Puerto Vallarta beaches come in every flavor. There is a busy city beach with a pier, umbrellas and restaurants on the sand, quiet coves with tide pools you can snorkel in, long stretches of sand below the Hotel Zone towers, and fishing villages you can only reach by boat. The best beaches in Puerto Vallarta are spread along the whole of Banderas Bay, so where you stay decides which ones you can walk to and which ones take a taxi or a water taxi.
This guide is organized by area, from the Romantic Zone south to the boat-only coves and north through the Hotel Zone. For each area we describe the beaches, the kind of beach day you will have there (swimming, snorkeling, lunch on the sand, a boat trip), and where to stay to be close to it.
Romantic Zone beaches
The Romantic Zone (Zona Romántica) is the old neighborhood south of the Río Cuale, and its beach is the center of life here. You can walk from your condo to the sand in a few minutes, eat lunch with your feet in it, and walk home for a shower before dinner.
Playa Los Muertos
Los Muertos Beach | How to get there
Playa Los Muertos is the city’s most popular and lively beach. The sand is lined with restaurants serving everything from steaks to street tacos, plus sun loungers, umbrellas and beachfront bars where you can spend the whole afternoon. If you want action, there are banana boats, parasailing, jet skis, paddleboards and beach volleyball. The Los Muertos Pier at the south end is a great sunset spot, and the Romantic Zone around it has some of the best nightlife in town, so the day does not have to end when the sun goes down. Curious about the name? We wrote up why it’s called the Beach of the Dead.
Playa Olas Altas
Playa Olas Altas is the stretch of sand at the north end of Los Muertos, just south of where the Río Cuale meets the sea. It is the closest beach to downtown, a short walk across the river from the Malecón. Expect the same mix of swimmers, loungers and beachfront restaurants as the rest of Los Muertos.
Where to stay: our Romantic Zone vacation rentals are a few blocks from Los Muertos Beach, in buildings including Soho PV, Loft 268, Zenith, Desire, Pavilion and Dvine. Oceana is a block and a half from the sand, and Casa Tortuga at Selva Romantica is less than five minutes’ walk from Los Muertos, on the hillside above Olas Altas.
Amapas and Conchas Chinas beaches
Just south of the Romantic Zone the road climbs into the hills, and the beaches change character completely: smaller, quieter and tucked between rocks.
Conchas Chinas Beach
Conchas Chinas Beach | How to get there | Image source
Conchas Chinas sits just south of Old Town: three small beaches in a secluded spot surrounded by hills, with turquoise water and soft white sand. Rock formations along the shore create natural tide pools full of marine life, which makes this one of the best snorkeling spots near town, and the water is calm enough for an easy swim. The atmosphere is intimate, a world away from the loungers and jet skis of Los Muertos. There are a few smaller coves along this same stretch of coast as well.
Where to stay: our homes in Amapas and Conchas Chinas sit on the hillside just south of the Romantic Zone, and most have bay views. Indah, in Amapas, has beach access. This is also the closest base we offer for the south shore beaches further down the coast.
Beaches near downtown and the Malecón
North of the Río Cuale, the Malecón runs along the waterfront through downtown. Most of it is boardwalk rather than beach, but keep walking north and the sand begins again.
Playa Camarones
Camarones Beach | How to get there | Image source
Playa Camarones is within walking distance of the Malecón and is good for swimming, paddle boarding and snorkeling. It has two personalities. The southern end is lively, with beachfront restaurants and bars, banana boats, jet skis and parasailing, while the northern end is quieter if you just want a towel and a book. It is also one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset, with the whole bay open in front of you.
Where to stay: Playa Camarones is walkable from the Romantic Zone across the river, along the Malecón. It is also a short ride from Roma Encore in Versalles, which puts you close to both Camarones and Playa Las Glorias.
Hotel Zone beaches
The Hotel Zone runs north of downtown, and its beaches are lined with hotels and condo towers along long stretches of sand. This is the resort side of the city: wide beaches, pools behind you, the bay in front.
