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Riviera Nayarit: Vallarta to San Blas: 5-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 5-day version for January: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 5-day plan · best time to go.
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5
days
162 km
distance
6.7 h
driving
17
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~10.9 hours of daylight in January — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- Humpbacks breach in Banderas Bay, surf schools line Sayulita's break, and La Tovara's crocodile-and-mangrove boats run glassy morning water.
- Light day: day 2 has one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill it — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Puerto Vallarta heritage day
- Transit
- 0h35
- Finish
- ~15:50
- Temperature
- 13.8°C–25.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 10.9h
09:00
Puerto Vallarta public heritage circuit visitmexico.com map ↗
Open with Vallarta’s public waterfront, civic centre and one confirmed culture stop.
50 min · Puerto Vallarta heritage day · Confirm current admission where applicable
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
14:50
The Blue Shrimp theblueshrimp.com map ↗
Delight in spectacular shrimp entrées in a fun, intimate setting.
60 min · Puerto Vallarta heritage day
open: Daily 09:00-23:00
Overnight here
e.g. Club Embarcadero Pacífico - All Inclusive Resort · Hotel Emperador
Day 2 Punta Mita coast day
- Transit
- 1h39
- Finish
- ~11:30
- Temperature
- 22.7°C–25.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 10.9h
10:40
Punta Mita public-coast circuit visitnayarit.travel map ↗
Use Punta Mita’s public coast as a measured road-trip stop without assuming resort access.
50 min · Punta Mita coast day · Confirm current admission where applicable
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 3 Sayulita public day
- Transit
- 0h55
- Finish
- ~11:40
- Temperature
- 22.7°C–25.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 10.9h
09:50
Sayulita public town-and-beach circuit visitnayarit.travel map ↗
Give Sayulita a public town-and-beach day without silently booking an activity.
50 min · Sayulita public day · Confirm current admission where applicable
10:50
Overnight here
e.g. Estrella del Mar · Hotel La Casona
Day 4 San Pancho culture day
- Transit
- 0h28
- Finish
- ~11:55
- Temperature
- 22.7°C–25.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 10.9h
09:25
San Pancho public culture circuit visitnayarit.travel map ↗
Slow the journey in San Pancho with its public culture and coastal context.
50 min · San Pancho culture day · Confirm current admission where applicable
Day 5 San Blas heritage day
- Transit
- 3h04
- Finish
- ~16:35
- Temperature
- 15.7°C–26.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 10.8h
11:45
San Blas public heritage circuit visitnayarit.travel map ↗
Reach the advertised endpoint with a full public heritage day in San Blas.
50 min · San Blas heritage day · Confirm current admission where applicable
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.