What was previously seen as a simple transportation route between the state capital and the coastal region has been transformed into a comprehensive tourism product: the Tepic–Compostela–Riviera Nayarit route, an approximately 150-kilometer highway corridor connecting mountain landscapes, colonial history, and world-class beach destinations.
This strategic infrastructure, inaugurated along the Tepic–Compostela section in November 2025 following an investment of 4.212 billion pesos and the creation of 2,900 jobs, includes a key 26-kilometer segment equipped with 10 bridges, two interchanges, one tunnel, and vehicle and railway crossings designed to improve mobility toward Las Varas and the coast.
The Rise of Multidestination Tourism
The route’s real impact lies in its ability to connect multidestination travel packages lasting two or more days, allowing tour operators and travelers to design itineraries that move from urban life to local traditions and beachfront relaxation:
- Compostela (Magical Town): Known as “Field of Stars,” it offers visits to traditional coffee, tobacco, and leatherworking workshops, as well as sites such as the Ex Hacienda de Miravalles and local cuisine, including pescado zarandeado and Ixtlán-style chicken.
- Punta de Mita: An epicenter of luxury resorts and golf courses and a departure point for trips to the Marietas Islands.
- La Cruz de Huanacaxtle: Known for its fishing tradition, first-class marina, and the tranquility of La Manzanilla Beach.
- Sayulita and San Pancho: Featuring a bohemian atmosphere, world-class surfing, and community-based cultural and artistic corridors.
- Bucerías and Nuevo Nayarit: Offering traditional markets and the hotel infrastructure of Bahía de Banderas.
Synergy with Air Connectivity
The strengthening of the highway network coincides with the operational expansion of Tepic–Riviera Nayarit International Airport, which serves as a gateway to the region after adding flights to Los Angeles with Volaris, Houston with United Airlines, and a planned connection to Calgary with WestJet.
In addition, the opening of the airport’s new terminal is scheduled for October 2026, consolidating a multimodal transportation system in which tourists can arrive by air, rent a car, and travel smoothly through the cultural and natural attractions of Nayarit from one end of the state to the other.
Source: almomento
