Costa Azul is a popular beach destination located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Nayarit. With its beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and great weather year-round, Costa Azul attracts millions of tourists every year. But who actually owns this idyllic stretch of coastline?
History of Costa Azul
Costa Azul first gained fame as a beach destination in the 1960s and 1970s when the Mexican government began developing the coastline and promoting tourism. Several large resorts and hotels were built during this time, including the Camino Real and Riu Vallarta. However, most of the land remained undeveloped.
In the 1980s, major developers became interested in Costa Azul. These included big names like Donald Trump and ITT Sheraton. They started buying up land with plans to build mega-resorts. However, a series of economic downturns and overdevelopment led many of these projects to stall.
By the 1990s and 2000s, Costa Azul began to attract a new wave of high-end luxury resorts and residential communities. Developers like Grupo Vidanta and Palladium Hotel Group invested billions in creating upscale vacation properties. This firmly established Costa Azul as an elite beach destination.
Major Landowners
Today, Costa Azul is home to over two dozen large resorts and master-planned communities. Here are some of the major landowners and developers in Costa Azul:
Grupo Vidanta
The largest landowner in Costa Azul is Grupo Vidanta, Mexico’s biggest resort developer. They own over 1,500 acres, much of it oceanfront. Their holdings include:
- The Grand Luxxe resort
- The Grand Bliss resort
- The Grand Mayan resort
- Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta golf course
- Cirque du Soleil theater
Grupo Vidanta continues to invest in Costa Azul, including a new $600 million convention center and further expansions of their resort properties.
AMResorts
This Caribbean resort company owns two of the largest all-inclusive resorts in Costa Azul:
- The Grand Sirenis Riviera Nayarit
- Ocean Coral & Turquesa
Together these resorts have over 1,700 rooms and occupy prime beachfront locations. AMResorts invested over $120 million to upgrade these properties in recent years.
Palladium Hotel Group
This Spanish resort company operates three resorts in Costa Azul:
- Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa
- TRS Yucatan Hotel
- Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa
Combined these award-winning resorts have over 1,700 rooms. The Palladium group continues to invest in upgrades and renovations.
Marival
Marival owns two resorts in Costa Azul:
- Marival Residences Luxury Resort Nuevo Vallarta
- Marival Aralias Suites Resort & Spa
These high-end resorts cater to both luxury travelers and families. Marival recently invested $60 million into enhancements and expansions.
Private Residential Communities
In addition to the major resorts, there are several large master-planned residential communities in Costa Azul owned by private developers:
Punta Estates
This 740-acre community includes luxury homes, condos, restaurants, shops, parks and amenities. It was developed by American investors.
Paradise Village
Paradise Village covers over 475 acres with homes, condos, hotels, a marina and golf course. It caters to American and Canadian snowbirds.
Club Santiago
Owned by a Mexican developer, Club Santiago has over 560 condos, villas and estate homes, plus amenities and beach clubs.
Mismaloya Residential
One of the newer communities in Costa Azul, Mismaloya has modern homes starting at $200,000 USD.
Smaller Resorts and Hotels
Costa Azul is also home to dozens of smaller, independent resorts and hotels, including:
- Vamar Vallarta All Inclusive Marina & Beach Resort
- Casa Velas Hotel Boutique
- Hotel Costa Azul
- Plaza Pelicanos Club Beach Resort
- Friendly Vallarta Resort
- Velas Vallarta Hotel
- Villa La Estancia Beach Rersort & Spa
While not as large as some of the mega-resorts, these smaller properties help add diversity and options for visitors.
Government and Public Lands
Not all the land in Costa Azul is privately owned. Some important public spaces and government properties include:
- Nuevo Vallarta Beach Boardwalk
- Flamingo Water Park
- Conchas Chinas Public Beach
- Marriott CasaMagna Golf Course
Conservation Areas
There are also a few protected natural areas in Costa Azul that are not privately developed:
- Marieta Islands National Park
- Litibu Natural Reserve
- Quimixto Ecological Reserve
Transportation Infrastructure
Some key transportation facilities in Costa Azul include:
- Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport
- North Bus Terminal
- Highway 200
These are owned by various government entities and help connect Costa Azul to the rest of Mexico.
Foreign Ownership
While many major resorts and master-planned communities are owned by large Mexican corporations, significant foreign investment has also flowed into Costa Azul over the decades. Here are some examples:
| Development | Foreign Owner |
|---|---|
| Grand Luxxe | Lebanese investors |
| Ocean Coral & Turquesa | AMResorts (Jamaican company) |
| Grand Palladium Resorts | Spanish company |
| Punta Estates | U.S. investors |
Foreign companies and individuals are attracted by Costa Azul’s natural beauty and tourism growth potential.
Conclusion
Costa Azul is a mix of privately owned resorts, residential communities, public lands, infrastructure, and protected natural areas. Major players include big Mexican corporations like Grupo Vidanta and Grupo Marival. However, significant foreign investment has also flowed in from American, Spanish, and other investors. While development continues at a rapid pace, Costa Azul maintains protected national parks and beaches open to everyone.