I was one of the lucky ones to enjoy seamless travel this holiday season and spend in Bucerías, Mexico. Perfectly right in between Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita, Bucerías is a quiet town often overlooked by many travellers.
How to Pronounce Bucerías: Boo-seh-REE-us. Make sure to add a little extra emphasis on the ‘ree’ part of the word. You will notice this among native-Spanish speakers and when you’re visiting the area, as the locals pronounce it this way, too. Tip – you will find it helpful to know enough conversational Spanish when visiting Bucerias.
Bucerías is a gem on the Bay of Banderas. With wide open, unspoiled beaches, this quiet town is friendly, welcoming, and bursting with Mexican charm. It is famous for exceptional dining experiences, ranging from five star culinary restaurants to some of the best street food you will come across in Mexico. In Bucerías you will also have access to a wide variety of activities, from surfing, paddle boarding, boat tours, hiking, biking, fishing, whale watching – you name it.
Not only is Bucerías minutes away from the international airport, you are also minutes away from many charming day trip destinations from Puerta Vallarta, Sayulita, San Pancho, San Sesbastien, Boca de Tomatlan – to name a few. Each town has it’s own unique charm and well worth the visit.
As a small bedroom community to Puerto Vallarta, Bucerías feels a little more authentically Mexican compared to the big city and the neighbouring condo conglomerate of Nuevo Vallarta.
What’s lovable about this place is that there’s only one mega-resort here, the Royal Decameron. Other than that, it’s a mix between small and luxury (mostly) expat owned condos and vacation homes. Many tourists rent condos or stay in hotels south of the main highway though. North of the highway is where most locals live.
We stayed at the fabulous Villa Cobojo. Pronounced: VEE- Ya Coe BOE Hoe. To get there from the airport, we walked across the pedestrian bridge and took a taxi outside the airport. It’s a lot cheaper than catching one in the airport area plus you avoid the long wait to get a taxi. You can also take a bus or Uber.
Villa Cobojo is a unique boutique retreat in the enchanting town of Bucerías. This beachfront villa is a perfect place to unwind and rejuvenate and let the sound of the ocean waves inspire you. It has seven self-contained apartments designed to provide you with a comfortable home away from home. Each apartment has it’s own outdoor space, and is connected to a luxurious courtyard pool with lavish loungers to relax and soak up the Mexican sun. We were in Villa 2, a roomy two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with kitchen and a balcony to watch the sunset, whales frolicking, divers looking for oysters, and the energy from the beach activities.
At our doorstep is a private beach area reserved entirely for guests. Guests also have full access to an expansive roof top Palapa Lounge, to share a bottle of wine and toast the sun setting into the Bay of Banderas. It’s a cozy beachfront refuge with all of the luxury of a resort, but without the crowds. Erika, the concierge, will take care of you and is very knowledgeable in recommending tours, what bus to catch, and places to go.
Bucerías is also a compact town and very easy to get around. After one day wandering around and exploring we became quite familiar with our new home for the week.
We enjoyed our time by visiting La Cruz at Sunday Farmer’s Market, Sayulita, San Pancho. One of the tours we took was with Human Connections. We were taken into less-explored neighbourhoods of Bucerías to engage with families of local artisans in their homes and workshops. We ended the morning with an authentic meal grinding tomatoes, peppers, and onions into salsa. Ours was the hottest!
Tip: Get a SIM card so you can access Wifi on your trip to make things like ordering an Uber way easier or check hockey scores back home!
The central part of Bucerías is not very big, and a lot of the main areas you will be visiting are quite concentrated. Within the downtown core, you can walk everywhere as it’s not very widespread. If you’re staying on the outskirts of downtown, it may get a little tiring walking back and forth. But usually, you won’t be walking more than 20 minutes.
Keep in mind, the roads here are basically all made of big round stones, so flip flops, thongs, sneakers, or flat sandals should be your footwear of choice.
