Biophilic Design: A luxury tented resort as unique as nature itself

What is Biophilic Design. The answer to be found in Punta Mita.

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico is now welcoming guests to a world where the deep, green jungle is the backdrop for a profoundly personalized retreat.

One-of-a-kind resort neighbouring the Four Seasons’ beloved Punta Mita property brings guests closer to nature physically and spiritually.

Naviva is now showcasing the wonders of Mexico – from embarking on a shamanic sound journey to finding a new level of focus while spearfishing. The new retreat is reinforcing everything that we love about this idyllic destination while offering an entirely new experience.

Through the lens of biophilic design and biomimicry – in which the natural world is the driving influence for design solutions – the natural beauty of Mexico was the key source of inspiration when A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico was conceptualized with Luxury Frontiers, an award-winning design firm and pioneer in the alternative lodging sector. All building forms, interior designs, and guest experiences tie back to a natural phenomenon, creating a resort concept that is fully derived from nature.

With just 15 luxury tents surrounded by 48 forested acres (19 hectares) on the edge of a private peninsula, Naviva is an adult-only sanctuary that harnesses nature to create an environment that fosters community, personal growth and appreciation for local heritage. Naviva awakens the intrinsic bond that humans have with nature through biophilic design – an architectural approach that immerses people in their natural surroundings. The transformative journey begins as soon as guests arrive, meeting their personal guide on a cocoon-inspired bamboo bridge overlooking a dramatic forest ravine.

Naviva blurs the border between the natural and manmade worlds with 15 luxury tents that are designed to be at one with the surrounding jungle. Spacious indoor and outdoor areas invite the verdant sights and sounds of Riviera Nayarit’s unique flora and fauna. An open-air living room and separate bedroom flow to a private plunge pool and expansive outdoor living area, where a hammock, firepit and outdoor shower offer forest-framed refuge. Inside, textures and fabrics reflect natural patterns found in the environment. Oversized bathrooms house deep soaking tubs and skylit showers that reveal uninterrupted visual connections to the outdoors.

The team collaborated with Mexican artists, craftspeople, and manufacturers throughout the design and construction process, not only to support local businesses but also to create spaces with an authentic connection to Mexico’s culture. Highlights include custom furniture from Taracea and Baufaktory; artwork from Emma Boomkamp; reclaimed wooden games from Rasttro; and textiles from Anora Casa.

Naviva’s location creates the feeling of being disconnected in a faraway destination, when in reality it is only a short flight away from the US and Canada to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) and then just 45 minutes drive to the private peninsula of Punta Mita.

All-encompassing Naviva stays start at USD 3,950 per night and include all meals, snacks and drinks including specialty meals prepared to enjoy throughout the property, one 60-minute spa treatment per guest, daily practices and rituals, and Unscripted Naviva experiences.

 

Naviva features a series of intimate wellness spaces including two spa pods tucked away in the forest, a House of Heat temazcal, a cliffside terrace, an open-air gym and nature trails.

Each area promotes human connection to nature by grounding guests in tangible and intangible aspects of the environment.

Guests are welcomed directly into their private spa pod to fully use the space how they wish. Inspired by the seed of the local Ceiba tree, each cocoon-like spa structure offers a sense of safety that invites shifts in internal energy. Between transformative spa rituals, guests can spend time in each spa pod’s personal garden, outdoor shower or timber soaking tub.

The House of Heat invites guests on a personalized temazcal journey guided by a dedicated curandero to produce a mind-body awakening. Guests can choose from several focus areas, such as gratitude or devotion, to drive their customized experience. The House of Heat includes a ceremonial fire pit with seating inspired by traditional Mayan stools, a pre- and post-ceremony gathering space and an outdoor shower area.

Naviva guests will also discover wellbeing experiences rooted in the environment at Risco Terrace, where yoga practices include powerful vinyasas and restorative flows, and the outdoor Mar Gym overlooking the Pacific, where strength training workouts incorporate existing formations such as boulders and trees. Guests can find rest and rejuvenation at the Resort’s Selva Pool nestled in the jungle or at La Solana Beach, a private 575-foot (175-metre) expanse of Pacific beachfront.

Central to the Resort’s fluid and informal style, every Naviva stay includes all meals, snacks and beverages – including many premium wines and spirits – whenever a guest may wish.

Guests can choose to enjoy fresh seafood at Copal Cocina, graze on light bites inspired by local harvest at Selva Pool or enjoy a personalized menu on the deck of their private luxury tent. Exciting dining experiences abound, from impromptu molcajete lessons to chef-prepared dinners in the forest. In-tent dining is also available around the clock.

At the heart of Naviva, Copal Cocina welcomes guests to an open-air kitchen and living room where they may meet a local coffee roaster, pop a bottle of Mexican wine with a sommelier or join Chef Sofia Barrera behind the open-fire grill. With no more than 30 guests at any given time, Copal Cocina offers unique dining experiences that integrate uncommon ingredients and flexible daily offerings that can be adjusted to each guest’s preferences. Local purveyors – including farmers and fishermen – periodically visit the kitchen, allowing guests to develop a deeper connection to the local community.

Naviva’s authentic connection to nature is rooted in its thoughtful conception, which began with the rehabilitation of the land on which it now resides.

The development team carefully surveyed the land to build around existing trees and preserve the peninsula’s lush vegetation, hand-placing tents into the existing environment to minimize disruption to the surrounding forest. Select trees were relocated or salvaged for hand-carved timber hooks placed in each luxury tent, and natural stone found onsite was repurposed for benches. The team also took significant measures to protect animal life by creating new paths that mimic the colours of soil and rocks and using specific lighting types to limit light pollution.

Throughout the property, the design team utilized light-on-earth, low-impact construction materials such as reclaimed wood, local stone, copper, bamboo and concrete. In addition, natural ventilation made possible by the region’s prevailing winds limits air conditioning to only the most essential spaces.

As an advocate for sustainable water sourcing, Naviva partnered with SOURCE Water to bottle all drinking water onsite using hydropanel technology that extracts clean, pollutant-free water from the air.