Riviera Nayarit stretches along Mexico’s Pacific coastline for almost 180 miles (289 km). Along this land, there are dozens of small fishing villages lining the coast. While ‘La Cruz de Huanacaxtle’ (La Cruz) is among these coastal communities, its location is anything but remote. La Cruz is situated just 16 miles (25 km) north of the International Puerto Vallarta airport and 12 miles (19 km) south of the popular surf town, Sayulita. In 2008, the small harbor of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle was converted to the Marina Nayarit, which is currently considered the largest and most modernized Marina on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. This pivotal development for the town, along with the founding of the ‘Cruz Sunday Market’ in 2009 have drawn international attention to the formerly overlooked village, bringing the emergence and growth of many local businesses, and attracting the development of condominium complexes and Oceanview homes, where more and more members of the international community are choosing to drop anchor and settle in.
Must Dos in La Cruz de Huanaxactle
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is in a unique stage of development where it has retained the traditional charm of a small Mexican village while drawing inspiration from the international community that frequents and resides in the area. Cruising around the area on any given evening, you will find a variety of places to eat, including taco spots, bar & grills, coffee shops, ice cream places, upscale dining, vegan restaurants and more. The pier on the Marina is a picturesque place to walk around with a sky bar and a Yacht Club to check out, and of course the beach is in walking distance no matter where in the town you are. In addition to all of the above, if you are only in La Cruz for one day, make sure to check out these three absolute musts:
Stroll the Sunday Market
In 2009, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle’s community came up with the idea for a Sunday Market that would appeal to the thousands of foreigners who frequent the region during high season (November to May), and could help local businesses promote their products while contributing to community development. Over the past 14 years, the market has continued to grow and evolve and now hosts over 170 vendors every week with hundreds of locals and foreigners present. There are crafts, kids activities, clothing, jewelry, souvenirs, live music and prepared food such as vegan tacos, grilled meats, pulled pork sandwiches, salads, kebabs and more. The market is pet friendly, eco conscious (so bring your own shopping bags), cash-only and provides free drinking water. Be prepared to be in the sun, and bringing a picnic blanket can be helpful for the food area as well. Current social programs and future aspirations, including a skate park, volleyball court, soccer field, recycling project and more. Take a virtual tour, learn more about the mission and stay tuned to details on their website.
Visit Tacos on the Street
Jorge DIaz Gomez was born in the farm town Valle de Palmas in Tijuana. His family moved to La Cruz when he was 7 years old for a better life on the bay, where his dad took up sport fishing. In 1993, his mom started selling tacos out of their house like the ones in Tijuana, typical baja-style. She made her own flour tortillas, filling them with rib-eye carne asada, grilled on mesquite charcoal and served them with fresh vegetables, onions, cilantro and guacamole, offering a veggies and cheese option for vegetarians. The business has grown over the years and her son has taken over, but the menu remains the same. These $2 rib-eye tacos with everything are an absolute must if you visit La Cruz, and can be served with Margaritas, beer or wine. The place is a favorite of my family, friends, neighbors and anyone who visits us. There is plenty of indoor or outdoor seating, attentive staff, and even someone waiting on the street to wave you in and help you park. The place is open for dinner hours and is cash-only. Check out their instagram for contact information, hours, food pics and more.
Get the Freshest Fish
Not to be confused with La Cruz’s Sunday Market, the fish market, “Mercado del Mar” is open every day. Located on the other side of the Marina, across from the Sunday Market, it is the number one place on the bay to find the freshest fish, shellfish and more. The market was created in 2008 as part of the Marina and contains about 30 shops, which are supplied by hundreds of fisherman who go out on small boats every night and return at dawn to deliver their fish and other marine products to the shops. In Spanish it is said “Del Mar a su Paladar,” or “From Sea to Table,” although the English version doesn’t really rhyme as well. In addition to fresh, raw fish by the kilo, the market also offers prepared food, such as sashimi, aguachile, ceviche, coconut shrimp, seafood soup and more. It is generally worth the trip as the fish is fresher and the prices are much lower than those in the supermarkets. The market is open from 8am – 3:30 pm, 7 days/week. Get there early for the best selection.
The Riviera Nayarit Marina (Marina of La Cruz)
An investment in the construction, development, maintenance and ongoing management of a Marina is an investment in the economy of the town, and even the country, that harbors it. Marinas create employment opportunities for the community, enhance the value of real estate, and benefit local and national governments through taxation. The Global Marine Business Advisors state that, “Studies in developed boating markets have shown that US$6.50 to US$10.00 is generated in the community for every dollar spent at the marina.”
