Nuevo Vallarta (literally the “new” Vallarta) is located just over the bridge of the Ameca River, which is the border between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. This is a town created purely for tourism. Mexicans live on the other side of the highway, in a place called Valle Dorado. And in 2022, they changed their name to Nuevo Nayarit!
As such, you will find high end malls, golf courses, all inclusive resorts, and expensive restaurants all over this town. It is also where you will find the immigration office and the US Consular office, should you need to get a permanent visa or a new passport.
The Mexican federal government began the project over thirty years ago. The community is currently home to luxury villas and estates that include canals lined with tropical gardens, each with private docking piers.
The area also offers new deluxe resort amenities on more than 5 miles of white sandy beach. The marina development features a 3,000-slip state-of-the-art marina and PADI 1-Star Career Development Dive Center. Condominiums are also available to visitors and residents alike.
Between 1980 and 1990, Nuevo Vallarta’s population increased from 57,028 to 111,457 inhabitants. A new marina was recently constructed. which consisted of the removal of existing docks, pilings, and ramps in order to build six new docks with 230 mooring spaces ranging from 22 to 130 feet (6.7 to 39.6 m) long.
Town Vibe and Culture
To me, Nuevo Vallarta feels like any beach tourist town in the USA, not unlike Miami, Florida or San Diego, California. In fact, even though you are in Mexico, you may never know it. Most everyone speaks some English here, and you certainly won’t hear any more Spanish than you would in Miami or San Diego.
This is a great place if you have fear for your family or of Mexico in general. It is probably safer in Nuevo Vallarta than it is in Miami or San Diego.
In the winter, the caguama turtles lay their eggs on the beaches of Nuevo Vallarta (and all over the coast of Nayarit, for that matter). Caguama turtles have been in danger of extinction since 1978. Some people steal the turtle eggs and cook them; the police are trying to stop these illegal acts by taking the turtle eggs to a safe place with biologists and environmentalists who can take care of them. See more about the turtle rescue efforts and turtle release program in the Activities section of this book.
The climate is hotter and wetter than in Puerto Vallarta. The annual average temperature is 25 °C (77 °F) and in the summer months the high temperatures can reach 32 °C (90 °F).
Beach(es)
Although all beaches in Mexico are public, most of the beaches in Nuevo Vallarta can only be accessed via the resort that sits in front of the beach, by boat, or by walking down the beach from one of the few public access points.
The beaches in this area are wide and clean, as the resorts maintain them, and there are no rock outcroppings in this area of the coast. In addition to the palapas owned by each resort and their corresponding resort restaurants, there are stand alone restaurants along this stretch of coast.