Mexico is an incredible country with SO many beautiful places to visit. Having lived for 2+ years on the East Coast of Mexico, we were excited to finally get to experience the other side of the country. Currently, we’ve only seen a small sliver of these Pacific Coast states, and have a long list of places we still want to visit. But the areas that we have seen are definitely worth the visit!
This blog post includes some of the best places to visit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. The Baja Peninsula states we’ve included in their own post. Oaxaca and Chiapas also border the Pacific Ocean, but we’ve written their own post about them as well.
1. Puerto Vallarta
When Em and I were deciding to move to Mexico, we narrowed it down to Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta. Although these two beach towns are on opposite sides of the country, they are both popular expat destinations. Ultimately we decided to move to Playa del Carmen, but we always wanted to visit PV. It’s a beautiful coastal town with a sizable downtown and a gorgeous boardwalk full of shops and restaurants. The city is surrounded by stunning, green mountains that lead directly to the beach. It’s hard to compare to Playa del Carmen because they’re very different cities. We love our area in PDC and it’s become our home away from home, but we had an incredible time exploring Puerto Vallarta!
2. Guadalajara
Although not on the coast, Guadalajara is the capital city of Jalisco, a coastal state, so I decided to include it here. (One of the perks of making your own rules =) We were excited to see Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s largest cities. So we were pretty sad when our flights were changed and we ended up only having an evening to explore this massive city. (Spoiler alert: you should probably schedule more than an evening to visit one of Mexico’s largest cities!) Even though we had limited time, we were determined to see as much as we could! If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on Guadalajara, check out a blog like Goats On The Road’s post. We pretty much had time to grab some street food and see the main plaza area. Fortunately this area is packed with tourist attractions. The Guadalajara Cathedral is one of the most recognized in Mexico. Hopefully we will make it back to explore more of this amazing city!
3. Sayulita
Some people describe Sayulita as the Tulum of the west. It’s a popular travel destination for surfers, expats, and visitors looking for a quieter vibe than the nearby Puerto Vallarta. It first became popular as a surfing town in the 60’s-70’s but has since grown to have many boutique shops, markets, and restaurants. Its unique charm has earned it a spot as one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos (magical towns). The downtown is very walkable and a lot of fun to stroll around on foot. We only spent a day here, but loved exploring the magical town with our fellow friend and blogger Claire from Claire’s Itchy Feet!
(Although Sayulita is the most popular surfing town in the area, some of our friends did get sick surfing in the water a few years ago. So be careful which area you are swimming in!)
4. Acapulco*
Before the popularity of Cabo, Cancun, or Tulum, Acapulco was the go-to international travel destination in Mexico. In the 1950s – 1970s, many famous celebrities like Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy would visit this beautiful beach town. Over time, crime rose in this area and it became a less popular tourist spot. Although the crime isn’t gone, this once famous beach city is starting to regrow in popularity among Mexican travelers.
5. Mazatlán*
Another popular beach town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico is Mazatlán. Known for its long beaches and historic Old Town, Mazatlán was once a popular getaway for locals and international visitors. At one point, it was nicknamed the “Pearl of the Pacific” and was popular among many American celebrities. But like Acapulco, Mazatlán lost much of its tourism to crime starting in the 1960s. However, the city has recently restored the Centro Histórico and beachside Malecón.
Where We Stayed
One of our favorite hotels on our trip around Mexico was Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel in Puerto Vallarta. After three weeks on the road, it felt so nice to lounge in luxury next to the beach! It was incredible to go from busses and AirBnBs to experiencing the all-inclusive restaurants, and incredible spa! We also loved participating in a premium cooking class and chef’s table with Chef Varona, the hotel’s head chef! Staying at Villa Premiere was the perfect way to recharge before finishing the rest of our Mexico travels!
*If you’re interested in visiting Puerto Vallarta, read our full blog about our stay at Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel!
*Acapulco and Mazatlan are places we still want to visit, but haven’t been to yet.
