{"id":7681,"date":"2017-06-20T18:49:22","date_gmt":"2017-06-20T18:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/bloger\/?p=7681"},"modified":"2017-06-20T18:49:22","modified_gmt":"2017-06-20T18:49:22","slug":"off-beaten-path-riviera-nayarit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seasidemexico.com\/bloger\/off-beaten-path-riviera-nayarit\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Beaten Path in Riviera Nayarit"},"content":{"rendered":"
Riviera Nayarit itself is an \u201coff-the-beaten-path\u201d destination within Mexico. Scarcely a decade ago, the 190 miles just north of bustling Puerto Vallarta was a hideaway for surfers and Hollywood A-listers looking to stay under the radar. \u201cTravelers seeking a more immersive experience of authentic Mexico will certainly find a trip to northern Nayarit to be a breath of fresh air,\u201d describes Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here are some of our travel coordinators\u2019 favorite hidden gems.<\/p>\n
Hidden Beach on the Marieta Islands<\/h2>\n
Marietas Islands National Park is a small group of protected volcanic islands off the coast of Punta Mita. The former government bombing test site was saved by a group of environmentalists that included famed Sea Explorer Jacques Cousteau. Hidden caverns, natural archways, and an abundance of marinelife attract snorkelers and divers. The hidden gem here is appropriately named \u201cHidden Beach,\u201d as you can only access the warm, turquoise, waters and pristine sandy cavern by swimming through a long tunnel from the Pacific Ocean. Thrillist <\/em>named Hidden Beach one of the \u201cTop 25 Beaches in the World,\u201d alongside well-known paradises like Brazil\u2019s Ipanema, Jamaica\u2019s 7-Mile Beach, and Miami\u2019s South Beach.<\/p>\n
La Tovara Springs in San Blas<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019ve ever been on Disney\u2019s \u201cJungle Cruise\u201d and longed for the real deal, you\u2019ll find it in San Blas. The town itself consists of not much more than an old fort, a church, and a few restaurants with tasty seafood. A guided boat ride through La Tovara takes you beneath jungle canopy, through an endless maze of mangroves, and past nesting sites for egrets and spoonbills. You may spot crocodiles, turtles, and jaguars if you\u2019re lucky. Guests are transported to a clear swimming spring visited by tropical parrots.<\/p>\n
The Petroglyphs at Alta Vista<\/h2>\n
Alta Vista is one of the most sacred places in Riviera Nayarit. Down a winding dirt road, past farm fields and cow pastures, shaded by Papelillo and Kapok trees, you\u2019ll park your car where the road is washed out and walk down a cobblestone path and dry river beds for 20 minutes to reach the discreet entrance of Alta Vista. Here you can hike the ancient trails of the Huichol Indians at \u201cThe King\u2019s Fountain\u201d (La Pila del Rey), a place where local Mestizos and Huichol Indians still worship. The petroglyph carvings imprinted on the slopes of the Copo volcano have been wonderfully preserved, tucked beneath dense forest canopy and surrounded by rich flora. You may spot sacrificial sites as well. Visitors say the best part of hiking Alta Vista is the quiet and ideal picnic sites alongside fresh mountain water pools and small waterfalls.<\/p>\n
The Tianguis in La Pe\u00f1ita<\/h2>\n
La Pe\u00f1ita is one of the three small, friendly towns packed with \u201creal Mexican flavor\u201d in Jaltemba Bay, in the heart of Riviera Nayarit. An open-air market, The Tianguis, is this sleepy town\u2019s main draw. Every Thursday, pickup trucks overflow with watermelons, poblano peppers, and seasonal produce. You can buy everything from just-caught Jumbo shrimp to fresh-baked pastries, Mexican table linens to Oaxacan wool rugs, handmade pottery to Huichol Indian art. If you love to shop artisan goods you won\u2019t find elsewhere, the Tianguis is a must-see!<\/p>\n
Monkey Mountain in Sayulita<\/h2>\n
Monkey Mountain sits high above the horizon as a standout geological feature in the area, promising spectacular views of San Pancho, Punta de Mita, and the Bay of Banderas from its summit — for those who are adventurous enough to make the arduous 1,200-foot trek. We recommend stopping at Painted Ponies, a horseback riding tour operator at the foot of Cerro Mono in Higuera Blanca. Saddle up for a three-hour adventure through the jungle. Unfortunately, the mountain\u2019s resident monkeys were hunted to extinction long ago, so their presence remains in one\u2019s imagination.<\/p>\n
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Riviera Nayarit itself is an \u201coff-the-beaten-path\u201d destination within Mexico. Scarcely a decade ago, the 190 miles just north of bustling Puerto Vallarta was a hideaway for surfers and Hollywood A-listers looking to stay under the radar. \u201cTravelers seeking a more immersive experience of authentic Mexico will certainly find a trip to northern Nayarit to be a breath of fresh air,\u201d describes Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here are some of our travel coordinators\u2019 favorite hidden gems.<\/p>\n