Riviera Nayarait, a 100-mile stretch along Mexico’s Pacific coast, has grown as a vacation destination since 2006, thanks to a $1.5 billion infrastructure investment from the Mexican government that enabled the building of luxury hotels. Encompassing Nuevo Vallarta, the Punta Mita gated community, cultural attractions, and fishing villages updated with wi-fi and coffee shops, Riviera Nayarait — 15 minutes north of both Puerto Vallarta and its airport — is emerging as one of the next great places in Mexico for couples. The best Riviera Nayarit hotels, below, are set beside the pristine beaches of this sunny area.
1. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
Set on a 400-acre nature preserve on a peninsula northwest of Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay, the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita lies inside a private gated community. Best at this hotel: Beachfront, traditional Mexican-style casitas with red-tiled rooftops directly on the shore and the signature professional Four Seasons service.
2. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
© St Regis Hotels.
Tucked in a hot, lazy nook of Riviera Nayarit, the romantic St. Regis Punta Mita features several infinity pools and a clutch of dining options. What's best: All hotel rooms come with sexy outdoor showers and indoor tubs. And the 10,000 square foot Remède Spa contains two couples’ treatment rooms and a deluxe private spa suite.
