Guayabitos · Riviera Nayarit Mexico’s Newest Destination is Unveiled
Guayabitos is a popular Mexican family vacation resort. Sport fishing, whale watching, snorkeling, bird watching, horseback riding, hiking, and more are all available right here.
La Penita is the main town for the area with banks, doctors, dentists, many stores, and the weekly Thursday Market that is very popular with locals and tourists alike.
Los Ayala is a delightful neighboring town, and just an easy walk or taxi ride from La Vita Condos. ‘Palapa’ restaurants on the beach prepare fresh fish and shrimp for lunch.
Chacala is a historic small town where the Spaniards landed to start coffee plantations. At Alta Vista coffee groves still produce great local, organic coffee. You can take a boat ride from Guayabitos to Chacala and enjoy a fresh fish lunch prepared at the “palapa” restaurants on the beach.
La Tobara, southeast of San Blas, is known for its mangroves, which form an ecosystem of natural canals, surrounded and covered by jungle vegetation and diverse fauna, including crocodiles. Boats are available starting at 9 am for the ride along the estuary – which is a birder’s delight! A swimming pool, with a fence to keep the crocodiles out is at the end of the canal. Delicious food is available at the restaurant before your return.
San Blas is a birder’s paradise and has a beautiful long sandy beach awaiting you. During the Spanish colonial days the town’s port supplied the Missions in California. It also served as a departure point for exploration throughout the Pacific Ocean, as far north as Bering Straits in Alaska. Remnants of the Fort, the fishing port and other historic buildings are in evidence.
Mexcatitlan, easily accessible by “boat taxi” is a small island of floating mangroves that is reputed to be the birthplace of the Aztecs. The island provides a fascinating look back in history. Shrimp fishing is the main source of income for the local population.
Riviera Nayarit: Mexico’s Newest Destination is Unveiled
There is a great new destination in Mexico and now it has a name: Riviera Nayarit. With the launch of this exciting destination, comes an amazing transformation of 100 miles of Pacific coastline that unfolds just minutes north of Puerto Vallarta International Airport, which will continue to develop over the next decade. Already this spectacular destination has 12,000 hotel rooms and condos.
The area starts at River Ameca, which is the border of Nayarit with state of Jalisco goes as far north as colonial town San Blas. Riviera Nayarit emphasis is protected ecosystem including Pacific coast, Sierra Madre Mountains, nature and wildlife. Whale watching, viewing of sea turtle preservation efforts and snorkeling in clear aquamarine waters to get closer to colorful coral reefs and underwater sea species are right there. Precious ecological sanctuaries for rare birds are located in Isla Marietas and La Tovara National Park.
North of Banderas Bay are miles of seemingly endless white sand beaches. Continuing north is Sayulita a popular surfing town. Driving along the thickly forested and scenic two lane highway, you cannot resist stopping at colorful roadside markets to sample homemade candies, fresh juices and tropical fruits, where there are several friendly fishing villages like Rincon de Guayabitos along the way.
Riviera Nayarit’s cultural history dates back thousands of years, encompassing four ethnic traditions, including the pre-Columbian cultures and the Huicholes. Nayarit’s excellent preservation of its culture can be seen in its native Huichole who have preserved their rich culture and ancient beliefs through their art. The Huicholes are renowned for the detailed beaded sculptures that contain elaborate symbols borne out of their culture and shamanistic traditions.
Mexcatitlan is a small island of floating mangroves that is reputed to be the birthplace of the Aztecs. Archeological sites with hundreds of petroglyphs and vestiges of ancient villages remain still waiting to become accessible to visitors.
With every visit to Riviera Nayarit, there is always something new to discover and the essence of this destination will rejuvenate and excite you!