Chacala, the Riviera Nayarit’s “Gallery Town”

Chacala, the Riviera Nayarit’s “Gallery Town,” is a very friendly, community-oriented place. Families, friends, and couples will all enjoy the calm ambiance of this micro-destination, located in the municipality of Compostela, Nayarit.

It has been called a true “hidden treasure,” framed by a perfectly seashell-shaped bay, nearly virgin beaches, and surrounded by lush vegetation that entices the senses.

For others it’s a kind of paradise thanks to the fabulous diversity of flora and fauna that flourish there, especially the colorful flocks of birds, including crows, pelicans, seagulls, and herons—features that earned it the name “Gallery Town” back in 2002.

A legendary port

According to historical documents, the port of Chacala was discovered in 1524 by Captain Francisco de Cortés de San Buenaventura. The place is full of stories and anecdotes, including one that says its coast has been visited by everyone from Dutch pirates to Father Kino, the evangelist who used it as a starting point for several of his missions.

Its beaches

This beautiful Pacific region in Nayarit has several beaches that can be easily accessed during most of the year. The main ones are Las Cuevas, Chacalilla, and Caleta, though the first is the most popular thanks to its nearly one kilometer in length and 40 meters in width. It has moderate waves, and fine, golden sand. It’s not unusual to see visitors laying out in the sun or enjoying a delicious pescado zarandeado (grilled fish) in one of the palapas at the water’s edge.

Chacalilla is a private beach with calm waters, ideal for scuba diving or kayaking, and Caleta is perfect for surfing—it’s very popular with surfers from all of Mexico. According to the experts, this beach offers waves that are as long as a football field! Not only that, they’re high enough to accommodate any size board. Another surfing beach is Colorine, some 400 meters from Caleta, with fast waves over a shallow bottom.

Where to stay

In Chacala you can stay in charming boutique eco-hotels with spectacular views of the water and spa services, or even in a home rented especially for tourists, as this town is one of the first adepts of the project “Techos de México,” or “Mexican Roofs,” which consists is building an additional room in a home, so it can be rented out to guests. “This project seeks to encourage local sustainable economic development,” said José Enrique del Valle, engineer and project coordinator.

Valle adds that Techos de México persuades people to stay in town and brings in additional revenue with the guest room. Owners receive hotel training, so they can better manage their rooms.

Mar de Jade is another option very close to town: this is a yoga center, and a wellness and relaxation retreat, which offers guests and groups an authentic atmosphere of peace and renewal.

What to do

The community of Chacala is very united and entrepreneurial. Its citizens are kind and always interested in sharing their culture and experiences.

Five years ago, a group of volunteers from different countries with different professions and origins came together to create the Music and Arts Festival, which takes place in the month of March. The festival has evolved year after year, not only in the music it presents but also in the participation of volunteers, to the point the Chacala Cultural Foundation was created to better organize the event.

Besides the yearly event, the foundation works throughout the year to provide workshops for kids and adults featuring drawing, etching, cinema, photography, music and other arts.

Another of Chacala’s attractions is its Cultural Market, which opens at the end of November through March, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can start their day out in this market located in the town’s small plaza, where they will find food, art, handicrafts, traditional candies, organic products, and fresh vegetables. A visit to the town at noon is always a good idea, as it’s very quiet, or likewise a trip to the beach, walk to Caleta, or practice a watersport like kayak, paddleboard, surf, or sport fishing.

Several sporting events have been added to the tourist and cultural offer of the town, including the Surf Fishing Tournament, organized by the Tepic Surf Fishing Club, which welcomes the fishing community from several states around Mexico and even other countries.

How to get there

+ If you’re driving from the south you can reach Chacala by taking the left-hand exit just about 1,500 meters before the entrance to Las Varas; Federal Highway 200 splits in two and there are signs that indicate Chacala is 9 kilometers to the West.

+ If you’re coming from Tepic take Federal Highway 200 towards Compostela; once there continue on to the village of Las Varas, some 37 kilometers away, then the beach of Chacala will be 9 kilometers to the West via a paved road.

+ Chacala is located 77 kilometers south of San Blas and 32 kilometers north of Rincón de Guayabitos.

