Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit, "Exploring Mismaloya - South Shore"

The South Shore refers to the area around Mismaloya, on the lower jaw of Banderas Bay. You can get here in an hour from the airport, but you can't get much farther, at least by car; towns become inaccessible except by boat.

This is where the jungle meets the sea in dramatic fashion. One of the best ways to appreciate this spectacle is from a boat. You can watch waves pound rock formations under the cliffs. You can also ride out to the iconic Los Arcos, three rock islands with natural arches.

There aren't many developments here due to the steep terrain and the lack of swimmable beaches. The few that do exist are some of the most amazing -- and expensive -- that we've seen anywhere, with prices reaching over USD 10 million.

This content was originally published on redguide. You can learn more about Mismaloya and Puerto Vallarta real estate at redguide.com.