This Luxury Resort in Mexico Aims to Alleviate Children's Stress

“I. Don’t. Want. To. Go. See. Whales!!” my four-year-old daughter protested loudly as we strolled through the otherwise peaceful, open-air lobby of the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. Just before 9 a.m., the sun had begun its ascent, casting elongated shadows of palm trees across the meticulously manicured grounds. Gentle waves lapped at the tranquil beach, while a few resort guests meandered in search of coffee and breakfast. A sincere apology to these sleepy vacationers for the abrupt wake-up call—but Catalina was having none of it.

I exchanged a knowing glance with my husband, the kind that conveyed the unspoken language of “WTF.” Being the more easily embarrassed parent, I considered turning back. Perhaps one of us could accompany our more laid-back six-year-old son, Niko, on the morning whale-watching trip while the other took our daughter to do what she truly desired that morning—and every morning, and every hour of every day—head to the swimming pool.

And who could blame her? Just below the lobby, a stunning infinity pool overlooking dramatic cliffs and the soft sandy beaches of this picturesque Pacific coast awaited. Or perhaps that morning, she was still dreaming of her other favorite spot, the resort's lazy river, where the current would carry us around a central island filled with rainforest flora as we floated along on our inner tubes, blissfully carefree.

But the reality was: We would not be skipping our whale-watching adventure. We didn’t travel from Northern California (our home) to Los Angeles and then to Puerto Vallarta, rent a car, and drive 45 minutes north along Mexico’s western coast just to lounge by the pool all day. Sure, we would enjoy pool and beach time, but we came all this way to venture beyond our pandemic-induced bubble and experience a new destination, to connect with the local culture and people, and to broaden our perspective on the world. There are plenty of amazing resorts with incredible pools in California. If lounging by the pool was all we wanted, we didn’t need to come to Mexico.

My daughter, however, remained skeptical about our ambitious plans. At least for now.

In 2022, many families who had previously scaled back on vacations due to months of isolation and remote learning began to explore the world once again.

As these families returned to resorts like the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Erika Ibarra Zepeda, who was appointed in early 2022 to manage the revitalized Kids for All Seasons program (the Four Seasons' version of a kids club), noticed a distinct change in them.

“After the pandemic, we noticed that the children returning for vacations were more solitary,” said Zepeda, who observed that kids and families tended to keep to themselves. Drawing on her background in psychology and children's studies, Zepeda created a new KidsWell program last year. This is the first and only program of its kind at a Four Seasons property, focusing on children's mental health by providing ways to alleviate stress and anxiety through connections with nature, culture, and each other.

“The pandemic meant being stuck at home for so long,” Zepeda explained, noting that for many children, arriving at the resort was their first experience interacting with others on a daily basis. “This program aims to assist the kids while also sharing knowledge about our culture, the local environment, and the wildlife we have here.”

Zepeda mentioned that she began designing activities to alleviate stress, helping children navigate their emotions. These included expressing themselves through art inspired by local traditions, learning meditation techniques, fostering positivity, going on nature walks, and cooking. She was also focused on helping children who had been isolated to reintegrate socially.

What Zepeda observed at the resort was mirrored by researchers globally—children were facing challenges. At the end of 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General released a mental health advisory for children, stating that “during the pandemic, children, adolescents, and young adults have encountered unprecedented challenges.”

According to the advisory, “Since the pandemic began, there has been an increase in psychological distress among young people, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.”

For her part, Zepeda was crafting a nurturing space where children could begin their healing journey. Even now, with more time having passed since the pandemic, Zepeda states that the resort continues to offer the KidsWell program to support young guests in connecting with one another, local traditions, and nature, while equipping them with tools to face any challenges they may encounter.

