Fly into Puerto Vallarta (there are nonstop connections from a number of U.S. cities) and make your way to Casa Kimberly, a nine-room hotel tucked away on a narrow street in the Centro neighborhood, the city’s oldest quarter. Book a Diamond Suite or the Elizabeth Taylor Suite; both options have broad terraces with views of Puerto Vallarta and the sea.

You might start by having a walk down the bridge to Isla Cuale and following the footpath toward the Pacific. The route is lined with colorful (if touristy) market stalls. Pause perhaps at the western tip of the island for a tasting of tequila and raicilla at Oscar’s Distillery, or continue up the stairs to the Puente Rio Cuale, the bridge over where the Cuale River meets the ocean. Turn right, back toward Centro, and walk along the Malecón, a seaside promenade lined with bronze sculptures. Casa Kimberly is uphill near the top of the quarter.

Order room service cocktails to enjoy on your terrace before dinner in the hotel’s lively indoor-outdoor restaurant.

Explore the art galleries of Centro today. The Wednesday-evening Art Walk is the most popular time to gallery-hop, but there’s little advantage to it. I prefer visiting at other times, when the galleries are quieter. Favorites of mine include the Galería Corsica, the Galería Omar Alonso and the Galería de Ollas. There’s quite a concentration of options in the vicinity of Leona Vicario’s intersections with Guadalupe Sánchez and Juárez.

Break for lunch at La Palapa, a seafood-focused restaurant on the beach in the Zona Romántica.

Walk back along Lázaro Cárdenas, one of Puerto Vallarta’s most colorful and character-rich streets, turning left on Aguacate to head across the Cuale River and return to Casa Kimberly.

Dine out tonight. I quite enjoyed Tintoque and Café des Artistes, and had time permitted, I would have happily reviewed places like D’Cortes, La Fina Cocina de Barrio, Icú, La Leche and Makal.

Continue your explorations in town today, or perhaps take a water taxi to the beaches and waterfalls on the south side of the Bay of Banderas, many of which are inaccessible by car. Alternatively, book one of the whale-watching cruises that depart daily from the sculptural Playa los Muertos pier (in season). And consider taking advantage of one of the spa treatment rooms at Casa Kimberly; massages tend to be much less expensive here than at the resorts on the coast.

Depart Puerto Vallarta and head for Riviera Nayarit, about an hour’s drive away. We recommend five properties here.

Farthest south is the Four Seasons Punta Mita, located on the exclusive Punta Mita peninsula. For golfers, this recently renovated resort is the clear choice, since it abuts two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. The Punta Mita Pacifico course in particular is famous for its unique “Tail of the Whale” hole, 3B, which has the world’s only green on a natural island (at high tide, only the more conventional hole 3A is playable). The Four Seasons is an excellent choice for families as well as couples.

Set on a private peninsula in Punta Mita, 15-bungalow Naviva is Four Seasons’ first all-inclusive retreat. Its biophilic design puts nature front and center, and sustainability is a focus. Accommodations come in two categories: 1,259-square-foot Ocean-View Bungalows and 1,604-square-foot Ocean-View Grand Bungalows. The all-day restaurant, Copal, is open-air and menu-free. Daily experiences offered include water sports, whale watching, Mexican-wine tastings, hiking, yoga and temazcal ceremonies. (Guests under the age of 16 are not permitted.)

Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Collection is an 82-room beach resort just minutes east of Punta Mita on a cove overlooking the Bay of Banderas. Guest accommodations begin at 800 square feet, while suites range from 1,460 to 2,400 square feet, each designed in a spa-inspired palette that leans toward tropical minimalism. Organic touches, such as wooden headboards, stone walls and locally crafted sculptures, have an understated elegance. There are two open-air restaurants and three terraced infinity pools that flow toward the beach.

Casita Mia de Mita is an eight-room inn with a traditional Mexican décor that fosters a convivial house-party atmosphere. Since children under 16 are not permitted, this hideaway is best suited to couples and solo travelers. Staying here feels a bit like staying in the charming vacation home of your wealthy Mexican friends.

Farthest north is the luxe One&Only Mandarina, a fine choice for couples, families and solo travelers alike. Its 105 accommodations occupy steep hillsides that often afford splendid views of the Pacific. Two pools (one adults-only) jut out from bluffs over the sea, another is right behind a broad golden beach, and a third is in part of the jungle spa complex. This property isn’t as close to world-class golf, but it does offer impressive polo-themed stables, a kids’ club with a dramatic treehouse, hiking and all the usual water sports.

Take a full day to settle into the resort of your choice. Perhaps reserve a table for dinner, but otherwise leave the day open to do whatever you want in the moment.

Take at least three more full days to enjoy your resort and explore the surrounding area.

If you’re staying at one of the properties on or near Punta Mita, consider an excursion to Las Marietas, a small archipelago just off the coast famous for its “hidden beach.” Accessible only by swimming through a rock tunnel at low tide, the beach is entirely surrounded by a crater and gently lapped by water passing through the tunnel. It’s a tourism poster come to life. Only 116 permits to visit the beach are issued per day, and time there is limited to 30 minutes. The archipelago also offers fine snorkeling (when the water is clear) and other scenic beaches. Note: If you’re staying at the One&Only Mandarina, consider doing this excursion while you’re in Puerto Vallarta instead.

Otherwise, spend your time relaxing at your resort’s beach, pool(s) and spa and perhaps doing some hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling, diving or sailing. Here’s our list of activities to consider in Punta Mita.

Book an afternoon flight out of Puerto Vallarta to allow yourself one more leisurely morning at your resort. All these properties are between 50 and 90 minutes from the airport.