Is Costalegre the Next Tulum? Meagan Drillinger - Travel Weekly
go to original February 10, 2016

The Costalegre is a stretch of Mexican coastline that runs along Mexico’s Pacific coast from Careyes to Punta Dorada, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. Photo Credit: Flickr/Samuel Globus

It’s safe to say that the Tulum we once knew is no more. A sleepy hideaway tucked in the shadows of Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Tulum was a haven for artists, bohemians and tree-huggers alike looking for a slice of laid-back paradise far from the megaresorts of towns to the north.

But like so many “off the beaten path” destinations before it, Tulum’s secret is out, as is bound to happen with secret destinations, especially when said spot is named the No. 1 one destination on the rise by TripAdvisor. Now tourists flock from far and wide to see what is so “secretly” special about Tulum, thus undoing its reputation in the process. Which begs the question, what’s next? What remains for the hippies, artists and boho chic? According to Journey Mexico’s Zachary Rabinor, Costa Careyes on the Costalegre is a solid bet.

“I’ll put my money on Costa Careyes,” says Rabinor. The Costalegre runs along Mexico’s Pacific coast Highway 200 from Careyes to Punta Dorada (between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo) and is a stretch of Mexican coastline that is a far cry from the crowded bars or massive chain hotels you’d expect to find in more popularized Mexican resort towns. Small, boutique, ecotourism hotels thrive here alongside luxury villas and smaller properties.

“Once the highway and airport are done, Costalegre will receive international flights,” Rabinor pointed out. Currently the best way to access Mexico’s Costalegre is to fly into Manzanillo, rent a car and head north. But a new Costalegre airport is in the works, which will make it much easier to access the destination. The new airport is optimistically slated for completion within the next two years, and simultaneously the local government will be working on widening the highway in both directions.

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