ISLAND RESORT
The proposed LAS ISLITAS ISLAND RESORT Hotel, Golf & Residential development will be an exclusive destination private island resort located in the Riviera Nayarit "Gold Coast" of Mexico, just north of the popular international tourism mecca of Puerto Vallarta. The planned luxury, five-star resort has been approved and when completed will feature 1,000 rooms among a total of five hotels, including a 5-star luxury spa hotel, a 5-star boutique hotel with exotic jungle glamping sites, a couples-only hotel, a family-oriented hotel, and a eco-tourism/soft adventure hotel. Every hotel site enjoys a waterfront location on either the Pacific Ocean, Matanchen Bay, or the San Cristobal and Tovara Rivers. Hotels that have expressed interest include Rosewood, Ritz-Carlton, The Montage, Alila, The Auberge, Aman Resorts, Fairmont, Hyatt, Pueblo Bonito, and Intercontinental. In addition, the resort is approved for a proposed Fazio-designed 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, 700 ocean front, ocean view, and golf course residential lots, 400 units of condo/club units, 150,000 square feet of commercial/retail and arts & cultural center, a 1/2 mile bayfront boardwalk, and a full-service marina and yacht club (already open and operating).
The Project
The San Blas Port, Marina, Yacht Club & Sportfishing Club were completed by FONATUR in 2012, and are in full operation.
The San Blas Port services include a 30-ton hoist, dry dock, fuel dock, Operations Center, marine supply store, and an air-conditioned restaurant and lounge.
The Hotel Sites
5-Star Luxury Spa Hotel & Villas
The site of the 5-star luxury spa hotel & villas is at the southern-most tip of LAS ISLITAS island, and separates the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and Matanchen Bay to the east. This idyllic site, set in a coconut grove, enjoys up to 25 acres of level terrain, and over 800 feet of beach frontage. Most notably--and what gives the project its name--are three smaller islands along the shore, separated by two spectacular white-sand coves (Twin Coves). The islands are large enough for spa treatments, a restaurant, or relaxation and reflection gardens.
There are also two enclaves of exclusive waterfront residential villas; to the east along Matanchen Bay, and to the west along the Pacific Ocean. Finally, the site is near the Golf Clubhouse to the north.
Fazio Golf Course
Clubhouse Site
5-Star Boutique Hotel, Villas,
& Glamping Site
The site of the 5-star Boutique Hotel is located in a very secluded area of the southwestern area of the island. It features up to 20 acres of old-growth rainforest jungle vegetation, tropical fruit trees, and over 700 feet of pristine white-sand beach framed by a small island to the east, and an enclave of exclusive ocean-front villas to the west. This area of the island also features a reef offshore which creates an excellent surf break, as well as providing a perfect area for snorkeling. The reef is also the source of an abundance of fresh oysters and fish such as snook, yellowtail and red snapper.
The small half acre island to the east provides additional privacy and exclusivity, and can be used for massage and other spa treatments, a restaurant and bar, or as a shaded garden for hammocks and quiet reflection.
The terrain of this ideal site gradually slopes upward from the beach, affording spectacular ocean views from the northern portion of the site. The site is bordered on the north by the 17th fairway of the planned Golf Course, which is also where a number of luxury residential villas will be located, which will feature both golf course and ocean views.
In addition, this site will feature 10-15 private glamping sites hidden among the tropical jungle and the 100+ acre LAS ISLITAS tropical fruit plantation where guests can enjoy fresh-picked bananas, mangoes, papayas, avocados, limes, coconuts, and pineapples.
The Couples-Only Hotel site is a spectacular and exclusive setting, as it is a peninsula located at the western-most area of the planned resort; across the San Cristobal River from LAS ISLITAS island. This 25-acre, flat site is set in a coconut palm grove, and boasts nearly one mile of water frontage along the Pacific Ocean, the Cristobal Lagoon, and the San Cristobal River. The tip of the peninsula is also just across the lagoon from the 2-acre island that will serve as green of the 16th golf hole.
Most importantly, unlike many of the hotel sites along the Riviera Nayarit, which have dangerous ocean conditions and undertows, the Borrego Peninsula beach is shallow and very safe for swimming, with gentle waves for stand-up paddle boarding, body surfing and boogie boarding.
In addition, will feature the planned first-ever over-water Tahiti-style bungalows on the west coast of Mexico, which will be located to the east, across the San Cristobal River, nestled in among the mangrove trees. This will create a dramatic and unforgettable check-in experience as couples are ferried to their private bungalow in a gondola laden with candles and tropical flowers.
The site will also adjoin an exclusive enclave of ocean-front residential villas which can be made available to the hotel rental pool.
Lastly, there will a small craft and water taxi marina on the San Cristobal shoreline.
