Gala Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit Puts Spotlight on Mexican Pacific

by Valentín Fuentes
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Sat March 28, 2026

For 31 years, Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta, world-class destinations in the Mexican Pacific, have joined forces to present the most attractive and innovative aspects of their tourism offerings at a showcase known as the Gala Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit.

This year, the event broke attendance records, with more than 750 international industry professionals arranging more than 5,000 business appointments. The record attendance attests to the importance of this region in the international market, especially in the United States and Canada, countries that concentrate the largest number of visitors to these destinations, which offer high-end resorts, top-notch gastronomy, world-class water sports, culture and entertainment, in addition to other products and services that compete with the best in the world.

Michelle Fridman Hirsch, Minister of Tourism of the State of Jalisco, said that the Puerto Vallarta International Airport grew this year by more than three percent in passenger numbers. “That speaks to the appetite that markets have to come to these destinations. Not only is [it] the infrastructure, which makes it very easy to travel to Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit, but also the diversity, because we are much more than sun and beach.”

Juan Enrique Suárez del Real Tostado, Minister of Tourism of Nayarit, said that this important tourism region in a few years “will be the most important in Latin America, and that is why we are driving growth with adequate infrastructure, communication routes, safety for tourists, clean beaches, and connectivity”.

The grand finale of the opening of the 2026 Gala Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit was held at the spectacular Cirque du Soleil theater, located in the heart of VidantaWorld's BON Luxury Theme Park, with the presentation of LŪDO, a dinner show featuring acrobatics and underwater art, as well as signature cuisine with the hallmark of the world-renowned Canadian artistic association.

The 2026 Gala Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit concluded at VidantaWorld's BON Luxury Theme Park with a performance of Cirque du Soleil's LUDO.

Banderas Bay

Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit share the beautiful Banderas Bay, a place of unique natural beauty and home to one of the richest biodiversity in the Pacific. One of the main attractions for visitors is whale watching during the winter season, along with sightings of dolphins, rays, turtles and countless fish, birds and flora, which make this site one of the most notable worldwide.

For those seeking to escape to the different tourist destinations of the Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit area, several tour operators offer a wide range of options according to the taste of visitors. For example, in addition to those already mentioned, tourists can snorkel at beaches such as Las Caletas, Majahuitas, and Yelapa, as well as on the Marietas Islands, where the famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau established his center for scientific research years ago.

One of the main attractions in Banderas Bay during the winter season is whale watching.

In addition, there are tours on luxury yachts with food and drinks on board, safaris, scuba diving, cultural walks and even the circus show ALMA Rhythms of the Night, which is performed between the beaches of Yelapa and Quimixto (former refuge of the filmmaker John Huston). There, attendees have the opportunity to dine on the gastronomic offerings of chef Paco Ruano, the creative force behind Alcalde, recognized as one of the Top 50 Best Restaurants in the World. At night, visitors witness a show full of history, myth and magic in the thick jungle of this emblematic site.

Along Riviera Nayarit, tourists find an extensive repertoire of accommodation options ranging from backpacker spots to luxury resorts like Casa Velas Puerto Vallarta, Grand Velas, Krystal Grand Nuevo Vallarta, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Westin Playa Vallarta, plus super-luxury resorts such as Susurros del Corazón and One&Only Mandarina in Punta Mita.

At One&Only Mandarina, shamans conduct pre-Columbian seat lodge ceremonies at the Temazcal.

Surfers' Paradise

Adrenaline lovers find amazing waves to surf in the beaches of the friendly fishing villages of Sayulita and San Pancho. Here, in addition to having the best conditions for enjoying water sports, visitors find accommodation for all budgets, as well as restaurants and bars with great mixology and tasty seafood menus.

Sayulita combines the natural beauty and tranquility of a traditional fishing town with the sophistication and good taste of boutique hotels offering luxury amenities, like Sayulinda Hotel, where cozy rooms are decorated in the Mexican spirit, featuring iconic characters like Frida Kahlo, who accompanies guests in bed.

In the Sayulinda Hotel, guests share a bed with Frida Kahlo.

In this edition of the Gala, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit featured 118 hotels, six strategic destinations and a number of Magical Towns. The marketing force was backed by 59 Hosted Buyers, 64 Wholesalers, and 10 DMCs’ decision-makers. The event featured buyers from the United States, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

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