LIVE IT TO BELIEVE IT IN THE RIVIERA NAYARIT: Novillero, Endlessly Beautiful
- Located in the municipality of Tecuala, Nayarit, this beach is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest in Mexico and is among the Top 5 longest in the world.
This gorgeous beach extends way past what the eye can see and is a truly majestic spot. At 84 kilometers (52.2 miles) long and nearly 500 meters (546.8 yards) wide, Playa Novillero is among the Top 5 longest beaches in the world. You really have to see it to believe it!
Located in the municipality of Tecuala along the north coast of the Riviera Nayarit (160 kilometers [99.42 miles] from San Blas), it lies right along the border with Sinaloa. Its territory is part of the National Wetlands Biosphere (Biósfera Marismas Nacionales), the largest system of mangroves, coastal lagoons, and swamps in the Mexican Pacific. Although it’s approximately 4 hours or 330 kilometers (205 miles) from Nuevo Vallarta, it’s well worth the trip to marvel at this wonder of nature.
See it to believe it
Playa Novillero is the perfect spot for some real nautical adventures or for an afternoon of total relaxation watching the stunning sunsets. It’s also great for long walks, canoeing, or boat tours.
The beach’s beautiful surroundings make it a very popular especially on the weekends when families and groups of kids and teens gather for a day of fun. It’s also one of the safest spots in the state, which is why it’s ideal for children and novice swimmers—they can literally wade into the water for nearly 100 meters (110 yards).
Nearby natural attractions include the Cuautla Canal and the Laguna Brava, which can be toured with any of the service providers located nearby. It’s a treat to view the mangroves rife with wildlife—they’re considered a sanctuary for endemic and migratory birds. You can also visit Boca del Río, a natural inlet and ideal for a boat trip; or, if you can, visit the Isla de Mexcaltitán, known as the “Venice of Mexico,” located in the nearby municipality of Santiago Ixcuintla.
Eat like a local
The municipality of Tecuala is one of the main providers of fish and seafood (mainly shrimp) in the state of Nayarit, which is why its gastronomy is, of course, mostly based on seafood. Its county seat is famous for its tapas-style restaurants and every day welcomes hundreds of visitors who come to enjoy the abundance of delicious dishes. This can also be experienced in Novillero, which offers numerous palapa-style restaurants located along the beach.
Among the “can’t miss” highlights of the region’s gastronomy are the lisa a la parrilla (grilled bass), pescado zarandeado (grilled fish on a stick over a wood fire), shrimp ceviches, scallops with onions and cucumbers, and shrimp in spicy aguachile sauce.
HOW TO GET THERE
From Nuevo Vallarta: Distance: 330 Km. (205 mi) Take Federal Highway 200 to the junction at Las Varas-San Blas.
From San Blas: Take State Highway 54 towards Villa Hidalgo. It’s a two-hour drive, approximately. Once you take the exit towards Tecuala you’ll be close to arriving at your destination.
From Tepic. Distance: 156 Km. (96.93 mi) Take Federal Highway 15 to Mazatlan to the junction at State Road 3 that will take you to Tecuala.
The facts:
Playa Novillero is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest beach in Mexico, the second-longest in Latin America, the third longest in America, and the fifth longest in the world. The climate ranges from 24 to 32˚C (75 – 90˚F) in the summer, and 16 to 25˚C (60 – 77˚F) in the winter. Rainy season starts in July and runs through September, with the rainiest days occurring in August.
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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) are hard at work to promote the destination with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit via its Tourism Promotional Trust (Fiprotur). The cultural tourism product offer is an invaluable asset for these promotional efforts.
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