Nayarit is Mexico's rising Pacific-coast star, home to the glamorous Riviera Nayarit beach towns of Sayulita, Punta de Mita, and Nuevo Vallarta, the colonial surf port of San Blas, and the Wixárika (Huichol) heartland of the Sierra Madre Occidental. It blends barefoot-luxury resorts, world-class surf breaks, mangrove wildlife, and small-town Mexican culture within a couple of hours of Puerto Vallarta's international airport.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Nayarit.
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- surf-town energy, beach bars and lively boardwalk by day
- beach clubs
- surf shops
- restaurants
- restrooms
- sun loungers ($5-10/day)
- surfboard rental
Playa Sayulita
Editor’s tip. Arrive before 9am in high season to find street parking near the plaza
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- fishing-village beach with a relaxed seafood-restaurant scene
- beachfront seafood restaurants
- boat tour departures
- sun loungers
- surf/SUP rentals
Playa El Anclote (Punta de Mita)
Editor’s tip. Book Marietas Islands boat tours directly at the palapas early in the morning for the best availability
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- quiet fishing-village cove, low-key and uncrowded
- palapa restaurants
- sun loungers
- kayak rental
- boutique beachfront hotels
Playa Chacala
Editor’s tip. Arrive with a rental car, as public transit options are limited and infrequent
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- laid-back surf beach, fewer crowds than neighboring Sayulita
- beach bars
- surf lessons
- restrooms
- beachfront restaurants
Playa San Pancho
Editor’s tip. Ask lifeguards or surf instructors about current strength before swimming near the river mouth
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- relaxed local town beach with an artisan boardwalk market
- long sandy stretch
- beachfront restaurants
- sun loungers
- artisan market on the boardwalk
Playa Bucerías
Editor’s tip. Visit the boardwalk artisan market on weekend evenings for the liveliest atmosphere
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- polished resort beach, family-friendly and amenity-rich
- resort beach clubs
- water sports concessions
- lifeguards
- wide flat sand
Playa Nuevo Vallarta
Editor’s tip. Use public beach access points if not staying at a resort, since loungers on resort sand are typically reserved for guests
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- remote surf beach, minimal development and few crowds
- palapa seafood restaurants on the sand
- long right-hand point break
- minimal development
Playa Las Islitas (Matanchén Bay)
Editor’s tip. Visit May through October for the famed long wave, and bring a longboard if surfing
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- remote, often empty, rustic fishing-coast atmosphere
- quiet coconut-palm-backed sand
- a few palapa restaurants
- minimal crowds
Playa Los Cocos
Editor’s tip. Bring insect repellent for use near dusk given the nearby mangrove estuary
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- quiet local beach town, gentle waves and few crowds
- gentle family-friendly waves
- beachfront palapa restaurants
- few crowds
Playa Lo de Marcos
Editor’s tip. Visit on weekdays for the quietest stretch of sand, as weekends draw day-trippers from nearby towns
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- remote, boat-only natural wonder inside a protected marine park
- no facilities on the beach itself
- guided snorkel gear provided by tour operators
- swim-in cave access only
Playa del Amor (Hidden Beach, Islas Marietas)
Editor’s tip. Book with a licensed tour operator well in advance, as daily visitor numbers are strictly capped
Beaches by vibe
Pick by the mood you want — quiet, social, family, or active — and we point you at where that style lives along the coast.
Relax
Quiet & peaceful
Chacala, Lo de Marcos, and Playa Los Cocos near San Blas offer far fewer crowds than the Riviera Nayarit hotspots
Family
Family-friendly
Playa Nuevo Vallarta and Playa Bucerías have gentle surf, lifeguards, and full resort or restaurant facilities ideal for families
Sport
Active & sporty
Playa Sayulita and Playa San Pancho are Nayarit's surf hubs, with board rentals and lessons for all levels
Social
Lively scene
Playa Sayulita's town-center beach and beach clubs are the most social, with live music and beach bars into the evening
Things to do at the beach
Beyond swimming and sunbathing — the activities that make a coastal day in Nayarit memorable.
