Five years ago the Riviera Nayarit was relatively unheard of.
But the Riviera Nayarit, a 200-mile stretch of Mexican Pacific coast, has recently seen an insane amount of development funding both from the government as well as private developers. Almost every luxury hotel brand has built a hotel on the Rivieria Nyarit in the past five years; Four Seasons, InterContinental and St. Regis to name just a few.
Today when we hear about the Riviera Nayarit, people are usually are talking about the area from Sayulita heading south about 30 miles down into Puerto Vallerta. This is the zone where the bulk of tourism development has taken place.
But what about the other 170 miles stretching north along the Pacific coast? While the region itself can’t be considered undiscovered any longer, there are most certainly pockets of undiscovered gems that remain.
Charming fishing villages flush with local flavor. Absolutely. The ocean on one side and mountains on the other? Yes! If you’re looking for something low-key and private, check out these undiscovered corners of Riviera Nayarit.
Here are the top undiscovered beaches where you’ll find the luxury of solitude in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit.
Playa Chacala: Located just South of the rapidly expanding town of San Blas, Chacala is refreshingly undiscovered. While Chacala was a booming Mexican commercial port 100 years ago, today this sleepy village has only about 300 full time residents. Until last year when a new road was built this village was difficult to access, which is one of the reasons it’s been able to stay small and retain its charm.
Chacala’s main draw is a calm bay with gentle surf, perfect for swimming, and the cliffs of Punta del Burro on the other side. Somewhat conversely, Chacala is also the entry point to some of the best surfing in the area.
The Mar de Jade is a charming boutique hotel in the area, with large yoga halls overlooking the Pacific ocean. Much of the food is sourced from their own organic garden. Read about their story, and how they came to Chacala back in 1983, here. In addition to operating the hotel and wellness retreats, the owners are dedicated to providing education and employment to the local community, and have been for over 30 years.
Los Ayala: Street vendors, barefoot tourists and alfresco restaurants lend to the casual and low-key vibe of Los Ayala.
And like in Chacala, Los Ayala boasts a beautiful half-mile long, palm-fringed beach. It’s perfect for swimming with soft, golden sand, a gradually sloping shoreline and crystal clear waters. With calm weather and tide conditions, here at Los Ayala the blue Pacific water takes on a Caribbean green hue. Locals say with pride that Los Ayala has one of the most beautiful swimming beaches on Pacific Mexico’s coast. And I agree!
If you’re looking to experience authentic Mexican culture, this is the most “local” beach of Nayarit. It bustles with local activity on weekends and holidays.
San Francisco (also called San Pancho): Continuing south to San Francisco (San Pancho), in addition to the beach, there are numerous small, less-visited rocky coves are worth discovering here. San Francisco is the go-to beach for a private villa rental experience, as most of the beach here is private with some public access points.
Since the waves break close to shore over a mix of sand and rocks, the waves hit heavy and fast, which can be dangerous. While Playa San Francisco beach is not recommended for swimming and beginner surfing, many advanced surfers love the large waves. There are two beach restaurants where you can enjoy cocktails and dinner while taking in the sunset. San Pancho beach is beautiful and clean, with an estuary at the south end, crating a lovely sanctuary for birds and wildlife. There are several small hotels, B&Bs and charming restaurants here as well as an active, involved expat community.
Here you also have an amazing village life and opportunity to watch the expert surfers and Mexico’s second largest polo club, La Patrona Polo Club, with a season from November to May.
Destiladeras Beach: The premier beach on the Banderas Bay, Destiladeras consists of several miles of white sand, fabulous surf, and a great swimming beach.This is one to most urgently get to while you can. Destiladeras Beach is a long time favorite of the locals, and it’s also soon to be home to a number of new tourism developments.
Check out Rancho Banderas if you’re there for a day trip. You can rent their chairs for the day and enjoy their beachfront service. Buy a cold beer and some food from one of the vendors right on the beach.
On Sundays and holidays, Destiladeras is a destination for local Mexican families who flock there in thousands to enjoy beach barbecue, bands and of course la playa.
All of these towns are all easily accessible by car or bus from Puerto Vallerta, the main gateway to the region. From there you can arrange for a taxi from the airport to these beaches. The cost is between $60.00 to $80.00 for 1 to 4 people. If the driver doesn’t know the exact spot you’re heading to, don’t worry. Once you’ve arrived in town, everyone in town knows each other and even the kids can give you directions to a specific hotel or restaurant.
What other undiscovered Nayarit gems would you include?
All photos Courtesy of Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau