PUERTO VALLARTA AND SURROUNDINGS
We invite you to explore them!
South of Puerto Vallarta, on the road to Barra de Navidad, is one of the most spectacular areas, between the Sierra Madre mountains and the sea, with wonderful views of the Bay of Banderas. Conchas Chinas is one of the oldest residential areas of the city, with elegant homes, as well as small and beautiful beaches. Some call it the Beverly Hills of Vallarta, because of its distinguished style and its residences and villas nestled in the hills.
Further south the highway runs along the coast, connecting with Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán, continuing to the so-called Costalegre de Jalisco, a tourist area formed by five coastlines: Barra de Navidad, Tenacatita, Costa Careyes, Bahía de Chamela and Costa Majahuas, 300 kilometers of pure natural beauty!
Costalegre is currently in the development stage with a view to becoming one of the great international tourist destinations in the state of Jalisco, with super-luxury investments from international hotel chains such as One & Only, Four Seasons and Cheval Blanc by Louis Vuitton, to name a few.
Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Downtown captures the history and legacy of the city and everything in it revolves around the authentic Mexican spirit. From its architecture and colorful traditions, to the friendliness of its people and its gastronomy. Highlights include the traditional Malecon promenade and the neighborhoods of 5 de Diciembre, Del Cerro and Barrio Gringo (Gringo Gulch), which boast the traditional mountain architecture of white walls and red tiles.
Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon, besides being an iconic site of this city, has become an important showcase for various artistic exhibits, in addition to having an important entertainment offer of bars, cafes and nightclubs. Along the 2 km long boardwalk, visitors can enjoy interesting exhibits, such as sculptures by some Mexican artists, as well as a whimsical collection of bronze sculptures, including the emblematic seahorse.
In front of the malecon is the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, which is almost 100 years old and is the main icon of the city. To the south is the Cuale River Island and the municipal market, an area where visitors can do some shopping.
The neighborhood known as “Gringo Goulch” is another local landmark. It is a redoubt for the first North Americans who settled in Puerto Vallarta in the 50s and 60s. There you will find the Kimberly House that belonged to actress Elizabeth Taylor. It is located at the top of the hill, behind the Guadalupe Parish Church.
One of the trendiest areas in Puerto Vallarta is undoubtedly the Versalles neighborhood. In the last few years it has become one of the most outstanding places, with new and diverse options for all tastes.
There are residential areas close to stores and shopping malls such as Sam’s, Walmart and Costco, but it is also home to modern condominium buildings, bars and avant-garde restaurants, with a very good gastronomic option for locals and tourists.
In a cosmopolitan atmosphere, it is possible to find high quality restaurants, both Mexican and international cuisine, and even vegan offerings, as well as charming cafes.
The so-called hotel zone of Puerto Vallarta concentrates most of the hotels that have been built in the city over the years. This area begins in Marina Vallarta and extends southward to the historic downtown.
Some of the city’s largest resorts and hotels are located in this area. Chain hotels such as Marriott, Sheraton and Holiday Inn share space with more local hotels such as the Krystal, Las Palmas and the Crown Paradise. Most of the properties are located by the sea and offer easy access to the beaches.
Recently, along with hotels, there has also been an increase in the development of condominium apartment buildings, and although there are many options in all categories, they are united by the quality of service and the recognized warmth of the locals.
Whether with family, friends or just your partner, this exclusive subdivision has plenty to offer to tourists and travelers. It is a modern and planned urban area, known for its elegant condominiums and residences, extensive beaches with calm waves and a large marina.
You will be welcomed at the entrance of the development by the iconic sculpture of the whale and its whale calf; further on you will find the hotel area, some of them prestigious international chains, as well as the boardwalk, where you will find several restaurants, art galleries, water sports stores and handicraft and decoration stores. Another landmark of the area is an emblematic lighthouse that has a restaurant bar at the top, overlooking the marina and the Sierra Madre mountain.
One of its main attractions is the marina, where you can admire the hundreds of yachts, boats and tourist boats that are anchored at the docks, some of which can be rented for a tour around Banderas Bay.
Jarretaderas is a small typical Mexican village located in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, in the Riviera Nayarit, just 9 km north of Puerto Vallarta. The main advantage of this community is its proximity to the hotel zone of Fraccionamiento Náutico y Turístico Nuevo Vallarta. The village is only a 5-minute walk from the best beaches of this development.
In recent years, this quiet community has begun to show great activity and growth, largely due to its proximity to the Vidanta hotel complex, which is building one of the most ambitious projects in Mexico, the Vidanta World theme park.
It is the most important Nautical Tourism of the last decades in Mexico, and in it you can find the most important hotels, as well as condominium buildings, beach clubs, golf courses, a marina and the residential area. Many of the residences that have been developed there have access to the estuary channel that runs for 7 km and flows into the sea.
The tourist services available there are of high quality, with five-star and Grand Tourism hotels, which is why this complex is considered one of the most successful nationally and internationally.
In its navigable canals and connected to the main wetland of the area, El Quelele Lagoon, Nuevo Vallarta shelters and protects lizards, badgers, raccoons, white-tailed deer, birds and iguanas among other species, which are treated and managed when necessary by specialists and according to the laws that protect these species in the country.
Nuevo Vallarta is also a very attractive place to stroll along its avenues, such as the Paseo de los Cocoteros, which has a cycling track in the central avenue and is becoming more and more popular with tourists who ride bicycles (provided by the hotels where they stay). You can also walk along the track or practice jogging.
