Site Features & Location
PHYSICAL SITE CHARACTERISTICS
With 5 miles of spectacular beach frontage and nearly 5 miles of mangrove tree-lined river shoreline, the Las Islitas Island Resort is a lush tropical old-growth rain forest. The property is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and west; Matanchen Bay to the east, San Cristobal River to the west and the La Tovara River Jungle Cruise and National Park border to the north. The Las Islitas property features both a large central island and a peninsula west across the San Cristobal River. The peninsula is a flat coconut palm grove, and the island is a lush, tropical rain forest jungle which slopes up from the shoreline to a 375 ft. hilltop; which offers spectacular 360-degree views of the ocean, bay, rivers, the towns of San Blas and Nuevo San Blas across the bay. The island also features a 240 acre tropical fruit plantation.
All of this pristine exotic setting is framed by a magnificent backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountain range to the east.
SHORELINE GALLERIES:
MATANCHEN BAY (EAST OF SITE) & SOUTH POINT EAST; SITE OF LUXURY SPA HOTEL, FAMILY=ORIENTED HOTEL & BAY-FRONT BOARDWALK SHOPS & RESTAURANTS
SHORELINE GALLERIES:
SOUTH POINT WEST & PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES; SITE OF BOUTIQUE HOTEL & VILLAS
SHORELINE GALLERIES:
SAN CRISTOBAL RIVER & BORREGO PENINSULA- SITE OF COUPLES-ONLY HOTEL & VILLAS
SHORELINE GALLERIES:
TOVARA RIVER (NORTH BORDER) AND ESTUARY RIVER (EAST BORDER)--SITES OF ECO-TOURISM/SOFT ADVENTURE HOTEL & COMMERCIAL, ART & CULTURAL CENTER
ISLAND VEGETATION GALLERY:
OLD-GROWTH TROPICAL FOREST & TROPICAL FRUIT PLANTATION
The interior of the LAS ISLITAS ISLAND is comprised of old-growth rain forestation. There are spectacular views from the 375-foot peak towards the north side of the island.
Nearly 240 acres of the jungle is improved as a tropical fruit plantation; featuring mangoes, papayas, bananas, coconuts, pineapples, limes, jackfruit, and avocados. The plantation will be an important source of fresh fruits for resort residents and hotel guests.
SAN BLAS, NAYARIT, MEXICO
The 1,237 acre LAS ISLITAS (pronounced lahs ees-leé-tas) ISLAND RESORT project is located in the picturesque historic Spanish port town of San Blas (pop. 37,438), in the state of Nayarit. San Blas is located 77 miles north of the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. 175 miles south of Mazatlan, and 30 miles due west of Tepic, the capital city of Nayarit. Tepic is a thriving urban city with a total population of 832,074, whose major industries include mining, textiles, construction materials, and agriculture, including sugar cane and cotton. Tepic is also the site of the newly-completed Tepic International Airport TPQ).
The Riviera Nayarit Tourism Zone
The booming Riviera Nayarit tourism zone is a $2.2 billion dollar initiative fueled by the global demand for exclusive, tropical, coastal luxury hotels and residential homesites in Latin America, and in particular Mexico. In fact, the Riviera Nayarit is the closest tropical rain forest to the United States, is located in the same latitude as Hawaii, and is just a short three to four-hour flight from most US cities. The Riviera Nayarit has become the number one destination for foreign luxury tourism investment capital in all of Latin America, and many 5-star hotels such as the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, W, Rosewood, One & Only, and Fairmont, are either open or under construction, with many more planned.
W Hotel Riviera Nayarit Mexico
St. Regis Hotel & Villas Riviera Nayarit Mexico
New 29.6 Mile Highway to the Tepic Airport
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim financed and built the newly-opened 29.6 mile east-west toll road (shown in yellow above) running from the inland capital city of Tepic and the Tepic International Airport (TPQ), west to the coast highway--just 1.5 miles from the entrance to the LAS ISLITAS resort. The short 40-minute drive makes LAS ISLITAS the closest resort to an airport of all of the other hotels and resorts in the Riviera Nayarit (which use the Puerto Vallarta airport to the south). The Tepic airport is serviced by Volaris Airlines (partner of Southwest Airlines), Aeromexico, InterJet, Aeromar, Delta, Alaska, and American Airlines. Volaris will soon begin daily flights between Los Angeles and Tepic.
New Cruise Ship and Water Taxi Pier
Commensurate with the construction and opening of the Carlos Slim highway, the state of Nayarit constructed and opened a 300-foot cruise ship and water taxi pier in the location where the Carlos Slim highway meets the coast. Visiting cruise ships will anchor 1 mile offshore (just south of the LAS ISLITAS site) and water taxis will bring passengers in for day tours of San Blas, the Tovara Jungle Tour, surfing the famous mile-long waves, and of course tour the shops, restaurants, and local art and cultural center in LAS ISLITAS.
