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Puerto Vallarta Beaches – My Advice
Best Beach Weather in Puerto Vallarta
I recommend visiting between November and April for the most consistent sunshine and comfortable temperatures. During these months, the humidity is low and the sky is often clear blue.
Weather by Priority:
- Dry and Sunny: April is statistically the driest month of the year. It is perfect for beach days.
- Warm Ocean Water: If you like the water to feel like a bath, visit between July and October. This is the rainy season, but the water temperatures are at their highest.
- Snorkeling and Diving: October and November offer the best water visibility once the summer rains begin to subside.
- Whale Watching: Plan your trip between December and March to see humpback whales in the bay.
- Travel Deals: May and June are the shoulder season months. You will find much lower hotel rates, though the humidity starts to climb.
The Rainy Season: The rains usually start in late June and last through October. Most storms happen in the late afternoon or at night, so you can still enjoy the beach in the morning. September is the wettest month and the most humid time of year.
The Best Beaches by Category
- Best for Partying: Playa Los Muertos in the Zona Romántica. This is the main hub for beach clubs, restaurants, and chairs for rent.
- Best for Quiet and Solitude: Playa Conchas Chinas is a short taxi ride south of town and offers scenic rock pools. Playa Palito Verde near Quimixto is a hidden gem that feels very remote.
- Best for Watersports: Las Caletas and Las Ánimas are the top spots for kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling.
Arrival and Airport Transportation: The airport is 10 km north of the Old Town. Head to the official taxi kiosk inside the terminal. Rates are zone-based. Expect to pay approximately 450 to 550 pesos ($25 to $30 USD) for the Zona Romántica or Old Town. Major car rental desks are located in the arrivals hall.
Saving Money on Taxis: If you have light luggage, walk out of the terminal and cross the orange pedestrian bridge over the highway. You can catch an Uber here (which is restricted from picking up at the terminal) or a yellow city taxi for about half the price of airport cabs. Local buses marked “Centro” or “Olas Altas” also stop here and cost about 10 pesos.
Time Zones: Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco) and Nuevo Vallarta (Nayarit) both operate on Central Time. You do not need to worry about a time difference when traveling between the two states in the Banderas Bay area.
Water Taxis from Boca de Tomatlán: To reach southern beaches like Yelapa or Quimixto, take a bus or taxi south to the village of Boca de Tomatlán. Water taxis depart from the pier regularly. Prices usually range from 100 to 200 pesos per person. Always confirm the price and the time of the last return boat before you depart. Water taxis from the Los Muertos Pier in town are more expensive and the ride is often bumpier.
Tours and Excursions: Puerto Vallarta Tours runs reliable trips to Las Ánimas and Yelapa. For an all-inclusive beach club day with lunch and an open bar, Vallarta Adventures runs excellent trips to their private cove at Las Caletas.
Best Beach for Surfing: Sayulita is the top spot for surfing in the region. It has a consistent break that is perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers. It is about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta by taxi or bus.
Practical Beach Tips
- Cash is Mandatory: Most beach restaurants and water taxis are cash only. Bring pesos. Using US dollars will result in a poor exchange rate.
- Avoid Weekends: Local beaches get very crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. Visit on a weekday for a much quieter experience.
- Watch Your Belongings: Petty theft can happen on the beach. Never leave your valuables unattended. If you are alone, use a waterproof dry bag to take your essentials into the water with you.
The water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán to Yelapa, Las Ánimas, and Quimixto.
The pier at Playa Los Muertos with boats to Las Ánimas (25 minutes), Quimixto (40 minutes), and Yelapa (55 minutes).
The bus from Puerto Vallarta to Mismaloya.
Buses to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán: These orange and white buses depart every 10 to 15 minutes from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Constitución in the Zona Romántica. The fare is 10 pesos (cash only). The trip takes about 25 minutes to reach Mismaloya and roughly 40 minutes total to reach Boca de Tomatlán, the final stop and the main hub for southern water taxis.
The 17 Best Beaches in and around Puerto Vallarta
The enticing beaches of Banderas Bay, backed by the jungle-covered slopes of the Sierra Madre, stretch for more than 40 km (25 miles) north and south of Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town, Viejo Vallarta. There’s plenty of variety, from fun beaches backed by condos and hotels, to wilder locations accessible only by boat.
Our personal favorite is Playa Caballo, a short water taxi ride from Boca de Tomatlán. A tranquil setting with great sand, palm trees, and wonderful swimming. Playa de los Muertos has a deserved reputation for partying and a vibrant nightlife. While Playa Conchas Chinas (south) and Playa Palito Verde (north) are great for beach lovers looking for a quieter, more relaxed experience.
SOUTH OF PUERTO VALLARTA
Note that beyond Boca de Tomatlán, beaches are accessible only by water taxi and private boats.
1. Playa Caballo (10 minutes by boat from Boca)
Gorgeous and often empty beach backed by shady palm trees. Other than two boutique hotels, there are no facilities or activities, and nowhere to eat or drink, but bustling Las Ánimas (see below) is a short walk around the headland. Water taxis and boats only.
Recommended Hotels: Hotelito Mio (luxury/boutique) • Casitas Maraika (luxury/boutique)
2. Playa Colomitos (5 minutes by boat from Boca)
Tiny, sheltered cove with a small beach of soft, white sand, and a snacks and drinks kiosk. Great for swimming and snorkeling. Has a real “hidden beach” feel, but because of its size, can get packed if a couple of tour boats come in. Note also that high tides can sometimes flood the whole beach. Water taxis and boats only – or an energetic 30–40 minute hike from Boca. The nearby Ocean Grill restaurant offers tasty meals and sea views.