Playa Las Glorias
Playa Las Glorias sits in the Hotel Zone between Playa Los Tules and Playa Camarones. It is a long, open beach backed by hotels and condo towers, with room to walk for a long way along the water. It suits a classic beach day: a morning on the sand, a swim, lunch, then back to the pool. Because the hotels and condo buildings sit right on the beach, you can be on the sand within a minute of leaving your room if you are staying in one of them.
Playa de Oro
Playa de Oro is the northernmost beach in the Hotel Zone, with Los Tules and Las Glorias to its south. It is a wide beach with the mountains behind the hotel towers, popular for jet skiing and parasailing, and there is plenty of space to spread out. If you want a beach walk, you can set off along the shoreline and keep going until you feel like turning around.
Boca de Tomates
Boca de Tomates is at the north end of the city, near the airport, and it is not like the other Hotel Zone beaches. It is an unusual black sand beach, minimally crowded and mostly visited by locals. There are views of the bay from a jungle trail nearby, and the fishing is good. Come for a different kind of beach afternoon rather than for loungers and service.
Where to stay: our Hotel Zone condos include Harbor 171 and Grand Venetian, both beachfront buildings with direct beach access and ocean-view balconies. Grand Venetian is next to La Isla shopping village. Here the beach is right outside the door.
South shore beaches you can drive to
South of Conchas Chinas, the coast road winds along the cliffs with the bay below. A string of beaches sits along it, each a taxi ride from town.
Mismaloya Beach
Mismaloya Beach | How to get there | Image source
Mismaloya is about 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown and is famous as the filming location of The Night of the Iguana (1964). The beach is surrounded by tropical vegetation and draws fewer crowds than the city beaches, with calm water for swimming and snorkeling. The Mismaloya River nearby is good for kayaking, and the small village has local seafood restaurants where you can eat lunch a few steps from the sand.
Las Gemelas
Playa Las Gemelas | How to get there
Las Gemelas, the “Twin Beaches”, are two small beaches separated by a rocky outcrop, about 6 miles (10 km) south of downtown. They have powdery white sand, clear water and gentle waves, which is why they are a favorite with families with young children. Facilities are limited, so bring your own food and drinks and plan to carry everything out again.
Playa Palmares
Playa Palmares is a local favorite that is usually fairly quiet. The water is clear, the sand is very fine and soft, and the swimming is good. There is not much of a scene, which is the point. Come with a cooler and a couple of friends, settle in and you will have an easy, unhurried afternoon.
Boca de Tomatlán
Boca de Tomatlán is a small fishing village south of town where the river meets the sea. The beach itself is small and busy with boats coming and going, because this is where the water taxis leave for the south shore beaches, and where the coastal hiking trail toward Colomitos and Las Ánimas begins. It is worth a stop in its own right for the setting and a plate of fish, but most people pass through on the way to somewhere else.
Where to stay: for the south shore beaches, the closest base we offer is Amapas and Conchas Chinas, then the Romantic Zone.
Beaches you can only reach by boat
Past Boca de Tomatlán, the beaches of the south shore are reached by water taxi, tour boat or on foot.
Las Ánimas
Las Ánimas has beach restaurants on the sand where you can order lunch and a drink and stay for hours, which makes it the easy choice if you want a boat-only beach with service. You can reach it by water taxi or on foot along the coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán, and you can hike in one way and ride a boat back. Bring a towel for the sand.
Colomitos
Colomitos is a tiny cove, so the earlier you arrive the better. You can reach it by boat or by a short hike from Boca de Tomatlán along the coastal trail. Bring water and snacks, and wear proper shoes for the trail rather than flip-flops.
Majahuitas
Majahuitas is a small cove reached by boat, a place to swim off the sand and lie in the shade for a few hours. You are relying on the boat that brought you, so confirm your pickup time before the driver leaves.
