There are nine golf courses in Nayarit: eight on the Riviera Nayarit coast, in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, and one in the state capital, Tepic. On the coast you’ll find Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman designs, a hole played to a natural island green in the ocean, a lit par-3 course for night golf and two public courses anyone can book. Every course on the Riviera is less than an hour from Puerto Vallarta’s airport.
This is the course-by-course overview: a table of all nine (designer, holes, who can play and approximate 2026 green fees where the club publishes them), how to choose based on your trip, the best season and the logistics of transfers and tee times. If you’re focused on Punta Mita and its two Nicklaus courses, our guide to golf in Punta Mita and the Riviera Nayarit covers them hole by hole.
Golf courses in Nayarit: all nine at a glance
| Course | Area | Design | Holes / par | Who can play | Approx. green fee 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Mita Pacífico | Punta Mita | Jack Nicklaus (1999) | 18 + hole 3B | Four Seasons and St. Regis Punta Mita guests, members | Ask |
| Punta Mita Bahía | Punta Mita | Jack Nicklaus (2009) | 18 | Four Seasons and St. Regis Punta Mita guests, members | Ask |
| Higuera Golf Club (formerly Litibú) | Higuera Blanca–Litibú | Greg Norman (2009) | 18 / par 72 | Visitors with a booking | Ask |
| Vidanta – The Nayar | Nuevo Vallarta | Nicklaus Design | 18 / par 70 | Vidanta guests (ask about others) | Ask |
| Vidanta Vallarta | Nuevo Vallarta | Greg Norman (2016) | 18 / par 73 | Vidanta guests (ask about others) | Ask |
| Vidanta – The Lakes | Nuevo Vallarta | Vidanta | 10 / par 3, floodlit | Vidanta guests | Ask |
| El Tigre (Paradise Village) | Nuevo Vallarta | Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril | 18 / par 72 | Public, prepaid | 4,640–5,330 MXN (260–295 USD) |
| Flamingos Golf | Nuevo Vallarta–Bucerías | Not published | 18 / par 72 | Public | 999 MXN (9 holes) to 2,520 MXN (140 USD), May–Oct |
| Club Campestre de Tepic | Tepic | Not published | Short course | Members and guests | N/A |
Rates as published by the clubs for 2026, at a reference exchange rate of about 18 MXN to the dollar. “Ask” means the club does not publish a rate: it depends on your hotel, the season and your type of access. Always confirm before you go.
The courses one by one
Punta Mita: Pacífico and Bahía
The two courses of Punta Mita Golf Club, both Jack Nicklaus Signature designs, sit inside the private Punta Mita community on the peninsula that closes Banderas Bay to the north. Pacífico has the famous hole 3B, the “Tail of the Whale,” an optional par 3 to a natural rock-island green; Bahía has more elevation change and water hazards. Play is limited to guests of the Four Seasons and The St. Regis, members and homeowners. All the detail is in our Punta Mita golf guide.
Higuera Golf Club (formerly Litibú)
About ten minutes from Punta Mita, in Litibú (Higuera Blanca), on the road to Sayulita. It’s a 2009 Greg Norman design, 18 holes, par 72, with paspalum grass and several oceanfront holes. It’s the closest course to Punta Mita that takes visitor bookings.
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta: three courses
At the southern end of Nuevo Vallarta, beside the Ameca River. The Nayar (Nicklaus Design, par 70) is the resort’s original course, with lakes and sea breezes. Vidanta Vallarta, by Greg Norman (par 73, 7,287 yards), opened in 2016 across the river and hosts Mexico’s PGA TOUR event. The Lakes is a 10-hole, floodlit par-3 course for playing after dark. All three cater mainly to resort guests.
El Tigre (Paradise Village)
Inside Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta. Designed by Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril: 18 holes, par 72, 7,239 yards, water on 12 holes and a par 3 with an island green. It’s public, publishes its rates and requires prepayment to confirm a tee time; a shared cart is included.
Flamingos Golf
Between Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerías, it’s the most accessible public course on the Riviera Nayarit: 18 holes, par 72, 6,853 yards, Bermuda grass and rolling terrain. It offers twilight rates and late-afternoon 9-hole rounds, takes online bookings and requires a collared shirt (no denim).
Club Campestre de Tepic
The only course away from the coast, in the Las Delicias area west of Tepic. It’s a private country club with a short course: members and their guests play. Handy if you live in the capital or travel for work and know a member; it is not a golf-vacation destination.
How to choose a course for your trip
- Staying in Punta Mita: Pacífico and Bahía come first; add a round at Higuera for variety.
- Staying at Vidanta: three courses in one resort, including the lit par 3 for a night round.
- Not staying at a golf resort: El Tigre and Flamingos are public with published rates; Higuera takes visitor bookings.
- Best value: Flamingos, with twilight and 9-hole rates, especially from May to October.
