Mexico’s State Of Nayarit Is One Of The Most Preferred Destinations For 2024

Mexico’s state of Nayarit, a Virtuoso Preferred Destination, is poised for a banner year in 2024. In fact, a recent survey from Booking.com shows that Nayarit is the preferred travel destination in all of Mexico. Ninety percent of those surveyed are looking for relaxing vacations by the water in 2024, and with an enviable location on the Bahia de Banderas, Nayarit deliver. What’s more, the survey indicated that 50 percent of travelers are looking for local travel, aiming to enjoy a luxurious vacation at a reduced cost. For travelers looking to tick off their bucket list boxes in 2024, Mexico’s state of Nayarit is truly a dream destination.

Nayarit’s Attributes Lure 2024 Travelers

When it comes to 2024 travel, Nayarit is hitting all the high notes, from unique hotels and romantic escapes to culinary travel, golf, and the rising popularity of “Set-Jetting,” here’s what travelers can expect in 2024.

Unique and New Hotels

Mexico’s hotel scene is expanding at lightning speed, and Nayarit is no exception, with luxury leading the way.

The highly anticipated Rosewood Mandarina is set to open its doors in 2024 as Rosewood’s fourth hotel in Mexico. The ultra-luxe resort will be part of an already impressive compound that the One&Only Mandarina and Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club already call home. The hotel will feature 140 guest rooms, suites, and villas with panoramic views across the mountains, beach, and ocean. Guests will have the option to choose from three bars and restaurants, as well as three pools, a fitness center, and a spa with 10 treatment rooms.

Speaking of the One&Only Mandarina, the resort was ranked by The Knot as one of the best treehouse hotels in the world.

In the Punta Mita area of Nayarit, visitors can expect the debut of Montage and Pendry hotels, as well as a Belmond resort in the coming years.

Meliá Hotels International plans to open its first Zel hotel in Mexico in 2025 in Sayulita. The new Zen Sayulita will be the international debut of the Spanish hotel brand, featuring 145 rooms.

The already established Riu Palace Pacifico reopened to guests after a complete refurbishment and a conversion into an adults-only hotel. The renovation is accompanied by an expansion of new services, including more gastronomy options, improved experiences, and the Elite Club by RIU.

Set to open next month, the harmonious and bright, Agua de Luna Boutique Hotel is a hotel in San Pancho of peaceful convergence. Its contemporary architecture, inspired by the strength of geometrical shapes and the beauty of regional vegetation, results in spaces full of natural light and refreshing like the sea breeze of the Mexican Pacific.

Romance Travel

Romance travel is one trend that will never go out of style, and Nayarit knows how to set the mood. Velas Resorts is offering a new “Mojiganga Wedding Experience” for couples. Mojigangas, a deeply traditional part of Mexican heritage, are dynamic, gorgeously crafted puppets made from papier-mâché. Often seen in processions, parades, and especially at weddings, mojigangas are said to attract both good fortune and ward off evil. These towering figures stand at more than six feet and require a person inside to manage their movements.

Velas Resorts is bringing the tradition to life by creating bespoke mojigangas that represent the bride and groom, adding a personalized and festive touch to destination weddings. This package is available at its properties in Riviera Nayarit, as well as its other destinations in Mexico.

Elevated Cuisine

The coastal cuisine of Riviera Nayarit is second to none, featuring the freshest seafood, locally sourced produce, and succulent cuts of meat cooked over open flame. What’s more, Nayarit has so many gorgeous settings for those once-in-a-lifetime dining moments.

W Punta de Mita, for example, is now offering a private island dining experience at its all new culinary concept, Mesa1. This secluded venue hosts just one nightly seating on a private island on a table made from a 100-year-old Parota tree. Guests indulge in a customizable seven-course tasting menu that celebrates local flavors. Whether guests are looking for a romantic evening, or an exclusive family gathering, this private venue hits the spot.

