Enjoy the summer on the Riviera Nayarit’s best beaches
- This destination takes good care of its natural treasures: 12 of its beaches and marinas were recertified this year, with the Marina San Blas also receiving its accreditation.
The Riviera Nayarit is waiting for you this summer with spectacular beaches—not only do they offer sun, sand, and sea, but they’re also clean, safe, and perfect for all kinds of activities, offering visitors the peace and tranquility they’re looking for.
The previous information comes from results presented by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) in the yearly report they put together just before the summer season. Based on those outcomes, the state of Nayarit received recertification for its beaches and marinas, 10 of those under Semarnat’s NMX-AA-120-SCFI-2006 regulation granted by the Mexican Standardization and Certification Institute (IMNC); four recreational bodies of water—beaches, marinas, and lagoons—have received the Blue Flag accreditation, granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education.
The certification indicates the quality of these beaches are perfect for vacationers to enjoy a great stay. This sentiment was reaffirmed by Marc Murphy, director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB), who stated water samples were constantly taken from the ocean and their vigilance intensifies during March, June, and November to ensure the water meets the parameters set by COFEPRIS.
Come and get to know them!
BEACHES WITH A NATIONAL “CLEAN BEACH” CERTIFICATE
Nuevo Vallarta Sur
This beach is in the Nuevo Vallarta neighborhood; it’s also known as the beach at Villa Varadero and boasts a Level 3 certification. It’s an ideal place to relax, take a walk, enjoy the sunset, go fishing, or, simply, take it easy. The beach is public, accessible through a “window to the sea” located to one side of the Villa Varadero hotel.
Nuevo Vallarta Norte
The Nuevo Vallarta Fraccionamiento Náutico Turístico boasts one of the cleanest beaches in the country. The waves are gentle all along its 5 km (3 mi) of shoreline, the sand is soft, and the water warm, making it an excellent place to relax or enjoy water sports. It has a Level 3 certification.
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| Nuevo Vallarta Norte beach. |
Nuevo Vallarta Norte II
Access to this long, wide swath of white sand is to one side of the ETC beach club. Its calm waters and gentle waves are ideal for kids to play in safely. This beach is a pleasant spot, suitable for a relaxing walk along the shore while you listen to the rhythmic song of the waves.
Bucerías
The beach at Bucerías is one of the longest in the Riviera Nayarit, perfect for those who like walking and exploring. It’s also an excellent place for visitors who want to swim without worrying about strong waves. Children love to bob around the shore on inflatable floats, while the older kids practice sailing, jet skiing, and kite surfing.
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| Bucerias beach. |
Beach at the Palladium Hotel
This beach is named after the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa, located on the Costa Banderas area of the Riviera Nayarit. The resort is in an idyllic space surrounded by lush tropical vegetation with a 300-meter (328-yard) beachfront of fine, white sand bathed by the beautiful waves of the Pacific Ocean.
Los Muertos (Sayulita)
To get to Los Muertos Beach in the Magical Town of Sayulita, you have to cross through a cemetery full of headstones—it is out of this world. Visitors will find a quiet beach lined with palm trees that shade anyone who wants to avoid the sun. The sand is clean, and the waves are calm, ideal for those seeking a peaceful place. Access is open to the public; you can reach it by foot, ATV, golf cart, or horseback.
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| Los Muertos Beach (Sayulita). |
Rincón de Guayabitos
Rincón de Guayabitos is a top-rated destination with both locals and tourists. It has all the services you’d find at any of the top Mexican tourist destinations. Its famous bay looks like a giant swimming pool with silky sand, tropical vegetation, and temperate climate. This beach is an ideal place for enjoying water sports, and it’s a family destination par excellence.
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| Rincón de Guayabitos. |
Isla del Coral
The Isla del Coral—Coral Island—and its beautiful beach is one of the top attractions in Rincón de Guayabitos. The area received a Clean Beach accreditation in 2016 when it passed the certification process and met the standards of the NMX-AA-120-SCFI-2006 regulation, which establishes the requirements and specifications of sustainability for beaches at Level I, per the recreational use and conservation of flora and fauna.
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| Isla del Coral (Coral Island). |
Chacala
The ambiance in Chacala is one of goodwill and community spirit. Families, friends, and couples like to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of this micro-destination, tucked away in the municipality of Compostela. Las Cuevas is a certified beach and the town’s most popular hangout—it’s common to see visitors catching some rays or enjoying a delicious pescado zarandeado (grilled fish) under a thatched palapa by the sea.
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| Chacala Beach. |
Platanitos Beach
Located on the border between San Blas and Compostela, Playa Platanitos stands out for its exuberant jungle and the beaches that give it a rustic touch, ideal for nature lovers. Its beach boasts gentle waves, warm, green-blue water, and is 400 meters (437 yards) long by 15 meters (16 yards) wide. Restaurants line the shore, offering traditional dishes, seafood, and, of course, the original pescado zarandeado (grilled fish).
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| Playa Platanitos. |
INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG CERTIFICATION
Nuevo Vallarta Norte Beach
Playa Nuevo Vallarta Norte was the first Blue Flag beach in Nayarit. The beach received its certification in 2013 and has kept it since.
Marina Riviera Nayarit
The Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle reaffirmed its Blue Flag certificate, first obtained in 2015. The marina was the first of its kind to receive this international environmental distinction; it’s considered one of the largest on the coast of the Mexican Pacific thanks to its 18 thousand square meters (193,750 square feet) of construction on land and water.
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| The Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. |
Marina San Blas
The Marina San Blas also received its Blue Flag certification in May 2019 in recognition of the quality of its water, services, facilities, safety, management, and environmental education. The FONATUR-managed Marina is in the historic port of San Blas in the northern part of the Riviera Nayarit; it can welcome up to 17 boats and yachts up to 40 feet in length.
Santa María del Oro Lagoon
Santa María del Oro, also known as the “enchanted lagoon,” is found in the municipality of the same name. This gorgeous body of water received the Blue Flag for the first time on August 4, 2016. Its clean water averages 25ºC (77ºF) and is a favorite for swimming, boating, and fishing. There are several luxurious boutique hotels along its edge, as well as restaurants offering regional dishes.
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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) work intensely to promote the destination with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit via its Tourism Promotional Trust (Fiprotur).
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