The Costalegre, or Costa Alegre (the “Happy Coast”), is the Pacific coastline of the Mexican state of Jalisco between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. It runs south from Cabo Corrientes, at the tip of the Bay of Banderas, to Barra de Navidad near the Colima border. It is one of the least developed coasts in Mexico: a few fishing villages, long empty beaches and sheltered bays, with a small number of private villas and boutique resorts hidden in the jungle. Its best-known address is Costa Careyes.
Where is the Costalegre?
The Costalegre covers the coastline of four Jalisco municipalities: Cabo Corrientes, Tomatlán, La Huerta and Cihuatlán. One road, Highway 200, runs the length of it, usually a few kilometres inland, with side roads down to the bays. Before the highway was completed in the early 1970s, most of this coast could only be reached by boat or dirt track, which is a large part of why it still feels so empty.
There is no single centre. The coast is a string of distinct places, each with its own character, from surf beaches in the north to calm swimming bays further south.
The coast from north to south
| Area | What it is like |
|---|---|
| Cabo Corrientes and Mayto | Rugged headlands and open surf beaches south of Puerto Vallarta; very few places to stay |
| Costa Majahuas | Long beaches and saltwater lagoons; new developments are planned here |
| Chamela Bay | A broad bay with islands, calm water and the fishing village of Punta Pérula; home to Las Rosadas |
| Costa Careyes | A private community of colourful clifftop villas and castles, with a polo club and turtle sanctuary |
| Cuixmala | A former private estate turned eco-resort, next to the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve |
| Tenacatita Bay | One of the largest bays on the coast, with La Manzanilla, Boca de Iguanas and the Tamarindo peninsula |
| Melaque and Barra de Navidad | The largest towns, with restaurants, small hotels and a marina at Isla Navidad |
Chamela Bay and Las Rosadas
Chamela Bay is a wide curve of sand dotted with small islands, with generally calm water that is good for swimming, kayaking and snorkelling. Punta Pérula, at its northern end, is a working fishing village with simple seafood restaurants.
Las Rosadas sits on the bay inside a protected nature preserve, with a small number of villas behind a single gated entrance and a sandy beach on the water. It suits families and groups who want to be level with the sea rather than above it. See the Las Rosadas villa collection.
Costa Careyes
Costa Careyes is the coast’s most famous community, founded in 1968 by the Italian banker and artist Gian Franco Brignone. Its villas and castles, painted in saturated colours and roofed with palapa thatch, sit on the cliffs above small bays such as Playa Rosa and Playa Teopa. It has a polo club, a sea turtle sanctuary and a calendar of festivals, but no large hotel. Read our full guide to Careyes, Mexico, or browse the Costa Careyes villa collection.
Cuixmala and the biosphere reserve
Just south of Careyes, Cuixmala was once the private estate of the financier James Goldsmith and is now an eco-resort set in a large protected landscape. Nearby, the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve protects one of the largest remaining areas of tropical dry forest on Mexico’s Pacific coast, with lagoons, mangroves and abundant birdlife.
Tenacatita Bay and Tamarindo
Further south, Tenacatita Bay is one of the largest bays on the coast, lined with small beaches. La Manzanilla is a relaxed village with a long sandy beach, and Boca de Iguanas has a quiet stretch of shore with simple places to stay. On the peninsula at the bay’s southern end, El Tamarindo is home to the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo and a golf course.
Melaque and Barra de Navidad
At the southern end of the Costalegre, San Patricio Melaque and Barra de Navidad are the closest thing the coast has to towns, with restaurants, shops, small hotels and a lagoon. Barra de Navidad is the largest, and the Isla Navidad development across the lagoon has the coast’s only marina. They are also the closest stops to Manzanillo airport.
Getting to the Costalegre
- Manzanillo (ZLO), at the southern end, is the closest airport for Barra de Navidad, Tenacatita, Careyes and Chamela. Careyes is about an hour and a half away by car.
- Puerto Vallarta (PVR), at the northern end, has far more flights. Careyes is about two and a half to three hours south by road, and Chamela Bay a little less.
- Private aircraft can use the Chamela airstrip, and a newer airport at Chalacatepec serves the northern-central coast.
Our guide to getting to Costa Careyes has current flight routes and transfer advice that applies to most of the coast.
When to go
The dry season, from November to May, brings sunny days and comfortable evenings, and is the most popular time to visit. Summer, from June to October, is hot, humid and rainy, but the jungle turns green and the coast is at its quietest. Humpback whales pass offshore in winter, and sea turtles nest on many Costalegre beaches from late summer. See when to visit Costa Careyes for a month-by-month guide.
Where to stay on the Costalegre
Accommodation on this coast falls into three groups:
- Private villas. Mainly in Costa Careyes and Las Rosadas, from small casitas to large estates, many with a cook or full staff. This is the best fit for families, groups and celebrations. Browse our Costa Careyes and Las Rosadas villas.
- Boutique resorts. A handful of small, high-end properties, including the Four Seasons at Tamarindo, Cuixmala and Las Alamandas, a boutique hotel north of Chamela Bay.
- Village hotels. Simple hotels and bungalows in Barra de Navidad, Melaque, La Manzanilla and Punta Pérula.
Costalegre or Puerto Vallarta?
The two are often confused, because the Costalegre begins just south of Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta is a city, with an old town, restaurants and nightlife on the doorstep. The Costalegre is the opposite: few towns, little traffic and long stretches of empty coast, where the villa itself is the destination. If you want both, many guests spend a few nights in Puerto Vallarta before or after a week on the Costalegre.
Tell us your dates, group size and the kind of stay you have in mind, and we will suggest the villas on this coast that fit.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Costalegre in Mexico?
On the Pacific coast of Jalisco, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. It runs from Cabo Corrientes in the north to Barra de Navidad near the Colima border.
What does Costalegre mean?
“Costa Alegre” means “Happy Coast” in Spanish. The name is usually written as one word, Costalegre.
What is the best place to stay on the Costalegre?
It depends on the trip. Costa Careyes is the choice for clifftop villas, design and a small social scene; Las Rosadas for a quieter villa on a calm, sandy bay; and the boutique resorts for hotel service.
How do you get to the Costalegre?
Fly into Manzanillo (ZLO) for the southern and central coast, including Careyes, or Puerto Vallarta (PVR) for more flight choice and a longer drive. Highway 200 links the whole coast.
