Nayarit with kids works for a simple reason: almost everything worth doing is under two hours from an airport or a city with full services, and most experiences are outdoors, short and involve water. Calm-water beaches on the Riviera Nayarit, sea turtle releases at sunset, humpback whales in winter, a boat ride through crocodile-filled mangroves in San Blas and a crater lake where you can paddle a kayak.
Here you will find what is worth doing with children (and from what age), the rules in protected areas such as the Islas Marietas, a 5-day family itinerary and an approximate 2026 budget. Also read our 15 tips for your first trip to Nayarit as well.
Calm-water beaches for children
The coast has open-ocean stretches with strong surf (Sayulita, San Pancho and Punta Raza are not for wading with toddlers) and sheltered bays where the sea comes in like a swimming pool. These are the ones for families:
- Rincón de Guayabitos: Jaltemba Bay is shielded by Isla del Coral and the water is so calm that the beach is known as “the world’s largest natural swimming pool”. Sandy bottom, gentle slope and boats to the island; about 75 km (1 h 15 min) from Puerto Vallarta airport.
- Los Ayala: the cove next door to Guayabitos, smaller, with the same water and less noise.
- Chacala: a horseshoe-shaped bay with palm trees reaching the sand and beachfront restaurants serving pescado zarandeado (butterflied fish grilled over mangrove wood). Low surf most of the year; about 35 km north of Guayabitos.
- Lo de Marcos: a wide village beach with few hotels. Moderate surf: for children who already swim, with supervision.
- Bucerías: on Banderas Bay, 20 to 25 minutes from the airport. Kilometers of sand, calm sea in the morning and plenty of restaurants.
On all of these beaches the sea is flattest in the morning; the wind picks up after 2 pm. Check the flags and stay near the lifeguard towers.
Wildlife encounters: turtles and whales
Sea turtle releases (July to December)
This is the star activity for children of any age. Turtle camps protect olive ridley nests and, once the hatchlings emerge, invite the public to release them on the sand shortly before sunset. The most accessible releases are at the Nuevo Vallarta camp (one of the largest on Mexico’s Pacific coast, releasing hundreds of thousands of hatchlings each year), in San Pancho (where a local ecological group has been working for decades) and at Playa Platanitos in Compostela. Participation is usually free or by donation; the rules: no handling the hatchlings, no flash, and let them crawl to the sea on their own. Read more in our guide to the sea turtle release season in Nayarit.
Whale watching (December to March)
From mid-December to late March, humpback whales arrive in Banderas Bay to mate and give birth. Tours depart from Nuevo Vallarta, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta de Mita, last 3 to 4 hours and in 2026 start at approx. $1,300–2,000 MXN (70–110 USD) per adult; many operators offer a child rate for ages 6 to 11. Recommended age: most operators accept children from 4 or 5, but several recommend 10 and up because of the boat’s motion and the length of the trip. With little ones, choose larger boats with a bathroom, bring motion-sickness tablets and prefer morning departures. See our 2026 whale watching guide.
Islas Marietas: can you go with kids?
Islas Marietas National Park, off Punta de Mita, is a protected area with strict rules managed by CONANP, Mexico’s protected areas commission: access is only with licensed operators, there is a limited daily quota of visitors to the Hidden Beach (Playa Escondida) and time on it is capped at 30 minutes in small groups. Reaching the Hidden Beach means swimming (or being towed) through a rock arch, so being able to swim is mandatory. In practice, each operator sets its own age limits: some accept children from age 5 on the boat and snorkel tour, others require 10 or 12 to enter the Hidden Beach. Check before you book. With small children, the boat and snorkel tour without landing is still spectacular: blue-footed boobies and, in winter, whales along the way. More in Islas Marietas and on the official CONANP page.
Nature without long hikes: mangroves, a crater lake and an island
La Tovara, San Blas: boat ride through the mangroves
From the Matanchén pier (10 minutes from San Blas), a boat takes you through mangrove tunnels to the La Tovara spring, where you can swim in crystal-clear fresh water. You will see crocodiles, herons, river turtles and iguanas, with a stop at the crocodile sanctuary. It lasts 2.5 to 3 hours and in 2026 costs from approx. $250–300 MXN (14–17 USD) per person on a shared boat, plus a small entry fee at the sanctuary. Children wear life vests; bring repellent because this is sand-fly (jején) territory. San Blas is 64 km from Tepic (under an hour) and about 2.5 hours from Puerto Vallarta. Full guide: La Tovara route.
Santa María del Oro lagoon: kayaking inside a crater
About 50 km from Tepic (45 minutes), the lagoon fills a volcanic crater surrounded by hills, with no waves, warm water and a shoreline lined with restaurants serving chicharrón de pescado (crispy fried fish). Kayaks and paddleboards are for rent, shared boats circle the lake and several hotels have pools. It is one of the most relaxed plans in the state with children. Read about the lagoon that changes color.
Mexcaltitán: the island you reach by boat
From the La Batanga pier (about 30 minutes from Santiago Ixcuintla), a shared boat crosses in 15 to 20 minutes to the circular island that tradition identifies as Aztlán, the mythical homeland of the Mexica (Aztecs). In the rainy season the streets flood and people get around by canoe; there is a small museum and shrimp restaurants. More in the Mexcaltitán route.
Tepic with kids: parks and an afternoon in the city
If you pass through the state capital, two parks fill an entire afternoon. Parque La Loma, the city’s largest, has a small zoo with deer, birds and monkeys, a miniature train, sports courts, a skatepark and the “Jungla Mágica”, a playground with animal figures. Parque Ecológico Metropolitano is free, with a lake with geese, canoes and a 1.75 km dirt loop for bikes and strollers. More in Tepic in one day.
