In Bahía de Banderas, nature ranges from the Islas Marietas to seasonal wildlife watching in the bay. There are also coastal activities, culture and gastronomy in various places. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the seasons, specific destinations and access conditions separately.

Wildlife Watching in Different Seasons

The Islas Marietas are an archipelago made up of two islands. You can watch birds and see coral reefs there. In Bahía de Banderas, humpback whales spend the period from December to March with their calves each year; they come to the bay to give birth. Dolphins and sea turtles arrive in summer and leave again in autumn. The seasons therefore differ considerably. Sightings are not guaranteed; tour dates and conditions may vary.

Marina, Beaches and Access

Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle welcomes visitors arriving by motor yacht or sailboat and offers modern nautical facilities and services. At the beaches in San Pancho, you can surf, paddle, snorkel and dive. Access is also worth considering when planning a beach visit: some beaches along the bay can only be reached by boat or via a roughly half-hour walk through the jungle.

Places, Art and Performances

Sayulita is a former fishing village and Pueblo Mágico with art galleries, restaurants, bars and a beach. In San Pancho, Circo de los Niños presents unique circus productions. It is located at Avenida Tercer Mundo No. 15. La Bodega Teatro is a multidisciplinary arts centre there for performances and events, where local creativity is celebrated. At both venues, check the current performance and event schedules before your visit.

The art in the town also has its own character: San Pancho features striking acrylic paintings of colourful figures displayed throughout well-known landscapes in the region. This means you can include specific cultural events in your trip planning alongside beach and nature activities.

Golf Courses with Different Features

Higuera Golf Club was designed by Greg Norman. Seven holes are laid out in a links style, another eight are set in untouched jungle, and two signature holes are on the Pacific beaches. Facilities include a driving range and golf cart and equipment rentals. El Nayar Vidanta Golf Course offers a different experience: it has seven lakes and 49 sand bunkers. These details about the landscape and course features give you specific points of comparison if golf is a factor in choosing your activities.

Local Cuisine and Shopping

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle has dozens of local restaurants. A market is also held there on Sundays, where you can enjoy local products. Before visiting, check whether the market is taking place on your planned Sunday. Punta Mita offers a wide range of dining options in the restaurants and hotels in the surrounding area, including the catch of the day and a selection promoted as “Nayarit’s best seafood”. Local shopping in Bucerías is focused mainly on handicrafts and clothing.

Getting There and Planning Your Accommodation

Within the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Federal Highway 200 is the main transport link. The bay can also be reached by road from Tepic or Guadalajara; the stated driving time is three to five hours, depending on traffic. Take current traffic and road conditions into account when planning.

Bahía de Banderas is also accessible via Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The drive from the airport to the hotel zone is stated to take 20 minutes; the actual time depends on the route and traffic and should be checked for your arrival day.

Discover more destinations: Nuevo Vallarta, Compostela.

Return to the main travel overview: Nayarit.