Justin Henderson - Moon Puerto Vallarta: Including Sayulita & the Riviera Nayarit

sunset on a beach in Sayulita

Puerto Vallarta is divided north and south by the gentle, vine-swathed Ro Cuale, rippling down from its foothill canyon. The original town north and south of the river retains much of its charm, especially south of the river in the Old Town or Zona Romntica and the adjacent Playa los Muertos. In spite of a squadron of massively overbuilt hotels and apartment buildings, the appeal continues to the south, along the villa-decorated Conchas Chinas headland, past the village of Mismaloya and the nearby offshore Los Arcos underwater sanctuary, and farther south, to petite Boca de Tomatln shoreline village.

North of the Ro Cuale, El Centro, or downtown, spreads uphill to the meandering lanes of Gringo Gulch, and sweeps along past the bay-front Los Arcos amphitheater and the airy Malecn shoreline promenade. Farther north, the beach boulevard passes through the Zona Hotelera lineup of world-class hotels along golden-sand Playa de Oro, continuing past the plush Marina condo-home district and golf course to the airport at the town limits.

There are many wonderful things to do and see around the Bay of Banderas. Buceras lies along the northern shoreline, followed by an abundance of lovely beaches climaxing at Punta Mita and coral-strewn Playa Anclote, great places for sunbathing, surfing, and snorkeling. Excursions to wildlife-rich offshore Islas Marietas are a popular adventure as well.

street market in Buceras

Visitors find even more in the cool Sierra Cuale, home to a trio of invitingly Old World colonial-era towns, not far east of Puerto Vallarta. San Sebastin, curled around a precious little plaza, offers comfy country inns and old gold mines to explore. Colorful Mascota adds tasty home-cooked country food and museums. Further up in the hills, picturesque Talpa is a pilgrimage town, home of the miraculous Virgin of Talpa, a fine museum, and good restaurants.

Sayulita and the Riviera Nayarit

For years, the Nayarit Coast was one of Puerto Vallartas best-kept secrets, but no longer: Sayulita has emerged as a major destination in Nayarit. Visitors come to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, good surfing, snorkeling, wildlife-watching, and cowboy-country ambience, along with Sayulitas increasingly sophisticated shopping and dining attractions.