Riviera Nayarit.

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN/MEXICO/21.5432° N, 105.2654° W

Smoke from split mangrove wood drifts across Highway 200, where the slopes of Sierra de Vallejo meet Pacific surf. Running two hundred miles from Banderas Bay up to the marshes of San Blas, the coast shifts from tidy beach enclaves to working boat ramps. Snook is butterflied and roasted for pescado zarandeado at roadside palapas, while longboarders trade sets off point breaks. It remains an honest coastal strip with cold beer and exceptional seafood.

Last updated 4 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Latin America & Caribbean / Mexico21.54°N 105.27°W
Riviera Nayarit — Sunset Royal Decameron, Riviera Nayarit
Sunset Royal Decameron, Riviera Nayarit · Wikimedia Commons
Riviera Nayarit — Atardecer en Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Atardecer en Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit · Wikimedia Commons

What Riviera Nayarit is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

LOCAL SEAFOOD

Order pescado zarandeado, where snook is basted in ancho chile and slow-roasted over wood coals at beachside palapas in Boca de Camichín.

COASTAL SURFING

Catch long, rolling rights at Sayulita, peelers off Punta Burros, or heavier beach breaks along the open coastline of San Pancho.

BIRDWATCHING

Board a panga through the mangrove estuaries of La Tovara National Park near San Blas to spot boat-billed herons and northern potoos.

INDIGENOUS CRAFTS

Wixárika artisans sell intricate yarn paintings and micro-beaded figures in roadside galleries across Bucerías and Sayulita.

ISLAND EXCURSIONS

Take a permitted skiff out from Punta de Mita to the volcanic arches and hidden cavern beach of the protected Islas Marietas.

STREET FOOD

Track down ceviche de sierra tossed with ground mackerel and lime, alongside crisp tacos de mariscos along Avenida del Palmar in San Pancho.

COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

Climb to the eighteenth-century stone ruins of La Contaduría and the parish church of San Blas for views over the Pacific shipping lanes.

JUNGLE TRAILS

Hike shady dirt tracks through the Sierra de Vallejo biosphere reserve to reach secluded coves like Playa Malpaso and Playa Cuevas.

TOWN MARKETS

Browse Thursday stalls in Peñita de Jaltemba for dried habaneros, Ataulfo mangos, local raicilla, and woven Mexican hammocks.

WHALE WATCHING

Watch humpback whales breach across Banderas Bay between December and March, accompanied by local marine biologists in certified pangas.

FISHING VILLAGES

Watch small pangas haul in sea bream and red snapper at dawn along the calm harbour docks of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Chacala.

REGIONAL SPIRITS

Sip artisanal raicilla distilled from wild Maximiliana agave in the foothill villages tucked behind the Sierra de Vallejo.

Where to go in Riviera Nayarit

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    Sayulita

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Catch morning surf off the main beach before taco stalls and lively coastal bars take over the square.

  2. 02
    San Pancho

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    A calmer, arts-focused beach town with quiet dirt lanes and exceptional roadside dining.

  3. 03
    Punta de Mita

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    The launch point for boat trips to Islas Marietas, framed by rugged headlands and upscale dining.

  4. 04
    San Blas

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Historic port town with eighteenth-century ruins, mangrove boat tours, and unvarnished seafood shacks.

  5. 05
    Bucerías

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Wide sandy shoreline, daily craft markets, and a working Mexican town rhythm along Banderas Bay.

  6. 06
    La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Home to a modern marina, a morning fish market right off the docks, and traditional seafood restaurants.

  7. 07
    Chacala

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    A crescent-shaped cove backed by jungle, ideal for swimming and eating grilled snapper under palapa roofs.

  8. 08
    Lo de Marcos

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    A sleepy, unpretentious beach village where fishermen mend nets and life moves at an easy walking pace.

  9. 09
    Rincón de Guayabitos

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Sheltered, pool-calm bay popular with Mexican families, lined with fruit vendors and excursion pangas.

  10. 10
    La Peñita de Jaltemba

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    A bustling working-class market hub featuring the best open-air tianguis on the central coast.

  11. 11
    Mezcales

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Inland crossroads town where locals go for authentic birria de chivo and everyday provisions.

  12. 12
    Santa María del Oro

    NAYARIT / MEXICO

    Highland volcanic crater lake ringed by freshwater restaurants serving fried tilapia with warm tortillas.

What to do in Riviera Nayarit

Riviera Nayarit curves along western Mexico, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the rising green ridges of Sierra de Vallejo. Days follow the rhythm of the tides and the woodsmoke from roadside grills. Surfers, seafood enthusiasts, and quiet explorers will appreciate how easily it balances open surf breaks with drowsy fishing villages, far from the all-inclusive bubble of large purpose-built resorts.

When to go to Riviera Nayarit

November through April offers dry, sunny days and comfortable evenings, with humpback whales active in Banderas Bay from December to March. Peak holiday weeks in December and Easter bring heavy domestic crowds. May through October is hot, humid, and rainy, bringing lush foliage, bigger surf swells, and quiet beaches.

Getting around Riviera Nayarit

Puerto Vallarta airport sits just south of the state line. Rental cars offer the easiest way to hop along Highway 200 between surf spots. White Compostela buses connect coastal towns reliably from Puerto Vallarta to San Blas every thirty minutes, while local pangas handle island trips and mangrove excursions.