The Nayarit Coast

Nayarit’s long tufted coastline is one of the hidden, untouristed gems of the Mexican Pacific shore. Its beauty—verdant mountain and shoreline forests, orchard-swathed plains, and curving yellow strands of sand—is largely natural. Nevertheless, the amenities of civilization are abundant in the Nayarit Coast’s necklace of petite, hidden beachside resorts—Sayulita [1], Playa San Francisco [2], Lo de Marcos [3], Rincón de Guayabitos [4], Chacala [5], and San Blas [6]—that offer an exceptional mix of South Seas delights.

Beach sunning and strolling; fishing; bird-, dolphin-, and whale-watching; wilderness camping; adventure sports opportunities; and comfortable hotels and good restaurants to boot await those willing to follow the road an hour or two north of Puerto Vallarta [7].

First stop along the way should be Sayulita [1], once mostly the home of fishing families and oyster divers. Now, it’s a haven for a winter platoon of youthful foreign sunbathers and surfer wannabes.

A few miles farther north, San Francisco [2] (or locally, San Pancho) still retains its sleepy beach-village ambience, but is also home to a growing community of North American vacationers and retirees.

The magnet of Lo de Marcos [3] is its wide, family-friendly beach. The same is true of Rincón de Guayabitos [4]. It’s the hands-down favorite Mexican-family resort of the entire Nayarit Coast.

Playa Chacala [5] has a creamy half-moon beach and a pair of rustic-chic hotel-spas and San Blas [6] has become a jumping-off point for natural adventures.

And finally, Tepic [8], the Nayarit state capital, nestled in its fertile volcano-rimmed valley.

The Best of the Nayarit Coast [9]

• Sayulita [1]
• Playa San Francisco [2]
• Alta Vista Archaeological Sacred Site [10]
• Playa Chacala [5]
• La Tovara Jungle River Trip [11]
• Mexcaltitán [12]
• Crater Lake Santa María del Oro [13]