My 4-year-old scampered across a line of lily pads, scaled a wall and zoomed down the slide with a splash.
“I thought I could, and I did it!” my daughter shouted as she bobbed up to take a breath.
With a bit of handholding, she had successfully completed a sizable inflatable obstacle course in the infinity pool of Iberostar Selection Playa Mita — something that the majority of participating adults had failed to do. With her confidence in full bloom, she was ready to take on whatever adventure Iberostar had for her — from swinging at a pinata to counting shells on the beach and baking cupcakes at the kids’ club.
All-Inclusive Activities, Dining and More
Our visit to the 451-room resort, near the town of Punta de Mita, Mexico, marked our first international family trip post-pandemic and our first all-inclusive experience together. To be completely honest, we weren’t sure if an all-inclusive would be a good fit, but now that we’ve experienced this style of travel with a small child, there’s truly no going back.
“There is such an abundance of options available for families to enjoy that cater both to parents and their kids,” said Daniel Linás, director of the resort, who pointed to a few favorites such as sunrise yoga on the beach, mariachi performances and workshops where guests can learn about the culture of ancient tribes dating back to the Aztecs.
“Highlighting local cultures and experiences has a dual benefit,” Linás said. “On the one hand, you’re elevating your guests’ experience, allowing them to immerse themselves in the local culture in an authentic way. On the other hand, it also allows us to support the communities in which we’re located and bolster the country’s tourism, which is essential for all of us.”
From Wixarika bracelet-making workshops to merengue dancing classes, there are a host of new and updated activities for just about everyone. Trying to fit it all in can be daunting, so encourage clients to download the Iberostar app to keep track and plan their day. Through the app, clients can also book spa appointments, order room service and browse the menus of its 13 bars and restaurants.
The property offers activities and amenities for all ages.
Credit: 2023 Iberostar Selection Playa MitaAmong our favorites were the more formal Pacific Express French restaurant and the Wirikuta Sunset Bar overlooking the Pacific Ocean. While kids are welcome, we relied on the hotel’s babysitting services and the evening program at the kids’ club (for an additional charge) to have a marvelously quiet night out.
The next morning, El Nopal’s breakfast buffet was a hit with a section of American staples alongside seared ahi, quiche and a chilaquiles bar — where we piled our plates high with fresh tortilla chips, guacamole, salsas and cotija cheese. Guests could press their own paninis, build a pineapple parfait, sample smoked salmon avocado toast or try nopales (cactus paddles) layered over creamy refried beans. We paired pastries and dessert with El Nopal’s delightful coffee bar, complete with self-serve Mexican hot chocolate and galletas de mantequilla (butter cookies).
For those who don’t want to adhere to an itinerary and instead have entertainment come to them, the palapas at the pool are a front-row seat to the resort’s show. Throughout the day, staff organize everything from volleyball and water aerobics to live music.
We loved the extended sun shelf at the pool where our kiddo could splash around and play with toys without being fully submerged. Naturally, my favorite part of the infinity pool was the swim-up bar, where bartenders blended pina coladas and mocktails in reusable cups.
Here, plastic straws are a relic of the past. The hotel banned single-use plastics in 2020 and has ambitious plans for the future. By 2025, Iberostar Selection Playa Mita will stop producing landfill-bound waste and only offer sustainable seafood. Furthermore, the resort has set its sights on reaching carbon neutrality by 2030.
“We weave sustainability throughout every experience by incorporating ways in which kids and parents can learn and get inspired by our mission, in hopes they become more conscious about the environment — and, in the best of cases — involved in taking care of our planet once they’re home,” Linás said.
