Nayarit beaches: which one is worth it today?

About the coast of Nayarit

By Equipe editorial GTM Labs · Updated 10/08/2026

Nayarit's coast lies on the Pacific Ocean and runs through the municipalities of Bahía de Banderas, Compostela, San Blas, Santiago Ixcuintla and Tecuala. Since 2007 it has been promoted under the Riviera Nayarit brand. In the south, on the Bahía de Banderas, are Bucerías, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta de Mita. Sayulita, in the same area, has been a Pueblo Mágico since 2015 and is known for its surfing waves. Farther north come Jaltemba Bay, with Los Ayala, Rincón de Guayabitos and La Peñita, and Chacala Bay. San Blas, a port established in 1768, sits beside the Bahía de Matanchén.

The northern shore is part of Marismas Nacionales, a complex of coastal lagoons, mangroves and estuaries that runs from the southern coast of Sinaloa to the Bahía de Matanchén and is a Ramsar site. Its portion in Acaponeta, Rosamorada, Santiago Ixcuintla, Tecuala and Tuxpan has been the Reserva de la Biosfera Marismas Nacionales Nayarit since May 12, 2010. Off Punta de Mita, the Islas Marietas have been a Parque Nacional since 2005, and Isla Isabel has been one since 1980. Playa Platanitos, in Compostela, has been a protected natural area in the sanctuary category since 2024.

Sources: Riviera Nayarit (Riviera Nayarit Tourism and Development Board / Tourist Promotion Trust – Coastal Zone), About Riviera Nayarit · Riviera Nayarit (Riviera Nayarit Tourism and Development Board / Tourist Promotion Trust – Coastal Zone), About the CVB · Convención de Ramsar, Ficha Informativa de los Humedales de Ramsar: Islas Marietas (sitio 1345) · Riviera Nayarit (Riviera Nayarit Tourism and Development Board / Tourist Promotion Trust – Coastal Zone), San Blas & Bahía de Matanchén · Secretaría de Turismo, Pueblos Mágicos: Sayulita, Nayarit · Wikipedia (en), San Blas, Nayarit · Convención de Ramsar, Ficha Informativa de los Humedales de Ramsar: Marismas Nacionales (sitio 732) · FAOLEX (FAO), DOF 12/05/2010, Decreto que declara la reserva de la biosfera Marismas Nacionales Nayarit · Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CIC), Efemérides ambientales, mayo 2026 · Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CIC), Efemérides ambientales, abril 2026 · Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CIC), Efemérides ambientales, diciembre 2025 · Diario Oficial de la Federación (SIDOF), Decreto que declara área natural protegida, con la categoría de santuario, el sitio Playa Platanitos, municipio de Compostela (08/01/2024) · Expansión, Nayarit al mapa (28/02/2007) · Visit México (Secretaría de Turismo), Sayulita, Nayarit · Riviera Nayarit (Riviera Nayarit Tourism and Development Board / Tourist Promotion Trust – Coastal Zone), Los Ayala · Riviera Nayarit (Riviera Nayarit Tourism and Development Board / Tourist Promotion Trust – Coastal Zone), Chacala · UnoTV, Conservación de tortugas y garantizar el agua: México declara 20 nuevas áreas naturales protegidas (09/01/2024)