Bucerías, the “Diver’s Place”, is everything the tourist can imagine when they talk about an “authentic Mexican town”. Thanks to its extensive and uncrowded beaches, it preserves the feeling of an almost unexplored place in spite of being one of the most visited in the Riviera Nayarit.
The mix of luxury hotels, restaurants and activities make this area, very close to Nuevo Vallarta and Flamingos, a perfect combination for a splendid vacation.
This once fishing village attracts those who do not want the hustle and bustle and traffic of Puerto Vallarta, but desire the amenities of a resort town. On the other hand, it is one of the fastest growing real estate communities in recent years.
An important component of the attractions of this town is its gastronomy, which you can try in any of the restaurants located near the main square, although the ones on Lázaro Cárdenas Street are the most famous and specialized.
This destination is also the winter home of thousands of Canadians and North Americans, which gives it a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Before we begin talking about Punta de Mita, we should clarify one thing. Punta de Mita is not the same as Punta Mita. The first is a region that until just over 20 years ago was home to a small fishing village that evolved to become one of the areas with the highest added value in the entire Bay of Banderas. Punta Mita, on the other hand, is a private development where some of the most luxurious resorts are located.
Both areas are located on a small peninsula, facing the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by green hills and thick vegetation. Some of the most beautiful beaches are located there, such as Destiladeras, El Anclote and Las Cuevas. Also, a few kilometers away are the Marietas Islands with its famous Playa del Amor, which has become an icon of the Riviera Nayarit, and is an ecological sanctuary known for its reefs, ideal for snorkeling and diving.
In Punta de Mita the beach with the most tourist activity is El Anclote, with calm waves, ideal for kayaking and stand up paddle, and even surfing; you can find instructors there. There are also stores, art galleries and a gastronomic corridor.
On the other side, in Punta Mita, golf lovers can practice their best swing in two formidable courses, Punta Mita Bahia and Punta Mita Pacifico. The latter is home to the 3-B hole known as “Cola de Ballena” (Whale’s Tail), whose green is located on a natural island and is unique in the world. Both courses were designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Litibu is an integrally planned development, located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Riviera Nayarit, between green hills and the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean, where nature tourism enthusiasts will feel right in their element.
Currently, there are luxury hotels of international chains such as the American Conrad Hilton and the Spanish Iberostar, as well as a magnificent golf course designed by Greg Norman, which has been designed with the peculiarity of having 8 of its 18 holes in the virgin jungle.
The place is ideal for extreme sports and eco-adventure, with beaches of fine sand and calm waves. The beaches you should visit are Punta Negra and Careyeros, extensive and rarely visited.
Five minutes from Litibú is Higuera Blanca, a town that maintains its agricultural-fishing identity intact, immersed among abundant hills and bathed by the Pacific Ocean. The town is very quiet to live in, but very active for sports and adventure activities, whale watching and turtle release.
If San Pancho and Lo de Marcos are a synonym for calm and tranquility, Sayulita is, on the contrary, a riot of activity. In this coastal town located on the Riviera Nayarit, a cosmopolitan air and a friendly and relaxed atmosphere can be experienced, with a vibe similar to the sixties’ slogan: peace and love.
That boho-chic vibe is present in its streets, stores, Huichol art galleries and, of course, in its accommodations, which range from hostels and boutique hotels to camping spaces.
Like most of the coastal towns of the Riviera Nayarit, it has a lot to offer to beach and water sports lovers. Its beaches with strong waves are ideal for surfing, which is one of the sports that have made this town famous.
To the southwest and sheltered among rocks, you will find the famous Los Muertos beach, we recommend it for its privileged landscapes, ideal for sunbathing.
Discover the charm of Sayulita, its diverse gastronomic options, dive into its galleries and markets, and enjoy its endless energy.
Its name is San Francisco, but everyone affectionately calls it “San Pancho”, an old fishing village distinguished both for its natural beauty and its artistic offerings. It is located in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, between the coastal towns of Sayulita and Lo de Marcos and is part of the Riviera Nayarit tourist corridor.
San Pancho is a magnet not only for tourists but also for national and international artists who, in many cases, have become residents or frequent visitors who coexist simultaneously in a cosmopolitan environment, enjoying the artistic and multicultural environment of this quiet community.
There you will find everything from cultural centers, galleries, craft stalls, hostels, bakeries, cafes and small restaurants, to soccer fields, golf, polo and luxurious beach residences.
On the beach, just at the end of Tercer Mundo Avenue, you will find rustic restaurants where you can enjoy authentic Nayarit coastal cuisine: ceviches, aguachiles, grilled fish and many other delicacies that you will surely love.
Undoubtedly, San Pancho is the town that many dream of to retire and find peace, nature and beauty everywhere, and that with its spirit of community work has been able to evolve without losing its essence.
If you want to leave behind the stress, noise and destinations full of tourists, you will love Lo de Marcos. Located on the Mexican Pacific coast, in the Riviera Nayarit, its charm lies in the fact that it still preserves the essence of a Mexican village, surrounded by green hills and accompanied by the sound of the waves, which will envelop you in an atmosphere of unparalleled ease.
Lo de Marcos has evolved at its own pace, so don’t expect to find large resorts or restaurants with signature cuisines. However, that does not mean that it does not have adequate services to meet the needs of visitors, such as bungalows, villas, comfortable hotel rooms and a well-equipped trailer park. The winter season sees the greatest influx of travelers with motor homes.
The beaches are very clean and with enough space to sunbathe, swim, or enjoy the typical dishes of the sea in some of the rustic restaurants. We recommend you to visit Los Venados, Las Minitas and El Atracadero beaches, which are seldom visited, so you can turn them into your private beaches for a day.
