THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY'S TRUSTED VOICE News & Featured Destinations Our Voices Resources Hotel & Cruise INSIGHT MEXICO INSIGHT In Jalisco state, Costalegre poised as next luxury hot spot By Meagan Drillinger | Sep 09, 2019 When it comes to luxury enclaves in Mexico, there are a few that stand out: Riviera Maya/Tulum, Los Cabos and Punta Mita, for example. But the coast of Jalisco between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo is on track to become the next luxury hideaway in Meagan Drillinger the country. "This has been one of the main points of the agenda for the governor of Jalisco," said German Ralis, Jalisco's tourism secretary. "We want to make Costalegre the new brand of the Pacific coast -- to be the best. [The government] is putting a lot of infrastructure to make it one of the best in the world." Among the developments: a plan for a new highway that will decrease the time from Puerto Vallarta to Chalacatepec in Costalegre from two hours to 25 minutes. With this highway, visitors who want to explore beyond Puerto Vallarta's beaches will be able to quickly drive south to off-the-beaten-path locations such as Isla Cocinas and Isla Pajarera. The highway would improve airport transfers from Puerto Vallarta to Careyes, which is an exclusive private luxury estate in Costalegre. But there's much more to come in that section of the state, as well. Major innovations and new properties are in the works, including Four Seasons Tamarindo, which will open in 2020 with 160 rooms and a golf course. There will also be a new Zoetry resort (the first in Jalisco) from AMResorts. For years there has been talk of an airport opening in this part of the state, as well. The airport is completed, according to Ralis, but it still won't be operational until 2020. When it does open, it will be to accommodate charters and private flights. The tourism board has other developments in the works for the state, as well. As part of the highway development, a new section of highway, expected to be completed next year, will shorten the time between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta from five hours to three. New hotels are on the horizon throughout the state. The boutique Hotel Amapa will open in Puerto Vallarta by the end of this year with 55 guestrooms, a rooftop pool and bar, and wellness section. The rooftop has views over the Bay of Banderas, as well as the mountains behind it. Nearby in the town of Tequila, La Cofradia's Matices Hotel is expanding to offer 20 more of its signature tequila barrel-shaped rooms. Also opening next month are a pool and tequila barrel spa. Both Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara's airports are set to undergo expansions to make them larger and more modern. "Guadalajara [airport] has one of the highest growths [in the country]," says Ralis. This year they plan to close with a 12% growth from the previous year. Ralis tells Travel Weekly that there will be new direct flights from the U.S. into Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta to be announced later this year, as well. "We are working very hard in Chicago," he says. One of the flights to come online will be a Viva Aerobus flight from Chicago to Guadalajara..