mita breaks, which is why December suits beginners. El Anclote, in front of Punta de Mita village, is a slow right-hander popular with longboarders and surf schools. Experienced surfers head for El Faro, near the lighthouse, which handles winter swell well but breaks over reef and rock, or to La Lancha, a reef break reached by a jungle walk that gets crowded on good days.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita offers surf lessons for ages nine and up, plus tandem lessons for children aged four to eight. For a full day of surfing, Sayulita is about 30 minutes north; our guide to surfing in Sayulita in winter covers its breaks and schools.

4. Snorkel, paddleboard or dive

December water is around 77°F, so it's warm enough for most people without a wetsuit. The coves around Las Cuevas beach are a common snorkel spot, and paddleboarding is easiest in the morning before the afternoon wind. Divers can book two-tank dives with PADI instructors around the Marietas, where the volcanic rock forms caves and tunnels and giant manta rays are sometimes seen.

5. Play the Pacifico and Bahía golf courses

The Punta Mita golf club has two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses. Pacifico opened in 1999 and has an optional hole known as 3B, or the Tail of the Whale, whose green sits on a natural rock island; you can only reach it at low tide. Bahía opened in 2009 and plays to 7,035 yards, with views back across the bay. The club is private: the courses are open to its members and their guests, and to guests of Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and the St. Regis Punta Mita. In whale season, you may see humpbacks offshore from the Pacifico's coastal holes.

6. Join a late-season sea turtle release

Olive ridley turtles nest on this coast from about June to November, and most hatchlings are released between late July and October. December comes after the main season, so a release isn't guaranteed: it depends on late nests still hatching. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita runs evening releases from September to January with a local turtle conservation network, Red Tortuguera, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the group's work.

7. Spend a day in Sayulita and San Pancho

Sayulita is about 30 minutes north by car. It's a small, busy surf town with a central plaza, taco stands and a long beach break, and December is one of its liveliest months. San Pancho, about 7 km farther north, is quieter, with a wide beach and a smaller restaurant strip. Parking in Sayulita is tight around the holidays, so going early in the day or taking a taxi saves time.

8. See the Virgin of Guadalupe processions in Puerto Vallarta

From December 1 to 12, Puerto Vallarta holds daily processions in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. Groups from neighborhoods, businesses and schools walk through the old town to the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the church with the crown-topped tower, mostly in the evenings. The largest pilgrimage and a midnight serenade of "Las Mañanitas" take place on December 12. The drive from Punta Mita takes about an hour, depending on traffic.

9. Book a festive dinner or holiday event at the resorts

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita's 2026 festive program includes a pop-up at Tamai from December 14 to 30 with Chef Justin Paul, a Christmas Eve dinner on Cuevas Beach, Santa arriving by beach on Christmas Day, a New Year's Eve beach party and a New Year's Day brunch at Dos Catrinas. Kids For All Seasons, the complimentary kids' club for ages five to 12, runs daily, and The Container is a hangout for teens.

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort is a separate, adults-only, all-inclusive property of 15 tents on the same peninsula. Its December 2026 calendar includes a whale weekend led by a marine biologist from December 18 to 20, a winter solstice feast on December 21, and a New Year's Eve dinner by the sea with a bonfire. Guests can join complimentary group temazcal ceremonies and sound healing sessions, which suits travelers who'd rather spend the holidays quietly.

Where to stay in Punta Mita in December

Most of the activities above start from the Punta Mita peninsula or the coast just north of it, so staying nearby cuts out the drive from Puerto Vallarta. These are the four resorts we'd book for December, in order.

1. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita opened in 1999 on a private peninsula and has 177 rooms and suites in casitas, plus villas and residences. It has two swimmable beaches and two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, and in December it runs private whale-watching trips, Hidden Beach tours and surf lessons from the resort. It holds a 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating.

Best for: Families and golfers who want whale trips, surf lessons and golf on the doorstep.

Downside: It isn't all-inclusive, and holiday weeks book up early.

2. Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

Naviva is a separate resort on the same peninsula: 15 tented bungalows on 48 forested acres, each with a plunge pool and roll-up canvas walls. It's adults-only and all-inclusive, and rates cover food and drink, one 90-minute spa journey per guest per stay, and daily experiences. Its December 2026 calendar includes the marine biologist whale weekend and a winter solstice feast.

Best for: Couples who want a quiet, wellness-focused December.

Downside: With only 15 tents, holiday dates go first, and the all-inclusive rate is high.

3. Conrad Punta de Mita

Conrad Punta de Mita opened in 2020 on Litibú beach, just outside the Punta Mita gates. Most of its 324 rooms and suites have ocean views, and it has a family pool with a waterslide and the complimentary Turi Kids Club for ages four to 12.

Best for: Families who want a big resort with lots of pools.

Downside: It's a large property on open coast, with stronger waves than the beaches inside the peninsula.

4. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is an all-inclusive resort of 267 suites on the beach at Nuevo Vallarta, roughly 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta's airport, with kids' and teens' clubs.

Best for: Families who want everything included and a short airport transfer.

Downside: It's farther from the whale nursery and the beginner surf at El Anclote than the peninsula resorts.

December in Punta Mita at a glance

Frequently asked questions about Punta Mita in December

Can you see whales in Punta Mita in December?

Yes, though sightings are more reliable later in the season. SEMARNAT opened the 2025-26 Banderas Bay season on December 8, and tour operators put the peak in January and February. The agency publishes each season's dates in an official notice in the fall.

Is the water warm enough to swim in December?

Yes. The sea around Punta Mita is about 77°F in December. Many beaches on the open coast have surf, so the coves and resort beaches are the easiest places to swim.

Can you visit the Hidden Beach in December?

Yes, Wednesday to Sunday. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, entry is at low tide only, and visits are limited to 30 minutes in groups of up to 15, so tours sell out in holiday weeks.

Is Punta Mita good for families in December?

Yes. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita runs a complimentary kids' club for ages five to 12, a teen space, and holiday events such as Santa's arrival on the beach.

Where should couples stay in Punta Mita in December?

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort is the adults-only, all-inclusive option on the Punta Mita peninsula, with 15 tents and a December program that includes a marine biologist whale weekend.

Is Punta Mita or Puerto Vallarta better in December?

Punta Mita is quieter and closer to the whale nursery, the Marietas Islands and the beginner surf at El Anclote. Puerto Vallarta has more restaurants and nightlife and hosts the Guadalupe processions from December 1 to 12. It's easy to stay in Punta Mita and spend an evening in town; our guide to the best luxury resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita compares places to stay in both.

Is Punta Mita safe to visit?

Punta Mita is in Nayarit, which the US State Department's travel advisory rates at Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution," the same level as Mexico overall. Puerto Vallarta's airport is across the state line in Jalisco, which is rated Level 3. Check the advisory before you travel.