Rincón de Guayabitos is a small beach town on the Pacific coast of Nayarit. It is popular with Mexican families and surfers looking for low-cost accommodations and restaurants. Rincon de Guayabitos is part of a cluster of other popular beach areas including Lo de Marcos and La Peñita de Jaltemba.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]
The closest airport is in Puerto Vallarta (PVR IATA), which is served by most major airlines in North America, as well as domestic and international charter flights. You can rent a car and drive to Rincon de Guayabitos, or use local buses.
By car
[edit]From Puerto Vallarta, drive north on federal highway MEX-200. From the Puerto Vallarta Airport, it is 75 km to Rincon de Guayabitos and will take about 90 minutes (longer if you stop at other beach towns to check out the scenery).
By bus
[edit]The Compostela bus company has direct bus service departing Puerto Vallarta hourly for the 3-1/2 hour trip to Rincon de Guayabitos. Fares cost about M$100. This is a decidedly second-class bus that stops everywhere along the route. Compostela and Pacifico buses stop along highway MEX-200 to let passengers off and on. Grupo Estrella Blanca and Primera Plus buses also stop at their company-owned bus stations. These first-class buses are faster, more comfortable and more expensive than local buses (but can save you an hour of travel time). Estrella Blanca is about a few meters walk from the Compostela stop, but on Avenida Sol Nuevo, Primera Plus is about about a kilometer from the Compostela stop at the corner of Av. Jacarandas and Av. Guayabitos.
- 1 Terminal de Autobuses Estrella Blanca, Av. Sol Nuevo. Small but modern and clean bus terminal serving first-class buses operated by Grupo Estrella Blanca companies. Modern buses with service to Puerto Vallarta, Tepic and other destinations in Nayarit and Jalisco. The terminal has a Burger King for those travelers craving a fast food grease fix.
- 2 Terminal de Autobuses Primera Plus, Avenida Guayabitos. Modern, clean bus terminal serving Primera Plus and Vallarta Plus buses. Inconvenient location if you want to transfer to another bus line as all other buses stop about a half mile away. Buses are clean, modern first-class coaches with service to Puerto Vallarta, Tepic and other destinations.
Get around
[edit]Walking is the best way to get around town. Renting a bike can be fun and will expand your range.
See
[edit]Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 Restaurante Pineda, Carr. a Los Ayala 5, Centro, ☏ +52 322 135 0013. Daily 11:00 - 19:00. Beachfront restaurant at one end of Playa Guayabitos, large dining room with outdoor tables available. Innovative seafood dishes like Pescado Zarandeado, Aguachile and Tacos de Marlin. Large drinks including a passionfruit agua fresca. M$250.
- 2 Los Helechos, Av. Sol Nuevo 34 (at the Mar y Sol Hotel), ☏ +52 327 274 0851. Daily 08:00 - 21:00. International cuisine with a wide variety of poultry, pastas, and grilled meats. Of course they have seafood too, including five different kinds of ceviche. Family friendly with a kids menu. Full breakfast menu available. M$250.
- 3 El Amigo Vargas, Guayabitos (on the beach, close to the river), ☏ +52 322 150 6453. Daily 10:30 - 19:00. Laid-back palapa restaurant on the beach. Spectacular sunset views and a good place to just grab a small palapa table and chill all day, but keep ordering food and drink. Menu is mainly seafood with fish filets and shrimp cooked in a number of different styles and served with ice cold beers or margaritas. M$200.
- 4 El Marlin, Av. Sol Nuevo 545 (at the Hotel Loma Linda), ☏ +52 322 109 7501. Daily 08:00 - 20:30. Casual seafood restaurant with a variety of options for non-seafood eaters. Food is on the bland side, so might be a good option for people who avoid spices. Service can be hit-or-miss. M$250.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Several traditional and beachfront resort hotels are available in the town of Rincon de Guayabitos. Small bungalows and hostel-style lodging can be found around Playa Los Ayala.
- 1 Akan Resort, Av. Del Coral 27-A, Los Ayala. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Comfortable hotel on Los Ayala beach. Great for long-term stays because rooms are spacious, every room has a kitchenette so you can shop the market and prepare some meals yourself. Rooms are comfortably furnished and every room has a balcony with ocean views. Heated swimming pool available.
- 2 Cabañas del Capitan, Retorno Jacarandas #88, ☏ +52 327 274 0304. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Suites with kitchens, spacious living areas, balconies with ocean views. The building and gardens are attractive and well-maintained but the rooms and kitchen items cry out for maintenance and updates. Located in center of town, with restaurants within a 2-block walk and the beach within 100 meters of the hotel. M$3000.
- 3 Casablanca Resort, Rtno. Jacarandas 1, Zona Hotelera, ☏ +52 327 274 0632. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Beachfront hotel with clean, spacious rooms. Mexican-style breakfast included in rates. Swimming pool available. On-site parking available. M$2200.
- 4 Hotel Real Villas, Retorno, Pelícanos, Zona Residencial, ☏ +52 327 274 0340. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Beachfront hotel in town within easy walking distance to numerous restaurants. Rooms are spacious and clean with very comfortable beds. Breakfast is served on an outdoor patio. Outdoor swimming pools and jacuzzi. On-site parking available.