Family Photos at Hole 3B “The Tail of the Whale” — Punta Mita
The most special place I know for photos in Punta Mita
I’ve been photographing families in Punta Mita for years, and if you ask me my favorite spot in the whole area, the answer never changes: the stretch of beach around the “Tail of the Whale,” the famous island green on the Pacifico course.
It’s not just the setting — although the setting alone would be enough: white sand, a green that seems to float on the ocean, and that Pacific swell that shifts color depending on the time of day. It’s the combination of all of that with late-afternoon light and the feeling of standing somewhere that genuinely doesn’t exist on any other golf course in the world.
What is “The Tail of the Whale”?
This hole is part of the Pacifico course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and it’s officially Hole 3B — an optional hole (also called the “19th hole”) played after hole 3. It’s nicknamed “the tail of the whale” because the green’s undulating shape resembles just that, and because the rocky point it sits on is, in fact, a real whale-watching spot.
It’s a 199-yard par-3 from the tee to a green sitting on a natural island in the open water — the only natural island green in the world, according to the resort itself. At low tide, a stone path appears connecting the shore to the island; when the tide comes in, an amphibious golf cart carries players across. That same tide is exactly what determines how the area looks — and how it can be photographed — on any given day, which is why every session here is genuinely one of a kind.
The meeting point: Pacifico Beach Club
For sessions in this area, I meet clients at Pacifico Beach Club, one of Punta Mita’s community beach clubs, right along this stretch of beach. From there we walk toward the green — a short walk, but one where the view keeps changing at every stretch: first the club’s palapa and sand, then the rocky strip, and finally the open view toward the island green.
What to expect from your session here
- Timing: we coordinate around the tide and the light — late afternoon usually gives the best tones over the water.
- The walk: walking is part of the experience; comfortable footwear for sand and rock is recommended.
- Families, couples, full generations: this spot works beautifully for larger groups thanks to the width of the beach and the natural backdrop of the green.
If you’re coming to Punta Mita and want photos that capture this one-of-a-kind place, with the tail of the whale in the background, I’d love to put your session together.
