Region

Pacific Coast

Sayulita surf, Vallarta sunsets, Zihuatanejo calm.

Nayarit · Jalisco · Colima · Guerrero

Colima

A tiny state of a live volcano, limes, a mega-port and a hard security record

The Colima guide →

Pueblo

Comala

The whitewashed 'white village' of free botanas, coffee and volcano views

Worth it Beach

Manzanillo

Mexico's busiest cargo port that moonlights as a sportfishing and beach town

If nearby

Guerrero

Zihuatanejo's charm and Acapulco's decline in one of Mexico's toughest states

The Guerrero guide →

City

Acapulco

Faded golden-age resort city -- cliff divers, a huge bay and real problems

Skip unless…Beach

Ixtapa

Planned resort strip of high-rise hotels -- convenient, generic, five minutes from the

If nearby Beach

Zihuatanejo

A working fishing town that kept its soul next door to the resort zone

Worth it

Jalisco

Tequila, mariachi and Puerto Vallarta -- the state that exports 'Mexico'

The Jalisco guide →

Beach

Barra de Navidad

Sandy-street lagoon town on the Costalegre, big on seafood and slow days

Worth it City

Guadalajara

Mariachi, tortas ahogadas and Mexico's second city without the polish

Worth it City

Puerto Vallarta

Old-town charm, a lively malecon and the gateway to Banderas Bay

Worth it Pueblo

Tequila

The town behind the bottle -- agave fields, distillery tours and day-tripper crowds

Worth it

Nayarit

Riviera Nayarit surf towns and quiet coves, minus Vallarta's crowds

The Nayarit guide →

Beach

Chacala

A one-cove fishing village turned quiet-beach hideout north of Sayulita

Worth it Beach

San Pancho (San Francisco)

Sayulita's quieter neighbor -- one main street, a big beach, a strong shorebreak

Worth it Beach

Sayulita

Nayarit's beginner-surf party town -- charming and crowded in equal measure

Worth it