Yelapa
Yelapa is a village with no road access, reached only by boat. It is known for its beach and for a waterfall you can walk to from the village, and it has enough restaurants and places to stay that some visitors turn a day trip into a few nights. Plan on a full day: the boat ride is part of the outing, and you will want time for the beach, lunch and the walk to the falls.
Getting there by water taxi: water taxis serve Las Ánimas, Colomitos, Majahuitas and Yelapa from the Los Muertos Pier in the Romantic Zone and from Boca de Tomatlán. Check the current schedule before you go and confirm the time of the last boat back. Many organized boat tours also stop at these beaches; see our guide to Puerto Vallarta tours.
Getting there on foot: the coastal trail starts in Boca de Tomatlán and runs toward Colomitos and Las Ánimas. It is a real hike rather than a stroll, so start early, carry water and wear proper shoes.
A day trip to Hidden Beach
Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) is in the Marietas Islands, a protected national park off the north end of Banderas Bay. Because the islands are protected, visits are by permitted tour only: a limited number of people may visit each day, the beach is closed on some days of the week, and sea conditions can cancel the stop even on a booked tour. Book well ahead and confirm the current rules with your tour operator. Many tours pair the islands with snorkeling, and they are a different kind of day from the beaches around the city. For more on the water around the islands, see our post on snorkeling spots.
Which beach is right for you?
- Lively and walkable: Playa Los Muertos.
- Snorkeling: Conchas Chinas.
- Families with small children: Las Gemelas, or the Hotel Zone beaches with a pool behind you.
- Quiet, local feel: Playa Palmares or Boca de Tomates.
- A day out by boat: Yelapa or Las Ánimas.
- Sunsets: Playa Camarones or the Los Muertos Pier.
Stay close to the beach you love
The best beaches in Puerto Vallarta are spread across several neighborhoods, so pick the beach first, then the neighborhood. If you want Los Muertos every day, stay in the Romantic Zone. For snorkeling at Conchas Chinas and the south shore, stay in Amapas or Conchas Chinas. For long sand and a pool a few steps from the ocean, stay in the Hotel Zone. The beaches are good in every season; our guide to the best time to visit covers the weather through the year.
We are a local team, not a platform. Someone from Lifestyle Properties meets you at the building when you arrive, and we are a call or text away for your whole stay. When you book direct with us, there are no platform fees. Browse our vacation rentals and find the one closest to your beach. Questions? Call us at +1 800 214 8902.
Puerto Vallarta beaches: FAQ
What is the best beach in Puerto Vallarta?
It depends on the day you want. Playa Los Muertos is the most popular, with restaurants, loungers and water sports in the middle of the Romantic Zone. Conchas Chinas is the pick for snorkeling and calm water, and Yelapa or Las Ánimas are the best choice for a boat day.
Which Puerto Vallarta beaches are best for swimming?
Conchas Chinas, Las Gemelas, Playa Palmares and Mismaloya all have calm, clear water, and Las Gemelas is a favorite with families with young children. Playa Los Muertos and Playa Camarones are good for swimming too, with the bonus of restaurants and rentals on the sand. Conditions change with the weather, so pay attention to the water on the day.
Can you walk to the beach from the Romantic Zone?
Yes. Playa Los Muertos is the Romantic Zone’s beach, and our buildings there are a few blocks from the sand. You can also walk north along the Malecón to Playa Camarones.
Which beaches can you only reach by boat?
Las Ánimas, Colomitos, Majahuitas and Yelapa, all on the south shore past Boca de Tomatlán. Water taxis run from the Los Muertos Pier and from Boca de Tomatlán, and Las Ánimas and Colomitos can also be reached on foot along the coastal trail. Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands is reached by permitted tour only.
Where should I stay in Puerto Vallarta to be near the beach?
The Romantic Zone for walking to Los Muertos and the restaurants, Amapas and Conchas Chinas for the quiet coves and the south shore, and the Hotel Zone for beachfront buildings with the sand right outside. Our guide on where to stay in Puerto Vallarta compares the neighborhoods in more detail.
