Nayarit Travel may not replace Cancun or Los Cabos, but it is on a trajectory to become the next “it” destination in Mexico with a robust Pacific coast line and a phalanx of luxury properties bringing in throngs of discerning visitors.
The small Mexican state, about the size of Maryland at 10,600 square miles, is steadily growing into its own destination with a variety of unique attractions that set it apart from Puerto Vallarta as a convenient and vibrant vacation spot for Americans and Canadians traveling along the Wes Coast.
The location formerly known as Nueva Nayarit rebrand with a new title and is making travel industry suppliers, advisors, and airlines take notice thanks to eco-travel initiatives and a long list of luxury hotels that are in the works.
Nayarit Travel by Numbers
In the first four months of 2023 alone, 323,852 tourists arrives in the Bay of Banderas, a short drive from Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). Most visitors are from the United States (62%) and Canada (38%).
Some 445 domestic and international flights every week, four daily non-stop flights from Los Angeles, and newcomers Swoop and Flair all contribute to the voluminous influx.
New Airport in Tepic
The PVR hub, however, is getting some competition in the region as a new airport in Tepic gets ready for its close-up. As of this month, the airport, formerly known as Riviera Nayarit Airport (TPQ), has gave the name Riviera Nayarit International Airport. As a result, it is establishing border and customs operations that will permit direct flights from other nations right into the heart of Nayarit.
The destination is floods with accommodations and aims to handle the increase in tourism. A quick look at the numbers reveals 28,000 rooms spread across 789 hotels, including 12 grand tourism properties, including all-inclusive resorts, and another 17 in specialized categories, such as ultra-luxury hotels and eco-resorts or both.
Where to Stay in Nayarit
Brands like Vidanta, Fairmont, Rosewood, Westin, Omni, Four Seasons Autograph Collection, and additional Marriott developments are among the new hotels that will debut in 2023 and 2024. With a goal year of 2026, a new Montage and a Pendry resort will come on line as part of the 1,500-acre private peninsula concept in Punta Mita.
Travelers may now choose from a variety of five-star resort alternatives along Nayarit’s 200 miles of coastline, including the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, which had a multimillion-dollar restoration in 2022 that redesign the spa, the pool, and two opulent suites. Also includs are the freshly updates St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, the recently inaugurate Susurros del Corazon, a member of the Auberge Resorts Collection, and the One&Only Mandarina, which features villas perches atop cliffs with ocean views and each with an own plunge pool. In 2024, the Rosewood Mandarina is schedule to debut. By 2025, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is expect to open.
Smaller beach villages with attractive designer stays include the boho-chic Sayulita, Bucerias, and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Consider the Hotel Vogue, which has views of the beach and is close to the town’s restaurants, cafés, and galleries, or the Anjali Casa Divina, a haven for wellness and yoga retreats.
Feast Feats in Nayarit
Those who are interests in cuisine may be aware that eight of Mexico’s top 250 restaurants are located in Nayarit. These include: Carao at the One&Only Mandarina; Aramara at the Four Seasons Punta Mita; Carolina at the St. Regis Punta Mita; El Delfin at the Hotel Garza Canela in San Blas; Emiliano Cocina y Vino in Tepic: Tuna Blanca, Punta de Mita; Hector’s Kitchen, Punta Mita; and Loma 42 Bahia, Nuevo Vallarta.
The zarandeado fish, regarded as a local delicacy, is a must-try in this area.
Nayarit Travel in Travel Times
With the new planned central highway complets in 2024, Nayarit will be even easier to reach and much more convenient for visiting the region’s natural, culinary, and cultural treasures. New drive times from Nayarit’s TPQ airport are a snap:
+ Guadalajara: 2.5 hours
+ Tequila: 90 minutes
+ Nuevo Nayarit: 80 minutes
+ Bucerias: 55 minutes
+ Punta Mita: 50 minutes
+ Sayulita: 40 minutes
+ San Pancho: 32 minutes
+ San Blas: 23 minutes
Magic and Mayhem in Nayarit
When asks what distinguishes Nayarit from other desirable vacation destinations in Mexico, Nayarit’s Secretary of Tourism, Juan Enrique Suarez Del Real Tostado, points out that, aside from the stunning and difficult golf courses, the gastronomic discoveries, and the variety of beach resorts, particularly in the upscale hospitality categories that can be found along the arc that is the Bay of Banderas and in the island of luxury that is Punta Mita, Nayarit is primarily about local magic and the region’s natural beauty.
The destination is drawing a lot of new investments in the most hotel categories, especially the luxury end, and for that there are stringent regulations in place to protect the natural surroundings that the majority of tourists enjoy. The fact that it is a “state of short distances” is advantageous, Tostado adds. A vacation might also involve hiking in the mountains, climbing around volcanoes, exploring La Tovara National Parks to track rare migratory birds, discovering uncommon marine life, and touring Nayarit’s Magic Towns. Tourism officials are working hard to conserve Mexico’s rich cultural heritage while making it easily accessible to those who seek it, much like Nayarit’s natural attractions.
Conclusion: Nayarit Travel
In the southern part of the state, a Magic Towns corridor is being develops where travelers will able to pass through Jala, Ixtlan del Rio, Ahuacatlan, Compostela, and Amatlan de Caas, as well as San Blas and Puerto Balleto, all of which have recently receives UNESCO Heritage designations. Whether it is through history, architecture, gastronomy, or the arts, these distinctive towns and cities are well known for their significance to Mexican culture. 45 of the 123 municipalities that applly for inclusion in the program this year were granted it.
“We want to create a route of pueblos magicos with local experts showing people around,” Tostado announces at a tourism trade show held last February in Nayarit. “If one town is famous for a special bread or cookies, we want people to come and learn to make the local food. We will also invest in more trails for hiking as we have great things to do outdoors.”
Get Social