Jalisco, Mexico: Land of the Blue Agave
I absolutely love Mexico: from the expansive epicurean paradise that is Mexico City; to the beautiful, eco-friendly and increasingly touristy Tulum; to the Riviera Maya, filled with stunning resorts and home to the Mayan Jungle; and of course, the quiet and idyllic Holbox Island which inspired one of my COVID-era trips because of how unspoiled and unpopulated it still is.
Returning to Mexico again — this time to Jalisco, Mexico’s 7th largest state, known for tacos and tequila — was a no-brainer. Having recently lost my beloved grandmother, I needed a departure from my usually action-packed itineraries. I wanted to find a resort that would allow me to commune with nature and meditate, while also providing comfort, relaxation and convenience. I had already researched the all-inclusive Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit extensively so I knew it was the ideal hotel partner for this personal journey, a “home away from home” during such a vulnerable time in my life.
The Resort
Jalisco is located on the Pacific coast, and I flew into the Puerto Vallarta airport which is a short drive from the resort. As my Uber approached Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit, my hotel partner, I breathed a tremendous sigh of relief. The resort entrance is grandiose but gated, with a security guard station just beyond the gate. The resort is already located in a very safe area of Mexico, but this added protection immediately contributed to my peace of mind.
A stay here means that you will be completely surrounded by lush foliage with plentiful pools of various temperatures interspersed within and throughout (all pools and hot tubs remain open until 9). The resort, in fact, appears to be built around the nature itself, and the developers clearly sought to preserve as much of the natural terrain as possible (think Costa Rica, if you’ve ever been). Be prepared for the occasional glimpse of Mexican wildlife, as their habitats remain very much intact.
The rooms are spacious with vaulted, wooden ceilings. The room balconies overlook the grounds, the mountains and the verdant vegetation that continues to thrive no matter the season. According to a recent Delta Hotels press release announcing its partnership with waterdrop, “guests checking into any of Delta Hotels’ more than 120 locations around the world can now indulge…by infusing their water with waterdrop’s compact, sugar-free flavor cubes.” Beautiful views, amenities and hydration. What’s not to love?
The natural pool was my favorite part of the spa facilities. I spent hours there, sipping tea and enjoying a respite from the sun with the copious shade and the cool dark (healing) rocks that line the pool’s floor and walls. Time evaporated during my massage. Fifty minutes melted away with me being none the wiser. I was in such disbelief that I had to verify the time when it ended. The resort also offers a weekly aqua sound bath class on Sundays, run by local aqua therapists. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was an eye-opening, revelatory experience. The gym boasts floor to ceiling windows that allow you to overlook the grounds while hitting the treadmill or the weight machines. It stays open for 24 hours.
Reservations are required for Komorebi Teppanyaki, the on-site, hibachi-style Japanese restaurant which serves dinner only. I went twice and can attest that each chef performed a completely different, multi-lingual show — Spanish and/or English depending upon their audience. Enjoy an authentic prix fixe menu with generous portions: teppanyaki with your choice of protein, fried rice, and vegetable tempura. The mango wontons for desert, served with ginger ice cream, are a memorable indulgence. At this all-inclusive resort, the sports bar remains open until 12 and often has live music; and there are also pantries (with chips, pudding, fruit and coffee) that stay open for 24 hours.
Day Trips
Sayulita. I ventured off of the premises three times during my 8-day stay. Once to visit Sayulita, a beachside town with wonderful food and artisan booths to peruse and explore. Here you’ll see tourists, locals, and even surfers — with wet curly hair, surfboards in hand, and their equally saturated dogs plodding along dutifully behind them. Find colorful, festive flags hanging above every other street and of course, traditional margaritas, served right on the beach. There is an assortment of restaurants to choose from. Mary’s Traditional Mexican cuisine is a modest, cash-only establishment that serves amazingly fresh seafood tacos (and fish bowls too, according to our table mates). The menu items are reasonably priced — the shrimp tacos, por ejemplo, are only $3 each!
Malecón. The Malecón is a 12-block, mile-long esplanade in Puerto Vallarta’s Centro and Zona Romántica. Much of it is on the waterfront — think restaurants, shops and even artisans right along the water’s edge. During the Día de Muertos season, skeletal sculptures of varying sizes can be seen on display and there are even staged tombstones engraved with witty and thought-provoking phrases. If you enjoy seafood, visit Casamar. From the ornate doorways to the colorful rooftop, the ambiance is festive and the food, authentic. Try the molcajetes, a dish named after the Spanish word designating a “mortar and pestle”: the dish includes chorizo and rice with savory sauce, cactus (totally edible), tortillas and your choice of protein. From there, hop over to Cloud Nine where you can watch music videos while ordering drinks from your very own bar swing. And my absolute favorite? El Colibrí has everything I look for in a speakeasy: a sexy, modern ambiance, a great playlist and inventive libations that you can’t find anywhere else.
San Sebastián del Oeste. Take a step back in time by visiting this charming town which the Mexican government designates as one the Pueblos Magicos because of its astonishing preservation of colonial Mexican culture and architecture. Here, we toured a coffee farm, a museum, an agave farm and dined at a restaurant that served up a traditional Mexican barbecue. This meal was quite a treat: the beef was succulent, juicy and flavorful, and paired beautifully with corn tortillas, buttery potatoes, homemade lemonade and of course, tequila. In fact, most of the world’s tequila comes from Jalisco. So we also visited a small tequila factory and chatted with the affable owner. We sampled chocolate and orange infused tequila, as well as raicilla, Jalisco’s version of mezcal, but a less smoky, smoother version. As someone who finds mezcal’s smokiness overpowering, this proved to be a wonderful alternative. When you book your San Sebastián tour, ask for Sam: he’s a knowledgeable tour guide who also knows how to make the historical portions fun.
If you love travel, style and the culture, you can follow the writer on Instagram or TikTok at @culturebykaren.
