Onsite Review: Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit—This Dual Destination Shines Brighter Than Ever

CONRAD PUNTA MITAPuerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit—This Dual Destination Shines Brighter Than EverBy Lydia GregorySultry coastal sisters Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have long been two of the Mexican Pacific’s crown jewels and with good reason—close enough to touch, but each with its own allure, they can easily meet the demands of a broad spectrum of clients. This synergy was in full display during the annual Gala Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit held in February, during which key tourism officials noted how the regions—though in separate states—are complementary and work together towards the same tourism goals. This includes the area’s tremendous appeal for niche markets: luxury, LGBTQ+, romance, golf, MICE and adventure travel, plus the unique offer of the states’ Pueblos Magicos, or Magical Towns, villages recognized by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism for their unique qualities, beautiful architecture and cultural treasures.BOUGANVILLA RESORTViva VallartaPuerto Vallarta broke records last year when it welcomed an unprecedented 6.04 million visitors, a 2.2 percent increase from the previous year. And that number is poised for an increase: Currently under construction is a second terminal for the modern Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), which, when finished, is expected to double the capacity and will be Latin America’s first net zero-certified airport. The city’s obvious allure is its golden-sand beaches and fine resorts, but there’s so much more. This is a city of culture and amazing gastronomy—we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention French culinary master Thierry Blouet’s exquisite Cafe des Artises in Puerto Vallarta and Tuna Blanca in Punta Mita, plus he’s the founder of the International Gourmet Festival. It also has a distinct cosmopolitan vibe that includes a sensational arts district with high-end galleries that run the gamut, from the exciting Galeria Omar Alonso with its jaw-dropping contemporary art to the colorful Peyote People and its extraordinary folk art. Accommodations are just as varied. To name a few, there’s the gem-like Hacienda San Angel, with 12 superb Mexican Colonial suites tucked high above the town’s cobblestone streets; the modern 80-guestroom, adults-only Villa Premiere, recently renovated and within walking distance of everything that’s fun in the city; and the 473-guestroom and -suite Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center, which has emerged from a massive, in-depth, top-to-bottom re-do that added an award-winning spa with new wellness experiences coming online in 2024 and Punta Sal, a new seaside restaurant opening this month. Other accommodation news for Puerto Vallarta includes the upcoming adults-only Breathless Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa (2025), part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. TOWN CHURCH TOWERAlluring Riviera NayaritRiviera Nayarit already boasts some 14,000 guestrooms, three-quarters of which are in the luxury segment, and it’s poised for more. The 140-room Rosewood Mandarina is set to open this year in the same compound as the One&Only Mandarina; Melia Hotels International is developing two properties in the area, Zel Sayulita (2025) and Me by Melia Sayulita (TBD); RIU Palace Pacifico reopened after an extensive refurbishment and conversion to adults-only; and Belmond (2025), Montage (2026) and Pendry (2026) hotels have projects on the table in the Punta Mita area, as does Marriott. Expected in the Costa Canuva project are a Fairmont and a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Recent openings include Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort, Susurros del Corazon, Auberge Resorts Collection and the svelte, art-filled Conrad Punta Mita, while recent renovations include the St. Regis Punta Mita. And while the luxury segment is a definite draw—we should note it’s also home to La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club—there’s no denying the allure of its more “artisanal” side. “We have a lot of projects and developments in this region,” says Juan Enrique Suarez, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Nayarit, “but we want to get people away from the beach, too.” This is where the new highway comes in, expected to be completed this year. “We have a lot of culture and gastronomy in our native towns, and [by highway] you’ll be able to travel to different towns in one hour, one-hour-and-thirty minutes, and, for example, you can visit with the Wixarica [indigenous people] where they still live and see their ancestral activities.” He adds the new generation of travelers doesn’t want to stay put in one place, and with a good highway they can move quickly between destinations and explore the culture of Nayarit beyond the coastline. In other words: Travel in an immersive, experiential way.TUNA RESTAURANT New offers in Nayarit include visits with providers such as Vallarta Adventures to Caletitas for a private beach experience, restaurant and all. They also provide an adventure to Islas Marias: Once a penal colony, these three islands are now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The latter departs from the historic port of San Blas, one of Nayarit’s newest Pueblos Magicos (there are now nine). Not a Magical Town but worth an honorable mention is San Francisco, or “San Pancho,” home to the Children’s Circus founded by Cirque du Soleil’s Gilles Ste-Croix, and Maraica, a true eco-hotel that represents the ethos of sustainability, wellness and green-living that’s such a huge part of this state. Making it easier to travel within the state of Nayarit will be the $250 million modernization of the current Tepic Airport, three hours north of Puerto Vallarta. Renamed Riviera Nayarit International Airport (TPQ), it’s expected to be completed this year with an expansion of its main terminal building, an extended runway to handle up to A321neo aircraft, new jet bridges, a 100-key airport hotel, shops and restaurants, a new car rental center with companies like Hertz, Avis and Budget and a new control tower. Contact InformationPuerto Vallarta Tourism Trust: visitpuertovallarta.comRiviera Nayarit Tourism and Development Board: rivieranayarit.comCOVERSANDALSTable of ContentsSANDALS SPREADEditor's NotesPALLADIUM BRAND ADAdvisor Speak: Attracting Next Generation AdvisorsFIESTA AMERICANAIndustry Insights: Travel is a ‘Human Need’Cruise: The Call of the World’s Rivers & OceansAMERICAN CRUISE LINES SCAMERICAN CRUISE LINESAMAWATERWAYS SCAMAWATERWAYSDISNEY CRUISE LINE SCDISNEY CRUISE LINEEXPLORA JOURNEYSOCEANIA CRUISES SCOCEANIA CRUISESROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL SCRCI ADOnboard Review: Icon of the Seas Reaches for the StarsOnboard Review: Lindblad’s National Geographic Explorer—An Immersive Expedition ExperienceOnboard Review: Seven Seas Grandeur—All-Inclusive Luxury Offers Top ValueNorth America: Florida Beckons with New Properties, Attractions, EateriesOnsite Review: Miami Sparkles With Art, Nature & Culinary OfferingsLEE COUNTY SCLEE COUNTYAlaska: What’s New in the Last FrontierOnsite Review: Boston Welcomes the Celebrated Raffles BrandWhat's Next for Families in Mexico & the CaribbeanCaribbean Vacation Offers Varied ExperiencesPALLADIUM HOTEL GROUPOnsite Review: Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit—This Dual Destination Shines Brighter Than EverRECOMMEND EDU HOUSE ADWEBINAR HOUSE AD