La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a fishing village on Banderas Bay in the Riviera Nayarit, about 23 km (14 miles) and 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta’s airport. Most travelers speed past it on the way to Punta de Mita or Sayulita, which is exactly why it still has what other towns on the bay have lost: pangas pulled up on the sand, a fish market that opens before dawn, and a plaza where life still revolves around the church.
It is also home to Marina Riviera Nayarit, one of the most modern marinas on Mexico’s Pacific coast, with around 340 slips for boats from 30 to 400 feet. That blend of working village and sailing harbor is what makes La Cruz different: you can have breakfast with the fishermen, watch regatta yachts head out, and end the day with live music by the water.
This guide covers what to do in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, how to get there, when to go, and the day trips you can make from here.
Where the name comes from
The town is named after a cross carved from huanacaxtle wood. Huanacaxtle is the Nahuatl name for the tree known elsewhere in Mexico as parota and in Central America as guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum): a giant with a wide canopy and ear-shaped seed pods, very common in the Nayarit lowlands. Local tradition says the cross was placed at the entrance to the village and eventually gave the community its name. It is still the centerpiece of the patron saint festival every May.
Things to do in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
1. Get up early for the Mercado del Mar
This is the most authentic experience in town. Next to the marina, in a plain building with about 30 stalls, dozens of fishermen unload what they caught overnight: red snapper (huachinango), pargo, mahi-mahi, tuna, sierra, shrimp, lobster and oysters, depending on the season. It opens every day early (around 8:00 am) and the best fish is gone before noon. If you are staying in an apartment, buy a whole fish and ask them to clean it; if not, several stalls will grill it for you on the spot or cook it zarandeado style, butterflied over mangrove coals. To understand why pescado zarandeado is Nayarit’s signature dish, this is the place.
2. Walk Marina Riviera Nayarit
Opened in 2008, the marina changed the scale of the village without erasing it. You can stroll the docks, look at the U.S. and Canadian sailboats that winter here, and climb the lighthouse lookout for a view across the whole bay. In season there are waterfront restaurants, a sailing school and marine supply shops. It is also the departure point for most whale-watching, fishing and snorkeling tours on the north side of the bay.
3. Visit the Sunday market (November to April)
From November through April, every Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the marina hosts one of the largest weekend markets in the region: around 200 vendors selling organic coffee from the Nayarit highlands, artisan bread, cheeses, salsas, textiles, jewelry, art and prepared food, with live music. It has been running since 2010 and brings together local producers and the international community that lives around the bay. It does not operate in summer, so do not plan around it if you visit off-season.
4. Watch humpback whales from the marina
Banderas Bay is one of the most important humpback breeding grounds on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The official 2025-2026 season ran from December 8 to March 23, and a similar notice is published in the federal gazette each year. Tours leave from the La Cruz marina on pangas and catamarans, last 3 to 4 hours and cost approx. $1,200–2,000 MXN (65–110 USD) per person in 2026. Book only with operators flying the official SEMARNAT permit flag. There is more in our humpback whale watching guide.
5. Sailing and regattas
La Cruz is the sailing capital of the bay. The Banderas Bay Regatta, which held its 32nd edition on March 17–21, 2026, starts right here, and through the winter the cruising community organizes informal races almost every week. If you have never sailed, the marina has schools and sunset sails on keelboats.
6. Sport fishing
Pangas and sportfishing yachts head out from La Cruz toward the Marietas, El Morro and the mouth of the bay for mahi-mahi, sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna and snapper. A half-day panga charter for four people runs approx. $5,000–8,000 MXN (270–430 USD) in 2026; a crewed yacht costs considerably more. Billfish season peaks from May to November. Read more on sport fishing in Nayarit.
7. The beaches: La Manzanilla, La Cruz and Destiladeras
- Playa La Manzanilla: a small, sheltered cove west of the marina with golden sand and very gentle waves. It is the locals’ beach and the best one for kids, with a couple of seafood palapas.
- Playa La Cruz: the village beach, next to the pangas and the old pier. Not a swimming beach, but the place to watch the fishermen work and have a beer at sunset.
- Playa Destiladeras: about 8 km toward Punta de Mita, one of the longest and prettiest beaches on the bay: white sand, clear water and palapa restaurants. Tide pools form among the rocks at low tide. It is 10 minutes by car or on the Compostela bus.
8. Seafood and live music
The food scene is small but good: fish palapas on the beach, chef-driven restaurants at the marina and a handful of places between the plaza and Calle Marlín. Nightlife is low-key: there are no clubs, but bars with live music (jazz, blues, rock and Latin folk) play most nights in high season. Browse options in our directory and on the cuisine of Nayarit page.
