Why Travelers Keep Returning to Jalisco
Travelers keep returning to Jalisco because few Mexican states give you so much range in a single trip. There's a Pacific coastline that runs from the busy, sophisticated Bay of Banderas to the near-empty coves of the Costalegre, and an interior that gave the world tequila and mariachi. Many guests come for a week at a villa above the sea, then find themselves planning the next visit before they've left.
We've placed guests on this coast for years, and the pattern is familiar. The first trip is about the ocean. The second is about everything else. Here's why Jalisco has that pull.
Where Is Jalisco?
Jalisco is a large state in western Mexico, stretching from the Pacific coast inland to the central highlands. Its capital, Guadalajara, is Mexico's second-largest city and sits on a high plateau, while the coast runs south from the Bay of Banderas toward the state of Colima.
That split shapes everything about a visit. On the coast you'll find tropical heat, jungle-covered hills and the open Pacific. Inland, the altitude brings a milder, drier climate, colonial towns, agave fields and a deep sense of Mexican tradition.
For villa travelers, the coast is the natural base. Our homes in Jalisco are all on the coast, and we'll come to them shortly.
The Coast: Two Very Different Pacific Escapes
Jalisco's coast falls into two broad halves, and choosing between them is the first decision we help guests make.
Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas
The northern coast centers on Puerto Vallarta, a long-established resort city on the eastern shore of the Bay of Banderas. The bay is broad and sheltered, the Sierra Madre rises steeply behind the city, and many of the best private homes climb the hillsides south of downtown for the view.
Puerto Vallarta suits travelers who want a lively town close at hand. The old center still has cobblestone streets and a seafront promenade, the dining scene is varied and serious, and art galleries are part of the city's character. South of town, the coast becomes greener and more rugged, with coves such as Mismaloya and the granite rock formations of Los Arcos rising from the sea.
The bay is shared with the neighboring state of Nayarit, which covers its northern shore, including the peninsula of Punta Mita on the Riviera Nayarit. Many guests combine the two, but it's worth knowing that Punta Mita is not in Jalisco, even though the same airport serves both.
Costa Careyes and the Costalegre
Farther south, the shoreline between Puerto Vallarta and the Colima border is known as the Costalegre. It's a long, lightly developed stretch of headlands, coves and dry tropical forest, and it feels far removed from the city to the north.
Costa Careyes is one of the best-known communities on this coast, a place defined by bold, colorful architecture, palapa roofs, clifftop homes and small beaches between rocky points. It suits guests who want privacy and a slower rhythm above everything else. You won't find a busy town here. You'll find a garden, a pool, the sound of the ocean and very little else to do, which is exactly why people come.
Why the Coast Draws Guests Back
The coast keeps guests returning because it delivers several kinds of trip at once. These are the experiences we hear about most often after a stay:
- Whale season on the Bay of Banderas. Humpback whales arrive in the bay in winter, roughly December through March, and watching them from a boat, or even from a hillside terrace, becomes the memory people talk about.
- Sunsets over the Pacific. Much of this coast looks west across open water, so evenings on the terrace end with the sun dropping into the sea.
- Boat days. Charters out to Los Arcos, quiet coves south of Puerto Vallarta or along the Costalegre turn an ordinary day into the highlight of the trip.
- Food. From fresh ceviche and grilled fish on the coast to the birria and tortas ahogadas of Guadalajara, Jalisco's cooking is one of the best reasons to return.
- Golf, surf and sport. The Bay of Banderas area has a strong golf tradition, and the Pacific swell brings good surf to several breaks along the coast.
- Space for everyone. The large hillside homes here suit families and villas for groups, with enough room for several generations to share a holiday without crowding each other.
Beyond the Beach: Guadalajara and Tequila Country
The interior is the reason many guests come back a second time. A coastal villa stay pairs well with a few days inland, usually by flying or driving to Guadalajara.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is a large, cultured city with a handsome historic center, grand cathedral and colonial plazas. Its best-known landmark for visitors is the Hospicio Cabañas, a nineteenth-century former orphanage whose chapel is covered in murals by José Clemente Orozco. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The neighboring towns of Tlaquepaque and Tonalá have long been centers of Mexican craft, known for ceramics, glass and furniture. They're a pleasant half-day for anyone furnishing a home or simply curious about Mexican design.
Tequila Country
Tequila takes its name from the town of Tequila in Jalisco, and the blue agave fields around it form a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape. Distillery visits, tastings and the rows of blue-grey agave stretching across the hills make for one of the most distinctive days you can spend in Mexico.
Jalisco is also the heartland of mariachi music and of charrería, Mexico's traditional horsemanship. Both are recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, and both are still part of everyday celebration across the state.
Lake Chapala
South of Guadalajara lies Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake, with lakeside towns such as Ajijic that have long attracted artists and expatriates. The highland climate around the lake is mild for most of the year, which makes it a calm contrast to the coastal heat.
Who Jalisco Suits Best
Jalisco suits a wider range of travelers than most single destinations, which is part of why so many come back. We find it works best for:
- Families and multi-generational groups, who can share a large hillside home in Puerto Vallarta with space, staff and a pool at the center of the day.