By the time we arrived in Punta Mita earlier this year, both my son and daughter had been attending in-person school for about two years. I’m optimistic that any effects from the pandemic won't be long-lasting—but only time will reveal that. The concept of a kids' program designed to uplift, empower, and enrich them was appealing to me, as it aligned with our goals of helping them gain a deeper understanding of the region through cultural experiences. Additionally, it’s often difficult to grasp what children are experiencing emotionally or psychologically; they frequently struggle to articulate their feelings.

One undeniable impact of the pandemic on us, as well as many other families, was the abrupt halt of international travel. Their world had shrunk considerably. Our trip to Mexico marked Catalina’s first journey outside the country (she was just over a year old when the pandemic began; we had traveled with Niko before COVID-19) and our initial major effort to start broadening that world again.

To help them navigate this vast and complex world, we aimed to ensure that during our trip to Mexico, they developed a sense of place—understanding who they are, where they come from, and, more importantly, the culture and customs of the people we met in Mexico.

Admittedly, achieving this from the comforts of a luxurious resort can be challenging. However, with the classes and workshops they participated in at the resort—like a naturalist-led jungle hike and art and cooking sessions—along with off-property excursions that provided a deeper exploration of the area, it felt like they were truly beginning to grasp the experience. By the third day, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered we had signed up for an on-site cultural activity just 15 minutes after their morning swim.

“Hey guys,” I said, hesitantly. “What do you think about learning about cool masks?” I braced myself for the inevitable chorus of “Nooo!”

“OK!” they responded, climbing out of the pool. Mind blown and eager to keep the momentum going, I grabbed their towels and water bottles, and we headed toward the resort’s Hakari Cultural Centre, which serves as both a learning space and an art gallery. (The curated artwork throughout the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, featuring vibrant paintings and striking sculptures, was one of my favorite aspects of the resort.) There, cultural concierge Enrique Alejos guided us through the fascinating history of la Catrina, the iconic female skeleton often seen in elegant attire, symbolizing the decorated skulls and skeletons associated with the Day of the Dead. Artist Jose Guadalupe Posada first illustrated la Catrina, and Diego Rivera later featured her in a mural in Mexico City, enhancing her significance. I realized this as I watched my kids, still damp from the pool, attentively absorb Posada’s insightful explanation. Their reward was the chance to create their own Catrina masks.

This experience highlighted how much children can genuinely appreciate and enjoy learning experiences that encourage them to expand their worldview. It energizes their minds and thought processes, which can be incredibly rewarding when they’re in the right mindset for it.

Punta Mita is situated in the expansive Riviera Nayarit region of Mexico, a 200-mile stretch of coastline extending from Puerto Vallarta in the south to San Blas in the north. Nestled in this coastal area is Punta Mita, a 1,500-acre development that combines residential living with luxurious resorts, including the Four Seasons where we stayed (which features a nearby adults-only sister property, the Naviva tented camp) and a St. Regis. As a well-established, gated community, it offers families an added layer of security. The 52-acre Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita boasts a stunning blend of natural beauty—lush rainforests alongside sandy beaches—and exceptional amenities, including a tranquil spa, several upscale dining options, three pools (including one exclusively for adults), and the newly opened MEZ Bar, known for its extensive mezcal collection. Families can choose from recently renovated casita-style rooms, private villas, or three newly upgraded beach homes.

On our final day in Punta Mita, we took our rental car for a day trip to the charming coastal town of Sayulita (an excursion offered by the Four Seasons), driving past quaint roadside villages and bumpy dirt roads that provided our kids with a richer perspective of the Mexican paradise we had been enjoying. In the vibrant and bustling Sayulita, we wandered through shops, explored the town square, haggled for retro '80s sunglasses, savored delicious wood-fired pizza, and immersed ourselves in the lively atmosphere. It was the ideal, slightly chaotic, and less structured complement to our serene time at the resort.

Regarding that initially controversial whale-watching trip in Banderas Bay, Catalina still recounts the story of how she spotted a humpback whale breaching when no one else was watching. A huge smile lights up her face as she recalls that magical moment she shared with the whale. It turns out, the pool could wait after all.