For many travelers, planning a beach vacation to Mexico has become almost synonymous with booking an all-inclusive resort. Riviera Nayarit, located along 192 miles of Mexico’s Pacific coast, is home to intimate and secluded accommodations that let travelers feel like a local without sacrificing refined design elements, luxury amenities or creative cuisine often thought only to exist at larger properties. The colorful Hotel Cielo Rojo in San Pancho serves locally-inspired and sourced dishes and cocktails; Hotel Villa Bella’s villa-like suites feature balconies, king beds, eclectic furnishings and kitchenettes; and Imanta Resort Punta de Mita offers guided hikes and horseback rides on its private 120-acre natural reserve.

Hotel Cielo Rojo lives right in the heart of San Pancho with its cobblestoned streets and beautiful beach area. The hotel provides accommodations in simple yet comfortable rooms with warm and eclectic décor such as colorful blankets and throw pillows, and locally-inspired artwork. The concierge team offers personalized attention from good conversation over coffee to cultural events, the occasional tequila tasting and even Spanish lessons. In addition to a complimentary breakfast, Hotel Cielo Rojo offers acupressure, reflexology and Swedish massage treatments in the privacy of your guestroom.

The on-property restaurant Bistro Orgánico gets rave reviews from guests for its healthy and delicious food that pays tribute to the area’s abundance of fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables.

Haramara Retreat in Sayulita is an intimate and secluded seaside 12 acre property offering tropical harmony to every guest. Each of Haramara’s 16 private palapa cabanas embrace the surrounding flora and fauna through its rustic luxury design, each hand built using traditional construction methods. There is also an eight person dormitory.  Enjoy an open-air shower and then slide into a hammock for a sunset siesta. For morning or afternoon yoga practice, Haramara offers a therapeutic wellness center as well as two magnificent 360-degree view yoga pavilions, with high thatched roofs and handcrafted hardwood floors, both positioned to take advantage of the panoramic views of the lush mountains and soothing ocean breezes.  The restaurant offers gourmet vegetarian cuisine, with magnificent views from its terrace. There is also a saltwater pool, private beach and boutique.

Imanta Resort Punta de Mita is a 15-room oceanfront hotel nestled amidst 250 acres of lush jungle and pristine coastline. The two master suites each offer three bedrooms, a gracious living room and chef’s kitchen. Five additional suites, each in their own villa and beautifully landscaped, afford the utmost in tranquil seclusion. The spa will relax your body and mind with treatments including a Prehispanic Hot Stone massage, a Thai massage and Reflexology. Guests can enjoy guided hikes and horseback rides on the resort’s private 120-acre natural reserve.  Imanta celebrates cuisine that is fresh, pure, local and sustainable featuring locally sourced vegetables from organic gardens, fish caught each morning in front of the hotel, exotic indigenous fruits and premium cuts of meat, served the two restaurants and rooftop bar.  Imanta is such a captivating and intimate escape that it has played host to foreign dignitaries looking for the best in secluded luxury.

Hotel CINCO in Punta de Mita is not only a beautiful beachfront boutique hotel, but also a lifestyle experience that celebrates wellness and the enjoyment of life. This boutique hotel features two and three-bedroom Beach Club and Deluxe Beach Club suites ranging from 1,463 to 2,394 square-feet. Guests can enjoy spacious balconies that offer a direct view to the ocean, kitchens with modern appliances and a double vanity in the ensuite bathroom. Indulge in the warm ocean waters right outside the doors and splurge on a SUP lesson at Cinco AquaSports Center. The on-property restaurant Tuna Blanca is a casually elegant 74-seat restaurant serving an avant-garde, a la carte bistro menu focused on seafood.

Hotel Villa Bella, a bed and breakfast located in the charming fishing village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, offers accommodations in five comfortable villa suites. This pet friendly paradise blends traditional Mexican colors with hacienda-style features such as bedrooms with ample natural lighting. The Suite Primavera, located near the pool and garden area, is equipped with a king bed, kitchenette and balcony. The outdoor dining space serves local favorites including chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. The ideal location allows guests to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the bay and mountains.

Mar de Jade, located in Chacala, was created in 1983 in the spirit of active community service, gratitude for the natural environment and the cultivation of genuine friendships. The Ocean Rooms are bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony. The property-owned 19-acre organic farm, El Rancho, grows an abundance of vegetables, fruits and legumes for the hotel’s kitchen. Mar de Jade’s three Retreat Halls are perfect for yoga, meditation, dance and Pilates. The Retreat Halls are outfitted with floor to ceiling windows that open up completely to allow for natural light and breeze; and upon request can be stocked with yoga mats, blocks, straps and blankets or meditation cushions.

For more information on Riviera Nayarit, please visit www.rivieranayarit.com.