Swinging into 2024

One of the primary draws to Riviera Nayarit is its golf offerings, and the golf scene is set to grow in the coming years. Mandarina has announced the plans for a new golf course designed by Greg Norman. As part of the Mandarina Experiences program, the golf club will feature a 10-hole short course consisting of par 3 holes, taking inspiration from holes at famous courses around the world. Think Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, and Royal Melbourne. The course is slated for completion in 2025.

Set-Jetting

One of the top travel trends for 2024 is set-jetting, or travel based on popular film and television locations. For travelers who have been hooked to the Bachelor in Paradise, they will recognize the setting as the world-famous Pueblo Magico, Sayulita. Since season 2, Bachelor in Paradise has been filmed at the Playa Escondida Resort.

Visitors can soak up every romantic moment with a visit to the intimate beachfront resort in 2024. The hotel offers activities like horseback riding on the beach, yoga, surfing lessons, paddle boarding, whale and dolphin watching, hiking and bike trails, and golf. For wellness aficionados, a spa provides hot stone therapy, deep tissue massages, four hand massages, and facials.

Mérida, Capital Of The State Of Yucatán Is A Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2021 Winner For 5th Year In A Row

The capital City of the state of Merida ranked as one of the top Mexican Cities in this year’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2021 making this the 5th time the city appears on the Mexico’s Top City in the annual survey.

The awards, announced this morning recognize the top hotels, islands, cities, cruise lines, airlines, spas and more around the globe, based on the results of its annual readers’ survey. Readers rated cities on the following characteristics: sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value.

Home to a thriving Mayan community, culture and gastronomy rooted in the colonial era, and some of the best architecture in Mexico, the state of Yucatán is a must-see for anyone looking to emerge themselves in Mexican culture. The state capital, Mérida, also known as the White City, offers a unique duality of ancient Mayan culture and modern facilities. A popular destination in Mexico, Mérida is an excellent base of operations for visiting the rest of the state and its remote destinations, which include the Yucatan Riviera, Cenotes and Haciendas, Puerto Maya, and the Mayan World Capital.

Merida is full of history, music, and color. The Historic Center of the city is the second largest in Mexico and, among its streets, visitors will find large and beautiful French-style buildings that are testimony to the luxurious life that their owners led in centuries past. Cenotes, haciendas, cultural cities, pristine beaches and nature are the perfect cross section of all that Mexico has to offer.

“This year has been exceptionally challenging for the tourism industry; airlines, agencies and destinations have been in this together, ”said Michelle Fridman, Minister of Tourism for the State of Yucatán. "To be included in the prestigious World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure as one of the best cities in Mexico and Latin America, especially this year, is a real honor. T + L readers have traveled a lot and, with their votes , have chosen Mérida for the fifth consecutive year as one of the main destinations to visit,” she added.

The state of Yucatan has remained proactive in ensuring the biosafety of its local community and visitors. After closing itself to visitors, it quickly developed a health and safety certificate which was soon after verified with the Safe Travels Seal from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and creating a safe bubble for visitors.

Merida’s international airport (MID) has seen an increase in arrivals. Earlier this year it was announced that 100% of international flights had returned to the airport and this week, Aeroméxico announced that it would almost double weekly connections between Mexico City and Mérida to 33, resulting in the arrival of 3,267 passengers a week to Yucatán. Volaris also continues with a gradual increase in operations to and from Merida, bringing service to a total of 45 flights this July, a 60% increase over last June.

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2021 is featured in the October issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands Sept. 17, and at www.travelandleisure.com.

