Beach towns north of Puerto Vallarta
Surf breaks, a quiet grid town and a sheltered swimming bay all sit within a short stretch of Highway 200 north of Puerto Vallarta. Sayulita, San Pancho, Lo de Marcos, Guayabitos and La Peñita each su…
Riviera Nayarit travel notes
Notes from the quieter stretch of Mexico's Pacific coast north of Puerto Vallarta, around La Peñita de Jaltemba and Rincón de Guayabitos. Where to stay, which beach towns to see, what to eat, and how the seasons change a trip.
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Small inn or private casita on the Riviera Nayarit
Breakfast on a shared courtyard or coffee alone on your own porch sums up the choice between a small inn and a private casita on the Nayarit coast. Trip length, privacy, cooking and how much help you …
Choosing an oceanfront rental on the Riviera Nayarit
Shade, airflow and the walk into town matter as much as the view when you rent by the ocean on the Nayarit coast. A west-facing terrace with no roof can be unusable by mid-afternoon, and a "beachfront…
Day trips from La Peñita and Guayabitos
Ancient rock carvings in a jungle stream, a mangrove channel full of herons and a horseshoe bay with palapa restaurants are all within a day's reach of Jaltemba Bay. Each of the five outings below get…
Dry season or rainy season on the Nayarit coast
Brown hillsides and blue skies in winter, green jungle and evening thunderstorms in summer. The Nayarit coast runs on two seasons rather than four, and each one changes the weather, the sea, the crowd…
From Puerto Vallarta airport to La Peñita
Most arrivals at Puerto Vallarta airport head south into the city, but La Peñita de Jaltemba lies the other way, north along Federal Highway 200. The trip can be done by bus, taxi, private transfer or…
Visiting La Peñita de Jaltemba for the first time
Hardware stores, bakeries and fishing pangas set the tone in La Peñita de Jaltemba, a working Mexican town on Jaltemba Bay. First-timers usually come for the Thursday market and stay for the easy pace…
Market shopping and cooking in a Riviera Nayarit rental
Hot tortillas by the kilo, limes by the bag and fish bought off the sand make cooking in a rental kitchen on the Nayarit coast easy. A few simple habits with water and produce keep it relaxed.