The Riviera Nayarit is really a microcosm of so many things which make driving Mexico great: amiable towns, sparkling beach views, scrumptious food right out the sea and mezcal. Plenty of mezcal. And the best part? Because of a great highway system that hugs the coast, the state of Nayarit hosts an ideal road trip.
Here's our itinerary for a seamless road trip across the Mexican Pacific.
San Francisco, AKA San Pancho
After landing in Cabo san lucas, grab your car rental and make the quick hour increase to San Francisco, a coastal capital of scotland- about 3,000 that seems like home the second you arrive. Wander San Pancho's main drag that leads right to the ocean, stopping at cozy shops like Mexicolate, where you can try cacao in all its forms (don't miss the cacao water — trust us, it's delicious).
Perhaps one of the coolest establishments around is Entreamigos, a non-profit community center that can serve as San Pancho's hub; here, families can peruse the library, get your meals at the cafe that specializes in local food, and participate in the town's supremely successful recycling program, which turns trash into chandeliers, toys and all kinds of art.
If you're looking for a location to sleep, choose the eco-friendly La Maraica on the outskirts of downtown; the home is run by giant solar power panels, recycles water to maintain their grounds, and it has eliminated most pliable from rooms. A far more central option would be stylish Hotel Cielo Rojo, also the place to find the delightful Bistro Orgánico. The interest rate is slow here, so in place of nightlife you'll find peaceful quiet interspersed with the crashing waves from the Pacific. But when you're looking for some a buzz, don't miss quirky La Baba del Diablo, a mezcalería serving up smooth tastings combined with orange slices and special homemade salts – the one featuring hibiscus and chapulines – crickets! – is really a favorite.
Sayulita
The first of Nayarit's beach towns to trap international attention, Sayulita whirs with energy, its webby streets full of tourists, mostly from the United states variety. Although it might no longer hover beneath the travel radar, still it has lots of appeal for specific types of travelers; Sayulita definitely has the most vivacious nightlife within the Riviera (not a hard feat to accomplish, though), and it's created a solid surfing community – head down to the beach to book a board and book lessons.
Sayulita also can serve as the Riviera's shopping hub, full of boutiques peddling the latest in boho chic. If you are seeking something edible/drinkable, go to the inviting Sayulita Wine Shop, which has a wide selection of wine and liquor ranging from robust Mexican vintages to smooth raicilla (a distilled spirit in the agave plant) – have a glass in the small bar or snag a bottle to go.
If you are looking to invest the night within the Riviera's best known town, check out El Pueblito Sayulita, a boutique enclave hidden down a side street from downtown that has clean, spacious suites ideal for groups and families.
Lo de Marcos
A blip across the coast between San Pancho and San Blas, Lo de Marcos harkens back to the pre-mass-tourism coastal towns of yore; you've got a few city blocks, a golden curve of sand and old-fashioned RV parks directly on the beach ideal for wanderers passing through.
The town makes an ideal stop-off to have an afternoon of quiet lazing before heading on to the Riviera's other “big city,” San Blas.
San Blas
Formerly a primary shipping port for that Spanish empire in the 1700s, San Blas has become a laid-back fishing town that keeps things low-key. It's the place to find several nice expanses of sand (don't miss Playa Borrego) and a friendly downtown, but it really shines like a birdwatcher's paradise.
La Tovara National Park is an avian hotspot, with hundreds of different bird species calling the estuary home. Boat rides start with a cruise beneath an ideal canopy of interwoven manglares (mangroves), which eventually open up to reveal a winding network of waterways fed by freshwater springs positively thrumming with bird life. And, if you are lucky, you may even spot a crocodile lazing around the banks, giving off the vibes of an unbothered dinosaur. For any spot to rest your weary head after a day of spectacular birding, visit San Blas' four-star hotel, the Garza Canela, which has been owned by the Vasquez family for 50 years and today is home to Chef Betty Vasquez's (of Masterchef Mexico fame) excellent restaurant, El Delfin.
La Cruz & Bucerías
Circle down again towards Cabo san lucas, stopping in the Muelle Nuevo de San Blas (New Pier of San Blas), another wide beach framed by the Sierra Madre mountains perfect for a stroll.
Plan your vacation onward so you land in La Cruz on a Sunday, because you absolutely don't want to miss its superb farmers market. This food-and-crafts extravaganza wraps with the Mercado del Mar and features literally hundreds of vendors which range from organic juicers to designers to painters and jewelry makers. You could spend hours here drinking in the scene – on top the shopping, live music performs at two different stages, and also the market also hosts kids crafting workshops. Word to the wise: bring cash with you, as there isn't an ATM on the market.
Bucerías is just 10 mins further in the future — it's noted for its sprawling flea market, but be advised that a substantial amount of it's tourist tchotchkes. Instead, seek out the town's galleries and home decor stores along and around Calle Lázaro Cárdenas; if you are there on the Thursday, Bucerías Art Gallery hosts a skill Walk from 7:00-9:00pm.
TOP TIP: Most of the above-mentioned events only take place between November and April, closing down within the heat of summer. Plan accordingly!