Couples-Only Hotel, Villas, &
Over-water Bungalows Site
Eco-Tourism/Soft Adventure Hotel
& Zoological Gardens Site
The Eco-Tourism/Soft Adventure Hotel site is the absolutely perfect setting for those active travelers who love the outdoors, nature, birdwatching, and real adventure. The up to 20 acre site is located in the northern-most area of the island, with nearly 1,000 feet of frontage on the Tovara River; which leads to the very popular, exotic La Tovara Jungle Cruise. The Tovara River is also the border of the Tovara National Park and Nature Conservancy, which is directly across the Tovara River from the site.
The site, which features a 10-acre pineapple plantation, is also located at the base of the hikeable 375-foot Ceboruco Peak and S-shaped ridge which affords 360-degree views of the mountains, bay, ocean, the Tovara National Park, and the town of San Blas. The ridge and peak will also be launching points for zip-lines.
The site is a dense old-growth tropical rain forest, with many large canopy trees, as well as massive Higuera Blanca and Banyan trees; many of which are ideal for several exclusive tree-house accommodations.
The Eco-Tourism/Soft Adventure site is also next to the site of the proposed 4-acre Nature Interpretive Center and Zoological Gardens, which will inform visitors about the abundance of rare and exotic plants and animals which characterize this unique rain forest environment. The Nature Center will also be where a loading dock for the Tovara River Jungle Cruise will be located, and which will be for the exclusive use of LAS ISLITAS residents & hotel guests.
The Nature Interpretive Center will also be the trailhead for hiking trails which will wind through the jungle vegetation and tropical fruit plantations on the island. In addition, the Nature Center will also be where guests and residents can arrange off-site day adventures for birdwatching at the famed Zoquipan nesting estuary, nature photography, or more challenging activities such as rock-climbing and hikes to the El Cora Canyon which features seven spectacular waterfalls and pools.
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Family-oriented Hotel Site on Matanchen Bay;
Site of World-famous Mile-long Surf Wave
The proposed 4-Star Family-Oriented Hotel enjoys the most prominent site in the LAS ISLITAS ISLAND RESORT, conveniently located just inside the project's planned gated grand entrance, and adjacent to both the retail plaza, the arts & cultural center, as well as the bayfront boardwalk shops and restaurants.
Perhaps the greatest feature of this up to 25-acre resort site is that is will enjoy over 1,000 feet of beach frontage on the area of Matanchen Bay world-famous for its Guinness Record mile-long waves. As described in detail in the Area & Attractions tab here, this unique wave travels across the shallow, sand-bottom bay, perpendicular to the shore. While the waves are higher and faster where they start at the mouth of the bay, they decrease in height and speed as they travel to the back of the bay, near the hotel site. This offers the ideal setting for those wanting to learn to surf, as the waves in front of the family hotel are gentler, smaller, and very easy for all ages to learn on. As one's ability and confidence improves, they can move further out along the bay shoreline to try more challenging waves.
The topography of the site is also ideally configured for a larger destination resort hotel, as approximately half of the site consists of a flat area adjacent to the bay that is suited for pools, gardens, food service, and outdoor activities. Then the site begins to slope upward to approximately 80 feet of elevation at the back of the site; affording a terraced building design, with tremendous bay, ocean, and mountain views.
The site is also adjacent to an enclave of exclusive bay-front villas, as well as the 400-unit condo/vacation club site; a valuable strategic element for many major hotel brands.
The Residential Lots
700 residential homesites: 144 water front, 260 ocean and bay views, 440 golf and interior lots. More information coming soon!
The Condo/Vacation
Club Site
Up to 400 units on 10 acres with a beach club and ocean, bay, mountain, and jungle views. More information coming soon!
Commercial Areas:
Retail Plaza, Arts & Cultural Center & Bayfront Boardwalk
150,000 sq feet of shops and restaurants, art galleries, artisan walk, and an outdoor amphitheater. Two elements: A 15-acre riverfront site, adjoining a 12 acre, 1/2 mile bayfront boardwalk. More information coming soon!
The Proposed Tom Fazio 18-hole Golf Course
A designer for Tom Fazio Design was given the entire 675-acre island project site to envision and create the preliminary routing plan for a truly spectacular 18-hole championship course. After several weeks of hiking the island and studying 17 sheets of large-scale topographical maps created for the endeavor, the result is a 235-acre looping course which traverses the entire island, incorporating the diversity of terrain that characterizes this idyllic tropical island setting.
The course begins with several level fairways set in a coconut palm plantation near Matanchen Bay. Then it begins to travel uphill, through the lush old-growth tropical rain forest and the various plots of the tropical fruit plantation which dot the island. It turns west near the top of the 375 foot Ceboruco Peak, affording extraordinary 180-degree views of the Sierra Madre mountains framing Matanchen Bay to the east, the Nayarit coastline stretching south, the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, beyond the Borrego Peninsula and San Cristobal River and Lagoon. From there, the course turns south and begins heading back downhill toward the Cristobal Lagoon, with each of the four fairways providing an intimidating view of the Fazio signature 170-yard island hole #16; including the 14th hole which runs along the San Cristobal River. Holes #17 and #18 head eastward, just above the enclaves of ocean front villas and the 5-star Boutique Hotel site before returning to the clubhouse and practice range.
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