Nuevo Vallarta: water parks and Cirque du Soleil
Nuevo Vallarta / Nuevo Nayarit has the state’s largest concentration of family entertainment. The VidantaWorld complex has a luxury water park and, since December 2025, presents LUDÕ, Cirque du Soleil’s second resident show in Mexico, in a theater surrounded by aquarium walls inside the BON Luxury Theme Park, which is opening in phases through 2026 and 2027 (JOYÀ, the first resident show, is the one in the Riviera Maya). Tickets in 2026 start at approx. $1,500–2,500 MXN (85–140 USD) depending on seating and whether dinner is included; book weeks ahead in high season. Nearby water parks with slides charge around $700–1,300 MXN (40–70 USD) per person for a day pass, and there are dolphinariums and catamaran cruises too.
Sayulita: surf lessons for kids
Sayulita has a long, gentle sand-bottom wave inside the bay that is one of the best on the Pacific for learning. Several schools teach children from age 5 with a maximum of two students per instructor, soft-top board, rash guard and life vest included. A 1.5 to 2-hour lesson in 2026 costs from approx. $900–1,300 MXN (50–70 USD). Outside the lesson, the main beach has surf: for swimming with little ones head to Playa Los Muertos, a sheltered cove 10 minutes away on foot. Discover what to do in Sayulita and where to surf in Nayarit.
5-day family itinerary
Base yourself on the Riviera Nayarit (Bucerías, Nuevo Vallarta or Guayabitos), flying into Puerto Vallarta; every transfer is under 2 hours.
| Day | Plan | Approx. drive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, afternoon on the beach in Bucerías and dinner on the malecón | 25 min from PVR |
| 2 | Islas Marietas (boat and snorkel only with small children) or a water park in Nuevo Vallarta; at sunset, turtle release (Jul–Dec) | 30–45 min |
| 3 | Sayulita: morning surf lesson, Playa Los Muertos in the afternoon | 40 min |
| 4 | Guayabitos: natural pool, boat to Isla del Coral, fruit on the beach; move hotels to the north or return | 1 h 15 min |
| 5 | San Blas: boat through La Tovara, lunch in Matanchén; or whale watching in Banderas Bay (Dec–Mar) | 1 h 30 min from Guayabitos |
With more days, add a night in Santa María del Oro and another in Tepic for Mexcaltitán. Check flights and roads in how to get to Nayarit.
Practical tips for traveling with children
- Sun: the UV index is high year-round. Reef-safe sunscreen (required at Marietas and La Tovara), rash guard and hat; avoid the beach from noon to 3 pm.
- Mosquitoes and sand flies: worst from July to October and at dusk in mangroves. Repellent and light-colored clothing.
- Hydration: bottled water always; in summer the humid heat wears kids out fast.
- Car seats: not included with rental cars by default; reserve one in advance or bring your own. Buses and taxis do not provide them.
- Pharmacies: pharmacies with walk-in clinics exist in Bucerías, Sayulita, Guayabitos, San Blas and Tepic; the most complete private hospitals are in Nuevo Vallarta and Tepic.
- Cooler seasons: November to April is dry, with highs of 28–31 °C (82–88 °F). May and June are the hottest; July to October brings afternoon rain and more humidity, but also turtles and lush greenery.
Approximate family budget (2 adults + 2 children, 5 days)
| Item | Budget (MXN) | Mid-range (MXN) | Approx. USD (mid-range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging (4 nights, family room) | 6,000–9,000 | 14,000–24,000 | 780–1,330 |
| Food (5 days) | 6,000 | 10,000–14,000 | 550–780 |
| Rental car or transfers | 4,000 | 6,500–8,000 | 360–440 |
| Activities (tours, surf lesson, boats) | 3,500 | 8,000–12,000 | 440–660 |
| Approx. total | 19,500–22,500 | 38,500–58,000 | 2,100–3,200 |
Estimates for 2026 outside Easter week and Christmas; in high season hotels go up 30–50%. Find family-friendly hotels and restaurants in our directory and more ideas in what to do in the Riviera Nayarit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Nayarit for small children?
Rincón de Guayabitos, thanks to its sheltered bay with minimal surf and a gently sloping sandy bottom. Chacala and Los Ayala are the quietest alternatives nearby.
When can you release sea turtles in Nayarit?
From July to December, with the most releases between August and November. They take place before sunset at camps such as Nuevo Vallarta, San Pancho and Platanitos, usually free or by donation.
From what age can children go whale watching?
Many operators accept children from 4 or 5, but the recommended age is 10 because of the trip length (3–4 hours) and the boat’s motion. Choose larger boats and morning departures.
Can children visit the Hidden Beach at Islas Marietas?
It depends on the operator: some admit children from 5, others from 10 or 12. Being able to swim is mandatory to cross the rock arch. With little ones, the boat and snorkel tour without landing is the safe option.
Area map
- 1Rincón de Guayabitos Calm bay, ideal for families.21.02585, -105.26489 · Open in Google Maps
- 2Bucerías Long-beach town on Banderas Bay.20.75559, -105.33435 · Open in Google Maps
- 3La Tovara (spring) Spring at the end of the mangrove boat tour.21.54027, -105.22174 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Santa María del Oro lagoon Flooded volcanic crater; kayaking, paddleboarding and boat rides.21.36939, -104.5689 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Mexcaltitán Island Magical Town on an island, reached only by boat.21.90568, -105.47525 · Open in Google Maps
- 6La Loma Park Wooded city park near downtown Tepic.21.50436, -104.89941 · Open in Google Maps
