Guadalajara and Riviera Nayarit rank among CN Traveler’s ‘Best Places to Go in 2026’

Guadalajara has earned a apical spot connected Condé Nast Traveler’s much-anticipated question list, “Best Places to Go successful 2026.” The magazine’s yearly guide, released this week, besides highlights the Riviera Nayarit — further cementing the rising illustration of the agelong of seashore northbound of Puerto Vallarta.

Guadalajara made the planetary list, lasting retired among thousands of places considered by the publication. Meanwhile, the Riviera Nayarit was recognized arsenic a starring destination in the North America and Caribbean subcategory, which includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Let’s observe what made the Riviera Nayarit and Guadalajara portion of the coveted list.

Guadalajara 

Guadalajara, 1 of the guide’s apical planetary destinations this year, won praise for its heavy transportation to immoderate of Mexico’s best-known traditions.

“As the epicenter of traditions synonymous with Mexican civilization — mariachi, ceramics, tortas ahogadas, and of course, tequila — Guadalajara has been acceptable for the spotlight,” Condé Nast says.

Jalisco’s superior was featured successful the database for its important cultural, creative, and tourism potential, arsenic the metropolis gears up to big large planetary events successful 2026. These see the FIFA World Cup, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, and the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), each of which solidify its presumption arsenic a taste superior of Latin America.

Guadalajara is the superior of Jalisco, a authorities known arsenic the birthplace of mariachi and tequila. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

The work besides highlights the welcoming quality of its residents (tapatíos) and the taste experiences the metropolis offers: pottery workshops, tequila tastings, innovative cuisine and immersive experiences that invitation visitors to bask its mundane life.

“While Guadalajara has agelong been a gem of a destination, evolving softly portion neighboring cities get much attention, the spotlight is shining a spot brighter,” the mag concludes.

Riviera Nayarit

Spreading on Mexico’s Pacific coast, the Riviera Nayarit extends for implicit 300 kilometers on the authorities bearing the aforesaid name. It starts astatine the rima of the Ameca River bordering Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, successful the southbound and stretches to Boca de Tecapán, adjacent the borderline with Sinaloa, successful the north.

Notable tourer destinations successful the country see Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, Punta de Mita, Sayulita, San Pancho, Rincón de Guayabitos, Chacala and San Blas.

The Riviera Nayarit, known for tiny towns and laid-back formation vibes, runs astir 300 kilomters on the seashore northbound of Puerto Vallarta. (Visit Mexico)

Condé Nast highlights the destination’s equilibrium of luxury, authenticity, sustainable tourism and development, arsenic good arsenic its bonzer assortment of experiences, pristine beaches, quality reserves and coastal communities that blend hospitality with section culture.

“The Riviera Nayarit is simply a quiet, scenic portion of seashore boasting implicit 200 miles of aureate beachy nooks that Mexican travelers person agelong retreated to — but present it’s receiving infrastructural boosts that are efficaciously mounting retired the invited mat for others,” the mag says.

New developments similar the Tepic-Riviera Nayarit International Airport, play courses and good eating are besides highlighted arsenic portion of its appeal. Rosewood Mandarina and One & Only Mandarina are conscionable a fewer of the high-end resorts successful the area, which has besides drawn big-name chefs to unfastened restaurants similar Cacao (by Enrique Olvera), Rubra (by Daniela Soto-Inés) oregon Toppu (by Diego Muñoz and José Mascarós).

Mexico News Daily