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Costalegre Mexico (La Costa Alegre)

Costa Alegre (translation "Cheerful Coast") is a 150 km or 95 mile special area, a designated ecological zone, situated between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. More often than not, the two words are spoken and written together to become a more relaxed and familiar "Costalegre", which is how we refer to the area.

To be more precise, Costalegre sits along highway 200 between Playa Quemaro (120 km or 75 miles south of Puerto Vallarta) and Barra de Navidad (north of Manzanillo). The area is made up of a combination of towns and villages, exclusive and not so exclusive hotels and resorts. The section between Chamela and Barra de Navidad is considered by those who visit as the Mexican Riviera, being the most beautiful area in all of Mexico.

Miles upon miles of palm trees line the land just inside the coastal shores. Jungle covered mountains border golden sand beaches. This area is one of the most exclusive areas to get away from it all in Mexico, where celebrities often come to get away from prying eyes and camera lenses. People who travel here aren't generally here for the night life, where it tends to be very quiet and peaceful after dusk. They come here to relax and/or be pampered. The area is a tropical paradise from October to June when there is little or no rain, known for its breathtaking sunsets, warm deserted beaches, seclusion and serenity. There is no doubt that Costalegre has the most outstanding sea shores in the Mexican Pacific Coast. To visit this area is to discover a virgin beach coast, rainforests, creeks and rivers, mountains and islands.

The drive through the Costalegre is very beautiful and scenic, passing through quaint Mexican villages, many different plantations and jungle. Watch for different species of animals and exotic birds as you drive an easy two lane highway, which is well maintained, with very little traffic. You can also take the local bus, which although takes a fair bit longer, is also a great way to see Costalegre.

Unlike the rest of North America, road signage is sparse. When you do see a road sign warning for sharp/dangerous turns, cattle, or speed limits, they are there for a reason and should be taken seriously. Watch for "Topes" (speed bumps) which are usually located as you enter and leave each little town along the way. Some are marked, or have signs indicating that they are coming up ... others not!

Along this coastline there are surprisingly few roads leading to the ocean itself, which is unfortunate as that denies access to the explorer the many beautiful hidden and secluded bays, which can only be reached by boat. Keep an eye out for dirt roads branching off of highway 200, which head towards the water. The few paved roads that do branch off towards the ocean are well marked and usually pass through either a small town, residential area or through a resort, which may not let you through, in order to maintain its "exclusivity". Although all the beaches in Mexico are federal (public) property, the accesses to them are not. Take caution entering areas that say "propiedad privada" (private property), in order to avoid a confrontation with an irate landowner, or worse ... his dogs!

Temperatures are comfortably warm during most of the year becoming hotter and more humid in the months of July and August. The rainy season runs from June to October. This doesn't mean it will be raining all the time, just that it CAN rain. Usually, it just rains every 3 or 4 days, a gentle rain shower in the late afternoon or evening. The first rains turn the brown dry-season forest to green. The rainy season is considered to be mid-June to October, but as with most such type areas, rains tend to be fierce, but brief, generally in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and cooled off. September has the highest rainfall and humidity level. During winter months, evenings and early mornings can be cool enough to warrant a pullover or light jacket.

We get less hurricane activity in our area than other coastal spots. Hurricanes, which are basically water generated tornados, develop further south and hug the shoreline as it comes up the Mexican coast. As they approach Manzanillo, just to the south of us, they hit a warm water current, which comes straight across from Hawaii and hits land right where we are located, and veer offshore, following it along, trying to break through. It eventually does, right near the tip of Baja California, which is why Los Cabos gets way more hurricane activity than we do.

The towns of San Patricio Melaque, simply known as “Melaque” and Barra de Navidad have been prominent vacation spots for generations of Mexicans and more recently Americans and Canadians. Barra de Navidad, where we are located, is situated about a half hour north of the Manzanillo airport. “Barra”, as it is locally known as, has been a prominent vacation spot for generations of Mexicans and more recently Americans and Canadians. All tourist amenities are available here … a town square, many retail shops, a variety of smaller hotels, several bars and many restaurants. At this time Barra is a little more “happening” than the town of Melaque, which is 2kms away, on the north half of the bay, but both are growing. Melaque is located only 2 miles (as the crow flies) northwest of Barra de Navidad sharing the same long curving beach, has a town square, many retail shops, small beachfront hotels and plenty of restaurants as well.

Costalegre Mexico Video

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