LES & JEFF TOP BEACHES PUERTO VALLARTA

Puerto Vallarta is an international well-known beach destination due to its warm waters, exotic natural beauty and top-notch facilities that blend in with its warm hospitality. There’s plenty of beaches to discover and to choose as your favorite, each of them with a particular enchantment, some of them are accessible only by boat, hidden and surrounded by magical sceneries, others with plenty of life going around them. But when you thought you found paradise, from north to south you’ll keep discovering more! Here are our favorite beaches in Puerto Vallarta in no particular order. We love them all for different reasons. I think you might too.

PLAYA MAJAHUITAS- The Trendiest Beach Club & Snorkeling

Islas Marietas, Playa Majahuitas' clear jade waters offer some of the best snorkeling on the bay. Visibility is excellent in the tranquil cove, and you can explore several small caves as you swim among the parrotfish and angelfish.

With its golden sands, dazzling jungle backdrop and quiet calm, Majahuitas makes a fine spot to escape the hubbub of downtown Vallarta. If you have your own snorkeling gear, the beach is most easily reached by water taxis departing from the Zona Romántica's Playa de los Muertos pier, otherwise you can hook up a tour with dive shops that provide both transportation and equipment.

PLAYA PALMARES -Sustainable & Relatively undeveloped coastline

Along a relatively undeveloped strip of coastline about 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of the Zona Romántica, Playa Palmares' aqua-blue shallows are far removed from river mouths, giving swimmers crystalline waters year-round. What's more, this precious strip of sand is one of Vallarta's cleanest and most eco-friendly beaches.

In fact, Palmares is so impeccable that it was designated a Blue Flag beach. To uphold that distinction, it must comply with 33 criteria requiring the highest of standards in water quality, environmental management, safety, and services. Onsite facilities and services include a wheelchair ramp, lifeguards, showers, restrooms and parking spaces (a rarity in these parts), but the serene water, of course, is what keeps people coming back.

LOS MUERTOS BEACH-Food & Entertianment

This is one of the most famous and popular beaches in Puerto Vallarta. Located in the Olas Altas or Romantic Zone area, very close to downtown, it’s an easy walk from the Malecon, where you can find the renovated iconic pier with an outstanding view to the Pacific Ocean.

Playa de Los Muertos ... "Deadman’s Beach," named for the bones of the local indigenous people found buried in the sand, or after the legendary pirate raids on the nearby village, it depends on who you believe. Lots of beach sports are played here overlooked by an assortment of excellent restaurants and bars that are a party haven for PV's LGBTQ travelers. The pier lights up at night and is also the starting point for day fishing trips, and boat rides to the more private and secluded beaches. The little seahorse statue is worth a photo as it has been replacing three times, due to serious storms removing it.

At Los Muertos Beach you’ll experience a chill and hip vibe with a roster of restaurants, shops, art galleries and bars where to choose from and find your perfect spot.

CONCHAS CHINAS BEACH- Romantic & Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta

Conchas Chinas is located 10 minutes by car from downtown and is well known as one of the most romantic beaches around, is a top wedding destination in Puerto Vallarta.

It offers pristine natural pools made by towering rock formations, turquoise waters, and soft white sand. If you’re looking for a great beach to find a place and enjoy the moment, this is it.

MISMALOYA BEACH- BEST BEACH FOR TEQUILIA TASTING

This beach is well-known for being the setting of the famous 1964 film The Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton, who invited his then girlfriend, Liz Taylor to join him during the movie shooting.

 In front of this beach, you will find Los Arcos Marine Park, a collection of rocky islands where you can practice scuba diving and snorkeling and discover the abundant marine life found in its depths. By the beach you can find hotels and resorts, some local restaurants, and a Tequila tour in town.

CABALLO BEACH-UNPLUG

You can get there by boat or take the famous hike from Boca and just before you reach Las Animas Beach. If you really want to get away from it all, head for the quiet sands of Playa El Caballo and enjoy a carefree day under the shade of a rustling palm. Two low-key hotels with open-air restaurants flank the edges of this beach but you'll find nothing but creamy sand and calm aqua-green water in between.

Playa El Caballo is just one of many blissful beaches and small coves along this stretch of coastline backed by jungle-shrouded mountains. You can reach Playa El Caballo and many other sweets spots along a coastal trail that winds through the jungle from Boca de Tomatlán to Playa Las Ánimas (just west of Playa El Caballo). Alternatively, water taxis departing from Vallarta's Playa de los Muertos pier will drop you in Playa Las Ánimas, where it's just a short walk east to Playa El Caballo.

YELAPA- WORTH THE TRIP

Yelapa is a tropical paradise, only accessible by boat, located 45 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta. Yelapa is an exotic small fisherman’s village. With restaurants and beach clubs where you can enjoy a day full of sun and relaxed atmosphere.

