Beach Paradise: The Best Beaches You Must Visit in Puerto Vallarta
Boca de tomates
This beach is very popular with families in Puerto Vallarta, especially during the weekend where there is live music and entertainment for kids. On the northernmost side of Boca de Tomates beach you will find small, unpretentious eateries, all family-run, palapa-style establishments with menus based on fresh seafood.
The waves at Boca de Tomates can be strong, making it ideal for water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. Avoid swimming in the ocean or near the mouth of the nearby Ameca River; remember that this is a mangrove area (though a great place for birdwatching) and a natural habitat for wildlife.
Boca de Tomates is very close to Puerto Vallarta International Airport. At approximately 3,000 feet long, it is a quiet beach that is also home to the Boca de Tomates Turtle Release Camp. At low tide, it can be reached by walking along the coast from the north end of Marina Vallarta.
Boca de tomates
Los muertos
A must see attraction. Los Muertos is certainly the favorite and most traditional beach of the people of Puerto Vallarta. Getting there is fairly easy. Walk along the Malecon, cross the pedestrian bridge over the Cuale River, and continue past Lazaro Cárdenas Park.
The hustle and bustle of local families gathering around Los Muertos Pier is a constant presence throughout the year. Still, the beach is wide and long enough to find a good spot, whether you want to relax in the sun or enjoy a snack from vendors offering grilled fish and shrimp, fresh Tehua oysters, delicious sliced mangoes and cucumbers seasoned with salt, lime and chili, or a thirst-quenching tuba. There are also plenty of strolling musicians who play traditional Mexican tunes for a tip.
The southern end of Playa Los Muertos is known for its popular beach clubs that cater to the LGBTQ+ crowd. It is also home to the original sculpture “The Boy on the Seahorse”, by Mexican master artist Rafael Zamarripa. This sculpture has been a worldwide icon of Puerto Vallarta since 1968.
Los Muertos
Los Tules
Located next to Playa de Oro, Los Tules Beach is known for its gentle, moderate waves that are suitable for swimming and its soft, amber-colored sand. It is a great place to spend a day at the beach with family or friends, with several entertainment options both in the water and on land.
Water activities available on site are: kayaking, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, banana rides and windsurfing (wind conditions permitting). You can also find horseback riding and some fishing on the breakwaters – mostly in the afternoons just before sunset. In the season from December to March it is possible to see the majestic jumps of humpback whales and their calves off the coast.
Located in the heart of the North Hotel Zone, Los Tules Beach offers many amenities and services within walking distance: shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, bars, drugstores and grocery stores.
There are two access points to Los Tules beach: one with a lot of parking spaces next to the shopping center La Isla Shopping Village; and the other, a narrow pedestrian entrance next to La Madalena restaurant.
Los Tules Beach
The Malecon Beach
This small, rocky beach is easily overlooked, although it is only a few steps away from the Malecon. But no worries! It has happened to all of us while walking down Puerto Vallarta’s pedestrian promenade par excellence.
Long overlooked, but never forgotten, the Malecon is a relatively narrow beach with a walkable area that runs from the Hotel Rosita, right at the beginning of the boardwalk, to the anthropomorphic, chair-like group of sculptures known as “The Rotunda of the Sea.”
In the early morning hours, at the beginning of the Malecon, it is very common to see local fishermen preparing their nets before venturing out to sea. Later in the day, flocks of pelicans, seagulls ―even Mexican grackles― and other birds flutter about, trying to sneak away with a piece of the day’s catch.
The Malecon beach is conveniently located in the El Centro Historic Downtown area and within walking distance of a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, bars, art galleries, boutiques, jewelry stores and other shopping options.
The Malecon Beach
Majahuitas
Charming Majahuitas Beach, an idyllic tropical cove of crystalline emerald waters, rocky geography and abundant marine life, is less than 2 miles by boat west of the fishing village of Quimixto.
The astonishing beauty of Majahuitas Beach itself is only matched by the natural wonders surrounding it – the lush tropical jungle of the Sierra Madre, a series of small coves and underwater canyons made up of several caves filled with black reefs inhabited by multicolored fish.
Majahuitas is a great place for hiking and water sports such as kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving. On the beach, you’ll find a few unpretentious eateries. They offer the basic amenities for a pleasant day of sunbathing. Most of them offer fresh seafood specialties and other traditional dishes at reasonable prices.
Majahuitas is easily accessible by sea. Take a panga or water taxi from either Los Muertos Pier or Boca de Tomatlán. There are also several all-inclusive day tours departing daily from the Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port, offering different routes and stopping at Las Animas, Majahuitas and Quimixto beaches.
Majahuitas
Madagascar Beach
Nestled in the tropical jungle of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Madagascar Beach is a hidden paradise. Its fine golden sands are bathed by crystalline waters of turquoise and deep blue.
Playa Madagascar is an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving as the waves are usually gentle all year round. Its secluded location makes it an oasis of peace and tranquility. Please note that there are no lifeguards on duty or facilities nearby.
Madagascar Beach, like all beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, is accessible only by sea. There is also a moderately strenuous hiking trail that leads from Boca de Tomatlán to Madagascar. It takes about 50 minutes at a leisurely pace.
Madagascar Beach
