Riviera Nayarit and Iberostar Playa Mita

Celebrate your independence from the daily grind with a May getaway in the picturesque Riviera Nayarit and Iberostar Playa Mita.

Just a hop, skip and an ole south of bustling Puerto Vallarta is a lovely stretch of coastline packed with enough fun activities to satisfy everyone in the family, and a top class resort you’ll be happy to call your casa away from casa.

The Digs

Five star Iberostar Playa Mita offers an upscale, but family friendly oasis from the hectic Puerto Vallarta hotel zone. A picturesque hour south, passing through the grand gate doors sets the tone (even before they hand you a tropical drink as you check in). Concierge service and attentive staff throughout keeps you feeling well taken care of, without the hand-always-out sense of expectation you experience at some resorts – in fact all taxes and gratuities are included. One of the nicest aspects of this property is that while activities and entertainment abound, from a splash park for the kids and teen hangout room with billiard table to the live theatre shows and surfer-cool disco for late night grownup fun, they don’t try to restrict you from venturing out to enjoy the truly lovely region of Riviera Nayarit.

Nayarit Noshes

Sometimes inclusive resorts appear to take advantage of a captive audience. We never got that feeling at the Iberostar and the expansive breakfast buffet (which might make one groan at the sound of it) was actually one of the largest, freshest and most varied we had ever experienced. Local favorites abound, which were some of our top choices), as do endless fresh fruit and juice options. The milk does take some getting used to, mixed powder fountains and UHT boxed are available, but they offered plenty of cheese, yogurt and bottle smoothie shakes that kept us fully calcified. The coffee was the only spot that wavered from expectations, but the property offered a Starbucks’like coffee house that not only created all the fancy drinks, cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites you could want – but shockingly was included without a surcharge, so we just swung by enroute to breakfast and came to the dining room packing. Specialty restaurants offer variety, with a sushi and hibachi “dinner and a show” experience, steakhouse and even a beachside burger and fry spot keeping things interesting. Vegetarians will find more than enough tasty treats throughout the property.

For the Adventurer

Plenty of adventure can be had in this still largely undeveloped region. A visit to Vista Paraiso in Higuera Blanca (VistaParaiso.mx)isn’t your typical touristy zipline excursion, this well-run animal-filled farm offers horseback picnic rides, ATV excursions and tequila tastings (if you need a little liquid courage before zooming over the treetops). Not only are several of the zips long enough to enjoy the view (three of the twelve are over a full minute long!), the vistas are all pure ocean loveliness, which provides an excellent distraction for those a little nervous about staring at the valley below.

Sayulita

Artisans pack the adorable, hippie surf town of Sayulita. As noted, unlike many inclusive resorts, Iberostar encourages visitors to get the lay of the land, even offering a daily shuttle with a perfect three hour window to wander the charming streets. Boutiques offering one of a kind fashions, art pieces like the famous Day of the Dead skulls, sculptures, paintings and natural products await – along with a solid selection of cafes, bars and eateries to relax in or sample the myriad margaritas (we love the Cucumber Jalepeno!). One tasty stop for fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas, with a breathtaking view of the cove, is Don Pedro’s www.donpedros.com. Be sure to request a table upstairs.

Say Ahhhh

When we saw the tanks of “pedicure fish” at the Buddha Gallery and Spa, a few doors from Don Pedro’s, we were intrigued. When a woman appearing to be in her 80’s showed off her sandal’d feet that looked like they belonged on a 20-something, boasting her weekly visits, we were sold. Definitely not for the faint of heart, the sensation takes a little getting used to, to put it mildly. The tiny fish swarm your feet, 20-30 per foot and go to town, much like the cleaner shrimp do for large fish and sea turtles. This sort of pedicure isn’t legal in the US, so perhaps this experience should be under the “Adventure” category, but after a few of those Cucumber Jalepeno margs, we went for it. Bizarre…but effective. A buck a minute, we paid for ten and opted to chase our “treatment” with a 30 minute foot massage, so they left us with our fishy friends for closer to 20 while they prepared our rooms. Our feet never looked better, and being led into the cavernous depths of the Zen-themed boutique and spa for our massage became seriously droolworthy. Total bill for both? $26. So we happily and guilt-free spent the rest of our spa budget on the unique beachy fashion and artisan jewelry in the multi-room shop. (If you prefer more of a classic…and not bordering on illegal…treatment, the Iberostar has an excellent spa, as well.)

Hang Diez

Experienced surfers happily bob outside the famous cove break, people-watching and enjoying the steel drum and guitar melodies drifting out from the popular beach, as they wait their turn. But even if you have never been one to “hang ten” – this might be the spot to try. Down the beach a short stroll is excellent beginner terrain, and the pros at Lunazul will have you up catching your first wave. The board are large, stable and easy to stabilize and the instruction very, very patient. They provide rash guards, so all you need is a suit.

Sports Galore

Golfers will enjoy ocean views from most fairways at the Litibu Golf Course adjacent to the property. Although privately owned, they offer hefty discounts for guests of the Iberostar on this nicely kept course. Rental clubs are available, so no need to drag yours down if you are just squeezing in a round for fun. SUP’ers will love the gentle waves along the property’s coastline, offering plenty of opportunity to enjoy a salty workout while enjoying the ocean breezes. Kayaking and windsurfing are a few of the included non-motorized watersports. If you want to venture further out to sea, opt for a dolphin and whale watch to meet-and-greet the local wildlife.