In 2004, prominent experts in the industry began to execute an innovative vision for Mexico’s most sophisticated Marina. The Riviera Nayarit Marina officially opened In 2008, and is currently the largest and most developed Marina on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, with a capacity of 150 tons and 32 feet of beam. The Marina consists of over 350 docks for boats and yachts up to 400 feet in size, some of which are reserved for fisherman and many of which are available to rent. The marina boasts several facilities including a fueling station, launching ramp, 150-ton marina crane, 24/7 security, wifi, running water including bathrooms with showers, and electricity.
Additionally, the renowned Riviera Nayarit Marina is home to a fish market, a Sunday farmer’s market, a sky bar, a Yacht club with a business center and VIP lounge, a couple of restaurants, and an amphitheater. Several events take place there year-round, including the Mexico Cup Regatta, a major sailing and yachting competition, which the Marina has hosted three times.
Prior to the development of the Riviera Nayarit Marina, La Cruz de Huanaxactle was a small, fishing village. One of the primary highlights about the economic change brought about through this development is that the local fisherman, who have relied on the trade for generations, are directly incorporated into the evolution of the local economy.
“Before the marina was here, all the fishermen used to clean the fish on the beach, and sell the fish on the beach,” said Rafael Alcántara Luarte, the harbor master at Marina Riviera Nayarit. Now they have a place to clean and sell the fish, and the establishment of the fish market provides them with a means to distribute and sell large quantities of fish on a daily basis. Fisherman also have the opportunity to evolve their industry and supplement their income by providing visitors to the Marina with fishing tours.
In addition to harboring hundreds of boats, stimulating the local and national economy, and providing a location for popular tourist attractions, the Riviera Nayarit Marina sits on stone pier, with a consistently stunning backdrop, and the cool breeze from the bay creates the ideal climate, even in the hotter summer months.
For more information or to request a reservation to park your boat, visit the Marina’s website.
Location: LAT: 20°45’N LONG: 105°24′
Featured Real Estate Investments in La Cruz
Gran Plaza
Smallest Unit: $242k | 1.5 bed, 2 bath | 1,463 sq. ft.
Largest Unit: $415k | 3 bed/ 3 bath | 2,269 sq. ft.
Gran Plaza has spacious condos with large balconies with stunning ocean views, and is a two-minute walk from the Marina. The building consists of 12 units total, with two types: a 1.5 bedroom/ 2 bathroom (also known as 1 + flex) and a large 3 bedroom/ 3 bathroom unit. The common area is located on the roof with a breathtaking panoramic view of the coastline and an infinity pool that hovers over the marina. The construction process is nearing completion, with the estimated delivery date in March 2023, but the development still has presale rates for now, with six units currently available for purchase. The building includes pet grooming, parking and storage facilities, a lobby and an elevator.
Cruz de Mar
Smallest Unit: $299k | 2 bed/ 2 bath | 1,349 sq. ft.
Largest Unit: $331k | 2 Bed/ 2 Bath | 1,708 sq. ft.
Located on the same block as Gran Plaza, Cruz de Mar is a little further along in the construction process with deliveries already available since December 2022. The complex consists of 24 units total, with six units still available for purchase, all of which have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a den, a deck, a large living area and ocean views. The building itself has two community areas: a ground floor terrace, with a bar, grill and pool and a rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi and a bar area, grill and pool as well. Storage space and private parking are included for all units.
The Future of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
I don’t have a crystal ball that gives me certain insight into the future of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, but it is said to predict the future, just look at the past. We can project the pace of the economic growth in La Cruz by looking at the course of development in the neighboring community of Puerto Vallarta, and examining the primary milestones that have set the stage for the continued advancement of the region.
According to the Mexican government, the Banderas Bay, where La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is located, is in the municipality of Puerto Vallarta. PV is the second biggest city in Jalisco next to Guadalajara, but it hasn’t always been that way. Much like La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, PV was a fishing village prior to several infrastructural developments that began to attract international attention, enable foreign investment, and accelerate economic growth.
1970s: Gateways were Built:
In 1970, two gateways from Puerto Vallarta to the rest of the world were constructed. The wharf was built, which is currently the cruise port, converting Puerto Vallarta to Jalisco’s first port town. That same year the international airport was inaugurated, providing the rest of the world, and country, with convenient access to the coastal community. At that time, however, international travel was much less common than it is today and economic growth was slowed by several factors, including the limited ability for foreigners and many nationals to buy land.
1990s: Real Estate Investing Began:
In the early 20th century, in an effort to ‘decolonize’ Mexico, the Mexican government declared most of the land ‘ejido,’ divvying it up amongst Mexico’s indigenous community, and building out a third sector of land ownership. Because ejido land can not be bought, sold or traded, once most of the land was distributed (by the 1970s), the real estate market stagnated.
In the 90s, efforts to privatize ejido land were accelerated. The most significant of these developments was the the federal Agrarian Law passed in 1992, which allowed ejido land to be sold and gradually began to enable more significant development in Puerto Vallarta, attracting foreign and national real estate investment in the promising resort town.
