Everyone asks which is better, the city or the Riviera. But after showing the coast to buyers for years, Miguel's honest answer is that the question is backwards. The real question is which kind of life you want and every answer lives somewhere on this bay.
Puerto Vallarta: the old town and the marina
The city proper is the coast's energetic heart. The malecón, the cobblestone old town, the galleries and restaurants, and the marina district all live here, and its airport flies nonstop to dozens of US cities. For buyers who want walkable urban life, restaurants within walking distance and a deep sense of place, Puerto Vallarta is hard to beat.
Nuevo Vallarta: resorts, golf and marinas
About 20 minutes north of PVR, Nuevo Vallarta is the Riviera's resort corridor: a run of beachfront hotels, condos, golf courses and a large marina. It suits buyers who want an easy, self-contained beach life with amenities on site and short runs back\ to the airport.
Bucerías: the laid-back town
Twenty to thirty minutes north, Bucerías keeps its genuinely Mexican, small-town character,with a lively arts scene and a long, walkable beach. It is the pick for buyers who want local life, decent value and a slightly slower clock, without leaving civilization.
Sayulita: the bohemian surf town
About 40 minutes up the coast, Sayulita is cobblestones, surfboards and sunset cocktails: a small, vibrant town known for waves and art. It suits younger-at-heart buyers, vacation-rental operators and anyone who wants the smell of salt and the sound of live music within barefoot distance.
Punta de Mita: the gated peninsula
The ultra-luxury corner of the coast, Punta de Mita is a gated, private peninsula about 40 to 50 minutes north, home to world-class resorts like Four Seasons and St. Regis, and Jack Nicklaus golf. It suits buyers who want privacy, security and golf-cart-to-the-dark beach service, and can place a premium on it.
San Pancho: quiet, artsy and unhurried
Farthest out, around 45 minutes to an hour up the coast, San Pancho is a genuine surf and arts village with none of the strip energy. It is for buyers who want the simplest pace, community sincerity and a home where the loudest daily event is sunset.
So which is it?
Walkable city life, self-contained resort living, small-town character, bohemian surf energy, gated luxury, or quiet village. All of these are real and all of them are within an hour of the same airport. That is why Miguel walks you through the shortlist at the start, before you spend a week of vacation time seeing the wrong coast.
Thinking about making the move?
Get a straight,no-obligation read from Miguel, your dual-citizen, bilingual guide working from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.