La Peñita de Jaltemba
La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit, Mexico, commonly called La Peñita, is a small beach town on Jaltemba Bay with approximately 8000 inhabitants. It is the mirror twin of the popular beach of Rincon de Guayabitos (travelers go to Rincon de Guayabitos, locals live in La Peñita de Jaltemba). The surrounding area is noted for pineapple, banana, mango and other fruit production.
Understand
La Peñita de Jaltemba is often considered to be the service community for the busy resort of Rincón de Guayabitos immediately to the south. The two communities are separated only by a narrow river. Rincón de Guayabitos is a community of hotels, bungalows, small tourist shops and restaurants, while La Peñita provides banking services, grocery stores, vegetable markets as well as public facilities such as the library and post offices.
Get in
La Peñita is 64 km north of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico Highway 200.
Bus service from Puerto Vallarta is regularly scheduled, running every 20-30 minutes.
Taxis are inexpensive, costing about 40 pesos from Guayabitos to La Peñita de Jaltemba (2015).
Get around
In La Penita at the east end of La Avenida, where it meets Highway 200, the Rincón-La Penita-Rincón shuttle system is available to transport you between the communities. It runs from La Colonia through La Peñita de Jaltemba and Rincón de Guayabitos to Los Ayala and back, making stops where requested.
Buy
The main street, or "La Avenida" as it is known runs east - west from the highway to the beach and has a central boulevard lined with palm trees and benches. A number of tourist shops, clothing stores, shoe stores, restaurants and other merchants run up and down the street. Two blocks south of the beach end of La Avenida there is a large shady plaza.
Each Thursday a 4-block-long street market (tianguis) takes place in La Peñita. This market is a must see with everything from fresh fruit, seafood, vegetables to housewares, hardware, clothing and arts and crafts. The colors and smells provide a carnival atmoshphere!