Current Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Market: In 2019, 25% of properties sold in Puerto Vallarta were in the Romantic Zone, Puerto Vallarta’s ‘downtown’ area. 40% of these were purchased by Americans, with Mexican nationals accounting for 30%, and Canadians and other foreigners comprising the rest of homeowners. Today, in early 2023, a 2 bedroom condo in PV’s city center has an average list price of $729k.
2000s: Tourism Took Off:
The Covid-19 pandemic emphasized for many the fluctuating nature of the tourism industry, particularly when faced with global crises. It also highlighted its resilience, having seen a complete reactivation in late 2022/ early 2023 in many areas, including Puerto Vallarta.
Taking a look at macroeconomic trends over the past two decades, we can observe the long-term impact of international tourism in Mexico as it continues on a significantly upward scale, exponentially increasing over time:
- 2000-2009: According to data from the World Bank, international tourism to Mexico generated $9.1 billion USD in 2000, and in 2009 generated 12.5$ billion USD. This means that throughout these 9 years, Mexico saw a growth rate percentage of 37% of annual tourism-related spending.
- 2010-2019: In 2010, the amount of expenditures through international tourism was $12.6 billion USD, and in 2019 it was up to $25.8 billion USD, which is an average growth rate percentage of 51% over these 9 years, growing at a rate 14% higher than the prior decade.
I highlight this to demonstrate that today with increasing globalization causing international travel to trend upwards, despite setbacks such as the global recession in 2008, the rate of economic growth for areas that benefit from tourism is becoming much faster. This means that although La Cruz de Huanacaxtle’s development began much later than that of Puerto Vallarta’s, it won’t take as long for it to grow.
Present & Future of La Cruz (POV):
My family and I have lived in the Banderas Bay in Riviera Nayarit since 2019 in an ‘up & coming’ residential area sandwiched between Nuevo Nayarit (formerly Nuevo Vallarta) & Bucerias, called Mezcales (see map below for location). Mezcales is not on the coast, and the path to our gated community is mostly dirt roads with chickens running around. When we moved in, the community – comprised of 3 bedroom houses- was in an early phase of development, with more than half of the houses in pre-construction. The initial buy-in price was $50k for the majority of the houses, which doubled quickly. For many buyers, it was raised while they were in the process of closing. They couldn’t close fast enough to catch that first deal. We didn’t buy at the time, and today, 4 years later, the same houses are listed for $200k-$250k. We really missed the boat on that one.
Bucerias is less than 5 miles (7.5 km) north of us in Mezcales, and is a 30-minute drive from the airport. Currently, the average listing price for a two bedroom condo is $549k. The small beachside community is still in a very active stage of growth with construction and new developments going up every day. La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is the next town up on the Tepic highway 3.5 miles (5.5 km) north of Bucerias. In la Cruz, the average listing price for a two bedroom condo is currently $378k, and there is still a lot of available land (an estimated 82 miles, or 132,000 meters) available for development.
In regard to investment: You can locate a deal and choose to sit on the opportunity as you weigh the pros and cons or wait for the market to drop, but the chances are when you circle back later, that same deal will no longer be available. Will you find another attractive deal in the region? Probably so, but if you are attached to a certain location, a specific price point, or a particular development, consider making a move sooner than later.
Considering a Real Estate Investment in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico?
I am happy to answer any of your questions about buying, selling and/or living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. If you are interested in long-distance investment, we will facilitate the purchase and re-sale of your property, and oversee the ongoing property management with or without your physical presence in Mexico. We also provide detailed financial assessments, which include a projection of costs associated with buying and selling, an annual report of ongoing overhead expenses to expect and potential rental income projections where applicable.
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About Dyani Leal
Dyani Leal is a real estate agent from the United States, who expatriated to Latin America in 2008. After a decade of living in Nicaragua, she moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she now lives with her husband and two children.
Dyani provides informational resources on everyday life in Puerto Vallarta and empowers people to pursue the life of their dreams in this idyllic setting, as she has been able to do. “Breaking out of my comfort zone, learning a new language, experiencing different cultures, and leaving busy city life behind has inspired, transformed, and liberated me,” she says about her experience. “I want others to know the life of your dreams is possible.”
Dyani was born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, PA providing her with major insight into the evolution of urban economies. Her immigration to Latin America and fluency in Spanish has also granted her unique cross-cultural acumen. Dyani has been able to combine these perspectives to recognize and provide sound consultation on key investment opportunities, and in-depth insight into the local housing market in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Whether clients are looking to sell their house, relocate to Mexico, purchase a vacation home, or identify a profitable investment opportunity, Dyani is an authentic and trusted advisor who helps them achieve the outcome they desire through a pleasant and customized experience.
