Nestled along the golden stretch of the Riviera Nayarit on the Bay of Banderas are towns both to the north and to the south. Tizate is actually located in about the middle of the interesting towns to visit.

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Bucerías are two neighbouring coastal towns that perfectly blend authentic Mexican charm and enjoyable beach living.

La Cruz is a vibrant & charming fishing village with a world-class marina, a fresh seafood market and an inviting & a safe local atmosphere. It is known for its music scene at a few bars & restaurants, its truly world class Sunday artisan, music & dining market, its colourful restaurants and its laid-back vibe. It is more vibrant with local culture than Bucerias, particularly in the evenings & on Sundays. One can walk to La Cruz fish market on a lovely sandy beach walk in about 20 minutes.

Bucerias is about an 8 minute drive (taxi, Indrive or Uber) to the main square in Bucerias called El Centro. We recommend that you visit Bucerias in the evening. Then the square always has a lot of action & the bars are hopping. The square is surrounded by a great many restaurants and bars of different levels. Several have live music & dancing or TV sporting events. Off of the main square is a market for souvenirs.

One can walk from the market to the south over the so-called Kissing Bridge (Puento del Beso) over the creek and enjoy many shops & restaurants for several blocks along Avenida Lazaro Cardenez, which is one block away from the beach.

Together, these two towns capture the spirit of Riviera Nayarit — where tradition meets modern lifestyle.

Easy day trips to the north of Tizate to gorgeous surfing & walking beaches, Sayulita & San Pancho.

Destiladeras Beach is an absolutely spectacular beach about 10 minutes by car or bus past La Cruz. One can walk for miles along the beach from the parking lot / bus stop. There is a small regional park & restaurant there where one can get a table and enjoy a meal. We highly recommend that you visit this beach. The bus does go there.

Closest surfing beach: Playa La Lancha is the closest and cleanest surfing beach. It is about 20 minutes after La Cruz on the way to Punta de Mita. Get off the bus to Punta de Mita or park at the small mall with a Pemex station & the Makai restaurant, rent surfing gear in a shop in that mall & then walk on a trail down to a gorgeous and unspoiled beach. You may also be able to rent surfing gear at the beach itself.

Sayulita is an easy 30 to 40 minute bus or car trip away. It is particularly charming in the late afternoon & early evening. We recommend that you only go there earlier in the day if you wish to surf at its beach after first trying Playa La Lancha.

San Pancho is a town that we love. It has quite a different atmosphere than the other beach towns. It has a charming main street with some very nice shops and restaurants. We eat in an outdoor restaurant on the beach about 50 metres south of the main street.

The gorgeous hiking trail from San Pancho to Sayulita: if you love hiking you may want to go on the Alltrails app & search for it. It takes about two hours through the forest and along a few lovely, wild & empty beaches.

Easy day trips to the south of Bucerias:

Marina Vallarta is 30 to 40 minutes away by car or bus. It is a lot of fun in the evening. Its marina is full of luxurious yachts and is surrounded by a wide walkway. Behind the walkway are a great many very nice restaurants, bars and stores. One can start at the Starbucks, which is near the highway to Puerto Vallarta, and walk along the marina walkway for about one km and then back and choose a restaurant of your choice, perhaps one with music.

Puerto Vallarta is a 40 to 50 minute drive (and longer by bus) to the north end of its famous Malecon, a wide promenade along the ocean. It is quite wonderful. There are numerous excellent statues and sculptures along the Malecon as well as many stores, restaurants and food stands. One can walk the Malecon all the way to its end in the Zona Romantica and then enjoy walking the streets in that area. It has a carnival-like atmosphere. We recommend that you visit it on a Saturday or Sunday late afternoon and evening rather than during the heat of the day.