While you won’t find “Nuevo Vallarta” on any old map of Mexico, be prepared to see it on all future versions.

As the popularity of Cancun ignited the expansion that is now called the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta is now expanding north and west into the neighboring state of Nayarit. The first enclave of what will be known as Riviera Nayarit is called Nuevo Vallarta.

While the two vacation hot spots share an airport and a shoreline on Banderas Bay, the similarities end there. Puerto Vallarta is the city, Nuevo Vallarta is the suburbs. In Puerto Vallarta you walk on cobblestones, in Nuevo Vallarta you walk on sand (one of the longest beaches to walk on the coast). In Puerto Vallarta, you take a taxi to dinner and try the multitude of restaurants that the city has to offer. In Nuevo, you will most likely be in an all-inclusive hotel and will dine at your resort. In Puerto Vallarta, after dinner you can “club” until dawn. In Nuevo Vallarta, you will have to take a taxi to Puerto Vallarta to “discoteca” until the early hours.

Nuevo Vallarta offers tranquility and “free space”. It is a place to relax that offers the open space that allows golf courses, a protected marina, a water park and an air-conditioned shopping center. If you’ve settled on one of the many budget or luxury all-inclusive resorts for your stay, you can REALLY relax knowing your every need is taken care of (and paid for in advance).

An added benefit of a stay in Nuevo Vallarta is its proximity to other sleepy beach towns along the coast. In fact, if you’re staying on the western edge of Nuevo Vallarta, you can walk to the neighboring town of Bucerías for a taste of a less commercialized Mexico. Fish tacos under a palapa on the beach never tasted so good.

If you need help choosing the right hotel, http://www.NuevoVallartaReviews.com is a good place to start. The site offers reviews of hotels and attractions and provides the opportunity to compare vacation package prices with several top providers.