The New Riviera

Darren Elms

The perfect day begins: you wake up as the sun crests just above the foothills of the Sierra Madre, grab your board and enjoy an early morning surf. After a relaxing yoga session under a palapa pavilion set atop a small promontory, you sit for a quick bite at one of the streetside cafes in town and chat with the locals.

Appetite tamed, you head up to the neighboring jungle for a hike through its lush landscape and back to the beach for a refreshing swim. As evening approaches, you arrive for dinner at one of your favorite beachfront restaurants, ordering a plate of fish ceviche or grilled red snapper. As you sit there enjoying your cold beer or margarita, the sun slowly sets behind the blazing sea.

This is Sayulita, a seaside fishing village located on the “Riviera Nayarit,” just a 35-minute drive from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Long isolated from the tourist trappings of its larger neighbor, Sayulita enjoys all the same perks, without the masses. With long sandy beaches, 80-degree waters, cobblestone streets lined with upscale boutiques, galleries, restaurants and cafes, this sleepy village has a rich variety of permanent residents, from local farmers and fisherman to ex-pats from all over the world and attracts a rich variety of vacationers from affluent world travelers to artists and surfers. Nayarit is the best of Mexico you have yet to discover.

Why Nayarit?

Next to the beautiful location and easy-going lifestyle, the biggest draw to the Riviera Nayarit is pure convenience. A two-and-a-half hour direct flight from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, your journey to paradise couldn’t be quicker or simpler. Even if the “commute” were a few hours longer, the trip would still be well worth it. This is the best of Mexico, minus the traffic, minus the tall buildings, minus the fuss. Here you enjoy temperate weather, gorgeous beaches, great surf, dramatic vistas and authentic local flavor. Friendly as it is scenic, residents don’t want you to experience their villages, they want you to completely immerse yourself in it.

The Benefits of Owning

Until about ten years ago when the Punta Mita resort community arrived, the region didn’t see much tourist activity. Punta Mita, about 15 minutes south of Sayulita, boasts a prestigious roster of luxury properties, including the Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts, both attracting their share of celebrity clientele. The second Jack Nicklaus Golf Course was recently christened, a welcome addition for residents and guests. And, in nearby Litibu, only 10 minutes south of Sayulita, a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course is well under construction. While many enjoy the convenience of these resorts for a quick getaway, some travelers are seeing the benefits of ownership in the region, especially in a quiet, authentic village like Sayulita.

According to Kevin A. Roberts of Contact Development Company, LLC, Americans, particularly Californians, are hot on purchasing property in Mexico. “The reasons are numerous, including its close proximity to California, weather, lifestyle and the ability to enjoy an authentic cultural experience,” he says. “Property ownership in Mexico is a safe and secure transaction if conducted properly and is now more readily understood by Americans.” He notes that title insurance from major U.S. title insurance companies, such as First American and Stewart Title, have been available for nearly ten years and now mortgage financing is available for qualified buyers through several U.S based lenders.

Buyers with flexibility of time and a desire for their own piece of paradise shouldn’t hesitate to pursue second home ownership in Riviera Nayarit. Whether seeking an isolated residence deep in the jungle or the comforts of a lively beach community, the relative availability and accessibility of the area makes the process a breeze.

Punta Sayulita

One of the most exciting projects to come to the area is Punta Sayulita. With ground breaking a few months away, this private oceanfront club and residential community sits on a spectacular 33-acre peninsula bordering the village of Sayulita and offering breathtaking views that give the feeling of living on your own private tropical island.

As planned to date, the project will host only 62 detached homes, a small enclave of residents considering the magnitude of the total property. In keeping the build limited at this number, the developers promise an intimate population of homeowners eager to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. Punta Sayulita will be Sayulita’s first private luxury residential community.

In addition to the residential development, Punta Sayulita will introduce a Beach & Surf Club exclusively for its residents and their guests. This “core amenity” will act as an inviting, central gathering place, complete with nine separate palapa-covered buildings, an intimate lounge, bar and restaurant, library, state-of-the-art fitness center, spa facility and show kitchen for culinary events. Outside, a small boat dock, wood deck, meandering swimming pool and large barbeque area form an ideal location for casual gatherings.

In order to preserve the natural beauty of the peninsula, the developers wanted the community to feel like an “organic extension” of the neighboring Sayulita village. Jungle trails lead out of the residential areas, offering plenty of trails for hiking and exploring all of Punta Sayulita. Eco-sustainable and green practice will be employed throughout the project, honoring the earthly gifts at the soul of the region. In fact, even automobiles are a no-go on the property, with residents motoring around in electronic golf carts instead. With the local wonders of Sayulita just a short ten-minute walk down the beach, all of the area’s cultural treasures are right in your backyard.

San Pancho

Just north of Sayulita, San Francisco, better known as San Pancho, is currently anticipating the arrival of a new development set amongst the jungle and overlooking the Pacific. Many say the village of San Pancho resembles Puerto Vallarta thirty years ago, full of local flavor and small narrow streets opening into avenues bustling with restaurants and shops.

The architectural style of the new community, also called San Pancho, will recreate traditional designs of the Mexican Pacific coast, with large windows and doors, exterior balconies, and palm thatched roofs. Residences will vary, from two-bedroom homes to three-bedroom Villas and larger Casitas.

San Pancho is being developed in parallel with the Haramara Foundation, a center dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of culture and arts. This non-profit foundation will bring music, dance, languages and local crafts to the community. In addition, an artists-in-residence program, with a calendar of activities, will offer art exhibitions, theatre, opera, sculpture gardens and more. A movement center looks to balance body, mind and soul with a menu of yoga, gym and dance, while the spa provides ultimate release with hydro-massage, steam and sauna.

With these exciting new real estate opportunities in Sayulita and San Pancho, Riviera Nayarit inspires a renewed meaning to the good neighbor policy.

To learn more about Punta Sayulita, visit puntasayulita.com. For other current residential opportunities in the area, visit sayulitalife.com. To learn more about San Pancho, visit san-pancho.com.mx.