The Riviera Nayarit is looking to grow as an environmentally conscious luxury brand. It has been a pioneer in combining unique experiences in unique locations, emphasizing sustainable practices through industry-leading travel and tourism programs.
Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau, indicated that investing in sustainable tourism is the way forward in this era. Tourist destinations must adapt to new trends to remain competitive.
“While the central purpose of the Riviera Nayarit CVB is to promote the destination as a tourist destination, it is also a priority to help preserve its natural wealth, as these are the main attractions we have to offer our visitors,” he said.
In that respect, he added, more and more hotels and tourism service providers are offering a responsible and respectful travel experience toward the environment and communities. This is in response to travelers who are looking for exclusivity but with the least possible impact on the place they are visiting.
Along these lines, we present below some of the practices the Riviera Nayarit has been involved in or pioneered:
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATIONS
Blue Flag: Application of strict environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria in managing beaches, marinas, and other bodies of water. The first Blue Flag for the Riviera Nayarit was awarded to Nuevo Vallarta Norte Beach in 2013; since then, it has maintained its certification.
EarthCheck: The Fraccionamiento Nautico Turístico Residencial Nuevo Vallarta is certified as an EarthCheck Community, the world’s leading sustainability program for the travel and tourism industry. As one of the communities with the highest number of tourists in the Riviera Nayarit, a solid commitment to caring for our resources and protecting local flora and fauna is essential.
Playas Limpias: The Riviera Nayarit is one of the national leaders in certified clean beaches (10 in total), a recognition endorsed by the Mexican Institute for Standardization and Certification (IMNC).
CLEANUP CAMPAIGNS
Beach Cleanup Network (BCN): This is a unique network created seven years ago, coordinated by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in conjunction with the Banderas Bay Hotel and Motel Association. Various groups of volunteers from different sectors of society participate in the BCN, such as NGOs, hotels, private companies, authorities, and schools, spread throughout the coastal towns of the Riviera Nayarit, from Bucerías and Punta de Mita to Rincón de Guayabitos and Isla de Mexcaltitán.
Cigarette butt collection: This practice seeks to reduce litter on the beaches but also helps to protect the country’s forest cover since one ton of recycled cigarette butts to generate paper is equivalent to saving 14 to 17 trees. The initiative led by the Association of Hotels and Motels of Banderas Bay (AHMBB), the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Riviera Nayarit Sustainability Committee, began in November 2020 (Colilla Challenge). A total of 18,250 cigarette butts were collected; in the first half of the year, around 27,005 have already been recycled.
Sorting counts (Separado cuenta): From April to June 2021, the Riviera Nayarit CVB promoted a crusade to help raise awareness about the importance of separating waste through environmental education talks, environmental fairs, and beach cleanups, among other activities.
REDUCING PLASTICS AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Training: Efforts to raise awareness among tourism sector workers and tourists about plastic reduction, energy consumption reduction, fuel savings that have a direct impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) generation, and reduction in water consumption.
In addition, the Islas Marietas National Park has banned the use of single-use plastics by tourism providers, so no boat should use this type of plastic when visiting the park. Since 2016, all tour operators wishing to carry out activities in the protected natural area must undergo ANP management training, which helps train operators and ensure that activities are carried out sustainably.
The Riviera Nayarit also participates in actions to protect the Islas Marietas and humpback whales, the turtle conservation program, and the protection of the national marshes and the species that inhabit them, among others.
For more information visit The Riviera Nayarit Tourism Website
Trending News
Trending News on PVDN
Cancún beach overwhelmed by over 50 tons of sargassum in 24 hours Over 50 tons of sargassum were removed from Cancún’s Chac Mool Beach in just 24 hours, as authorities ramp up cleaning efforts across three key public beaches. Cancún’s white-sand beaches are under pressure once again as an unusually large volume of sargassum has washed ashore in the last 24 hours, disrupting tourism and triggering a…
Cancún government demands answers from hotels on sargassum cleanup failures Mayor Ana Paty Peralta will meet with hotel leaders in Cancún to address failures in sargassum cleanup efforts, amid growing environmental and public health concerns. The municipal government of Benito Juárez is taking a firmer stance on the growing sargassum problem in Cancún, calling on the hotel industry to explain its inadequate handling of seaweed…
Sargassum Crisis in Cancún and Playa del Carmen Forces Restaurants and Beach Clubs to Cut Staff Businesses in Cancún and Playa del Carmen report steep losses due to sargassum, with restaurants losing diners and beach clubs sending staff on unpaid leave. Restaurants and beach clubs along the shores of Puerto Juárez in Cancún and Playa del Carmen are grappling with a sharp downturn in business due to a relentless invasion of…
Beaches Closed in Nuevo Vallarta and Lo de Marcos After Crocodile Sighting Authorities temporarily close beaches in Nuevo Vallarta and Lo de Marcos after a crocodile was spotted in shallow waters. Tourists are urged to follow lifeguard guidance. Beaches in Nuevo Vallarta and Lo de Marcos were temporarily closed to the public on Friday, June 20, after a crocodile was spotted swimming close to shore, prompting swift…
Sargassum-Free Beaches in Quintana Roo for Summer 2025, including beaches in Cancún Travelers looking for sargassum-free beaches in Quintana Roo this summer can still find clear waters in Isla Mujeres and parts of Cancún, according to updated reports. As the summer travel season ramps up, much of the Caribbean coast is once again dealing with sargassum, the brown seaweed that washes ashore in thick mats and affects…
Cancún sargassum removal hits 40 tonnes in one day as beach cleanup expands Cancún steps up sargassum removal efforts with 40 tonnes cleared from beaches in a single day, signaling a more aggressive approach to protect tourism. City officials in Cancún ramped up their beach cleaning efforts this week, clearing 40 tonnes of sargassum from Playa Chac Mool in just one day, one of the largest single-day removals…
Violent Weekend in Baja California Sur Leaves 10 Dead and Sparks Public Fear Baja California Sur faced one of its deadliest weekends in 2025, with 10 people killed during violent clashes in La Paz, Comondú, and Loreto, including innocent victims. Baja California Sur endured one of the bloodiest weekends of 2025, as a wave of violence swept through the municipalities of La Paz, Comondú, and Loreto. In under…- Cancun Weekly Sargassum Outlook (June 24–30, 2025) Sargassum levels across the Caribbean continue to rise as the 2025 season peaks. Tourists heading to Cancún or Isla Mujeres this week should be prepared for varying beach conditions. Here’s what to expect. 📡 Offshore Conditions Satellite data from the University of South Florida reports the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has reached record levels this…
Heavy rains flood Puerto Vallarta streets and trigger landslide in tunnel Flooding from remnants of Hurricane Erick paralyzed key roads in Puerto Vallarta and caused a landslide in the Luis Donaldo Colosio tunnel, Civil Protection continues damage assessment. The city of Puerto Vallarta was overwhelmed Thursday night by heavy rainfall that caused major flooding, stranded vehicles, and triggered a landslide in the Luis Donaldo Colosio bypass…
Bus crashes into canal in Puerto Vallarta’s 5 de Diciembre neighborhood A public transport bus crashed into a drainage canal in Puerto Vallarta’s 5 de Diciembre area. Authorities responded quickly, and no serious injuries were reported. A public transport bus veered off the road and plunged into a stormwater canal early Thursday morning in Puerto Vallarta’s 5 de Diciembre neighborhood, sparking concern among locals but leaving…
The Riviera Nayarit is looking to grow as an environmentally conscious luxury brand. It has been a pioneer in combining unique experiences in unique . . .
