Sayulita and Vicinity

Northbound, about a half-hour ride north of Puerto Vallarta [1], Highway 200 bends away from the Bay of Banderas [2] shoreline and climbs a low range of mountains. Very quickly the roadside foliage turns attractively lush, with grand vine-draped trees that at times create a leafy green tunnel over the highway.

Although not strictly a rain forest, this Nayarit [3] coastal forest is a well-watered jungly landscape, festooned with trees, shrubs, and flowering vines that provide a rich habitat for uncounted dozens of animal species, both common and endangered.

Along the highway, the forest sometimes gives way to a roadside village, decorated with small orchards. Signs at intersections announce the beachfront towns along the way. Once purely fishing villages, they’re now growing vacation havens for mostly international travelers during the winter, and Mexican vacationers during traditional holiday seasons.