3. Playa Conchas Chinas (2 km south of Old Town PV)
The most scenic city beach, easily accessible by bus or taxi (or an easy 30 minute walk from Zona Romántica). A series of small sandy coves, backed by condos but rarely busy (there are no restaurants or bars). Good for swimming but rip tides can be strong here. The shallow tide pools along the rocky sections of shore are crammed with marine life.
Recommended Hotels: Quinta Maria Cortez (B&B) • Casa Villa Verde (mid-range) • Marboka Hotel & Suites (budget)
4. Playa Palmares (7 km south of Old Town PV)
Fine white-sand beach just below the coastal highway, popular with locals. Calm and perfect for swimming (it’s warm and relatively shallow), though there are very few places to eat and drink. There is a rare public bathroom here with showers (around 10 pesos), and it’s possible to rent umbrellas with table and chairs. Accessible by bus or taxi.
5. Las Caletas (15 minutes by boat from Boca)
Tiny and isolated beach, run as a watersports hub by Vallarta Adventures. Great for swimming and snorkeling. Water taxis and boats only.
6. Yelapa (30 minutes by boat from Boca)
Hemmed in by jungle-smothered hills and coconut palms, this beach and tiny village has a rustic, laidback vibe, despite the steady stream of day-trippers. The white-sand beach is good for swimming and is lined with palapa restaurants. From here it’s a pleasant stroll up the Rio del Tuito to cascading waterfalls. Accessible by boat only – it’s the final water taxi stop.
Recommended Hotels: Casa Berita (luxury/boutique) • Pura Vida Wellness Retreat (mid-range) • La Loma Yelapa (mid-range) • Casa Isabel (mid-range)
7. Playa de los Muertos (Zona Romántica)
The primary (and most fun) city beach lies just south of the old town. It’s crowded, is lined with hotels, features mostly coarser, brown sand and is fairly narrow but it’s by far the best beach for eating, drinking, and partying – swimming is good too. The stylish Playa Los Muertos pier divides the beach in two, with the LGBT section lying at the southern end, opposite the Blue Chairs Resort.
Recommended Hotels: Playa Los Arcos Beach Resort (mid-range) • Almar Resort (mid-range, LGBT-friendly) • Villa Verano (luxury)
8. Mismaloya (12 km south of old town PV)
The best-known and most accessible southern beach (take a bus or taxi), made famous by John Huston’s film “The Night of the Iguana”. Today it’s a small, sandy strip dominated by the Barceló hotel, but with a handful of cheap palapa restaurants and local vendors. Good for watersports and wonderful snorkeling trips to Los Arcos, tiny islets just offshore rich in marine life.
Recommended Hotels: Barceló (luxury) • Villa Los Arcos (luxury) • Casa Iguana (budget, great pool)
9. Playa Quimixto (15 minutes by boat from Boca)
Relatively quiet and empty beach backed by a small village. Just a couple of beach restaurants and not much else. Trails lead up river to a refreshing waterfall and swimming hole. Water taxis and boats only.
Recommended Hotel: Xinalani Retreat (luxury)
10. Las Ánimas (10 minutes by boat from Boca)
Long, sandy, but narrow beach crammed with restaurants and bars, just around the headland from Playa Caballo. Haven for fun activities – jet skiing, banana boats and parasailing – but can get very busy. Water taxis and boats only – or a strenuous 2hr-hike from Boca.
NORTH OF PUERTO VALLARTA
All the beaches north of Old Town PV are accessible by taxi/car and bus.
11. Playa Palito Verde (34 km north of Old Town PV)
First of the northern beaches free of all development – it’s a gorgeous, shallow bay a short walk off the main road, with no facilities, no shade, and no food. Best place to escape the crowds and great for swimming.
12. Bucerías (25 km north of Old Town PV)
Wonderful sand and calm waters for people who like to swim. Bucerías is a busy town but its chalk-white beach is rarely packed and there are plenty of low-key beach restaurants.
Recommended Hotels: Royal Decameron (luxury) • Aventura Pacifico (mid-range) • Unelma Bungalows (budget)
13. Playa Destiladeras (36 km north of Old Town PV)
Wide, sandy beach that’s isolated and rarely busy but offers a bit more in the way of services and food options than nearby Palito Verde.
Recommended Hotel: Marival Armony Luxury Resort & Suites (luxury)
14. Nuevo Vallarta (20 km north of Old Town PV)
The long stretch of sand that runs along this newer, upscale resort area is flat, calm, and rarely busy, lined with hotels and palm trees. Good for swimming.
Recommended Hotels: Hard Rock Hotel (luxury) • Bahía del Sol (mid-range) • Paradise Village (mid-range)
15. Playa Camarones (Zona Hotelera, 1 km north of Old Town PV)
“Shrimp Beach” is at the heart of PV’s hotel zone for good reason, with a gorgeous swath of sand (always very clean), plenty of activities, vendors, and relatively pricey dining options. Good for swimming and it’s big enough absorb visitors without feeling busy.
Recommended Hotels: Sheraton Buganvilias (luxury) • Dreams Vallarta Bay (luxury) • Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel (luxury)
16. Playa la Manzanilla (32 km north of Old Town PV)
Small white-sand beach in a sheltered bay perfect for swimming, with several cheap (and excellent) seafood restaurants and beach bars. Always busy at weekends.
17. Punta de Mita (49 km north of Old Town PV)
Right at the very northern tip of Banderas Bay, the pristine, empty beaches along this headland are mostly reserved for the private “Club Punta Mita” development and its associated properties, but are stunning nonetheless. Day passes available but expensive.
Recommended Hotels: Four Seasons (luxury) • St. Regis (luxury)
