RIVIERA NAYARIT, WHERE NATURE & ADVENTURE REIGN

Riviera Nayarit, MEXICO -- Riviera Nayarit is teeming with mountain and aquatic adventures and encounters with exotic wildlife such as sea turtles, whales, and wild dolphins in the Pacific Ocean. The region is also home to over 500 species of birds – many of which can be seen in La Tovara National Park and the mangrove eco-region surrounding San Blas. This destination has over 192 miles of pristine coastline and beaches; breathtaking scenery in the spectacular Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains; lush fauna and flora, and seven nature reserves.   Protected nature reserves include: Marismas Nacionales, mangrove eco-region of San Blas; Sierra de Vallejo, biosphere state reserve, of deep wild vegetation; Islas Marias and Islas Marietas, biosphere reserves declared by the UNESCO; Isla Isabel, a coral reef refuge for fish, birds and mammals; Sierra de San Juan and the Transversal Neo Volcanic Axis.

The destination is also home to world-class resorts offering eco-minded hospitality and spas with natural treatments as well as tour companies that use experts in botany, marine biology and birdlife to guide visitors on tours and adventures to experience the natural wonders. Highlights of nature/adventure activities as follows: Sea turtles on the coastlines of Riviera NayaritThe official mascot of Riviera Nayarit, four protected species of sea turtle use the coast of Nayarit as a nesting site, including leatherback turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, hawksbill turtles, and green turtles. The Olive Ridley nesting season begins in June and ends in November. Indigenous to Nayarit, the Olive Ridley is one of the smallest species of sea turtle and is named for the olive color of its heart-shaped shell.

During the summer and fall months, travelers can visit Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde’s marine turtle nursery, located in San Francisco. Turtle hatchlings are released just after sundown and each Wednesday evening during the nesting season, the organization conducts an educational slideshow at the Costa Azul Hotel. More adventurous travelers may volunteer with the organization for a minimum commitment of two months to aid with hatching and releasing the endangered sea turtles. For more information, visit www.costazaul.com and www.project-tortuga.org.         

Wildlife Connection, an eco tour group based in Marina Vallarta, offers an evening tour to turtle camps in Riviera Nayarit where visitors can participate in the release of baby turtles and complete their experience with an educational lecture about the fascinating world of sea turtles and their conservation. For more information, visit: www.wildlifeconnection.com.

Guests of Playa Las Tortugas are blessed with the rare opportunity to work alongside veterinarians and biologists of Mexico’s National Commission of Protected Areas (CONANP) in protecting endangered Olive Ridley and Hawksbill sea turtles. Sea turtles arrive on this beach between June and December to nest, hatch, and return to the ocean. Personnel of Mexico’s federal environmental department (SEMARNAT the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources), along with volunteers that include students and tourists, patrol the beach at night to harvest and protect turtle eggs and also release hatchlings. On some nights, there are thousands of hatchlings to return to the ocean. For many of the hotel’s visitors, going on turtle patrol and releasing the newly-hatched baby turtles is the highlight of their stay. For more information, visit: http://www.playalastortugas.com/index.php/community/categories/topic/sea_turtle_conservation_camp/

Bird watching & Crocodile Reserve in La Tovara National Park in San BlasAccording to the World Wildlife Fund, the La Tovara National Park and mangrove eco-region in San Blas is “one of the most important winter habitats for birds in the Pacific, home to 80% of the Pacific migratory shore bird populations.” A paradise for bird enthusiasts, this ecoregion has the highest concentration of migratory birds and features over 500 species, including the black-bellied tree duck, great blue heron, roseate spoonbill, and endemic birds, like the bumblebee hummingbird and the Mexican woodnymph.  Banderas Bay Tours & Travel offers a special tour package of San Blas with experienced guides who can point out the amazing birds during a boat trip through the tangled mangroves and flat wetlands. The tour also visits the Crocodile Reserve in El Manantial of La Camelota. For more information, visit: http://ttf.com.mx  

Each January/February, the Festival of Migratory Birds celebrates the abundance of wildlife and species of birds in Riviera Nayarit. During this Festival, special seminars on birds, bird watching and environmental conservation are offered as well as boat tours of La Tovara National Park. For more information, visit: http://avessanblas.uan.mx. Whale watching in Banderas Bay and coastline of Riviera NayaritHundreds of Humpbacked whales visit Banderas Bay each year from mid-December through April on their annual migration from Alaska to Hawaii. Vallarta Adventures’ Whale Watching Tours helps visitors get up close and personal with the humpback whales. The majestic giants raise their calves in the protected waters of the Banderas Bay and Pacific coastline of Riviera Nayarit, where they swim amongst friendly wild dolphins that inhabit the waters year-round. Vallarta Adventures is the only company with aircraft that seek the whales and relay their location to the boat captains to increase sightings of whales and dolphins. For more information, visit: www.vallarta-adventures.com.

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About Riviera NayaritMexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, bird watching, international cuisine, and the local artwork from the traditional Huichol tribe. Riviera Nayarit is recognized as a “Virtuoso Preferred

Destination.” The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. For more information, visit www.RivieraNayarit.com or follow Riviera Nayarit's Fan Page on Facebook.