A secluded, ultra luxe 110 acre development that sits on the turquoise waters of Banderas Bay, the El Banco Estates offer an exceptionally tasteful, low impact, low density yet extremely high end location for your Punta Mita vacation. With some of the impressive homes perched on a small cliff, and others sitting on a stretch of gorgeous white sand beach, this is widely considered to be the most beautiful residential development on the Punta Mita peninsula. These unique, private oceanfront lots are highly coveted – the fact that the limited lots average USD $6 million speaks to the desirability of this development. Homes within this enclave are valued at USD $15-20 million. El Banco is the brainchild of developers Tim Koogle and Pam Scott-Kugle, who share a love for the Puerto Vallarta and Central Mexico region. They wanted to see if the romance and charm of classical Mexican architecture could be adapted to coastal villa living. The developers essentially re-invented traditional Mexican architecture by opening up the residences, and making the homes “lighter on their feet”. In doing so, they magically showcase the natural wonders surrounding El Banco by embracing the fluency of indoor and outdoor living spaces that the Punta Mita villas are known for. In creating El Banco, the developers teamed up with Mexico’s best stonemasons, wood-carvers, ironworkers and craftspeople. As a result, the expansive villas feature handcrafted details, while maintaining modern convenience. Proposals for the community include a secret luxury hotel that will feature a spa, restaurant, beach club and activities amid the raw natural beauty of the Punta Mita peninsula.
Low Density Living
Low density living was, and still is a key driving force in the creation of El Banco. The developers wanted to create the lowest density, yet most architecturally significant development in all of Punta Mita and Puerto Vallarta. Quite a feat considering the number of high end, luxury residences that dominate the peninsula. While many develops aim to maximize their investment by creating as many homesites as possible, the design team for El Banco’s intentionally limited the number of homes. Their philosophy aims to preserve the balance of the natural environment, and offer exceptional privacy for every resident.
Punta Mita Climate
Punta Mita’s climate is a beach lover’s dream, with year round temperatures averaging 80 degrees. With a latitude the same as Hawaii, it’s hard to choose a bad time to visit this part of Mexico. Winter temperatures average 75 degrees and summer temperatures average 85 degrees. June through October tends to be the rainy season, where humidity and moisture increase. In Winter, the Pacific winds maintain a refreshing on-shore breeze.
Residents’ Beach Club
As mentioned above guests of El Banco enjoy access to the Residents’ Beach Club, located within the gates of the Four Seasons Resort. This exclusive club offers guests heated adult’s and kid’s swimming pools, a private beach, men’s and women’s locker rooms, dining facilities and beach equipment such as surf boards, kayaks and boogie boards. Another benefit guests enjoy is golf privileges at two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses (green fees apply) – the world renowned Pacifico and Bahia courses. The Pacifico golf course features the iconic “Tail Of The Whale” golf hole, the world’s only natural island green. There are also walking trails, tennis courts and a medical center located close to the Residents’ Beach Club.
Activities and Adventures
With such an outdoor oriented climate, it comes as no surprise that guests have a wide selection of activities and adventures to choose from. Guests can choose to enjoy a host of activities in the area including surfing, SUP, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, sailing, snorkeling and windsurfing. For the more adventurous, there is swimming with dolphins, whale watching, deep sea fishing and ATV jungle tours. The Punta Mita peninsula offers five surf breaks with varying north, west and south aspects. The way in which the surf breaks circle the peninsula makes Punta Mita feel almost like an island. If you are a relative newcomer to the surfing scene, you can arrange a private surf lesson for you and some friends and learn the basics from the local experts.
Location
El Banco is located just 30 minutes drive from Puerto Vallarta. Guests can access all of the services and amenities of the nearby Four Seasons and St Regis Resorts by car in under 10 minutes. Punta Mita Vacations manages one residence in the El Banco Estates – Casa Tres Soles.
