Visiting Riviera Nayarit in Mexico

Riviera Nayarit, where the Sierra Madre Occidental meets the Pacific and cliffs sweep down to pale-sand coves, offers a quieter, budget-friendly alternative to Cancún and Cabo. The coastline between Nuevo Vallarta and San Blas was named Riviera Nayarit in 2007, and a 40-mile stretch along Highway 200 — from Sayulita to La Peñita de Jaltemba — has become a compact playground for travelers, with oceanfront restaurants, surf hubs, beaches, whale sightings, bird trails and open-air markets.

Sayulita’s surf-town aesthetic shows in ocean breezes, colorful bunting on Avenida Revolución and a center of low, brightly painted buildings. The town draws surfers and wellness visitors; a giant thatched palapa at Don Pedro’s helped turn a quiet fishing spot into a popular surf town.

Lessons run about $100 for 90 minutes, a plate of chilaquiles costs just under 175 pesos, and the Casablanca Sayulita Hotel offers a heated pool and sunset views for $170 a night.

Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

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