Steeped in tradition yet infused with modern conveniences, Punta de Mita Town offers a distinctively warm, vibrant, and culturally rich alternative to resort-living—just minutes beyond the gates of its namesake luxury peninsula. For those seeking real estate in this area, the town delivers a rare blend: a genuine Mexican coastal village atmosphere combined with increasing sophistication in dining, shopping, arts, and community life.

Punta de Mita Town (often referred to locally as El Anclote) rests on the southern portion of the tip of the Banderas Bay in the state of Nayarit. It includes neighborhoods such as Nuevo Corral del Risco and Emiliano Zapata. While part of the northern peninsula is occupied by the private resort development, the town retains public access to beaches, surf spots, and the coastline. 

This location offers the best of both worlds: the serenity and natural beauty of coastal Mexico—lush vegetation, ocean breezes, dramatic sunsets—alongside the approachable, lived-in feeling of a community where people know one another, children grow up by the sea, and local traditions persist.

Dining & Food Culture

• A variety of excellent restaurants grace Avenida El Anclote and the beachfront, ranging from casual seafood shacks and street-food style tacos to more refined, gourmet venues. Tuna Blanca, for example, is well known for its gourmet experience right on the sand. 

• For those craving lighter fare or café vibes: Boca Deli, El Cafecito de Mita, and small local spots offer fresh salads, coffee, smoothies, and a relaxed, convivial dining atmosphere. 

• There are also elevated options in the nearby resorts, which occasionally extend their culinary offerings into town or make it easy to visit via golf cart or short drives. 

Shopping & Local Flavor

• Punta de Mita Town is a vibrant marketplace of crafts, designer boutiques, jewelry makers, and artisan shops. On the main streets like Avenida El Anclote and Avenida Las Redes, you’ll find locally made goods—textiles, handmade jewelry, pareos, décor—and higher-end resort boutiques somewhere nearby.

• For daily needs and groceries, there are supermarkets, corner stores, and small markets in town. More specialized shopping—artisan furnishings, designer resort wear—can be found closer to the resort or in places like Plaza Ollin. 

Community & Culture

• There’s a distinct sense of community in town: families that congregate at local eateries, artisans plying their trades, locals and expats mixing in cafés. Events are often low-key but meaningful—live music, local festivals, or simply the rhythm of daily life by the sea. 

• The arts are present in boutiques, small galleries, craft shops, and decor styles that reflect local indigenous and coastal traditions. These touches give the town character and authenticity. 

Living in Punta de Mita Town means you are close to:

• Everyday conveniences: grocery stores, pharmacies, small markets, fresh fish and produce markets.

• Access to beaches & surf: public beaches and surf spots are accessible outside the private resort sections, making it possible to enjoy the ocean without the constraints (or costs) associated with gated resorts.

• Transport & connectivity: while Punta de Mita is more secluded than big cities, roads are good, and getting to Puerto Vallarta airport or other nearby towns is feasible. The culture of golf carts, short drives into town, and walking or biking along the beach or boardwalk imparts a relaxed pace.