The Allure of Jaltemba Bay Beaches
Tara A. Spears
Although western Mexico is known for its attractive coastline, only a few coastal communities can boast of beauty and a healthy environment. The three sister towns, Rincon de Guayabitos, Los Ayala, and La Penita, comprise the lovely Jaltemba Bay on the Rivera Nayarit coast. The centerpiece of the bay is the protected Coral Island and nearby Rincon de Guayabitos beach that both have their certification based on Mexican Official Standard for clean water quality, infrastructure and complementary programs. Not only does Jaltemba Bay stand out due to its natural beauty, friendly people and vibrant Mexican culture but it‘s good for you! Let’s take a closer look at the distinct villages that comprise Jaltemba Bay.
La Peñita is a destination with all the charm of a small fishing village, which also gives its visitors the tranquility and beauty of its natural environment. This picturesque town has doubled in population in less than 20 years to just under 20,000 inhabitants. La Peñita was founded by the Mexica native peoples who settled in this latitude on their journey from the island of Mexcaltitán to Tenochtitlan. For years the main source of income was fishing and tropical fruit farming but since the late 1990s, hospitality is the main employer with the explosion of hotels, restaurants, and bungalows.
The climate of Jaltemba Bay boasts a magnificent winter with dry, sunny days and an average temperature in the 70sF- perfect for outdoor activities. However, the rainy season, from June to October, is challenging for most people due to the high temperature in the 90sF plus extreme high humidity. However, many expats overcome the summer killer humidity by installing air conditioning.
Among the attractions of La Penita is that it is the commercial hub of the community with retail shops, medical and dental offices besides two hospitals. Several community events attract tourists to participate: The ten Day LP Patrons Festival in May has excellent entertainment in the town square; the beautiful 6 hour long November Revolution Day Parade that features every school child of Jaltemba Bay is worth a week’s vacation; and the February Carnival that lasts several days and is celebrated in the streets with music, parades and lots of partying. Another must do is to check out the weekly Thursday outdoor market (tianguis) that spreads out from the town square.
Enjoying the Pacific Ocean is easy as the La Penita beach is almost 1.5 km of sandy shores and calm waters that are perfect for swimming and water sports. Families with young children like Jaltemba Bay’s beaches because it is gentle sloping without a sudden drastic change of depth. Only the Guayabitos section of the JB has trained lifeguards if you want that protection.
The town of Guayabitos is in the center of the bay. Its shore is lined with hotels, restaurants, and ocean front condos. The only main street has shopping, restaurants, and hotels. Although its number of inhabitants is only 2,800, the number of rooms available is at least 10,000 more! The quaint cobblestone streets tend to get clogged during the peak season when there is 100% hotel occupancy. Since the bay faces west, the sunsets are spectacular and sure to provide great photos to remember your visit. Every Saturday in February the Guayabitos Hotel Association provides free live entertainment under the palm trees in the main plaza—fantastic performers showcasing Mexican traditional songs, dance, costumes.
The southern end of Jaltemba Bay is the sleepy village of Los Ayala. It has 618 inhabitants but thousands of options for every budget. It has a wonderful beach for relaxing, swimming. Since it is nestled at the base of the mountains, many hikers meet to explore the nearby jungles-it is like going back in time.
All three jewels of Jaltemba Bay offer fine dining, a choice of recreational activities- golf, tennis, horseback riding, snorkeling- in addition to a wide variety of accommodations. The Puerto Vallarta International airport is less than 50 km away, with several reliable pickup companies that will comfortably deliver you to your hotel.
You can rent a car in Bucerias or La Penita for your stay if you don’t want to utilize the many taxis in each town. Lastly, there are superb long-distance bus services that will transport you in comfort for a ridiculously low price. A new bus terminal is nearing completion in Guayabitos. These carriers from Puerto Vallarta arrive daily: PrimeraPlus, Futura, Vallarta Plus and Pacifico.
Most people come on a vacation and fall in love with the beaches, towns, and people of Jatemba Bay.
