El Careyes Resort

Below is the 'blurb' from their website since I really don't have too much to say about luxury resorts. It would be beyond my pocket book and an interruption from normal life. We did get an invitation from the reservations coordinator so thought we would take a look. Saw Playa Rosa next door and got a tour of one of the "castles" above Careyitos bay. One of many attractions alonge the Costalegre

Surrounded by a lavish sub-tropical rainforest nestled in a secluded cove on the Pacific Ocean, El Careyes Beach Resort exudes a spirit of tranquility and easy elegance.

Reminiscent of a quiet Mediterranean village, the resort remains true to the architecture of the Costa Careyes, boasting a bold palette of terracotta tones that blends harmoniously with the surrounding nature's azures and greens. Passing through the stone archway entrance and on to the signature free form pool with commanding breathtaking views of the Pacific, one can truly experience the feeling of having arrived in a place like no other.

Careyes Entrance

Careyes Pools and Rooms

Playa Rosa nextdoor

El Careyes Web Page

My Web Page on Careyes and more story

The old Hotel Tecuan

Another Mexican dream resort that never made it. It lasted about 10 years and when the owner died (General Garcia Barragan), his family lost interest until it was finally abandoned in the late 1990's. The Costalegre is lined with dream projects, some of which are very large scale. Some damaged by earthquakes, some ran out of money and many no one remembers. You wonder where all that throw away money comes from but I assume it's part of the imbalance between rich and poor in Mexico.

Anyway ... interesting to visit although it looks nothing like the fotos. The beach is beautiful and very isolated. Good for fishing and beachcombing

I always watch movies made in Mexico just to get glimpses of what was there years ago, but the other night I watched this god-awful 1997 horror flick “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” that was filmed at Tecuan. My advise is don't bother

Ariel view

On the main patio

Ariel view of hotel, lagoon, landing strip and future housing development

The pool area

Walking Tour of El Tuito

El Tuito, Costalegre, Jalisco Mexico

El Tuito

Located south of Puerto Vallarta lies the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, marking the southernmost point of Banderas Bay. El Tuito, its capital, is a small town (population less than 4,000) located approximately 1,085 meters above sea level. Its name derives from the ancient Náhuatla language spoken by the Aztecs and means “little beautiful valley.” As you drive into town, you will be immediately taken by the uniformity of its buildings, painted with a mixture of local clays that gives their walls a unique orange tinge. Cottage industries abound, from organic coffee and artisan cheese to raicilla, the local moonshine, not available legally until very recently.

Just barely considered part of the Costalegre, this inland town near Tomatlan lies along Highway 200. It's easy to miss and one that I have missed until our trip to Tehuamixtle out on the coast. I will definately make time for a few hours in El Tuito on my next Vallarta trip.

Buildings around the plaza

Buildings around the plaza

Activities on the Plaza

A building on the plaza

El Tuito, Jalisco, Costalegre, Mexico

Majahuas to Tehuamixtle

A very long day trip from Melaque - Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico

We had never been out to the coast in this area - mainly because the beaches are a long way from the highway. Had no idea of road conditions of distances between towns. We started with Majahuas and worked our way north.

The Majahuas turn off is the first road just north of the bridge north of Tomatlan. The fisherman's Coop "Roca Negra" is there that manages the Majahuas Biological Station and turtle sanctuary. A little inland is a new Aquaculture facility raising shrimp, pargo and puffer fish. This facility is government funded in conjunction with the Spanish government. Scientists from both countries are working there.

To continue north from Majahuas we had to return to the highway and take the La Gloria exit about 5 miles further north. La Gloria also has a Sea Turtle Research Station but we continued north to La Cruz de Loreto and up the coast from there. Very easy to feel lost on the criss-cross roads just north of La Gloria as they follow irrigation ditches and farm fields.

Las Penitas is the next landmark north but is only a small lighthouse and a few seldom used palapas. It's a pretty beach. The next thing north of note is Villa del Mar with a few vacation accomodations and two stores before we reached Tehuamixtle.

Tehuamixtle is very cute at the bottom of a valley on a beautiful little bay. We ate at one of the two not inexpensive beach restaurants. The land to expand the town is minimal due to the steep terrain but the realtors have it all sectioned off and forsale. A one time experience that I won't do again but I'm sure it will fit into other gringos dreams. The road out to El Tuito and the highway is very rough and takes over an hour

Majahuas

Las Penitas

Villas del Mar

Tehuamixtle

Majahuas to Tehuamixtle web page