Lounging in a hammock, I was awakened from my nap by the smell of a fresh cooked red snapper, literally just brought out of the ocean hours before. Dining under a thatched roof hut on the beach, I watched as the locals bobbed up and down in the gentle, warm ocean waves in front of me. It was peaceful to just watch everyone enjoy their weekend playing in the sand, surrounded by the lush mountains that line the twenty miles of beaches in San Blas, Mexico.
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This small fishing town is located just 40 miles north of the popular vacation destination of Puerto Vallarta, but it is a hidden gem that not many tourists stumble upon. With warm beaches, delicious seafood, and estuaries full of different species of birds and marine life, I soaked up every bit of tranquility this town had to offer.
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The hospitality we found at Hotel Garza Canela went beyond traditional service, with attention to detail and personal touch. This family owned and operated hotel worked hard to provide us with exceptional service and even addressed us by name when we arrived for dinner at their El Delfin Restaurant. Run by renowned Chef Betty Vazquez, this restaurant was a highlight of the trip, tasting exquisite dishes that were so full of flavor, texture, and color. This was a beautiful place to relax with friends, but they also cater to those traveling with their family, providing a playground, swimming pool and wading pool on their property.
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While enjoying the serenity of this town, it wouldn’t be complete without a little adventure through the mangroves and estuaries that lead into the ocean. Twelve of us piled into a small motorboat of a local tour guide, taking in the scenes of beautiful birds in the La Tovara Regional Park. The birds, however, were not the only creatures to take in, as the waters were full of large crocodiles peering at us from within the mangrove trees. Our guide got us right up close to a side pond of baby crocodiles swimming around, while the mother croc kept a close watch on the other side of our boat. The adventure concluded at a crocodile farm that serves as a breeding program for endangered crocodiles, where we got even more up close encounters and education about these magnificent creatures!
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Time seems to progress at a much slower pace, letting you get a breath of fresh ocean air and take in the impressive natural wonders that surround San Blas. This town is a must see, full of activities for the adventurous and paradise for the leisurely. Discover all that the Riviera Nayarit region has to offer here, and start planning your trip today!
Riviera Nayarit hosted all of our travel, but as always, the experience, opinions and recommendations are 100% my own.
