AUTHENTIC MEXICO AND STUNNING NATUREIN RIVIERA NAYARIT’S SAN BLAS

Riviera Nayarit, MEXICO – At certain times of year you can expect a crowd in San Blas – eighty percent of the Pacific migratory bird population to be exact – but you’ll have to search hard for familiar resort brand names. This small fishing village nestled along the magnificent coastline of Riviera Nayarit is all about “local” – authentic, welcoming Mexico at its best – in a setting of extraordinary natural abundance. There is no place better to discover history, cultural traditions and the variety of nature while pursuing any manner of outdoor activity, including whale watching, boating and surfing to mountain biking, canoeing through mangrove estuaries and bird watching.

One of the most enjoyable experiences is to visit La Tovara National Park. Take a small motorboat with guide into the waterways of the park through the mangroves, then as the fresh water from the mountains meets the salt water from the sea, tall swaying reeds line your route. Be prepared to encounter the roseate spoonbill, the black-bellied tree duck and the bumblebee hummingbird among many other winged creatures. At the end of the journey, you can visit Crocodile Reserve to see hundreds of crocodiles from lively newborns to huge, sleepy older ones.

A little more than two hours from Puerto Vallarta’s international airport or just one hour away from Tepic Airport, San Blas’s uniquely local character is reflected in accommodations ranging from B&B’s and modest rental homes to gracious yet unpretentious hotels with swimming pools.

Some visitors come to San Blas specially to experience one of Mexico’s most famous dining scenes – El Delfin Restaurant at the Hotel Garza Canela, whose chef, Betty Vasquez, studied at The Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts in Paris and with Chef Arzak in Spain. Chef Vasquez blends fresh Mexican fish and vegetables with international recipes to create her own matchless culinary style.

Be sure to try the casual seafood restaurants tucked under cooling palm awnings along the beaches known for the local specialty, marinated red snapper grilled open over the coals, and chopped ceviche. Other local restaurants include the San Blas Social Club, with its steaks and blue shrimp scampi, Billy Bob’s Café and there’s even a Chinese restaurant in town.

San Blas is where Junipero Serra, the Spanish priest, sailed to begin his quest to build missions throughout California, a period of history marked by the still standing colonial fort in San Blas. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Bells of San Blas” is reputedly inspired by the village, even though the author never visited himself. Today, the beach from which Serra sailed

is better known for having the longest surfable wave in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Several top festivals are celebrated in Sam Blas. Each January, the International Festival of Migratory Birds and over 500 species of the region’s feathered friends attract visitors and professional ornithologists from around the world . The International Fishing Tournament is celebrated each June, when the big game fish proliferate in the waters off the coast of the town. The colorful festival of the: “Virgen de la Marinera takes place each year on October 7th.

Nearby attractions include the tiny historic island of Mexcaltitan, known as the birthplace of the Aztec civilization and the ‘Venice of Nayarit” for the many canals throughout the island. Los Toriles in Ixtlan del Rio has interesting ruins of a temple and tombs, as well as a small museum for archeology buffs to explore.

Whether your interest is studying Mexico’s rich biodiversity in the water or on land, or simply escaping to a place far removed from the cares of the world, San Blas is the perfect choice.

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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.