Dan Goy
El Chaco RV Park & Hotel, located on Matanchén Bay right along the beach.
Story and photos By Dan and Lisa Goy/Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours
Located in the State of Nayarit along the west coast between the Port of San Blas and Banderas Bay, Riviera Nayarit’s pristine pacific coastline is dotted with several coastal towns and is currently growing in size - as well as sophistication - the closer you get to the resort town of Puerto Vallarta.
The area has been well-known among tourists for decades. Even though it was recently named Riviera Nayarit and has evolved over the past few years, it remains a scenic, unique RV destination worth discovering. It’s where you can experience the beauty of lush rainforest-covered mountain peaks, nature sanctuaries, palm tree-fringed beaches, five-star resorts and beachfront campgrounds.
As destinations evolve with new infrastructure and increase in popularity, so does the development of condos and hotels that often replace campgrounds. Fortunately, existing and new RV parks are still widely available in this region through the winter.
Getting Here
Travelling from the Southwestern United States, Lisa and I recommend crossing the Mexican border at Nogales, AZ, and then taking the westerly truck crossing, Mariposa Gate. After driving 21 km (13 mi), stop at the immigration office and customs (Aduana) to get your tourist permit and temporary vehicle import permit (TIPS). Do not drive by it as these are mandatory.
Dan Goy
Quintessential Mexico beach camping in Chacala.
After getting the necessary documents, we like to take Mexican Federal Highway 15D, which is a toll highway. However, Hwy 15 is another option and doesn’t have tolls. Despite stopping periodically, be sure to remain on Hwy 15D. Eventually, you’ll need to leave Hwy 15D onto Mexican Federal Highway 200 and the coast. We like to take the Tepic-San Blas Autopista (AKA Libramiento). Following the Trapichilo toll booth on Hwy 15D, take the Guadalajara/San Blas exit on the right, then another right west to San Blas. You’ll now be on the Toll Libramiento and less than one hour from Riviera Nayarit. This is a very long descent so be sure to monitor your speed.
Nonetheless, the Autopista Tepic – San Blas is a wonderful route with spectacular views. It leads from an elevation of 900 m (3,000 ft) down to sea level at the Pacific Ocean and beautiful Matanchén Bay.
Driving south on Hwy 16 for about an hour to Las Varas, the first section is narrow with encroaching flora. We have driven this road many times with our caravan groups. We suggest driving slowly and staying close to the centre of the road as you’ll share it with commercial trucks and buses. Also watch for low, hanging branches in certain areas.
Another popular option is leaving Hwy 15D at Tepic to join Hwy 200 to Las Varas and then onto Riviera Nayarit. This route is 73 km (45 mi) but leads along the dense jungle. It’s wider but there are more hairpin corners and lots of traffic, especially during the steeper descents.
San Blas, Matanchén Bay, and The El Chaco Hotel and Restaurant
Located on Matanchén Bay right on the beach, El Chaco Restaurant and Hotel is approximately 15 minutes south of San Blas and 10 minutes north of the village of Aticama. There are a few campgrounds in the area and our first time staying here was in 2021. We have recently added this to our caravan tours for 2023.
Dan Goy
Cruz Maria RV Park in Lo de Marcos.
Although there are eight full-service, back-in sites with 30-amp power and dry camping for 20 RVs, they don’t have a lot of shade. Nevertheless, we liked its beautiful palm-shaded pool and restaurant. To access The El Chaco Hotel and Restaurant, take Hwy 15D to the Autopista Tepic – San Blas to the ocean.
For all of the details be sure to visit www.hotelelchaco.com
Matanchén Bay is best known for its long surf break at Playa Las Islitas, peaceful environment and incredible biodiversity, which includes undeveloped beaches, mangroves, hundreds of native and migratory birds and other wildlife. Some areas we liked were the nearby towns of Singaita and La Tovara. The latter has a freshwater spring with canals that flow from the bay into the jungle. It’s just minutes from The El Chaco Hotel and Restaurant.
Beach Camping and RV-Friendly Comunidades
To enjoy the perfect RV experience along the water, Playa Chacala is a beach village 13 km (8 mi) from Las Varas on Hwy 200, approximately 100 km (60 m) north of Puerto Vallarta. It has a population of just 300 and commonly triples from December to April.
Playa Chacala offers fabulous beach camping on its south side and is complete with palm trees and a very refreshing bay when you want to cool off. It has an excellent choice of beachfront restaurants and is very popular among locals. Only dry camping is available so prepare for a boondocking experience. We have stayed at Playa Chacala many times and it's a common excursion during our caravan tours from the La Penita RV Park.
La Peñita de Jaltemba, referred to as just La Peñita, is another rural beach town and is on Jaltemba Bay, 64 km (40 mi) north of Puerto Vallarta and 20 km (12 mi) south of Las Varas via Hwy 200. The vast majority of RV camping in Riviera Nayarit is located throughout this area.
Every Thursday the La Peñita Tianguis Market is held and spans six blocks. It sells a variety of fresh produce and seafood as well as housewares, clothing, and artisan crafts. We commonly visit this market and include it in our mainland fall caravan tour.
Dan Goy
The authors’ site in La Penita this past year.
There are two RV parks and one RV compound in La Peñita. We prefer La Peñita RV Park, which can accommodate more than 100 RVs. It has been in operation for more than 40 years and is known as one of the best RV parks in Mexico. We certainly agree.
Located right on the ocean, it has easy beach access and the sites are set on several terraces. The park is just off Hwy 200 and among its many amenities, we enjoy the pool, pickleball courts and more. The camaraderie and reasonable park fees work well for us.
Rincón de Guayabitos (also known as Rincón or Guayabitos) is another popular beach resort next to La Peñita but it’s separated by the Guayabitos River. The resort has approximately 2 km (1 mi) of beachfront and is a very well-known vacation destination.
The Rincón de Guayabitos has several RV parks and many are right on the beach - almost all are owned and operated by hotel resorts. With pickleball and tennis courts, be sure to try the local seafood, which is commonly sold in the early morning when fishermen return with their fresh bounty. Expect to purchase mojarras, Dorado and red snapper.
Dan Goy
The variety of waterside dining options in Chacala.
Lo de Marcos is 57 km (35 mi) north of Puerto Vallarta and 39 km (24) south of Las Varas along the beach. Like many rural villages and cities in Nayarit along Hwy 200 between Tepic and Puerto Vallarta, Lo de Marcos is very unassuming. It’s easy to drive right by it but it’s an exciting community and one of the most charming areas in Riviera Nayarit. It also has several smaller RV Parks along the beach.
Nearby is Tlaquepaque, which has a five-star RV park and resort hotel that is comparable to any high-end RV park/resort in the U.S. or Canada. It’s on the north end of the beach and one of the most expensive in Mexico.
With a variety of features, some amenities include two swimming pools, a soccer field, pickleball, and tennis courts. Snowbirds double the population of this village every winter and almost half of the visitors are RVers.
With Riviera Nayarit’s new designation, the times are changing. A new toll highway has been in construction for many years and is expected to run parallel with Hwy 200 from Bucerias to the 15D. With another option to better discover this coastal region, along with accommodating RV parks and a paradise-like atmosphere, an RV trip to this coast is one worth planning and pursuing.