Nayarit

The Riviera Nayarit offers 300 kilometers of Pacific coast that contrast with the overcrowded destinations to the south: Sayulita and San Pancho are surfing towns with international communities and vibrant cultural life; the Marietas Islands are home to Mexico's most famous hidden beach, accessible only by swimming through a natural tunnel in volcanic rock; and Mexcaltitán—the "Mexican Venice"—floats on a lagoon in the coastal estuary.

Nayarit's cultural identity extends far beyond beach tourism. The wixáritari people—also known as huichol—inhabit the Nayarit Sierra Madre Occidental and create the most renowned chaquira and nierika art in the Mexican indigenous world: brilliant geometric patterns that represent visions from their sacred ceremonies, now found in museums around the world.

The Marietas Islands, designated a National Park, are an underwater paradise with coral reefs, dolphins, sea turtles, and humpback whales during winter season. Banderas Bay, shared with Jalisco, offers one of the most beautiful anchorages for sailboats and yachts on the Mexican Pacific, with the Sierra Madre descending to the sea as a backdrop.

Tepic, the capital, preserves understated colonial architecture and the state's most authentic cuisine: zarandeado fish charred over mangrove wood, camarón aguachile, and tejuino nayarita are must-tries on any visit to this northern Pacific coast.