- Couples seeking seclusion, who tend to fall for the quiet coves and garden homes of Costa Careyes.
- Food and culture lovers, who want to pair the coast with Guadalajara, tequila country and the craft towns around the capital.
- Winter travelers from North America, for whom the dry season, whale watching and direct flights make Puerto Vallarta an easy escape.
If you want total isolation and nothing else, the Costalegre delivers it. If you want everything within reach, Puerto Vallarta is the easier fit.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Jalisco?
The best time to visit Jalisco's coast is the dry season, roughly November through April, when days are warm and sunny, humidity is low and the sea is calm. This window also covers whale season on the Bay of Banderas, which is why the winter months are the busiest of the year for villa vacation rentals.
From June through October, the rainy season brings heat, humidity and afternoon storms, and the coastal hills turn a vivid green. The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially runs from May 15 to November 30, so plans for late summer and early autumn should allow for weather.
Inland, Guadalajara's altitude keeps it more temperate. Spring is warm and dry, and the summer rains cool the city down in the afternoons.
Getting to Jalisco and Getting Around
Puerto Vallarta International Airport is the gateway for the northern coast, with direct flights from many North American cities, especially in winter. Guadalajara's international airport serves the interior and has extensive domestic and international connections.
The Costalegre is a different matter. Costa Careyes sits far south of Puerto Vallarta, and according to our listing for Casa Selva, Manzanillo International Airport is the closer commercial airport, at 90.2 kilometers. The same listing notes a private airstrip at Chamela, 11.3 kilometers away, which suits guests arriving by private plane.
Within each area, private drivers are the most comfortable way to get around. We arrange transfers before you land so the first hour of your trip is as easy as the rest.
Our Villas in Jalisco
Our Jalisco page doesn't list homes directly, but our villas on its coast sit in two places: Puerto Vallarta and Costa Careyes, both within Jalisco. These luxury holiday villas reflect the two sides of the coast we've described.
In Puerto Vallarta, Casa Peregrina is a hacienda-style home in a residential community, with arches, whitewashed walls and wood-beamed ceilings. A heated saltwater pool looks out across the Bay of Banderas, there's a thatched palapa with a bar for long lunches, and a short walk leads to semi-private access to Playa Las Gemelas. A private chef and staff are on hand, with food and beverages at additional cost.
Farther south along the same coast, on the Mismaloya hillside, Villa Magnifico looks out over Mismaloya Cove, Los Arcos and the bay. It suits villas for groups particularly well, with a heated infinity pool and hot tub, a full-floor game room, a gym, a media room and indoor and outdoor dining areas. The listing includes a private chef, waiter and housekeeping, again with food and beverages at additional cost.
On the Costalegre, Casa Selva is named for the jungle-like garden that surrounds it, where birdsong carries through the day. Living and dining happen under a soaring thatched palapa, an infinity pool sits among the greenery, and there's a media room for quieter evenings. It's in a gated community with security, and according to our listing, Playa Rosa is 260 meters away.
How to Plan a Villa Trip to Jalisco
A few planning points we share with guests heading to Jalisco:
- Choose the coast first. Puerto Vallarta suits guests who want a town, restaurants and activity close by. Costa Careyes suits those who want seclusion.
- Book winter early. The dry season and whale season overlap, and the best hillside homes fill months ahead.
- Add a few days inland. Two or three nights around Guadalajara and Tequila show you a completely different Jalisco.
- Think about your arrival airport. Puerto Vallarta for the bay, Manzanillo or a private flight for the Costalegre, Guadalajara for the interior.
- Decide how much service you want. Several of our homes here offer a chef and staff, so you can eat at home most nights and keep a few evenings for the town.
That's where we come in. We've been matching guests to luxury homes for rent since 1979, our villa consultants have been named Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists for more than 15 consecutive years, and every home is personally inspected before it joins our collection and again before you arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco?
Yes. Puerto Vallarta is on the Pacific coast of Jalisco, on the Bay of Banderas. The northern shore of the bay, including Punta Mita, belongs to the neighboring state of Nayarit.
Where is Costa Careyes?
Costa Careyes is on the Costalegre, the southern stretch of Jalisco's Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and the Colima border. It's far from Puerto Vallarta, and the closer commercial airport is Manzanillo.
What is the best month to visit Jalisco?
For the coast, the dry season from roughly November through April is the most reliable, with December through March adding the best chance of seeing humpback whales in the Bay of Banderas. Guadalajara is pleasant for most of the year thanks to its altitude.
Do you have villas in Guadalajara or Tequila?
Our villas in Jalisco are on the coast, in Puerto Vallarta and Costa Careyes. Many guests pair a coastal villa stay with a few days in Guadalajara and tequila country, and we can help you plan that part of the trip.
The Jalisco That Keeps Calling You Back
Jalisco rewards a return visit because there's always another side to see: a different stretch of coast, a winter when the whales are in, a few days among the agave fields. It's the kind of Mexico that feels generous with its time and its culture, and a private villa lets you enjoy it at your own pace.
If you're starting to picture it, our Jalisco page is the place to begin, alongside our wider collection of villas in Mexico. When you're ready, we're here.
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