| Eight Good Reasons to Visit Riviera Nayarit This Summer Marc Murphy - Riviera Nayarit CVB | |
July 18, 2019 |
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The Riviera Nayarit is not only picture-postcard perfect — it’s also a jewel of a destination that’s known for its versatility: it has a great location, excellent climate, beautiful beaches and hotspots for eco-tourism and adventure, complemented with delicious gastronomy and enviable natural surroundings.
And as if this weren’t enough, its modern hotels and resorts offer the perfect setting for a dream vacation.
Every year this destination attracts more than 2 million travelers from all over the world, from families to backpackers, luxury travelers, and business travelers.
What are you waiting for?
Below please find 8 reasons why you should vacation in the Riviera Nayarit this summer:
1. It’s a multi-destination destination
The Riviera Nayarit is a destination that’s as good as 23! That means once you get here you can explore 23 coastal villages (known as micro-destination), all located along its 307 km (191 mi) of Pacific coastline and each with its particular magic and identity: Nuevo Vallarta and Flamingos; Bucerías; La Cruz de Huanacaxtle; Costa Banderas; Punta de Mita; Litibú-Higuera Blanca; Sayulita; San Pancho; Lo de Marcos; Los Ayala; Rincón de Guayabitos; La Peñita de Jaltemba; Costa Capomo; Punta Raza; Chacala; Las Varas; Bica de Chila; Punta Custodio; San Blas; Costa Santiago; Isla de Mexcaltitán; and Novillero.
Get to know them at Nuestros Pueblos!
2. Hotels and resorts
The Riviera Nayarit’s hotels and resorts were built following rigorous environmental protection requirements that guarantee the preservation of their natural surroundings. Each property is different, but each one is aligned with the destination’s commitment to sustainability.
The destination is currently in second place within the country as to the number of Five-Diamond hotels; it also boasts a good collection of Four Diamond hotels, plus properties with other distinctions including Virtuoso Preferred, Relais & Chateaux, Leading Hotels of the World, and Mexico Boutique Hotels. There are several hotels that have been certified on different levels as Greenleaders by TripAdvisor, including the Marival Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, both of which achieved Platinum level — the highest recognition awarded to hotels and resorts meeting the minimum requirements and a +60% score or more.
For more information, visit Hotels and Resorts.
3. Natural attractions
Nature lovers won’t want to pass up on the Riviera Nayarit’s impressive landscapes and fauna. The destination’s luxury offer doesn’t just include resorts — it also encompasses its natural attractions. Visitors can enjoy an endless array of open-air activities including sailing, kitesurfing, golf, and fishing, as well as birdwatching. There are endemic species as well as a huge number of migratory birds that flock every year to micro-destinations such as San Blas and San Pancho. Swimmers and experienced divers will love the rich marine life, including turtles, whale sharks, and colorful fish. On land, hikers can visit Monkey Mountain, cyclists can try their hand in the Sierra Madre Sur, there are horseback rides through the jungle or the beach, and adrenaline-spiking zip lines.
For more information, visit Natural Attractions.
4. Marvelous beaches
You’ll find the Riviera Nayarit offers everything from virgin beaches where turtles come to nests, beaches within an island, beaches for kids, and beaches for the most daring surfers where they can ride waves all year long. The five coastal municipalities that make up the Riviera Nayarit are Bahía de Banderas, Compostela, San Blas, Santiago Ixcuintla, and Tecuala. These offer more than 30 beaches to choose from—one for every taste! The most spectacular one is Hidden Beach, or Love Beach, located inside the Islas Marietas. Then there’s Novillero in Tecuala, considered the longest beach in Mexico and the second longest in Latin America at 90 km (56 mi).
Over the past few years, the Riviera Nayarit become the top destination in Mexico for Clean Certified Beaches and has also received the prestigious Blue Flag international certificate in Nuevo Vallarta and the Marina Riviera Nayarit.
5. Events
You’ll never be bored in the Riviera Nayarit. This is a destination that never stops, where fun, sports, and music are the name of the game and visitors always have multiple activities to complement the best vacation ever.
If you like sports, you can play on one of nine golf courses in the destination or attend any of the surfing, fishing, polo, or martial arts events. This destination offers more than 80 sports and cultural events per year!
Click here for the Events Calendar.
6. For its unparalleled cuisine
One aspect of the Riviera Nayarit that leaves a great “taste” in visitors’ mouths is its gastronomy, chock-full of history and traditions. Travelers can savor a gamut of world-class options including the traditional cuisine of Nayarit both at local beach restaurants and prestigious gourmet restaurants with tasting menus.
Among the many dishes awaiting visitors is the famous pescado zarandeado, which is snapper grilled over a mangrove wood fire (the most traditional spots serve it in banana leaves, accompanied with handmade tortillas). Dishes made with shrimp are also popular, including albóndigas (shrimp balls) and paté; then there’s the chicharrón de pescado (fish crackling), caldillo de camarón (shrimp stew), lisa tatemada (grilled fish), or the sopes de ostión (a thick tortilla topped with oysters)—all typical of the towns from the northern part of the state. This fusion of traditional dishes, contemporary innovation, and local products create an intense and delicious adventure for the visitor.
7. History and traditions
The Riviera Nayarit is a destination where luxury and nature go hand in hand, and the state of Nayarit — the home of this tourism corridor — has several elements that make it even more special, such as its multi-culturalism and variety of ethnicities and languages. The culture and traditions of its people lend an authenticity to the experience and will remain in your heart. There are four major ethnic groups here: Huicholes, Coras, Tepehuanos, and Mexicaneros, all of whom lend their unique characteristics to the state. The most popular group are the Huicholes, also known as the Wixáricas or Wixaritaris (“Children of the Sun”).
For more information, visit About Riviera Nayarit.
8. Excellent climate
The Riviera Nayarit owes much of its charm to the excellent climate it enjoys nearly year round — average temperatures range between 25 and 28° C (78° F), making it a very pleasant spot to visit any time of the year. It’s an excellent option for those trying to escape frigid northern winters. The summers, though, can be quite warm for some with temperatures reaching an average of 32° C (90° F). Rainy season begins in June and ends around October.
For more information, visit Weather.
The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) work intensely to promote the destination with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit via its Tourism Promotional Trust (Fiprotur).
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