When planning a vacation to Mexico, a lot of people look forward to experiencing the authentic cultural atmosphere. Unfortunately, many of the popular destinations can be crowded with other tourists and expensive hotels and resorts. There are, however, still places that are quiet, relaxing, and fun, yet away from most of the hectic pace of well-known tourist spots. One such place is situated on a sandbar on Costa Alegre in Jalisco.
The Costa Alegre (or “Happy Coast”) lies between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. Beautifully green, the coast is dotted with small, out-of-the-way towns and beaches. While not every visitor to Mexico has the Costa Alegre on their radar, if you want to be off of the beaten path, it is the place to go.
Barra de Navidad, or “the bar of Christmas,” is roughly 135 miles south of Puerto Vallarta and 45 miles north of Manzanillo. There’s no better way to have the privacy, quiet, and freedom you crave while on vacation than to make reservations for a luxury vacation home rental here. And you can find your dream property for rent through Sea Side Reservations.
Barra de Navidad is an attractive location with plenty of things to occupy guests while on vacation. Because the village is small, most people who live and visit the place can easily walk to many of the attractions or take the bus line that is available. From your condo or house, you can easily reach any of the many activities that Barra de Navidad has to offer.
Local Beaches
The most obvious thing to do while visiting this small town is to visit the beach, which runs along its length. The primary beach is known as Playa Principal. A good way to relax and enjoy the beach and the lagoon is to travel down the Malecon. On one side of the walkway, there is the lagoon or Laguna de Navidad, and on the other side, there is the ocean beach, Bay de Navidad. At Bay de Navidad, the waves make it a suitable place for surfers. While swimming is an activity that people can and do enjoy at Playa Principal, novice swimmers and children should avoid it or use caution when swimming in water at certain parts of the beach.
The lagoon has much calmer waters for inexperienced swimmers. In addition, there are plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious authentic meal, numerous beach bars to visit for a drink, and places for vacationers to shop during their stay. Other beaches are just outside of the town yet easily accessible. And with a beachfront rental, you’ll have access to the beach in little to no time!
Fishing is another widely enjoyed activity for tourists staying in our rentals. People can rent boats to fish for marlin or tuna, for example. Barra de Navidad also hosts an international fishing tournament around the end of January and the beginning of February. Another tournament is held in the month of November.
Eco-Tourism
Small and all-but-unexplored coves up and down the coast from Barra de Navidad are wonderful places for experienced divers to explore. Divers will find that a short boat trip out to seamounts such as Roca Elefante and Los Frailes yields encounters with moray eels, lobsters, and even whale sharks. Dive shops are available in nearby Manzanillo.
The bay and beaches around town are prime spots for sea turtles to lay their eggs. This annual event happens from late August into December and is a fairly common sight at this time. Stretching back up into the hills surrounding Barra de Navidad is a dense, green canopy of tropical forest. You can rent ATVs or take a horseback ride to explore the local environment. Mex-ECO Tours is located farther up the main beach in Maleque and offers guide options for exploring the backcountry.
Golf
One of the more popular golf courses in the area is the 27-hole Isla Navidad Golf Course. Designed by Robert Von Hagge, this award-winning course makes wonderful use of its setting between lagoon and ocean.
When planning a vacation to Barra de Navidad, you’ll find the ideal vacation home right here. In addition to finding a furnished rental, you’ll also find answers to questions that can make your trip to Mexico a smoother, safer one, such as information regarding insurance and safety. If you have further questions, we can help. Don’t hesitate to contact us so we can answer those questions and reserve your rental today.