Everything begins with Banderas Bay, the largest natural bay in Mexico and the seventh largest in the world. Both the states of Nayarit and Jalisco border the Pacific Ocean at Banderas Bay, making it home to one of the most important destinations in all of Mexico: Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit. The surprising scenery of her coast and the rich variety of marine fauna in her waters have earned the bay recognition from UNESCO as one of the most beautiful in the world. Nestled at the edge of the Pacific, the entrance to Banderas Bay is marked by the imposing presence of the Marietas Islands. This group of three small islands makes up a federally protected nature reserve that is home to diverse species of birds, hunchback whales, dolphins, turtles and tropical fish. All along its coast, Banderas Bay is endowed with exceptional places that today are concentrated in three regions worth getting to know: Puerto Vallarta, the Costa Sur and the Costa Norte.