Jalisco is betting on elite tourism as a key driver of economic development for Costalegre.

Costalegre is the new jewel for the tourism development of Jalisco . This coastal corridor, which covers the municipalities of Tomatlán, Cabo Corrientes, La Huerta and Cihuatlán, is emerging as a priority investment hub for the state in the ultra-luxury segment, explained in an interview Miguel Andrés Hernández, Undersecretary of Tourism of Jalisco and Director of the Costalegre Tourism Trust.

"We do not want to replicate what we already have in Puerto Vallarta, a mature destination, instead, the objective for Costalegre is to cultivate "differential products" with a low environmental impact, aimed at a specific niche that values ​​exclusivity, connection with nature and involvement with local communities, which functions as a complementary tourism product and not a substitute for the entity.

The destination's strength lies not in competing on volume, but in attracting "those who are truly seeking privacy and levels of attention and service above the national standard," he said.

"There are many investments coming, some still under negotiation," as well as the laying of the cornerstone of the ultra-luxury developments Six Senses and Chablé Residences . These private investments, coupled with an injection of more than 200 million pesos into public infrastructure during this administration, seek to strengthen air, sea, and land connectivity.

Among the priority projects that will benefit from this investment are the Chalacatepec Airfield, crucial for regional air connectivity, and the so-called Escalera Náutica (Nautical Ladder), which seeks to integrate the coastal bays and beaches through maritime infrastructure. Its air connectivity currently relies on the airports of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, facilitating access.

Costalegre is an elite destination with a long history. Hernández emphasized that this corridor "was the breeding ground for influential beaches" and that "for more than 40 years, it has developed ultra-luxury tourism in Mexico, long before other destinations." This legacy is embodied in iconic properties such as the Four Seasons Tamarindo, Careyes, and Las Alamandas , all of which boast international reputations.

"Through an excellent network of service providers, Mexican and American celebrities, actors, and producers found in Costalegre not only their vacation retreat, but their home; many of the homes that celebrities currently own in Mexico are located in Costalegre," he said.

The development of Costalegre is a community project, which "must go hand in hand, not only from the municipal, state, or federal levels, so that we can truly involve the entire value chain and ensure that the community is a vital part of the tourism industry."

The tourism sector as a whole contributes approximately 9.4% to Jalisco's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Costalegre has identified tourism as one of the five priority products for the economic development of the region, traditionally dedicated to fishing and agriculture.