Cool Beaches in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is heaven on earth for people who like to go to the beach. Its 34 miles coastline offers you 26 miles of beaches. Some of the beaches are very crowded, especially on Sunday because all working people have a day off. The beaches vary from long and wide to small, intimate and secluded.
Puerto Vallarta's most popular beaches are:
Boca de Tomates: If you look to meet the local fauna, this is the place to be. No people crowds, but sea turtles, birds and crocodiles.
Boca de Tomatlan: Small sandy cove at the edge of the jungle.
Bucerias: The ideal family beach that is extremely long and inviting. The waves are gentle and you can expect lots of local shops and restaurants.
Destiladeras: A very crowded beach on Sunday, because it is a real family beach. Outdoor palapa-shaded restaurants offer you fresh seafood at a decent price. A wide and sandy beach.
El Anclote: A beach at Punta de Mita, with lots of things to do besides swimming.
Garza Blanca: Palms surround this small white sand beach, located 6 km on the way to Mismaloya. Very popular picnic place.
Gemelas: A twin beach where the swimming and surfing is good.
Hotel Zone: Lined with resort hotels, this is the main tourist beach.
Las Animas: A local favorite. Separated by rocks it consists of two sandy beaches that are totally different from each other. The one is purely natural, the other one filled with restaurants.
Las Caletas: A hidden cove with three sandy beaches and rocks. The movie director John Huston used to reside here.
Los Muertos: The long sandy beach is the place to be to find entertainment. Nothing 'dead' about this beach. This beach is bordered by the Cuale River and the Conchas Chinas. At the Los Muertos pier you can board a daily cruise ship to Las Animas, Quimixto or Yelapa.
Majahuitas: A small jungle cove that makes you feels as if you were on your own island.
Marina Vallarta: Wide and sandy beach, with a great view on Puerto Vallarta. A beach where you can find lots of tourists who stay at the resort hotels.
Mismaloya: small beach at the jungle-fringed cove where the Mismaloya creek meets the ocean. You can rent a horse here to take a jungle ride.
Nuevo Vallarta: Lots of recently built condominiums and resort hotels are located alongside this sandy beach.
Punta de Mita: A beach on the peninsula at the north of Banderas Bay.
Quimixto: The only surf break on the south of the bay with lots of palapa restaurants.
San Francisco/San Pancho: This beach is located a few miles outside of the bay. This long and wide beach brings a primitive feeling with its rough waters and deep warm sand. The local residents are extremely helpful and friendly.
Sayulita: Surfer's paradise with superb waves. A nice combination of coves and beaches, the ideal beach for a day out.
Yelapa: A big beach that's been divided by an inlet. One side filled with restaurants, the other side peaceful. It's the most remote fishing village on the South Shores