What Is Costalegre? Jalisco’s Quiet Coast Explained
Around 330 kilometres of Jalisco coast with no resort strip: how Careyes, Chamela Bay, Cuixmala and Tamarindo fit together.
Costalegre
Jalisco’s quiet Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo: private estates, dry forest and empty beaches.
The Costalegre is the lightly developed stretch of Jalisco’s Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, about 330 kilometres long and linked by Federal Highway 200. There is no resort strip and no central town. Instead, a handful of private enclaves, among them Costa Careyes, Las Rosadas on Chamela Bay, Cuixmala and Tamarindo, sit between protected dry forest and small coves.
Two things shape every trip here: distance, since the enclaves are far apart and most visitors choose one base and stay there, and the house itself, which becomes the center of the stay. Our guides begin with how the coast fits together and how to get there, then the enclaves, the seasons and the Chamela-Cuixmala reserve.
Start here
How the coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo fits together, from Careyes to Tamarindo.
Quick facts
- State
- Jalisco
- Length
- About 330 km of coast
- Road
- Federal Highway 200
- Airports
- Manzanillo (ZLO) or Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
- Best-known enclave
- Costa Careyes, founded 1968
- Other enclaves
- Las Rosadas, Cuixmala, Tamarindo
- Protected land
- Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (1993)
- Rainy season
- About June to October
Plan your trip
Getting to Costalegre: Airports, Highway 200 and Transfers
Manzanillo or Puerto Vallarta, then Highway 200: how to plan the half-day journey to Careyes, Chamela Bay and Tamarindo.
Best Time to Visit Costalegre: Dry Season, Rains and Turtles
Sunny, silver-grey winters and lush green summers: how the seasons change the Costalegre, and when to book.
Where to Stay in Costalegre: Careyes, Las Rosadas or Tamarindo
No town, only enclaves: how Careyes, Las Rosadas, Tamarindo and Cuixmala compare, and how to choose the one that fits your trip.
How Luxury Vacation Rental Rates Work—and What Your Quote Should Include
A price for your dates, a “from” rate or a rate confirmed on request: what each one means for villas, chalets and other luxury vacation homes—and what your written quote should include before you pay.
Careyes and the coast
Costa Careyes: A Guide to Careyes, Its Beaches and Villas
Coloured villas and casitas on the cliffs, a turtle sanctuary, polo and a small plaza: how the private estate works.
Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve: Jalisco’s Dry Forest Coast
The protected dry forest between Chamela Bay and Cuixmala: its wildlife, its seasons, the research station and how to experience it.
Staying in a private villa
Explore villas on the Costalegre (opens in a new tab)
The publisher has an ownership interest in this rental business.
All Costalegre guides
- Best Time to Visit Costalegre: Dry Season, Rains and Turtles
- Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve: Jalisco’s Dry Forest Coast
- Costa Careyes: A Guide to Careyes, Its Beaches and Villas
- Getting to Costalegre: Airports, Highway 200 and Transfers
- What Is Costalegre? Jalisco’s Quiet Coast Explained
- Where to Stay in Costalegre: Careyes, Las Rosadas or Tamarindo