Puerto Vallarta and the state of Nayarit, in the Mexican Pacific, unite in one destination to offer their visitors first-class accommodation on extraordinary beaches along the fabulous Bay of Banderas and in Magical Towns located inland. This allows visitors to combine tours of its fantastic coastline and the highlands in one day. It all depends on the plans of a growing number of visitors.
In the framework of Gala Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit 2024, an event that brought together tour operators and hoteliers from both destinations, Vanessa Prez Lamas, Minister of Tourism of the state of Jalisco, said that a successful tourist strategy allows travelers to visit Puerto Vallarta and a mountain village in one day. It is essential that visitors see the combinations of destinations because Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara are our main points, with international airports very well connected.
One of the secondary destinations highlighted by Minister Prez Lamas is the cozy Magic Town of Tequila, the place of origin of the famous Mexican drink. Thanks to the new highway, which will be ready in April or May, people will travel from Puerto Vallarta in just two and a half hours.
Among of the most attractive projects is the relaunch of the Tequila Express, a train that connects Guadalajara with the emblematic town. With this service, tourists have several experiences, including visits to tequila factories, tastings, and cultural tours to learn about the history of this traditional drink. In addition, a complementary option is the Cuervo Express, Casa Cuervo's exclusive train that transports tourists to its factory to learn the manufacturing processes and try the different products they offer, even on board the train.
According to Prez Lamas, this product will allow travel advisors to offer integrated experiences with tours in the destination in programs sold out in advance for the benefit of the populations that are part of the Tequila Route, such as Amatitan, El Arenal, and the archeological site of Guachimontones that has an incredible cylindrical pyramid.
Another project promoted by the government of Jalisco is the Route of Raicilla, a distilled agave drink (such as mezcal) handmade in towns such as San Sebastian del Oeste, Mascota, and Talpa de Allende. The route has a series of taverns in the middle of a vast mountain nature utterly different from that of Puerto Vallarta.
On the Route of Raicilla, tourists visit artisanal factories that produce this distilled agave drink, similar to mezcal. (Photo Credit: Valentin Fuentes)
Nayarit, the Best Possible Partner
On the other hand, Riviera Nayarit, just 15 minutes away from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, stretches along an extensive coastal strip that will be enhanced by implementing important connectivity projects under the motto: Tell the world what Nayarit is. The municipalities that comprise this area are Baha de Banderas, Compostela, San Blas, Santiago Ixcuintla, and Tecuala. Within these are colonial towns and the most visited beaches in Mexico, such as the exclusive Punta de Mita, Sayulita (a favorite of surfers), San Pancho, Chacala, Buceras, San Blas, and Santa Cruz de Miramar, to mention a few.
We are doing a joint campaign to promote the Riviera Nayarit brand together with Puerto Vallarta, and something significant is that we are about to inaugurate the new Riviera Nayarit International Airport in the city of Tepic, says Juan Enrique Suarez, Minister of Tourism of Nayarit.
San Pancho, in Riviera Nayarit, is ideal for tourists looking for relaxation. (Photo Credit: Valentin Fuentes)
He highlights that Riviera Nayarit has the country's most significant hotel investment, with the best luxury hotels. We have 30,000 rooms and, in about three more years, we expect to have 34,000, which is three percent more and, and in terms of residences and apartments, about 10,000 more.
Hotel developments for the next year include brands such as Belmont, Montage, Pendry, Rosewood, Ritz Carlton, ME of Grupo Meli, Zel of Rafa Nadal, very possibly of Nickelodeon Group, in addition to the fact that the Grupo Vidanta theme park already works. We promote Nayarit because a new airport requires a lot of demand. Our responsibility is to show people we have these hotels in Riviera Nayarit. In addition, we campaign with airlines because they require good incentives for their flights, says Juan Enrique Suarez.
Another relevant project is the new road that links beach destinations and magical towns. The new airport will take 15 minutes to the Magic Town of Compostela and 35 minutes to the coast, so people can spend the night in a colonial town, enjoy great cuisine, and then move to the coast in just 35 minutes. We also have luxury residences in Chacala where visitors can rent exclusive houses for 1,000 dollars a night, says the Minister of Tourism of Nayarit. It should be noted that this state is the only one in Mexico that is part of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and offers, every month, virtual presentations to travel agencies to update them on new tourism projects and developments.
Punta de Mita, in Riviera Nayarit, has incredible beaches and world-class hotels. (Photo Credit: Valentin Fuentes)
Surez highlights that, in addition to all-inclusive hotels, there has been a lot of hotel investment for non-inclusive European plans due to the high interest of visitors in touring native villages such as Jala, where they can learn about ancestral customs and handicraft workshops where they can acquire high-quality textiles and pottery.
One of the most recent tourism projects is Islas Maras, considered the Mexican Alcatraz. This destination is located three hours by ferry from San Blas. It is a complex managed by the Mexican Navy that, in the past, functioned as a prison and is now a thriving destination promoted for sports tourism.
The Bridge That Links Destinations
For Jess Carmona, President of the Baha de Banderas Hotels and Motels Association, the bridge that links Puerto Vallarta with Riviera Nayarit makes it become a single destination with what tourism projects impact equally, such as the construction of Terminal 2 of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. If currently, we have 100 flights daily, we will have 200 on average. We have more flights, such as the direct from Las Vegas and others from Texas, Arizona, and the Midwest. The destination includes Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit; it is something we must consider, he says.
Puerto Vallarta is about to open Terminal 2 of its International Airport. (Photo Credit: Valentin Fuentes)
He highlights that the new road that will connect Jalisco with the states of Guanajuato and Zacatecas, will cause a high flow of domestic tourism. Hence, the project of building a bridge that allows the best flow of vehicles and avoids traffic jams is now on its way. "We have met with the government authorities, and the project manager will soon tell us when the bridge construction will start and finish," says the hoteliers' representative.
He explains that the link made up by private investments and the government has been very successful and highlights that, in 2017, he developed a large promotion office and formed a committee with five hotel industry aces from Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit who were the CEOs of Grand Velas, Vi?a del Palmar, Vidanta Group, Marival Group, and Paradise Village Group. This committee is the point of contact with the government to develop different projects, such as the new road, in addition to joint promotions with airlines such as Air Canada or United, among many others.
With all these ambitious projects in view, the joint strategy formed by Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit increasingly consolidates the destination as a leader in the tourism industry in the Mexican Pacific region.?
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