 You can also find small hotels on the beach. Yelapa is also famous for its homemade pies, which are a delicious treat while sunbathing at the beach. One of Yelapas’ main attractions is hiking to its waterfall. A 30 to 40 minutes walk with great scenarios to stop for some photos. 

 This trek takes you through the jungle up the mountains and it ends receiving you with a natural pool of fresh and clean cool water from the waterfall.

LAS CALETAS BEACH-PRIVATE TOUR

Las Caletas is a magical private beach, specially designed for full relaxation, famous movie director John Houston used this place as a home back in the day.

Vallarta Adventure Tours hosts the access to this beach; tours begin at 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.

You get there only by a 1-hour boat ride. Once you’re there, be ready to jump into the water and scuba dive, snorkel, or paddleboard. Drinks and meals are included in the tour. This can be an excellent family trip or there’s an adult private section with hammocks by the sea and a spa at the top of a cliff.

PLAYA DEL AMOR (Islas Marietas)- COOLEST BEACH & HIDDEN BEACH

Playa del Amor, commonly known as the Hidden Beach, is a feature of one of the Marieta Islands, located some 22 nautical miles west of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the mouth of Banderas Bay. It looks like something out of a fantasy novel: a wide, sandy cavern with the blue waters of the Pacific rushing in. The Marieta Islands is a group of uninhabited islands formed by underwater volcano eruptions. They are natural wonders, but it was something other than the volcanic activity that brought the burrowed beach to light.

It is rumored that the hole that created the Hidden Beach was a result of deliberate bombings. The Marieta Islands have always been completely uninhabited, making them ideal sites for military testing by the Mexican government. Beginning in the early 1900s, weapons and artillery were tested on the Marieta Islands, a safe distance from Mexican citizens but not so safe for Marieta topography. Test bombs are the known cause for many caves and rock formations on the island, possibly including the Hidden Beach.

The secret is out about these wildlife-rich uninhabited islands but the good news is that authorities have placed strict limits on the number of daily visits allowed as a measure to prevent overcrowding and a potential ecological disaster. First on many folks' minds is visiting Playa del Amor, the national park's astonishing underground crater beach, but only 116 spots are permitted per day, so plan ahead. Regardless of whether you get the coveted green light for Playa del Amor, all excursions and permits must be handled by a certified tour outfit. Ecotours de México is a reputable one.

 Snorkeling, diving and bird-watching are as good as it gets at this Unesco biosphere reserve. Giant mantas and sea turtles glide through the warm waters, while on land you can spot the endangered blue-footed booby and some 90 other bird species. The islands lie about 22 miles (36 kilometers) west of Puerto Vallarta and 6 miles (9 kilometers) southwest of Punta de Mita.

BOCA DE TOMATLAN-FISHERMAN VILLAGE

Boca de Tomatlán (or just “Boca”) is a small traditional fisherman village where the river meets the sea, located 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta’s downtown; you can get there by land or sea. This town is the starting point for all the water taxis that take you to the Cabo Corrientes’ south beaches.

 This is the hub for water taxis heading further south to places. Water taxis you can access Colomitos, Madagascar and Las Ánimas beaches or go further by boat to Quimixto and Yelapa. The town has a short Malecón, some palapa restaurants with fresh seafood, some stores to buy beverages or snacks before heading on an adventure to a hidden paradise.

LAS GEMELAS BEACH-LOCAL FIND

This is a remote and hidden beach located around 20 minutes by car from downtown Puerto Vallarta, visited mostly by locals who know where the good beaches are.

You’ll find clear turquoise waters and a place on the warm sand to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings.

COLOMITOS BEACH-SMALL BUT GORGEOUS

Colomitos is in the south of Puerto Vallarta. A hidden, small, and beautiful beach surrounded by the exotic mountains of the Sierra Madre, known as the smallest beach in Mexico. To get there you have 2 options: the first is a 40-minute hike from Boca de Tomatlán through its tropical treks.

The second option is to take a 5-minute water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan. There are no restaurants or facilities, so take a snack and your umbrella if you are planning to spend the day there.

Boca de Tomatlan, between Colomitos and Las Animas Beach.

LAS ANIMAS BEACH-FUN DAY

LAS ANIMAS is a picturesque vacation destination that lies along the beautiful shores of the Bay of Banderas in the southern zone of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It features a lovely sandy beach with gentle waves and boasts excellent amenities like beach resorts, vendors, restaurants, and places to shop for locally crafted souvenirs. Aside from the commercialization, Las Animas is a quaint little Mexican village with no road access that is perfectly tucked into a lush mountainside covered with vibrant green jungle vegetation. This beach is remote and only accessible by boat or a 1-hour and a half hike from Boca de Tomatlan’s exotic jungle treks. At Las Animas you’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy refreshments and authentic seafood under the shade of a palapa.

There are paddleboard rentals, banana boat rides, Las Animas Adventure Park with ziplines, balancing beams and much more!