- Casual golfers or beginners: The Lakes (par 3) or a late 9 holes at Flamingos.
- A tournament course: Greg Norman’s Vidanta Vallarta, home of Mexico’s PGA TOUR stop.
- The bucket-list photo: hole 3B on Pacífico at Punta Mita, tide permitting and only if you stay there.
To choose where to stay based on everything else each area offers, see our guides to Punta de Mita, Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerías.
Golf season in Nayarit
| Period | Weather | Rates and demand | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| November – April | Dry, clear skies, low humidity | High season; higher rates (El Tigre approx. 5,330 MXN) | Book early tee times weeks ahead |
| December – March | As above | Peak demand | Humpback whales visible from the oceanfront holes |
| May | Hot, still dry | Low season begins | Tee off before 10 a.m. or play twilight |
| June – October | Humid heat, afternoon rain | Lower rates (El Tigre approx. 4,640 MXN; Flamingos from 999 MXN) | Play early; storms tend to roll in after lunch |
For the whale calendar, read whale and bird watching season in Nayarit, and to weigh every travel factor, the best time to visit Nayarit.
Logistics: airport, transfers and tee times
For the Riviera Nayarit courses, fly into Puerto Vallarta, just across the Ameca River. Tepic’s airport only makes sense for the Club Campestre. More options in how to get to Nayarit.
| From Puerto Vallarta airport to | Approx. distance | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta | 10 km (6 mi) | 15–20 min |
| El Tigre (Paradise Village) | 12 km (7 mi) | 15–20 min |
| Flamingos Golf | 16 km (10 mi) | 20–25 min |
| Higuera Golf Club (Litibú) | 41 km (25 mi) | 45–50 min |
| Punta Mita (Pacífico and Bahía) | 41 km (25 mi) | 45–55 min |
| Club Campestre de Tepic | 175 km (109 mi) | 2 h 30 min – 3 h |
Distances calculated in 2026; at rush hour the Bucerías–Nuevo Vallarta stretch slows down.
Bookings and rules
- Resorts (Punta Mita, Vidanta): request tee times through the concierge or pro shop when you book your room.
- Public courses: El Tigre requires prepayment; Flamingos books online and allows free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
- Dress code: Flamingos requires a collared shirt and no denim; assume the same elsewhere and confirm each club’s code when booking.
- Equipment: if you’re not traveling with clubs, ask about rentals when you book.
- Sun: even in winter the midday sun is strong; bring a cap, sunscreen and water.
For hotels and restaurants near each course, check the Visita Nayarit directory, and for the area in general, our Bahía de Banderas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses are there in Nayarit?
Nine: Pacífico and Bahía at Punta Mita, Higuera (formerly Litibú), Vidanta’s three (The Nayar, Vidanta Vallarta and The Lakes), El Tigre, Flamingos and the Club Campestre de Tepic.
Which golf courses in Nayarit are open to the public?
El Tigre and Flamingos operate as public courses with published rates, and Higuera Golf Club accepts visitor bookings. Punta Mita and Vidanta are mainly for their guests.
What is the cheapest golf course on the Riviera Nayarit?
Flamingos Golf: from May to October 2026 it lists 999 MXN for 9 holes after 4 p.m. and 2,520 MXN (about 140 USD) for a daytime round.
When is the best time to play golf in Nayarit?
November to April, when it’s dry and pleasant. June to October is hot and humid with afternoon rain, but rates drop.
Can you play golf at night in Nayarit?
Yes, at The Lakes at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, a floodlit 10-hole par-3 course for resort guests.
Which airport is best for golf on the Riviera Nayarit?
Puerto Vallarta: Vidanta, El Tigre and Flamingos are 15–25 minutes away, and Punta Mita and Higuera about 45–55 minutes.
Area map
- 1Punta Mita Golf Club (Pacífico and Bahía) Two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses (1999 and 2009) plus hole 3B, Tail of the Whale. Guests and members.20.76898, -105.53059 · Open in Google Maps
- 2Higuera Golf Club (formerly Litibú) Greg Norman, 2009. 18 holes, par 72, in Litibú, Higuera Blanca.20.79401, -105.48414 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Vidanta Golf Nuevo Vallarta The Nayar (par 70), Greg Norman's Vidanta Vallarta (par 73) and The Lakes (lit 10-hole par 3).20.6816, -105.28254 · Open in Google Maps
- 4El Tigre Golf (Paradise Village) Von Hagge and Baril. 18 holes, par 72, 7,239 yards. Public, prepaid.20.6925, -105.29495 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Flamingos Golf 18 holes, par 72, 6,853 yards. Public; from approx. 999 MXN (9 holes) in 2026.20.73975, -105.30648 · Open in Google Maps
- 6Club Campestre de Tepic (country club) Private country club with a golf course in Las Delicias, Tepic. Members and guests.21.5167, -104.93372 · Open in Google Maps