Also, if you’re staying at a condo or villa type of accommodation you will likely need to do a couple grocery store runs. You can take a taxi and usually Uber is available! There are also plenty of local buses you can take from Bucerías to Mega with La Comer right beside it.
Try taking a bus, they’re cheap and safe. You pay the bus driver directly when you walk on to the bus, and he/she will provide you change if you don’t have exact change. Most bus rides will be about 10-30 pesos.
Bucerías is safe to walk around during the day time. If you’re a solo female traveler, you will feel comfortable in Bucerías. At night, however, it’s always prudent to walk with someone. But this is usually the case everywhere else, too. If you’re walking in the downtown or near the pedestrian bridge to get into downtown, I recommend walking in a larger group or taxi back to the Zona Dorado. Don’t carry a large or flashy purse. Also, don’t carry a lot of cash on you at all times. Again, this is a general travelling tip not unique to Bucerías, but all of Mexico. One thing to consider is some places are cash only. Be sure to check at the restaurant you want to try and make reservations.
The number one place to eat on the beach in Bucerías is Karen’s on the Beach. They also have happy hour everyday from 3-5 pm and the happy hour drink specials change daily. The breakfast here is also one of the best.
Red Apple Place
The family takes pride in delivering quality service with their wide variety of food and drinks. This low-key rooftop restaurant has excellent service, beautiful views, tranquil ambiance, and delicious food! Try the Huevos Motuleños (eggs with fried plantains), Colombia-style eggs (scrambled with tomato, bell pepper, shrimp, and scallions), Machaca (shredded beef & eggs), or the Red Apple Place omelet!
Mr & Mrs Fish
Delicious fish tacos, large portions, and great staff. Order an ice-cold beer or a mango margarita for one heck of a lunch! Try their 2 for 1 happy hour specials. A favourite choice is to order their whole red snapper (fried or grilled), a great deal at $220 pesos*.
*subject to change
La Postal
La Postal is well known for its wood-fired pizza and fresh homemade pasta. The pizzas are thin-crust style with a wide range of interesting toppings, including pancetta, goat cheese, arugula, and more. Make sure to try their eggplant parmesan or beef carpaccio as a starter. Everything on the menu is delicious, well-priced, and they have excellent service. Go at night because their open-air seating area lights up beautifully and they sometimes have live music!
Le Negra
This trendy and eclectic restaurant is in the oldest building of the neighbourhood, under a huge tree. Their tacos (try the Taco Macho – stuffed jalapeño with shrimp cheese & bacon, or Pork Belly) and pizzas (try pecan & goat cheese) are delicious. They also have great cocktails, Mexican craft beers, and Mezcal. It is vegetarian-friendly and great for dinner or a late-night drink.
MMUGAZZ
We tried the smoked tomato soup and the lamb ossobuco. Even though I don’t know how to pronounce it’s name, this restaurant is one of the best in town. Creative menu, fresh + local ingredients, top-notch service, and a great environment with an open courtyard and live music at night. The ceviche was amazing served with won ton crackers. YUM!
In Bucerías, you will not find a better authentic taco experience than at Tacos Linda.
This little restaurant is slightly off the beaten path and outside of downtown, but it’s still on Lazaro Cardenas, one of the popular the main streets. It’s all fresh, homemade and simple. And cheap! If you want to feast on a delicious meal of tacos and don’t want to spend very much, head to this place. Also, they don’t serve alcohol, but you can bring your own beer or wine. This also helps keep the cost down.
Our two weeks in Bucerías was magic. We were never bored. Whether we were relaxing, walking along the beach, taking day tours; the time truly flew by. In our short time there, it was amazing how easily it was to become part of the community. A lot of Canadians vacation and snowbird here.
It has become a popular destination in the Riviera Nayarit, but it has managed to keep its authenticity. Many say Bucerías is very much like Puerto Vallarta was in the 1950s, where you can experience the joys of a laid-back beach town without the tourist-palooza that is Puerto and Nuevo Vallarta.
Come explore!
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before travelling.
