The sporting life in Riviera Nayarit (Part 1)

The Riviera Nayarit is a destination that has it all—and where sports are concerned, its beautiful landscapes and infrastructure offer an ample variety of activities for any caliber of athlete.

In this series, we will to take you on a sports-oriented tour of the ocean, the beaches and the mountains. In this first part we’ll take a closer look at the wonderful world of watersports.

The waves are the first thing to catch the eye as you approach the water. Synonymous with surfing and SUP, you’ll find Sayulita is the top draw along the extensive coastline, though by no means the only one, as there are plenty of waves to be found in Nayarit.

In our waters you can practice open water swimming or kayaking, which is in effect highly recommended in Banderas Bay because of the strong currents.

As you head out to sea you’ll find the playground for top sport fishing tournaments thanks to the fabulous variety of fish, especially around San Blas and La Cruz, where you can snag everything from snappers to sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, tuna and marlin.

Take advantage of the different islands, the cliffs and the mountainsides that tumble into the sea to free dive or scuba or even skim the surface with a snorkel—this is a must for any visitor.

And when you factor in the wind it opens up a whole other world. All sailing categories are king here, including J24, Laser, 420, Optimist and more, best undertaken across from Nuevo Vallarta.

The wind also powers kitesurfers, a sport that can’t be done just anywhere. In the Riviera Nayarit we’re one of the best spots in all of Mexico for this practice in the area between La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Bucerías. There are even a handful of adrenaline-junkies who have climbed the mountain in Lo de Marcos and launched on a paragliding adventure.

As we close Part One of this exciting series, we invite you to join us again next week for a look at sports on the beach and in the mountains.