Chacala, the Riviera Nayarit’s “Gallery Town,” is a very friendly, community-oriented place. Families, friends, and couples will all . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • tropical-storm-flossie-hurricane-mexico-pacific-coastTropical Storm Flossie to Strengthen into Hurricane as It Tracks Along Mexico’s Pacific Coast Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane by July 2 as it moves parallel to Mexico’s Pacific coast, bringing dangerous rainfall, wind, and surf. Tropical Storm Flossie is on the verge of forming from Tropical Depression Six-E and is forecast to strengthen rapidly into a hurricane as it parallels Mexico’s southwestern…
  • hurricane-flossie-strengthens-july-1-2025Hurricane Flossie will bring tropical storm conditions to parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco Hurricane Flossie intensifies off Mexico's Pacific coast with winds near 90 mph. Heavy rain, flooding, and tropical storm conditions expected in parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. Hurricane Flossie continued to intensify early Tuesday morning as it moved west-northwestward off the coast of southwestern Mexico, prompting tropical storm warnings and watches across multiple states.…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-mexico-coast-rain-surf-alertCabo Corrientes under tropical storm watch as Flossie expected to Bring Heavy Rain and Dangerous Surf to Southwestern Mexico Tropical Storm Flossie is forecast to strengthen and may impact Mexico's southwest coast from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes with heavy rain, flooding, and hazardous surf early this week. Tropical Storm Flossie is expected to deliver heavy rains, gusty winds, and dangerous surf conditions to Mexico’s southwestern coast in the coming days, prompting authorities to issue…
  • tropical-storm-flossie-strengthens-mexico-june-2025Tropical Storm Flossie Strengthens Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Could Become Hurricane by Tuesday Tropical Storm Flossie gains strength off southwestern Mexico, with hurricane status possible by Tuesday. Storm warnings issued from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. Tropical Storm Flossie continues to gain strength off Mexico’s Pacific coastline, prompting tropical storm warnings and watches across several southwestern states. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Flossie is expected…
  • raw-sewage-playa-los-muertos-puerto-vallartaMore Raw Sewage Dumping at Playa Los Muertos Appear to Come From Local Hotel Business owners in Puerto Vallarta are demanding action after raw sewage was discovered leaking onto Playa Los Muertos, raising public health and tourism concerns. A raw sewage leak at Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta has sparked outrage among local tourist service providers and business owners, who say the contamination is driving away visitors and…
  • cancun-beach-cleanup-sargassumMassive Beach Cleanup to Combat Sargassum in Cancun After a week of the Cancun’s tourism department denying sargassum existed and insisting media photos were fakes, over 600 public servants and volunteers joined the first simultaneous beach cleanup. In a bold step toward environmental preservation and tourism sustainability, Cancun's Municipal President Ana Paty Peralta led the city’s first simultaneous beach cleanup effort this week.…
  • cancun-2025-sargassum-beaches-and-activitiesSargassum won’t ruin your Cancun vacation, there are plenty of clean beaches and tourist activities As the 2025 sargassum season continues through September, visitors to Cancun can still enjoy clear beaches like Playa Delfines and Playa Caracol. As the 2025 sargassum season intensifies across Quintana Roo, tourists are finding it more difficult to enjoy the region’s iconic white-sand beaches without encountering the unsightly brown seaweed. While the influx of sargassum…
  • oregon-murder-fugitive-extradited-puerto-vallartaFugitive Wanted for 2008 Oregon Homicide Captured in Puerto Vallarta and Extradited to U.S. Jesús Rodríguez Borrayo, a fugitive for 17 years, was extradited from Mexico to Oregon for his role in a 2008 drive-by shooting that left one dead. He was located in Puerto Vallarta. A man wanted for murder and other violent crimes in the United States for nearly two decades has been extradited after being found…
  • tropical-wave-7-floods-bacalar-chetumal-emergency-responseTropical Wave Floods Bacalar and Chetumal as Navy and Army Activate Emergency Plans Torrential rains from Tropical Wave 7 flood Bacalar and Chetumal, prompting emergency response from the Navy and Army. Several towns remain isolated in southern Quintana Roo. Torrential rains caused by Tropical Wave Number 7 have flooded multiple communities in southern Quintana Roo, prompting a joint emergency response from Mexico’s Navy and Army. Authorities activated their…
Scroll to Top