Where to Stay in Mexico’s Costalegre Region

Costalegre is Mexico’s “happy coast," but it may also be one of its best-kept secrets, with spectacular beaches, expansive nature reserves and exclusive resorts, all within a designated ecological tourist corridor that stretches from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo.

Here, many resorts are not only committed to providing clients with an environmentally focused, low-density experience and distinctive sense of place — they have also invested in projects that restore and protect native plants and wildlife, and made a collective promise that less than 10% of the thousands of acres surrounding their properties will ever be developed.

What to Expect at Xala

Located 65 miles south of Puerto Vallarta — and 10 minutes from the new Chalacatepec International Airport, which is currently under construction — Xala is a 3,000-acre development that will include 25 custom-built residences, 75 beachfront ranchos and easy access to water- and land-based activities, including surfing, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and yoga.  A glamping area and “farm-to-fork” culinary experiences in onsite organic gardens are other highlights in the development.

“When I first came to Xala, I saw it had enormous potential,” said Ricardo Santa Cruz, founder and CEO of Xala. “The beach is a turtle sanctuary; it is surrounded by two UNESCO Ramsar-protected estuaries and it has five miles of pristine coastline.”

In the fall of 2026, Six Senses Xala (part of the IHG luxury portfolio) will debut with 51 accommodations with private pools; clients can choose from beachfront guestrooms and suites to one- to three-bedroom villas here. The resort will also include 25 four- and five-bedroom branded residences, two beach clubs, two pools, a full-service spa, extensive kids programming and signature dining outlets with ocean views.

The all-new, five-star resort is dedicated to integrated wellness (the brand’s first in Mexico) and will be positioned near the El Faro lighthouse, which was created by Mexican artist Gonzalo Lebrija as both an exhibition space and a functioning lighthouse for local fishermen and boats.

"The appeal of Xala is the convergence of the values and touchpoints of the Six Senses brand in an extraordinary location," said Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses. "Six Senses Xala will be an invitation to enjoy wellness, sustainable practices, great food and family activities alongside a vibrant and joyful culture and community."

What to Expect at Las Alamandas

About two hours from Puerto Vallarta and about 1.5 hours from Manzanillo, Las Alamandas has only 18 suites, providing clients with the exclusive — and secluded — experience of visiting a private estate surrounded by 2,000 acres of protected nature reserve, including four private beaches.

The colorful, family-friendly luxury boutique resort also features a pool, a tennis court, a play structure, a full-service spa, a gym and a kids' club.

“Every time a family visits, we ask what they’d like to see added,” said Jose Garcia, sales and marketing manager for the resort. “That’s how we ended up building the art gallery (a television room and area for Wi-Fi access), a gym, a sauna and a game room with foosball, arcade games, ping pong and a pool table. People have also been asking about pickleball, so we just built six new courts.”

Two on-site restaurants — Oasis and the oceanfront La Palapa Beach Club — highlight local products, including fruits and vegetables grown on the property. The Estrella Azul rooftop bar offers spectacular sunset views and stargazing during high season.

The resort's Sea Turtle Protection Program invites clients to participate in late-night outings to find eggs and protect newly hatched babies as they journey from their nests to the ocean.

What to Expect at Careyes

A hidden gem within a hidden gem, Careyes is about 2.5 hours from Puerto Vallarta and just over an hour from Manzanillo. The destination features 40 hillside casitas, 65 spectacular villas and two aptly named "Ocean Castles,” all surrounded by a 35,000-acre protected biosphere reserve.

The family-owned and operated luxury beach resort was founded in 1968 by Italian-born Gian Franco Brignone as a unique destination where Mexico’s natural beauty, the distinctive “Careyes-style” architecture and a relaxed beachy lifestyle converge for a one-of-a-kind vacation experience.

“The style of Careyes is Mexican and Mediterranean,” said Giorgio Brignone, the founder’s son. “Mexican because of the materials, the colors, the floors and the palapas, but the sensuality and the shapes? That’s Italy, that’s Greece, that’s the Mediterranean.”

The style of Careyes is Mexican and Mediterranean. Mexican because of the materials, the colors, the floors and the palapas, but the sensuality and the shapes? That’s Italy, that’s Greece, that’s the Mediterranean.

Accommodations range from charming beachfront cottages steps from the sands of Playa Rosa and hotel-style rooms and suites with fully equipped kitchens at El Careyes Club & Residences to one- to four-bedroom casitas and extravagant villas that sleep up to 12.

Clients visiting Careyes can also go kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkeling; play golf and tennis; ride polo ponies at the two largest polo fields in Mexico; or participate in seasonal hatchling releases at Careyes Foundation’s sea turtle protection and conservation center.

“In other parts of the world, everybody is rushing,” Giorgio said. “But here, it’s not about time, it’s about spending time living. That’s the most incredible part of Costalegre.”