Surfing
Sayulita and San Pancho offer beginner-to-intermediate breaks with year-round surf schools; Punta Mita's Anclote and El Faro breaks suit more experienced surfers; Matanchén Bay near San Blas has one of the longest rideable waves in the world (May-October)
Playa Sayulita, Playa San Pancho, Playa Las Islitas (Matanchén Bay)
Snorkeling & Diving
Islas Marietas National Park offers protected reef snorkeling with tropical fish and sea turtles, accessible only by licensed tour boat
Islas Marietas (guided tour only), Playa El Anclote departure point
Whale Watching
Humpback whales migrate through Bahía de Banderas from December to March, with tours departing daily from Punta de Mita, Bucerías, and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
Depart from Punta de Mita or La Cruz de Huanacaxtle marina
Mangrove & Wildlife Boat Tours
San Blas's La Tovara mangrove river and the Marismas Nacionales wetlands offer boat tours to see crocodiles, herons, and hundreds of bird species
San Blas embarcadero, Boca de Camichín
Sportfishing
Punta de Mita and Sayulita marinas run half- and full-day charters for dorado, marlin, and tuna in Bahía de Banderas and beyond
Charter from Punta de Mita or Sayulita
Practical beach info
What to know before you head to the coast — season, getting there, facilities, and what it costs.
Best season
Swimming and beach conditions are best November-April, when seas are calm, humidity is lower, and rainfall is minimal. May brings warmer water and the start of the surf season on the outer breaks. June-October is rainy/hurricane season with occasional storm swells and afternoon downpours.
Getting there
Most beaches are free and open to the public. Islas Marietas requires a licensed tour boat and advance booking; the park limits daily visitor numbers for conservation.
On-beach facilities
Riviera Nayarit beaches (Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, Sayulita, Punta de Mita) have restaurants, sun loungers, and restrooms. San Blas-area and Chacala beaches have basic palapa restaurant facilities only, with fewer amenities the farther north visitors go.
Costs to budget
Sun lounger rental $5-10/day; surf lesson $35-50 for a 1.5-2 hour group class; snorkel gear rental $10-15; whale-watching tour $45-75 per person; Islas Marietas boat tour $45-90 per person
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.
Common questions
Quick answers to the questions we get asked most about Nayarit’s coast.
Is Playa Sayulita good for beginner surfers?
Yes, the point break at the north end produces gentle, rolling waves well suited to first-time surfers, and several surf schools operate directly on the sand.
From the Playa Sayulita editorial.
Is there parking near Playa Sayulita?
Street parking in Sayulita's centro is limited and fills quickly in high season, so many visitors arrive by colectivo van or taxi instead.
From the Playa Sayulita editorial.
Can visitors swim safely at Playa El Anclote?
Yes, the beach is sheltered by the Punta de Mita point, so the water stays calm and shallow for a good distance from shore, making it popular with families.
From the Playa El Anclote (Punta de Mita) editorial.
How do visitors get to the Islas Marietas from here?
Boat tours to the Islas Marietas depart directly from the sand at Playa El Anclote, typically booked through operators along the restaurant row.
From the Playa El Anclote (Punta de Mita) editorial.
Is Playa Chacala good for families?
Yes, the sheltered cove keeps the water calm and shallow near shore, making it a comfortable spot for families with children.
From the Playa Chacala editorial.
How do visitors get to Playa Chacala without a car?
Occasional local buses run from Las Varas on Highway 200, but a rental car or taxi is more reliable since there is no direct colectivo service.
From the Playa Chacala editorial.
Is Playa San Pancho safe for swimming?
The beach has a stronger shore break and undertow than sheltered coves nearby, so swimmers should stay near supervised areas and ask locals about conditions, particularly near the river mouth.
From the Playa San Pancho editorial.
Is Playa San Pancho good for surfing?
Yes, the open beach break is popular with beginner and intermediate surfers looking for a bigger wave than the gentler point breaks in Sayulita.
From the Playa San Pancho editorial.