Casa Sol de Oriente

We met the reservations coordinator for Careyes at a party and he invited us up to take a look around. He was not there when we arrived so we took a walking tour of the resort by ourselves. Above my budget but a gorgeous place and setting. There's a link to fotos at the bottom of the page.

On out way out we checked the office and he was there. That's when we got the offer to check out one of the "castles". I had seen the castles from Careyitos beach but didn't imagine I'd ever get up there. There are two of these places on opposing cliffs at the entrance to the bay. Without going into a Sunset Magazine description ... it is amazing to see what people can build with no financial limits.

In 1968 a young Italian named Gian Franco Brignione saw these bays and lagoons from a small plane. Though there were few towns in the vicinity and no electricity, paved roads, or even an airport at Manzanillo (where most of the hotel’s guests now arrive), Brignione knew that it was love at first sight.

Careyes Resort Page

Careyes Resort on the Costalegre

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 beach combing

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