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Mexico’s Next Big Thing
Psst…I have a secret to share with you…
Nestled along the west coast of Mexico just north of Puerto Vallarta is a region that is developing into “The Next Big Thing” for travelers. Riviera Nayarit is a 100-mile stretch of coastline bordered by the Sierra Madre Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and word is just now getting out about all that this still mostly undeveloped region has to offer.
Nature is the biggest tourist draw here, and in addition to surfing and relaxing on the pristine and uncrowded beaches that line its shores, outdoor enthusiasts can visit the renowned La Tovara National Park, test their mettle with survival skills training and jungle adventures in the nearby mountains, scuba dive and snorkel in Banderas Bay, and angle for sport fish off the coast.
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La Tovara National Park is one of the region’s most brilliant gems, and in winter is one of the world’s best sites for bird watching. With 80 percent of the Pacific migratory shore bird population calling this area home during the winter months, bird enthusiasts have the opportunity to spot more than 250 species of birds. But there is reason to visit during other seasons as well, and a boat ride along the park’s lazy river provides an opportunity to spot a large number of turtles and crocodiles, some resting within feet of your boat.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can interact with nature in a controlled setting, plan a visit Vallarta Adventures in Nuevo Vallarta, where you can swim with dolphins; play with sea lions; head out in the ocean for whale watching; or go sailing, snorkeling or scuba diving.
If you’re looking to be pampered on your visit to Riviera Nayarit, there are myriad options. Just north of Puerto Vallarta, resorts line the beach for several miles from Nuevo Vallarta through Flamingos and Bucerias.
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| Grand Velas Resort, Nuevo Vallarta |
Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta is a AAA 5 Diamond all-inclusive resort that features exceptional dining, world-class hospitality and luxurious hotel accommodations in a spectacular setting, and every room has a view of the ocean.
The Grand Mayan, also in Nuevo Vallarta, is a AAA 4 Diamond resort that boasts amenities such as a luxurious spa, a wave pool that the kids will fall in love with, and an 18-hole golf course originally designed by the prestigious Jim Lipe and soon to reopen following a redesign by Jack Nicklaus Design. Golf enthusiasts have other options here as well, as the region is home to seven major courses.
If you’d rather stay in more modest accommodations, there are scores of hotels, motels, bungalows, and bed & breakfasts throughout the region in all price ranges. And because this area has not yet become the major tourist attraction it is destined to be, most are exceptionally affordable.
Dining in Riviera Nayarit is a feast for the palate. Options run the gamut from small local restaurants with authentic Mexican dishes that cater to locals (although tourists are always welcomed with open arms), to gourmet international cuisine that compares to the best in any city in the world.
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| El Delfin restaurant |
For a special treat, dine at the El Delfin restaurant the Hotel Garza Canela in San Blas at the northernmost tip of Riviera Nayarit. Owner and chef Betty Vasquez studied at The Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts in Paris, and she uses her expertise to fuse Mexican ingredients with classic European cooking techniques, resulting in a truly unique menu that is all about flavors, textures, scents and colors.
Perhaps the most exceptional aspect of a vacation in Riviera Nayarit is the opportunity to make your way up (or down) the coast, casually passing from one town into another. The locals throughout are friendly, the shops charming and the food exceptional. Because the region is growing and not overrun with tourists, you’ll find “real” Mexico here. No slick corporate facades, no filtered culture, just a sense that you’ve discovered a secret that the rest of the world has not discovered.
Yet.