The best weekend getaways from Puerto Vallarta are classics for a reason. Everyone loves Sayulita for its bohemian beach vibes, while the mountain village of San Sebastian de Oeste wows travelers with its cooler climates and misty mountain views. But my favorite way to escape the buzzy (beloved) chaos of Puerto Vallarta is to drive about four hours down the coast to the spectacular Costalegre for the perfect weekend escape .
The Costalegre is heaven on earth. Nearly 200 miles of undeveloped Pacific shoreline unfold between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. Epic waves thunder down onto golden beaches while pumas and jaguars slink through the thick, muggy jungle.
Small villages spring up and down Highway 200 — places where you’ll find very few tourists and where little has changed in daily life over the decades. This isn’t to say that the Costalegre isn’t growing. New resorts are opening up, and there is getting more and more press — much to the chagrin of Costalegre diehards, including myself.
And yes, I recognize the hypocrisy in writing about it now. But because I love it here so much, I want others to love it and spend time here correctly. So, without further ado, this is my insider’s guide to the perfect weekend in Costalegre.
Fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport and rent a car. I like to make all my reservations with Gecko Rent-A-Car . The prices here are a little higher for a daily rate, but the customer service is outstanding.
All the cars are in exc.