Many surfers call Punta Mita the Malibu of Mexico. Longboarders, shortboarders and stand-up paddlers are attracted to the Bay of Banderas for its warm waters and waves from multiple directions. Susan and Greg Warnick discovered this area, located 16 km north of Puerto Vallarta, more than a dozen years ago when it was a sleepy fishing village, and they were one of the few gringos out to catch some waves.

It was a place where they could surf for hours and proved relatively safe for their sons to learn how to handle a board. “We came for surfing because it was something we loved doing with our boys,” says Susan, of her children who are now 24 and 21. Greg describes the surfing as beginner to intermediate level, with waves around six feet tall.  “These were not the 70-foot waves of South Africa or Indonesia,” he said.

The couple from Oregon first discovered the nearby village of Sayulita, where they vacationed for a handful of years. The town became a victim of its own success and the abundance of bars and restaurants led the couple to seek out the quieter and more humble El Anclote. There, they would visit for months at a time, home-schooling sons Josh and Garrett. The couple loved how it became a special place for their children, where TV and video games were nowhere to be seen and the family was often on the water together. They got to know the beauty of the peninsula, with its dozens of bird species. They also got to hang out on the surrounding Marietta Islands, a Mexican national park and popular snorkeling and whale-watching area, just a short boat ride away from their current Punta Mita location. “It was nice family time,” says Susan, reminiscing.

Son Garrett now makes a living as a professional snowboarder, his years in this area likely playing a role in his agility. “He was always on a board of some sort,” says Susan. Garrett takes on mountains all over the world and has earned glowing accolades in Snowboard Magazine. That life makes it harder for him to find the time to come down to Mexico these days. Same goes for Josh, who is finishing up his studies in Washington. Their parents, however, travel regularly to Punta Mita to get out on the waves, often for four hours at a time. “The kids are jealous,” she says. “Greg was on the phone telling them how great the surf was the other day.”

The Warnick’s relationship with the area began before any major developers had recognized this location (which has the same latitude as Hawaii) as a surfer’s Mecca. The 16th hole of one of twoJack Nicklaus golf courses is on a beach where they and their boys used to hang shells off a tree and change into their bathing suits. A developed gated community, bordered by the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort on one side and the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita on the other, used to be surrounded by dirt roads when the couple first arrived in 2003. There are now many conveniences for the hotel’s clients and homeowners staying in the homes on the peninsula, a different scene from the few modest shops a decade ago.

The couple say the development may have taken away some of the sleepiness of the old Punta Mita but has brought in many conveniences ­– and it has not sacrificed the area’s natural beauty. There is still a small nearby fishing town to find some authenticity, and they admit that they do enjoy many of the new features of the area, from the brunch at St. Regis to the local yoga class. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Susan.

In 2012, they bought the lot where the house sits. It looks over the bay above what had been their favorite surf break. They were one of the first buyers to move into the 29-unit La Punta Estates, built by the Mexican firm Diné. Their home, calledVilla Lunada, is a four-bedroom two-story house elevated to overlook the bay. It’s welcomed by wide sunrises and has views of the Marietta Islands. An infinity pool wraps around the home’s front, which counts an abundance of lounging areas. There are wide-open indoor-outdoor areas and the home is painted in warm sun-baked hues.

The couple gave the retreat its own organic garden. “We wanted our guests to have fresh herbs and vegetables. You can go out and pick carrots or tomatoes,” said Susan. “Our cook just made us some fresh pesto with a big harvest of basil.” Villa Lunada not only has a local cook for breakfasts and lunches, making modest Mexican fare, but also has a chef available for more sophisticated dinners. There are also plenty of places in the surrounding area to grab a bite or dine, whether it’s at one of the three surrounding beach clubs (you can zip out there with a golf cart that the Warnicks make available) or at some of the high-end restaurants.

The Warnicks say their guests come mainly for the surfing or the golf, and discover along the way a host of water activities in the area, including stand-up paddle boarding, whale watching and snorkeling. There’s also the El Anclote public beach just below.

Greg and Susan love to wake up before sunrise to greet the waves and the new day on the horizon. Other times Greg likes to do yoga on the terrace to the rising sun. Sometimes, in those moments before dawn, Susan will go for a run, with her path having her trespassing across the golf course. “I’m sure I’m not supposed to be doing that,” she confesses and says that, she’s sure those running the golf course would not mind the intrusion. Nevertheless, it seems like a bit of the old bohemian Punta Minta spirit seems to be alive and well in Susan.