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According to historical documents, the port of Chacala was discovered in 1524 by Captain Francisco de Cortés de San Buenaventura.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

  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • 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…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • storm-in-puerto-vallarta-sweeps-vehicles-treesStorm in Puerto Vallarta Sweeps Away Vehicles and Topples Trees A sudden storm in Puerto Vallarta Sunday night swept away vehicles, downed trees and poles, and triggered patrols to clear drains—no injuries or major damage reported. A fast-moving storm struck Puerto Vallarta late Sunday night, dumping heavy rain that swept away vehicles, uprooted trees and downed utility poles across the city. Despite several reported emergencies,…
  • real estate puerto vallartaJalisco is seizing real estate in Puerto Vallarta tied to organized crime Jalisco uses asset forfeiture to fight Puerto Vallarta money laundering by targeting properties linked to cartel funds and pursuing three major court cases. Jalisco authorities have launched a focused campaign to disrupt money laundering in Puerto Vallarta by seizing real estate tied to criminal networks. Using asset forfeiture as a legal tool, the state seeks…
  • cancun-beaches-50-tons-sargassum-cleanupSargassum in Quintana Roo Hits 76 Beaches from Cancun to Tulum, Only 24 Clean Beaches Sargassum in Quintana Roo has reached moderate to excessive levels on 76 beaches—including Cancun—as cleanup crews race to protect tourism and coastal ecosystems. A recent survey from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network and the Sargassum Citizen Observatory shows 76 out of 100 beaches on the state’s Caribbean coast now face moderate to excessive seaweed…
  • clandestine-trash-dumping-puerto-vallartaPuerto Vallarta Removes Trash from Clandestine Dumping Sites The Directorate of Efficient Services cleared clandestine trash dumping sites in Puerto Vallarta across seven neighborhoods, urging residents to report and prevent new piles. In a targeted effort to protect public health and the environment, the Directorate of Efficient Services launched a clean-up operation across multiple neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta this week. Teams from the…
  • couple-walks-lion-on-leash-puerto-vallartaCouple Walks Young Lion on Leash Through Puerto Vallarta Streets Where are the police? A couple was filmed walking a young lion on a leash through Puerto Vallarta, raising safety and legal questions about exotic pets and public risk. A couple caused alarm late Saturday when they led a young lion through the streets of Puerto Vallarta on a thin dog leash. The pair, speaking…
  • crocodile-killed-el-salado-estuaryCrocodile killed in El Salado estuary prompts criminal complaint The crocodile killed in El Salado estuary has led Semadet to file a criminal complaint with the FGR and Profepa, underscoring Mexico’s wildlife protection laws and plans to restart educational workshops. Authorities discovered the mutilated carcass of a roughly two-and-a-half-meter crocodile in the El Salado estuary on Friday, July 4, triggering an immediate legal response.…
Scroll to Top