My husband Angel and I recently made our first trip to the Riviera Nayarit, the idyllic coastline of the Mexican state of Nayarit, just north of Puerto Vallarta. And while I’ll be reporting a lot about this Mexico vacation paradise for TravelAge West, the magazine where I write about Mexico, Angel and I couldn’t help but put together our own top 10 list of the best things to do in the Riviera Nayarit.
- Relax on the Beach
Considering the fact that the Riviera Nayarit is on Mexico‘s Pacific coast, it’s no surprise that the beach is a big attraction. We loved the unspoiled, uncrowded beach at the Imanta Resort, a gorgeous luxury hotel tucked into a quiet corner of the coastline. The beaches at the W Punta de Mita and St. Regis Punta Mita resorts are also gorgeous, with wide stretches of sand and beautiful sunset views.
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2. Visit the Small Towns
The Mexican state of Nayarit is dotted with charming and beautiful small towns, and each one of them has its own unique flavor and personality. We loved the laid-back beach town of San Pancho, and also the slightly bigger town of Sayulita, which has lots of interesting shops, open-air restaurants and beachfront allure (and keep your eyes open for celebrities; we saw Adrian Grenier having lunch at an outdoor beachfront cafe).
3. Savor the Brunch at the Polo Club
We’d never attended a polo match before. So it was an excitingly elegant experience to visit La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club for its Sunday polo brunch (available between January and April only), which for about $40 includes lunch, mimosas and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a polo competition, live music and a chance for kids to meet some of the horses and players.
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4. Sip a Few Cocktails
I had so many delicious, creatively crafted cocktails in the Riviera Nayarit that it’s hard to choose my favorites. At the W Punta de Mita, for example, we loved the ginger margarita and the Don Totem, which is made with Don Julio tequila, real pineapple juice and crushed ice.
5. Get a Spa Treatment
The Riviera Nayarit is a beautiful place to indulge and pamper yourself. At Imanta, we loved the open-air spa, where you can lie back beneath the soaring palms with no distractions except for the soothing sounds of the sea. We also enjoyed the couples massage at the W Punta de Mita, where the large spa facility offers an array of services.
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6. Enjoy the Ride
Getting around the Riviera Nayarit is part of the fun. The scenery is lovely as you drive from town to town and beach to beach, but I also personally love the fact that hotels like Imanta also have golf carts to shuttle you about — and at the W Punta de Mita, you can even borrow a Razor scooter for free.
7. Go Shopping
The towns and hotels of the Riviera Nayarit all have their own fascinating shopping options — you can pick up things like originally designed T-shirts (no need for boring mass-produced stuff!), home decor, jewelry and catrinas, the Day of the Dead symbolic figure.
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8. Take a Surf Lesson
The Riviera Nayarit is great for surfing, and you don’t even need experience. The W Punta de Mita is just one of the places where you can sign up for a class.
9. Go Whale Watching
We set out on a rewarding boat trip with Punta Mita Expeditions, during which we saw several humpback whales (including babies!) plus dolphins and thousands of birds, including blue-footed boobies.
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10. Eat and Shop Your Way Through the Markets
We absolutely loved the Sunday market in the town called La Cruz de Huanacaxtle — it’s filled with lots of beautiful arts and crafts, as well as artisanal creations like handmade soap and culinary experiences from around the globe.