La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
A fishing village with a big marina, a fish market every morning and a Sunday market in season — half an hour from the airport.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle — usually just La Cruz — sits on the north shore of Banderas Bay, a few kilometres past Bucerías on the road to Punta de Mita. It began as a fishing village in the 1930s and still is one, but since 2008 it has also had one of the bay's main marinas. Most visitors come for two things: the fish market by the harbour, open every morning, and the Sunday market on the pier from November to April. It's also a departure point for sailing, fishing and the Marietas Islands.
At a glance
| Where | North shore of Banderas Bay, municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit; about 7 km beyond Bucerías |
|---|---|
| From the airport | About 20 km: 25 minutes with clear roads, closer to 40 in traffic |
| Population | 4,169 at the 2020 census |
| Time zone | The same as Puerto Vallarta |
| Marina | About 350 slips for boats up to 400 ft; Blue Flag since 2015, renewed in 2025 |
| Sunday market | On the marina pier, November to April, from about 9 or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
The name and the village
The village was founded in the 1930s by fishing families. Its name comes from a cross made of huanacaxtle wood — the parota or guanacaste tree, Enterolobium cyclocarpum — that stood at the entrance to the town. It has grown from about 100 people in 1960 to just over 4,000 today, and alongside the fishermen there's a growing community of foreign residents. The harbour was rebuilt, and the marina completed, in 2008.
Marina Riviera Nayarit
The marina has about 350 slips for boats from 31 to 400 feet, a fuel dock, a 150-ton travel lift, a yacht club, a restaurant and a sky bar. In 2015 it became the first marina in Mexico to earn Blue Flag certification, which was renewed in 2025. From here:
- Sailing: day sails leave the marina in the morning; see sports for typical prices.
- Sport fishing: for tuna, marlin and mahi-mahi; see fishing.
- The Marietas Islands: La Cruz is one of the official departure points for the national park. The Hidden Beach is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and capped at 116 visitors a day; see the Marietas Islands tour.
- Whale watching from December to March.
The fish market
Next to the marina, the Mercado del Mar opens every day from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Around thirty stalls sell the catch of more than a hundred local fishermen: tuna, snapper, dorado, sierra, shrimp, lobster and oysters. If you have a kitchen, it's the place to buy fish for dinner.
The Sunday market
From November to April, the La Cruz market fills the marina's longest pier, next to the main square, every Sunday from about 9 or 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Depending on the source it has between 140 and more than 200 stalls: organic produce, bread and jams, crafts, clothing, jewellery and ceramics, street food and live music. It has run since about 2010 and traditionally opens on the first Sunday of November — which would be 1 November in 2026. Bring cash: there are no cash machines inside the marina.
Beaches
The town's beach runs for about 5 km and is divided into named stretches: El Tizate, Cruz de Huanacaxtle, La Manzanilla, Piedra Blanca and Arena Blanca. La Manzanilla is the favourite, described by a local guide as a mile-long crescent of grey sand with shallow water and palapa restaurants, busy on high-season weekends; another source calls it rockier and wilder. Don't confuse it with the La Manzanilla on Jalisco's Costalegre, further south, which is known for its crocodiles. Between La Cruz and Punta de Mita, Destiladeras is a surf beach; see surfing.
Water quality. COFEPRIS tests the beach at La Cruz before each holiday season, and it has passed every round we checked:
| Season | Enterococci (NMP/100 ml; limit 200) |
|---|---|
| Easter 2024 | 13 — fit |
| Summer 2024 | 149 — fit, but high |
| Easter 2025 | 10 — fit |
| Easter 2026 | Fit (all Bahía de Banderas beaches passed) |
| Summer 2026 | 30 — fit |
How the tests work: beaches.
Festivals
- Fiestas de la Santa Cruz — the village's patron festival, ending on 3 May, with processions, fireworks, concerts, folk dance and a parade of decorated fishing boats. In 2026 it ran from 24 April to 3 May.
- Festival del Viento — in May, the kitesurfing festival's downwind race runs from La Cruz to Bucerías; see sports.
- The marina has also hosted an open-water swim (March 2026) and a raicilla and craft-beer festival (February 2025).
How to get there
- By bus: buses of Autotransportes Medina (ATM) towards Punta de Mita stop opposite the airport and in front of the Walmart near it, and run frequently; the fare to La Cruz has been listed at around MXN 38. Pay the driver in cash and ask for La Cruz. See buses.
- By Uber or taxi: Uber operates in La Cruz; a ride from the airport area takes about 20–25 minutes. Airport taxis charge zone fares — around US$63 for one to three people has been published. Picking up an Uber at the airport is awkward; see the airport guide.
- By car: north on Highway 200, then the road towards Punta de Mita. In 2026 the federal transport ministry resurfaced 13 km of the La Cruz–Punta de Mita road; expect occasional roadworks.
Who it suits
La Cruz works as a Sunday-morning outing — the market, lunch by the harbour, a swim at La Manzanilla — easily combined with Bucerías or Punta de Mita. As a base it suits sailors, anglers and anyone who wants a village rather than a resort, with the airport half an hour away. Old Town and the Malecón are much further, so it's not the place for a first trip centred on the city.
Frequently asked
Where is La Cruz de Huanacaxtle?
On the north shore of Banderas Bay in Nayarit, about 7 km past Bucerías on the road to Punta de Mita and about 20 km from Puerto Vallarta's airport. It keeps Puerto Vallarta's time.
When is the La Cruz Sunday market?
On Sundays from November to April, on the marina's longest pier, from about 9 or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It traditionally opens on the first Sunday of November. Bring cash.
Is the La Cruz fish market open every day?
Yes. The Mercado del Mar, next to the marina, opens daily from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with around thirty stalls selling the local catch.
Can you go to the Marietas Islands from La Cruz?
Yes, La Cruz is one of the official departure points. The Hidden Beach is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and visits are capped at 116 people a day.
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