Naviva Forever
Issue 019: This tented-villa resort on Mexico's Pacific Coast removes all barriers to pure unadulterated bliss.
One of the biggest impediments to fully unwinding on vacation is the additional bookings, reservations, and planning involved once you arrive. Working around a hotel’s dinner schedules, workout classes, excursions, and other activities can somewhat undermine the whole point of temporarily removing structure and worry from your life. Not to mention being handed a check to sign after every meal, coffee, or activity, reminding you of the escalating cost of being away. I don’t know about you, but I’m too Type A not to let these things interrupt my holiday flow.
Recognizing the issue, Four Seasons introduced an innovative concept at its relatively new resort in Punta Mita, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. At Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, absolutely everything is included in your room rate (starting at a cool $3,500 per night), and there’s not a single piece of paper to sign. This may sound like a typical all-inclusive, but Naviva goes far beyond expectations and delivers an experience unlike any other I’ve come across.
For all guests, the team at the restaurant, Copal, is on hand to prepare anything—yes, anything—you could dream of eating at any time of day (late at night, the menu from the main Four Seasons resort next door has to suffice). If you’re in the mood to exercise, the on-site trainer is ready and waiting to tailor a workout to your fitness goals or ability level. Send a quick WhatsApp message or use the Four Seasons app, and drinks, snacks, toiletries—or I’m sure any more niche items—will be delivered to your villa within minutes. This is serious service, but always with a smile.
Several weeks before our trip, we spoke with a Naviva concierge over Zoom. She explained the resort’s unorthodox approach and talked us through the long list of experiences included with our stay, helping to create a personalized itinerary. From fishing and kayaking to a traditional temazcal ceremony, the wealth of options was slightly overwhelming. However, the concierge stressed that nothing was mandatory, and we could move or cancel any activity at any point before or during our stay. We settled on a few that sounded fun and relaxing, and a neatly prepared PDF outlining our itinerary promptly landed in my inbox a week later.
Jonathan and I spent our two nights at Naviva last week, and I’m still thinking about our time there. Located an hour and change from Puerto Vallarta, the property sits on 48 acres of lush coastal jungle that tumble down to a private sandy cove shared with the neighboring Four Seasons resort. Naviva is adults-only (hallelujah!) and comprises just 15 villas, although only three were occupied during our stay. August is the region’s low season due to the intense heat and heavy rainfall, but if you’re used to a tropical climate, it’s perfectly bearable.
Notably, Jalisco has seen a sharp drop in tourism since cartel-related outbreaks of violence occurred in February 2026. These were heavily documented by the media but were seemingly isolated, as no further incidents have been reported since. We had no issues at all in Puerto Vallarta during the few days we spent there beforehand, and Naviva and the other luxury resorts across Punta Mita are located within a guarded, gated community, making them very safe to visit.
Upon arrival, guests are immediately welcomed into and enveloped by the resort’s organic architecture, designed by Luxury Frontiers—the same studio behind the tented Camp Sarika at Amangiri in Utah and the nature-integrated Mandapa in Bali. A long woven bamboo tunnel culminates in the “lobby,” although there’s no check-in desk or formal arrival process, so it’s really just a pretty lounge. Meanwhile, the villas are sheltered by tented canopies modeled on butterfly wings, and the restaurant is housed within a vortex-shaped structure topped by a sweeping bamboo roof. All of the buildings are nestled into the tropical surroundings so seamlessly that they’re difficult to spot while moving around by foot or golf cart.
The communal pool area is also hidden within the foliage, which conveniently parts to reveal an ocean view. A series of cascading terraces follows the natural slope, incorporating rocky outcrops and secluded niches for loungers and cabanas. Water flows between them, creating a far more visually interesting landscape than a typical single-level pool. Though it’s not to be missed, you’d also be forgiven for never leaving the private ocean- or jungle-view plunge pool that comes with each villa.
The villas are designed to evoke safari camps, with folded canvas window scarves and accessories like a vintage telescope and cocktail kit that elevate the fantasy. Each features a spacious terrace with loungers and a hammock for lazing in the sun, an outdoor shower for cooling off afterward, and a fire pit to set the mood after dark. Fully retractable glass doors seamlessly connect the indoors and outdoors (when it’s cool enough), and select villas offer spectacular sunset views from every angle. Completely private, they really feel like your own little world. Check out my latest Robe Report episode on Instagram for a full tour.
A major highlight for us was the spa, where treatments take place in bamboo “pods” tucked along winding pathways deep in the jungle. Our blissful couple’s massage began with a traditional cleansing ritual, then involved being pulled apart and reassembled muscle by muscle, and ended with delicious homemade kombucha and a soothing soak in the hot tub. I’m fortunate to receive a lot of massages, and this was up there with the very best. That came down to the spectacular setting, a therapist who knew exactly what she was doing, and the fact that I was able to enjoy the experience with my husband.
The other experiences we took part in included a Mexican wine tasting, during which our host Pollo guided us through the country’s major wine regions and explained the differences between the various red varietals. The takeaway? Don’t sleep on Mexican wine! We returned the following day for an agave tasting featuring numerous styles of tequila and mezcal, as well as raicilla—a regional variation unique to Jalisco that sits somewhere between the other two in flavor. It’s excellent in an espresso martini, FYI. Naviva even produces its own raicilla on-site and sources others from local producers. After nine (!) samples during the tasting, we were as cooked as the agave leaves used to make the spirits.
Every member of the Naviva team was incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about their area of expertise. We canceled a coffee-tasting session a couple of days before arriving because it was scheduled for 8am (and we’re sleepy boys), and its leader, Jonny, seemed genuinely disappointed when we bumped into him later that day. He promptly ran off and returned with a bag of the beans he had roasted for us to take home so we didn’t miss out entirely.
Similarly, we accidentally missed a stretching class with on-site trainer Hugo because of a last-minute meeting with the regional vice president for Four Seasons (yes I was actually working!). Hugo sought us out later to introduce himself and offer us any other activity we’d like to try. Sadly, we didn’t have time, and honestly, it was also far too hot to exert ourselves with anything more strenuous than light stretching anyway.
The food at Copal was nothing short of sensational. Jonathan ordered a chicken Milanese for lunch when we arrived (because he could!) and asked for it again the next day because it was that good. Alongside the “anything you want” option, the chefs prepare daily lunch and dinner specials, and I made it my mission to try as many as possible. My lunchtime ceviche surrounded an avocado-walled pool of leche de tigre, colored bright blue with butterfly pea flowers. Loaded pork belly tacos, beef tongue carpaccio, and spicy dry-rubbed chicken were among the evening highlights—all original in both preparation and presentation.
On our second and final night, we frolicked on the deserted beach while watching a spectacular sunset over the Pacific, then soaked in our plunge pool with a chilled bottle of rosé to catch the final traces of color fading from the sky. This is paradise in every sense of the word, and while it comes with a hefty price tag, it makes perfect sense for an extra-special occasion like a honeymoon or milestone birthday. You can truly relax here—or pack your days with as many activities as possible, if that’s more your style. Either way, it’s a vacation you’ll never forget.
For us, having drifted effortlessly around the property from one beautiful spot to the next—without a care in the world—enjoyed impeccable service, overindulged in incredible food and drinks, and essentially had my vertebrae realigned, I’m happy to report that Naviva’s unique, paperless, menu-less, all-encompassing approach to luxury is a resounding triumph. We were so completely unwound that it’s been almost painful winding ourselves back up after returning home. Other hospitality groups should take note—and catch up quickly. Because by removing the lingering barriers to truly switching off, Naviva and Four Seasons have absolutely raised the bar.
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