A Riviera is Born

You might be forgiven for having never heard of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s bright young star of the Pacific. For one thing, the 100-mile stretch of coastline didn’t even exist until last year — at least not under its present name, which Nayarit’s state tourism folks hatched as a new destination to distinguish it from its southern (and more famous) Jalisco neighbor, Puerto Vallarta. What’s more, Nayarit’s current speed of growth has been meteoric, to say the least.

The Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s emerging gem on the Pacific coast, is rapidly becoming a beacon of luxury and exclusivity. This 100-mile stretch of coastline, which only recently gained recognition under its current name, is distinguishing itself from its more well-known southern neighbor, Puerto Vallarta. The pace of Nayarit’s development has been nothing short of extraordinary.

The Four Seasons Punta Mita, the brand’s highest-grossing property, initially introduced the area to luxury tourism in 1999. With the unveiling of its Coral Suite in 2007, it became home to one of Punta Mita’s most lavish beachfront retreats. Now is home to Naviva, the newest glamping concept, adults only…heaven.

Now, with an array of luxury hotels, the first phase of Mexico’s largest marina, new highways and airports in the works, the region is expected to boast the country’s second highest concentration of high-end hotels by 2025, just behind Cabo.

The St. Regis, the newer addition to the Punta Mita peninsula, complements the Four Seasons. These two resorts share two Jack Nicklaus golf courses, beautifully landscaped gardens, and top-tier beachfront swimming pools.

Every room at the St. Regis features a terrace, an outdoor shower, and a bilingual butler, and the spa offers unique treatments like crushed pearl exfoliation and a bespoke line of Bliss cosmetics.

However, the real appeal of the St. Regis might be its prime location on the peninsula’s calmest beach.

This advantage may only last until the Montage and Pendry hotels, rumored to be in the works, take over the last two remaining plots in Punta Mita.

In addition to these established brands, several new luxury hotels have opened their doors recently. These include The W Hotel at Los Veneros, The exquisite One&Only and Rosewood at Mandarina and the Auberge Susurros del Corazón at Punta de Mita.

Looking ahead, we can anticipate the arrival of Montage Punta Mita, Pendry at Punta Mita, The Omni at Pontoque, Belmond Milaroca at SayulitaMilaroca, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Edition Hotel at San Pancho, Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Nauka, and JW Marriott at Destiladeras.

These upcoming openings further solidify Riviera Nayarit’s position as a premier destination for luxury tourism.

With its rapid development and influx of high-end hotels, Riviera Nayarit is truly Mexico’s new bright star, illuminating the Pacific coast with its promise of luxury and exclusivity.