Nayarit, Mexican paradise to discover

Beautiful houses with terraces that are not only open to the clean sea breeze, also a mat of grass to an exclusive golf course whose border is a quiet beach on the Pacific. And in that magnificent ocean, whales, humpback whale families complete the picture and announce their presence by launching powerful jets of water into the sky.

Punta Mita is not the only corner of the Riviera Nayarit, a tourism corridor of 307 miles over the Mexican Pacific, which looks like a piece of paradise. The mountains, the natural wealth, hotel, people, clean beaches and picturesque villages fate conspire to make this the promised land of any traveler.

The point of departure is ideal for meet Nuevo Vallarta, a modern residential and hotel area within the Bay of Banderas and ten minutes from the airport in Puerto Vallarta. The friendly Hard Rock Hotel, specializing star treatment to give your guests, is one of its landmarks.

The lobby of this hotel high level, as each of its corners and 348 rooms, is inspired by music. In the lobby, a huge mural include guitarist Santana, made with 2,800 album covers; several original Fender guitars, which are provided for guests to experience touch live like rock stars, and instruments and clothing that belonged luminaries as Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Shakira.

From here we start an adventure through this beautiful area of ​​Mexico.

Punta Mita and San Pancho

San Francisco or San Pancho, as they say in this village of 800 inhabitants, is 45 minutes from Nuevo Vallarta; has boutique hotels, a famous polo club stores, fine craftsmanship influenced by the traditions and culture of the Huichol -etnia also inhabits the Nayarit state and one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.

Richard Zarkin, public relations manager of the Riviera Nayarit, explains that one of the strengths of the target system is its clean beaches, "Its maintenance is in charge of the hotels and the municipality, that ensures that tourists do not find waste and butts plastics or papers in the sand, "he says.

About 40 minutes from Nuevo Vallarta is Punta Mita, considered one of the most exclusive developments in Mexico. Suffice to say it has two real dream hotels, refined five-diamond Four Seasons and St. Regis, totaling 293 rooms and renowned golf course and Pacific Bay, both designed by Jack Nicklaus, a legend of the sport.

In the peaceful countryside is one of the most famous holes in the world: 3B or Cola de Ballena, which is so named because from the air it resembles the tail of a huge whale getting into the sea.

But there is one fact that makes iconic: it is located on a natural island and when the tide rises, the 3B is separated by water from the rest of Punta Mita and condominiums, villas and developments of high-end along the Pacific, all interconnected yes I do.

A people 'hippie chic'

Surfers who live in pursuit of the highest waves not only put on the map of this huge community of nomads to Sayulita athletes, he also printed, with its beach lifestyle, chic hippie character that goes well with the Huichol soul this town of six thousand inhabitants.

Therefore, although it has exclusive buildings, also offers accommodation of all types and a variety of restaurants to suit different budgets.

The center is the heart of Sayulita. There you can see the Huichol Indians make crafts with tiny, colorful beads, some of which are true works of art.

From the beach of Manzanillo, starting from the Four Seasons Hotel complex, you can head for the Marieta Islands, about 40 minutes by boat in the Bay of Banderas.

It is a must, and not just because it is a Biosphere Reserve, declared by Unesco, and that it is possible to see rare species, such as penguins and blue-footed (which are only found here and in the Galapagos Islands ); also because inside of one of the islets, enclosed is Playa Escondida and Playa del Amor. To enter you must dive or wait for the tide to go down, and swim. But if you happen to decide to visit this tourist destination between November and March, there are great chances of having a close encounter in Bahia de Banderas, with the prodigious humpback whales on their way to the southern continent.

"In these waters, says Jose Saucedo, Punta Mita Expeditions- come to mate and give birth to their young, so it is not uncommon encontrárselas traveling alongside the boats coming and going to the Marietas."

They announce their presence to the expert eye, which are mirrored on the water when submerged quietly; also squirting water or jumping in the water and clattering against it. The show is touching and breathtaking: watch these huge cetaceans with their young is one of the greatest gifts that get travelers arriving at Riviera Nayarit at this time of year.