Best-kept secrets should be hard to find and with no road signs pointing to the beaten dirt track to Litibú beach, only a lucky few ever stumble upon it by accident.
But the bumpy trip down the tree-lined trail from Higuera Blanca is soon rewarded with Litibu’s untamed sweep of sand and crashing Pacific waves, framed by the jungle-wrapped Monkey Mountain.
Meaning birdsong in the local Huichol language, Litibu was once home to just a few hardy souls willing to risk their suspension on the dirt road in return for a slice of the sleepy beach paradise, 30 minutes drive from Sayulita.
It’s retained a strongly Mexican flavor and is now a small but eclectic international community, where local fisherman share the long, tawny beach with surfers waiting for waves on the break they hope few will discover.
Stretching alongside the sand, spacious beachside estates are hidden by lush foliage and jewel colored bougainvillea. Coconut harvesters machete heavy clusters of the fruit as they cling precariously to towering palm tops in the surrounding groves.
Stretching alongside the sand, spacious beachside estates are hidden by lush foliage and jewel colored bougainvillea. Coconut harvesters machete heavy clusters of the fruit as they cling precariously to towering palm tops in the surrounding groves.
Steep cobbled paths lead away from the beach to contemporary hillside homes, many lucky enough to have stunning ocean views and swimming pools to cool off in the summer heat.
From beach front villas starting at $600k to spacious homes overlooking the Pacific for $500k, Litibu has a steady stream of properties to buy.
Building a dream house from the ground up is another option with plots of land on sale for $100k for 1000 square meters.
Eco-consciousness is woven into the fabric of Litibú as its residents try to maintain its sleepy, rustic feel and protect its delicate environment as it inevitably grows.
There’s no shortage of wildlife in the area, aside from the iguanas that make their daredevil dash across the dirt road.
Night patrols work to beat poachers to eggs laid by the Olive Ridley and occasionally Hawksbill turtles that lumber out of the water to laboriously dig their nests in the sand.
Huge humpbacks spout tell-tale plumes as they trundle down the coast to give birth in nearby Banderas Bay, showing off with loud tail slaps as they make the return swim-past with their newborns.
The Litibu Grill, the only restaurant on the beach, is a perfect spot to scan the horizon for whales as the sun sets, with a pre-dinner margarita in hand and your feet in the sand.
Just ten minutes up the road, the Kilometro 5 Surf Bar is a firm favourite with both locals and visitors, thanks to its passion fruit margaritas, pizzas, and live music.
There’s also plenty of low-key food options in the nearby village of Higuera Blanca, where dogs and chickens roam the cobbled streets, and if you’re lucky, the rodeo will be in town,
Ade’s loncheria dishes up arguably the best chile relleno around while wood-fired roast chicken stands that pop up along the highway do a healthy trade.
Back on Litibu beach, the pelicans and frigates skimming the waves have recently been joined by the paratrikes – or motorized hang gliders – run by local company BigBlu.
For any house hunters, flying over Litibu is a unique way to get a bird’s eye view of the stunning area, and potentially pick your dream home.
Just don’t let too many in on the secret, Litibu’s pretty much perfect just the way it is.