9. Fiestas de la Santa Cruz (late April to May 3)
This is the village’s biggest festival. In 2026 it ran from April 24 to May 3, with the crowning of the festival queen, bands in the plaza every night, traditional dances, carnival rides and, on May 3, a mass and a maritime procession in which fishermen carry the cross around the bay on decorated pangas. If your dates line up, it is the best window to see the real La Cruz.
How to get to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
The nearest airport is Puerto Vallarta International (PVR), 23 km away. From there you have three options:
| Option | Time | Approx. cost 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compostela / Punta de Mita bus | 45–60 min | $40–50 MXN (2–3 USD) | Leaves from the Walmart across the pedestrian bridge from the airport every 15–20 min; stops on the highway beside the village. |
| Airport taxi or private transfer | 25–35 min | $700–1,100 MXN (40–60 USD) | Official airport taxis charge by zone; pre-booked transfers are usually a bit cheaper. |
| Rental car | 25–35 min | From approx. $700 MXN/day (40 USD) | Highway 200 toward Punta de Mita; there is parking at the marina. |
From Bucerías it is only 5 km, and from Sayulita about 25 km on Highway 200. If you are coming from Tepic or Guadalajara, see our guide on how to get to Nayarit. Inside the village everything is walkable; for Destiladeras or Punta de Mita, use the Compostela bus (every 15–20 minutes on the highway) or a local taxi.
Where to stay
La Cruz has no big resorts, and that is part of its charm. You will find boutique hotels and guesthouses in the center (approx. $1,200–2,500 MXN / 65–135 USD per night in 2026), apartments and villas with bay views on the hillside, and condos beside the marina. In high season (December to March and Holy Week) book one to two months ahead. If you want all-inclusive, the resorts in Bucerías and Nuevo Vallarta are 10 to 25 minutes away.
Best time to visit
| Months | Weather | What’s on |
|---|---|---|
| December – March | Dry, 24–29 °C (75–84 °F), cooler water | Whales, Sunday market, regattas, live music. High season. |
| April – May | Dry and warm, 28–32 °C (82–90 °F) | Santa Cruz festival, uncrowded beaches, last market Sundays. |
| June – October | Afternoon rain, 30–34 °C (86–93 °F), humid | Billfish season, very quiet village, low prices, turtle releases. |
| November | Dry season begins | Market opens, cruising boats arrive from the north. |
Day trips nearby
- Bucerías (5 km): a long beach, a crafts market and many more restaurants and bars.
- Punta de Mita and El Anclote (15 km): beginner surf, crystal-clear beaches and an alternative departure point for the Marietas.
- Islas Marietas: the Hidden Beach and the snorkeling inside the national park are a half-day tour from La Cruz or Punta de Mita; access to the Hidden Beach is limited and requires a permit. Read our Islas Marietas guide.
- Sayulita and San Pancho (25–30 km): the surf Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) and its quieter neighbor. Here is our guide to Sayulita.
- Puerto Vallarta (35 km): the Malecón, the Romantic Zone and its nightlife, worth an evening.
To plan a longer coastal route, see the Bahía de Banderas page and our tips for your first trip to Nayarit.
Frequently asked questions
Where is La Cruz de Huanacaxtle?
In the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, on the north shore of Banderas Bay, 23 km (about 30 minutes) from Puerto Vallarta’s airport and 5 km from Bucerías.
Is La Cruz de Huanacaxtle worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want a quiet fishing village with a modern marina, a fish market, whale-watching tours and live music, without the crowds of Sayulita or Vallarta.
When is the La Cruz Sunday market?
The Mercado Huanacaxtle runs at the marina every Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, November through April. It does not operate in summer.
When can you see whales in La Cruz?
The official whale-watching season in Banderas Bay runs from early December to late March; in 2025-2026 it was December 8 to March 23.
How do I get from Puerto Vallarta to La Cruz without a car?
Take the Compostela or Punta de Mita bus from the Walmart across from the airport; it takes 45 to 60 minutes and costs approx. $40–50 MXN in 2026.
Is it safe to swim at the beaches in La Cruz?
Playa La Manzanilla has very gentle waves and is ideal for families; Destiladeras is more open, so follow the lifeguard flags.
Area map
- 1La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Fishing and sailing village on Banderas Bay.20.7507, -105.3829 · Open in Google Maps
- 2Marina Riviera Nayarit La Cruz de Huanacaxtle marina; tours and fishing trips leave here.20.74877, -105.37914 · Open in Google Maps
- 3La Manzanilla Beach Quiet beach next to La Cruz.20.74501, -105.38475 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Destiladeras Beach Wide beach between La Cruz and Punta de Mita.20.74226, -105.42348 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Bucerías Long-beach town on Banderas Bay.20.75559, -105.33435 · Open in Google Maps
