With the 2025 Mexico Open upon us, all eyes are on one of Central America’s greatest golf destinations: Nayarit. In fact, the tournament’s setting, Vidanta World, is basically any player’s — pro, amateur, never touched a club in your life — ideal vacation spot, as it boasts multiple courses, a variety of phenomenal accommodations, and some of the best resort dining options anywhere in the country. However, no matter where you stay in Mexico, it would be a foolish mistake to not venture out a little farther and play to your heart’s content.

The question is, of course, how long do you have? While time is merely a construct as we spin throughout the cosmos on this giant inhabited golf ball, the reality is that most of us have maybe a week to spare for a dream vacation before it’s back to our respective grinds. The next question, then, is: How much golf you can play in one week? With several iconic courses and quite a few that don’t get as much attention, Nayarit is easily one of the best places in the world to answer these questions.

To put myself to the test of seeing how much golf I could handle, I chose to revisit stunning Punta Mita first, this time choosing the budget- and family-friendly Iberostar Selection Playa Mita resort as my base of operations for five days. Selecting a property in this region relies on the type of traveler, as there are obviously well-known luxury settings, as well as myriad rentals that will feel like spectacular mansions away from home. Factor in all that golf, plus the amazing food and cocktails, and your vacation costs could quickly get out of hand (pro tip: Bring your own golf balls), so an all-inclusive like this Iberostar resort is as convenient in price as location.

From there, it’s all about booking tee times, securing transportation, and remembering a battery pack for your phone, because you will take more photos and video than you’ll know what to do with.

Day 1: Punta Mita

When I first visited Punta Mita to cover the annual Gourmet & Golf Classic several years ago, it was clear that this amazing region’s status as a golf destination was only going to grow. Making my way through each crowded event — in between touring the sensational grounds of both the Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts — the energy and excitement for all things golf was palpable, and every person I asked about the host golf course raved about its design, beauty, and all-around appeal. All of this made the fact that I couldn’t play there during this event that much worse.

Finally teeing off on the Pacifico Golf Course — one of the two Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole masterpieces at Punta Mita, along with Bahia — is sort of a religious moment. The surrounding natural beauty on every hole makes for a transcendent experience, when you’re able to forget about the bad golf you’re about to play and embrace the fact that, hey, it doesn’t get much better than this. And while you’re about to go from ocean views to lush nature and back again, you know right from your first shot (golf and perhaps other) that one of the coolest holes in the world is not far off.

Few golf course holes will bring a smile to a player’s face like Punta Mita’s Tail of the Whale (aka the Whale’s Tail, aka that wild rock set perfectly in the water by the golf gods, aka 3B), because it’s simply such a treat to play. More than that, it’s a badge of honor to add to your social media channels, as it is beautiful from the shore and even cooler to reach, as you drive your cart across the rocky path — water-level permitting.

With the wind coming in rather strongly on the day I finally took on the Whale, I did what any average golfer would do and said, “F*ck it… let’s grab the driver.” With a ¾-swing and a prayer to the golf gods, I plopped my Vice Long Drive ball about 25-feet beyond the hole, but still nicely on the green. A victory for me, if there ever was one. Crossing that narrow path while singing Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” with my Canadian counterpart that morning, I quietly wished to avoid what would eventually happen: A three-putt for bogey. You see, this green is anything but ordinary, as the grass is a little shaggier than the inland holes, so keep that in mind if you’re a timid putter like me.

Obviously, if you and the pro shop have the time, you can make a day out of the Pacifico and Bahia courses themselves, but I had already been dying to get “next door” and give another beautiful course a shot.

Day 2: Higuera Golf Club

I’m never one for scorching hot takes, but Higuera Golf Club is my favorite golf course in this region of Mexico. It’s the most peaceful and satisfying experience in terms of natural beauty, but that’s still not to say it’s better than any of the others. It’s a lot like if I said, “I prefer a mezcalita to a paloma, even though they’re both my favorite cocktails.” But I simply felt like I was somewhere else on the planet, and there was no other golfer near me for millions of miles, which is basically my dream.

The Greg Norman design features all of the natural elements that make Mexico so special, from oceanside tee boxes that boast breathtaking views to fairways that not only feel like they’re carved into the jungle, but also framed by it, like living artwork that keeps your golf rage at bay by reminding you this is an experience and not a challenge. From the moment you depart the driving range to begin your round, it’s so much like a nature tour that you should probably have to pay more for everything you’re receiving. 

Much like the Whale at Punta Mita, the star here is the Par 3 Hole 4 that offers a wonderful elevated view of your surroundings, including one of the most Instagrammable tee box backgrounds on the planet. But to my point about the framing, I am far more obsessed with the Par 4 Hole 12 that challenges you to hit a sharp straight drive through a tunnel of trees onto a narrow fairway that actually rewards average golfers like myself who consider 200-yard drives a “job well done,” all before presenting a green that sits like an island in a sea of punishing hazards. As intimidating as all of this is, it’s an experience that is nothing short of magical.

In fact, there might not be a better 1-2-3 punch in Mexico than two days spent playing the three courses between Punta Mita and Higuera. Still, more courses were calling. 

