Punta Mita Bahia: 2026 Access and Booking Update
The Bahia course is the second of two Jack Nicklaus designs inside the gated Punta Mita peninsula on the Riviera Nayarit, the quieter sibling to the famous Pacifico and its island green. Here is where it stands in 2026, how the guest only access works, and how to play it.
The news: a private peninsula in steady demand
Punta Mita enters 2026 as one of the most exclusive golf and resort addresses in Mexico, a gated peninsula north of Puerto Vallarta that pairs two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses with the Four Seasons and St. Regis hotels. There is no new course to report, and the appeal is precisely that controlled, private feel, with access reserved for those staying or living inside the gates.
For 2026 the story for visitors is the access model and the value of the Bahia course within it. While the Pacifico draws the cameras with its optional island green, the Bahia is the round many members and repeat guests quietly prefer, and securing a tee time means lining up a stay at one of the resorts or an approved villa first.
The course itself
The Bahia course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 2009, the younger of the two layouts at Punta Mita. It plays as a par 72 of around 7,035 yards, routed inland and along the coast through jungle, arroyos and ocean frontage with the Banderas Bay backdrop.
Where the Pacifico is all drama, the Bahia rewards position and course management, with tighter jungle lines, clever use of the natural contours and several memorable holes that run toward the Pacific. Forecaddies are available and recommended for first timers, because local knowledge of the lines and the wind makes a real difference on a course that asks more questions than its scorecard suggests.
How to play it in 2026
Access is the key practical point at Punta Mita. The golf club is private to the community, which means guests of the Four Seasons and St. Regis, residents, and renters of homes inside the gates, so playing the Bahia means arranging a stay first and reserving through your resort concierge or the club once that is confirmed. High season mornings go quickly.
On cost, the indicative 2026 green fee is around 300 dollars per round before tax and service, roughly 380 dollars all in, with a cart included and afternoon tee times typically cheaper. Rates are set by the club and change year to year, so treat those figures as indicative and confirm the current price and access directly as part of your booking.
Our take
Our take is that Punta Mita is one of the great warm weather golf retreats in the Americas, and the Bahia is a genuinely fine Nicklaus course that often gets overshadowed by its showier sibling. The privacy and the service are the point, and the two course set up makes a multi night stay worthwhile.
If you are planning a 2026 trip, base yourself at one of the resorts to unlock both courses, aim for the dry season from November to May, and pair the golf with the beaches and whale watching of Banderas Bay. Just remember that without a stay or an invitation inside the gates, the Bahia is not a course you can simply book.
Plan your Punta Mita and Riviera Nayarit trip
From the two Nicklaus courses at Punta Mita to the beaches and golf of the Riviera Nayarit, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Can you play Punta Mita Bahia without staying at a resort?
Generally no. The Punta Mita golf club is private to the community, so access is for guests of the Four Seasons and St. Regis, residents, and renters of homes inside the gates. Most visitors arrange a stay first, then reserve through the resort concierge.
Who designed the Bahia course and what is the par?
The Bahia course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 2009. It plays as a par 72 of around 7,035 yards, the second of two Nicklaus courses on the Punta Mita peninsula.
How much does it cost to play Punta Mita Bahia in 2026?
The indicative 2026 green fee is around 300 dollars before tax and service, roughly 380 dollars all in with cart, and afternoon tee times are usually cheaper. Rates are set by the club, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, season and access details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Hero image by James Sokolovic via Google. Last reviewed June 2026.