Until recently, the Costalegre has been an overlooked stretch along Mexico’s undulating Pacific Coast found between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.

Exclusive resort enclaves mingle with tiny fishing villages, hidden beaches, rocky coves, and marshy mangrove lagoons filled with countless species of bird. Combined with a pleasing year-round climate averaging 75 degrees F and 345 days of spectacular sunshine, the Costalegre coastline is a forgotten paradise for those who wish to escape the fast pace of big city life.

Surrounded by lush tropical jungle and the Sierra Madre mountain ridge, spectacular cliff-top mansions and open beaches, the Costalegre Pacific coast area is often referred to as the “Mexican Riviera” for its exclusive location, allure for wealthy European and foreign jetsetters, and pristine landscape.

Activities and pursuits in the Costalegre center around the sea: deep sea fishing, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling, windsurfing, boating and yachting. Horseback riding, tennis, golf on three championship courses in the area, bird watching and polo are also favorite past times.

The Costalegre has cultivated its reputation as the playground of the rich and for foreigners seeking their own private escape in an ecologically stunning setting. Although the coast has been slow to development, the Jalisco government has been building and upgrading the regional tourism infrastructure. Several luxury hotel properties exist in the area in their own private enclaves of nouveau aristocracy. President Vincente Fox visited and toured the area in late 2004, as an added sign of confidence in the future developments.

With a flight time of just under three (3) hours from Los Angeles, the Costalegre destination is serviced by Manzanillo’s international airport (ZLO) to the south and Puerto Vallarta’s airport (PVR) to the north. An international airport is also in the planning stages for the Costalegre.

The Costalegre is connected to both by a modern, well-paved, two-lane highway: driving from one end to the other takes less than three hours. A toll-road is planned to be constructed over the next few years that will allow for the same distance to be traveled in 2 hours and thus connecting the Guadalajara-Manzanillo-Puerto Vallarta- Guadalajara tourist loop.