Costalegre

Mexico's stunning Costalegre stretches from Bahia de Chamela in the North which is just south of Puerto Vallarta, to Barra de Navidad (Christmas Bay) in the South, just north of Manzanillo. 

One factor keeping away the crowds: lack of easy access. Up until now, the nearest airport has been more than a two-hour drive away, in Puerto Vallarta. But that will change with the planned opening of the Chalacatepec Airport in the second half of this year, which will cut travel time by more than half. And a clutch of luxury hotels will soon follow — including 10 from the AMResorts group that will open in the area in the next two years. For now, the best luxury option is the Las Alamandas Resort, set on a 1,500-acre nature reserve, with just 16 suites in seven brightly painted casitas, as well as two restaurants, a spa and a large pool. Smaller hotels and even bungalows near the beaches can also be rented.

Miles upon miles of palm trees line the land just inside the coastal shores. Jungle covered mountains plunge into the Pacific coast, or fall short to reveal golden sand beaches, begging to be discovered and walked upon by tired feet.

The Costalegre is not a singular point on the map; like Italy’s Amalfi coast, it’s a stretch of land —150 miles long between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo— featuring picturesque ocean-side towns and villages, magical coves and remarkable views of a seemingly endless ocean horizon. Costalegre offers highly exclusive travel and luxury experiences within all-inclusive resort hotels that feature privacy and seclusion surrounded by a stunningly beautiful tropical paradise. Celebrities often come here to get away from prying eyes and camera lenses.

If there was ever a place that needed a rental car recommendation, Costalegre is it. The best way to explore the hidden coves, little towns and villages along this area is to drive along Highway 200, which hugs the mountainside along the coast, and experience this area at your own pace. Choose places to stay en route, take your time, share the driving and use the daylight hours to travel along this stretch of coastline and discover some hidden treasures and a tropical paradise to go with them.

The Costalegre is one of Mexico’s best-kept Sports Fishing secrets. Read the Mexperience guide to Sports Fishing in Mexico and discover just what a fantastic day out a sports fishing experience can be on your next visit to Mexico. The up-scale resorts in the area can arrange sports fishing experiences for you during your stay.

Just three miles apart, these rustic villages welcome travelers looking for a quiet, no frills and inexpensive retreat, away from the modern sophistication of 21st century living.

If you plan to travel to these areas, you are better-off flying to Manzanillo instead of Puerto Vallarta; although if you have the time and want to see the sights (or if Puerto Vallarta is better served by your local airport), the drive south from Puerto Vallarta is only 2-3 hours and offers magnificent scenery.

There is not much in the way of public transport along the coastal highway that connects the towns and villages of Costalegre. One of the area’s principal attractions is that it’s quite rugged and remote. If you are staying at one of the luxury resort hotels on Costalegre, and don’t plan to go out exploring the local area and environs, you can arrange for a shuttle to meet you at the airport in Puerto Vallarta and take you to your hotel and back to the airport when you return. If you plan to explore the area independently, or if you want the ability to leave your resort hotel and visit some of the villages and environs along the Costalegre, you can rent a car from Puerto Vallarta’s airport. The coastal road and the sights and attractions which along it cannot be explored here easily without the use of a car, so if you want to go out exploring we highly recommended that you rent a vehicle to explore this marvelous stretch of coastal paradise. 

In the heart of Costalegre, you will find the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere, an ecological reserve that serves as habitat to several endangered species; this reserve has an expanse of 150,000 hectares and is surrounded by the counties of Autlan, Casimiro Castillo, Cuautitlan, Toliman, and Tuxcacuesco.

In Costalegre, and specifically in Tenacatita Bay, snorkeling and diving lovers are in a paradise of amusement and recreation. This bay features numerous coral reefs and a great diversity of interesting marine life, such as sharks, whales, turtles, and dolphins, as well as the heterogeneous flora typical of the Pacific Ocean.

Barra de Navidad and Majahuas are perfect places to surf due to the imposing force of waves, an important condition for this sport. Another beach in Costalegre appropriate for surfing is El Tecuan, 3 miles north of Tenacatita. This beach presents the wildest waves of the region due to the westerly winds and is recommended for experienced surfers.

Carayes Coast presents exceptional beauty thanks to a set of unspoiled beaches and restaurants with the most exquisite gastronomic specialties located on seaboards surrounded by deluxe residential and hotel resorts. This area is also famous by its turtle nesting beaches. The vast expanse of the open sea, the different colors and textures of the sand as well as the diversity of animal species enrich the biological diversity of the region.

As you take pleasure on the beaches of Costa Careyes, enter deep into the animal world on its natural habitat visiting Isla de los Pajaros (bird's island) on the shore of this coastline, or the turtle nesting on Teopa beach. Take delight in the impressive image of the Volcan de Fuego (fire volcano) or have fun with the bullfighting show on the beach of Melaque featuring rodeo and fireworks. Costalegre's carnival takes place in Barra de Navidad, during the five days before Ash Wednesday. Costalegre has a lot to offer its visitors looking for fun, adventure, tranquility and direct contact with the purest nature. Have and adventure and enjoy Costalegre sightseeing!

The restaurants and bars in the elegant hotels of Costalegre usually offer live music accompanied by evening shows performed by talented dancers. The locals in the small towns tend to be cheerful people who like to have a good time, but in a different way to the large tourist destinations or cities, as the magic of these places is due to the warm, relaxed, coastal atmosphere they offer. 

The towns of Barra de Navidad and Melaque are probably where you'll find the biggest concentration of clubs, restaurants, and bars where you can enjoy your favorite drink or pamper your taste buds with a delicious traditional dish.

Hope this helped !!!