Puerto Vallarta's Best Beaches

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Back to Puerto VallartaPuerto Vallarta's Best Beaches

For years, beaches were Puerto Vallarta's main attraction. Although visitors today are exploring more of the surrounding geography, the sands are still a powerful draw. Over 42km (26 miles) of beaches extend around the broad Bay of Banderas, ranging from action-packed party spots to secluded coves accessible only by boat.

In Town -- The easiest to reach is Playa Los Muertos (also known as Playa Olas Altas or Playa del Sol), just off Calle Olas Altas, south of the Río Cuale. The water can be rough, but the wide beach is home to a diverse array of palapa restaurants that offer food, beverage, and beach-chair service. The most popular are the adjacent El Dorado and La Palapa, at the end of Pulpito Street. On the southern end of this beach is a section known as "Blue Chairs" -- the most popular gay beach. Vendors stroll Los Muertos, and beach volleyball, parasailing, and jet-skiing are all popular pastimes. The Hotel Zone is also known for its broad, smooth beaches, accessible primarily through the hotel lobbies.

South of Town -- Playa Mismaloya is in a beautiful sheltered cove about 10km (6 miles) south of town along Highway 200. The water is clear and beautiful, ideal for snorkeling off the beach. Entrance to the public beach is just to the left of the Barcel? La Jolla de Mismaloya (tel. 322/226-0600). The movie Night of the Iguana was filmed at Mismaloya, and the resort has a restaurant on the restored film set -- La Noche de la Iguana Set Restaurant, open daily from noon to 11pm. The movie runs continuously in a room below the restaurant, and still photos from the filming hang in the restaurant. The restaurant is accessible by land on the point framing the south side of the cove. Just below the restaurant is John Huston's Bar & Grill, serving drinks and light snacks daily from 11am to 6pm.

The beach at Boca de Tomatlán, just down the road, has numerous palapa restaurants where you can relax for the day -- you buy drinks, snacks, or lunch, and you can use their chairs and palapa shade.

The two beaches are accessible by public buses, which depart from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes every 15 minutes from 5:30am to 10pm and cost just 50¢ (30p).

Las Animas, Quimixto, and Yelapa beaches offer a true sense of seclusion; they are accessible only by boat. They are larger than Mismaloya, offer intriguing hikes to jungle waterfalls, and are similarly set up, with restaurants fronting a wide beach. Overnight stays are available at Yelapa.

North of Town -- The beaches at Marina Vallarta are the least desirable in the area, with darker sand and seasonal inflows of stones.

The entire northern coastline from Bucerías to Punta Mita is a succession of sandy coves alternating with rocky inlets. For years the beaches to the north, with their long, clean breaks, have been the favored locale for surfers. The broad, sandy stretches at Playa Anclote, Playa Piedras Blancas, and Playa Destiladeras, which all have palapa restaurants, have made them favorites with local residents looking for a quick getaway -- but come soon, because this area is slated for luxury development, easy access to these shores is likely to be limited in the coming years. At Playa Anclote you'll find a broad, sandy beach with protected swimming areas and a few great palapa restaurants. Of the restaurants, El Anclote and El Dorado have been the long-standing favorites, but Mañana (tel. 329/291-6374), has raised the culinary bar of this casual dining area. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 9pm, in summer 1 to 9pm. All have beach chairs available for your postmargarita nap in the sun. If you're seeking solace from the sun, head to the Pink Bonsai (tel. 329/291-6468), which serves creative sushi, tempting tempuras, and the delectable changing specials of Chef/Owner Karl, who enjoys fusing Asian with Mexican flavors. It's located in the Plaza of Shops, second level, on the left-hand side of the short main road entering Playa Anclote (Av. de las Redes 75, Punta de Mita). It's open Monday through Saturday, 1pm to 6pm.

You can also hire a panga (small motorized boat) at Playa Anclote from the fisherman's cooperative on the beach and have the captain take you to the Marietas Islands just offshore. These uninhabited islands are a great place for bird-watching, diving, snorkeling, or just exploring. Blue-footed booby birds (found only here, and in the Galapagos) can be spotted all along the islands' rocky coast, and giant mantas, sea turtles, and colorful tropical fish swim among the coral cliffs. The islands are honeycombed with caves and hidden beaches--including the stunning Playa de Amor (Beach of Love) that only appears at low tide. You enter a shallow passageway to access this semicircular stretch of sand. There's also a cave 12m (40 ft.) below the surface with an air pocket where divers can remove of their regulators and have an underwater conversation! Humpback whales congregate around these islands during the winter months, and pangas can be rented for a do-it-yourself whale-watching excursion. Trips cost about $30 (?17) per hour. You can also visit these islands aboard one of the numerous day cruises that depart from the cruise-ship terminal in Puerto Vallarta.

The stellar white-sand beach at Punta Mita, home of the Four Seasons, is closed to road access, except for owners in and guests of this residential resort development.