Puerto Vallarta Should Be On Your List Of Wellness Destinations

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico— Enjoying oneself on a holiday does not mean abandoning one’s wellness goals. In fact, with wellness travel trending so highly lately, picking a destination that emphasize wellness is a way to marry vacation and fitness in one. Puerto Vallarta is a top destination in Mexico for wellness-minded travelers to stay in touch with their health goals while enjoying one of Mexico’s most famous beach destinations. From fitness programs, to spas, to healthy dining, and more, Puerto Vallarta is a haven for wellness travel. Later this month, the destination will host the health and wellness “Free Soul Festival” which will take place from November 29th to December 1st and will feature world-renowned yoga and meditation instructors. For those who cannot make it to this experience, fear not, Puerto Vallarta has health and wellness offerings year-round, including some truly spectacular hotels and spas. For visitors to Puerto Vallarta who want to incorporate pampering and holistic healing into their getaway, here are a few to know. The Spa at The Westin Puerto Vallarta drawing upon its serene beachfront setting and featuring a wide array of soothing treatments, creating an oasis to renew the mind, body and spirit. Step into one of its seven peaceful indoor treatment rooms or listen to the sounds of the ocean with a massage in one of the property’s outdoor pergolas. Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center’s Spa Maiavé is a holistic oasis that has been carefully designed to nurture a physical and mental experience for a balanced lifestyle. With wellness as an inspiration, it combines therapies and health techniques with the great power of natural healing and surrounding elements, including agave extracts, essential oils, floral elixirs and mud to harmonize, revitalize and relax the body and mind. Boutique in size, with just five treatment rooms, Abja Spa at Casa Velas, sets the tone with trickling fountains, aromatherapy fragrance, and candlelit corridors. Despite its small size, it offers a robust array of services, including separate hydrotherapy areas for men and women, a spa boutique, and beauty salon. Specialized packages cater to golfers, honeymooners, executives, and more, with luxe treatments that beautify, tone, relax, and invigorate. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the well-equipped fitness center offer pleasant views of the surrounding gardens. Yoga with facial yoga exercises included is offered Monday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the garden. The resort also has two 1,350-square-foot duplex Wellness Suites that offer a plethora of fitness and wellness amenities. Casa Velas recently unveiled new spa labyrinths and meditation pods to complement its spa and Wellness Suites. Based on the four elements - Water, Earth, Wind, and Fire - four new labyrinths offer mindful meditation reflection. Several meditation pods have been added to the garden for introspection. Then there is the Ohtli Spa at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. This palatial paradise spans 22,000 square feet and offers treatments inspired by ancient traditions of the Huichol culture. The signature treatment is the "Rebirth" Therapy session, which is performed in a pool of warm water. There is also a Hydrating Tequila Coconut body treatment that combines the nation's signature product with local fruit to restore the hydration of the skin. Guests visiting the spa have access to a variety of hot and cold plunge pools to help stimulate and invigorate the senses before and after their treatment. Outdoor enthusiasts can always find something to do in Puerto Vallarta, whether it’s hiking, biking, or yoga on the beach. The mountains that frame the city are veined with hiking trails that lead back into the jungle or spill out to secret beaches and waterfalls. Cyclists can hit the pavement or the sand on two wheels with one of the many bike rental companies in the city, like Puerto Vallarta Cycling or PVBikes. And if it's yoga you're after, there are a variety of yoga studies and retreats within the area. One of the best yoga escapes is Xinalani, which offers an eight-day Ultimate Beach Yoga Retreat, packed with wellness-minded activities, healthy food, space to disconnect, and, of course, plenty of yoga. For something less immersive, Puerto Vallarta has many yoga studies in the city, like Davanna Yoga, which offers Vinyasa, Hatha, Morning Yoga, meditation, and even yoga teacher training courses. Visit The Yogi Bar in the Marina or Kupuri Yoga on the Malecon to practice some of these teachings. Finally, just because it is a vacation doesn't mean that the diet has to go out the window. Indulging may be part of the fun but staying true to your clean eating goals is also important. Puerto Vallarta has fantastic dining, and health food is no exception. Salud Super Food, for example, is one of the city's best spots for fresh, clean eating. Located in the Zona Romantica, the natural food cafe serves salads, smoothies, healthy tacos, light breakfasts, wraps, and vegan specialties. Also, in the Zona Romantica is Barra Light, a vegan-friendly restaurant that serves breakfasts, organic salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and juices. Other places to check out are Planeta Vegetariano, The Green Place, Playa Detox and The Yogi Bar So, when it comes to staying fit and wellness-minded when on vacation, it really comes down to the destination you choose. It’s possible to have that gluten-free cake and eat it, too, especially when visiting Puerto Vallarta.