Aptitud turística de las playas certificadas de la Bahía de Banderas, México

An evaluation of the recreational suitability of the certified beaches in Banderas Bay, Mexico, was carried out based on biophysical indicators and perceived values. At the same time, the affinity between the beaches was analysed by common tourism‑adapted components. The results show that the indicatos mark two separate groups that share certain affinity with only three beaches substantially differing from the rest. This evaluation shows coincidences associated with the natural landscape and differences in the availability of infrastructure and services, as well as the level of cleanliness and general quality of hygiene. The present analysis may be used as a trustworthy guide to how to managed tourism activities on the coast, since the meth‑ odologies developed in this research may be extrapolated to all the beaches in Mexico.