Day 3: El Tigre

I’ve long believed that the best way to learn about and appreciate a destination is to play where the locals play, be it golf or any other aspect of our vacations, and so there was only one course that provide such insight. Tucked within the appropriately named Paradise Village is El Tigre Golf Club, which boasts an 18-hole design (from Von Hagge, Smelek, and Baril) that most certainly lives up to the ferocity of the name. 

As with many residential courses, El Tigre is highlighted by narrow fairways that don’t leave a lot of room for relief beyond the picturesque palm trees and tracks of water that serve as patio eye candy for residents and scenic views for regular players. And while it doesn’t boast the same coastal and jungle backdrops as the previous courses, it offers a subtle beauty that is, in some ways, more charming. 

Specifically, if you find pleasure in meeting new people and seeing how they enjoy the game — in their own ways, and not by predetermined standards — this is the place to do it. That’s not to say that etiquette doesn’t exist, as it’s a very professional and traditional golf setting, but it can be very fun and soothing to see other people enjoying their surroundings, even if they’re simply not good at the game (*points to self*).

It’s really difficult to choose a favorite hole at El Tigre, but I’m confident most people who have played here would point to the Par 3 Hole 6 as the perfect combination of beauty and challenge. When you’re staring at the magnificent island green from the tee box, you’ll likely surmise that it’s as simple as just getting the ball onto the sprawling green. However, if you’re an overthinker like me, you’ll see that strange little pot bunker at the front and wonder, “Why on Earth would someone put that there?” And then you’ll think about it more and more, before either putting your ball right in that sand or using too much club and hitting the water behind the green. That’s precisely what I did on my first two attempts, before finally plopping one right in the middle.

I would’ve spent all day just trying to “Tin Cup” Hole 6, but the combination of heat and two days of golf were already taking its toll, and there were too many smiling golfers on our tails, all undoubtedly excited to likely lose a few balls in the same manner.

Day 4: Flamingos Golf

Maybe it was the charming restaurant with a burger and marg combo I won’t soon forget, or perhaps it was the warning signs for crocs, but no golf course on this trip made me feel like I was back home in Florida quite like Flamingos Golf. I’ve tried hard to think of the best way to describe this course, but it is just plain fun. 

The design isn’t the most difficult, but it does require good, clean, precise shots, which can obviously be frustrating for those of us with mean slices, but it makes it all the more worthwhile when you actually hit the right shots. Case in point: The Par 5 Hole 7 requires you to hit a dart of a tee shot for success, as there is a fat body of water to the left and plenty of rough and trees on the right. But the most frustrating element of this one is a tree that borders the water, making your window for success even tighter, so when I put just the right draw on my shorter drive, I was extremely pleased to find myself with a clear shot ahead.

Longer strikers will love the challenge of this hole, because a well-piped bomb will make you want to try reaching the green in two, and my hat’s off to anyone who can. For us ordinary golfers, it’s all about taking advantage of the wider mid-section of the fairway and letting it rip to get as close to the water ahead of the green as possible. Do this and you’re looking at a simple wedge or short iron shot to the green, but you’re still in danger with more trees and the peskiest trap right in front — which is exactly where I wound up after feeling so great about my first two shots. I was still thoroughly pleased by making par for the first time in that round, and that’s all you need sometimes.

Again, Flamingos has a great dining option for before and after a round, so regardless if your score has two or three digits, you’ll feel like celebrating and getting out of the hot sun for a delicious cocktail or two.

Day 5: Vidanta World’s Lakes Course

As I have learned while staying at the Grand Luxxe Hotel during the 2025 Mexico Open, if you are a guest at Vidanta World, your itinerary will likely not have much space for outside excursions. There is just so much to do within the borders of this vacation community that is like its own state within Nayarit. From the seemingly endless dining options to the theme park to the 2.5 golf courses, why on Earth would you go anywhere else?

Naturally, when you’re not staying here, it makes sense to at least try and visit so you can experience the massive nature of this increasingly popular setting. For us, that meant grabbing dinner at Quinto Charcoal Grill, a spectacular steakhouse with outdoor seating that allows for some of the best views on-property from Tower 5’s Sky Lounge. Because we didn’t have much time left on our schedule, nor did we have the gas in our tanks to handle another 18 holes, we couldn’t play either of the two 18-hole courses, but we fortunately squeezed in a round at the 10-hole Par 3 Lakes Course, which is an absolute blast for players of all experience levels.

That’s not to say this is an easy short course. In fact, playing under the lights, I found it much more difficult to find my dwindling supply of Vice balls in the maddening rough and foliage surrounding each beautifully maintained hole. Yet the quality of this course and its impressive landscaping are what make it so special and a must-play for anyone — it’s like being on a tiny golf island in the middle of this epic fortress of a vacation setting.

Best of all, even as I desperately finished the last three holes with my lone remaining ball, I could only laugh at dinner later over how frustratingly brilliant this concept is as I sipped a magnificently refreshing Monte Agave cocktail while watching our server douse my Filet Mignon Flambé in mezcal and set it ablaze for one of the crispiest cuts of beef I’ve ever devoured in minutes.

Still, as I stand along the ropes at the Vidanta Vallarta course and watch the field compete under the clear Mexico sky, I’m a little jealous that I haven’t yet played here. That just means, of course, that I have unfinished business and the next trip won’t be too far away.