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.
Local currency: Mexican Peso (MXN).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Nayarit.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $14-25/night (dorm bed in Sayulita)
- Budget
- $25-55/night (basic private hotel or guesthouse)
- Midrange
- $70-180/night (boutique hotel or 4-star property)
- Luxury
- $350-1,200+/night (5-star resort in Punta de Mita or Nuevo Vallarta)
Food
- Street
- $1.50-3 per taco, $4-8 for a full street meal
- Local
- $5-10 for comida corrida lunch at a local restaurant
- Midrange
- $14-28 for dinner at a sit-down restaurant with drinks
- Fine
- $50-100+ per person at Tuna Blanca, Sufi, or Carolina in Punta de Mita
Transport
- Colectivo
- $1.50-3 per shared van ride along the coastal corridor
- Taxi
- $4-15 for a short Uber/Didi ride in Nuevo Vallarta/Bucerías/Sayulita
- Airport
- $25-40 for a taxi/Uber from PVR airport to Bucerías or Sayulita
- Daytrip
- $30-55/day for a rental car; $45-250 for a boat tour to Islas Marietas or Isla Isabel
Activities
- Museum
- $2-4 entry to Tepic's museums
- Sites
- $3-5 for archaeological sites and national parks
- Tour
- $45-90 for Islas Marietas or La Tovara boat tours
- Excursion
- $45-250 for whale watching, sportfishing, or Isla Isabel expeditions
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Nayarit costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$280 for 7 days (guesthouses, street food, colectivos, free beaches)
Midrange traveller
$805 for 7 days (boutique hotels, restaurant meals, some tours)
Luxury traveller
$2,940+ for 7 days (5-star resorts, fine dining, private boat charters)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat comida corrida at local fondas in Tepic and San Blas — $5-8 for a full multi-course lunch
Use colectivo vans instead of taxis along the coastal corridor — a fraction of the cost of a private ride
Book Punta de Mita and Nuevo Vallarta resorts well ahead, or visit May-June/September-October for lower shoulder-season rates
San Blas and Chacala accommodation is significantly cheaper than Sayulita or Punta de Mita for similar beach access
Buy Huichol artisan crafts directly from cooperatives in Tepic rather than resort gift shops for better prices and support of the makers
Split a whale-watching or Islas Marietas boat tour with a group — per-person rates drop with more people
Carry cash for colectivos and small restaurants — card fees or unavailability can add hidden costs outside resorts
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Sayulita Beach & Town Walk
Explore Sayulita's colorful streets, plaza, and beach at no cost beyond food and drink
Bucerías Boardwalk Stroll
Walk the beachfront malecón, browse the artisan market stalls, and watch the sunset for free
San Blas Historic Center
Wander the colonial plaza and church for free; pay only for La Contaduría fort admission ($3) or La Tovara boat tours
Punta de Mita Beach Access
Playa El Anclote is free public beach access, even alongside the luxury resorts
Huichol Art Browsing in Tepic
Browse the Wixárika artisan market and Museo Regional exterior grounds for free
San Pancho Beach & Entreamigos Grounds
Free beach access and community center grounds to explore