The Best Beaches in Puerto Vallarta
(And How to Pick the Right One)

Puerto Vallarta sits on one of Mexico's most spectacular bays, and with more than 20 beaches stretching from the Hotel Zone down to hidden jungle coves, the biggest challenge isn't finding a beach, it's picking the right one. Every stretch of sand here has its own personality. Some are packed with beach clubs and cold beer vendors. Others are only reachable by boat and barely have a footpath. Choosing the wrong beach for the wrong mood is the fastest way to waste a perfect beach day.

We've spent years exploring every accessible shoreline on Banderas Bay. This is the guide we wish someone had handed us on our first trip: which beach to go to based on what kind of day you actually want.

If You Want the Action: Playa de los Muertos

Don't let the name ("Beach of the Dead") scare you off. This is Puerto Vallarta's main event, the beach where everything happens. The iconic Los Muertos Pier with its dramatic sail canopy anchors the scene, and from there the sand stretches south past a rotating cast of beach clubs, umbrella vendors, roaming cocktail sellers, and impromptu volleyball games.

The beach organizes itself into unofficial zones. Near the pier you'll find families and casual beachgoers. Farther south, beach clubs like Mantamar and Sapphire pump music and serve bottle service. The famous Blue Chairs section has been a welcoming LGBTQ+ gathering spot for decades. Water taxis depart from the pier all morning, connecting you to the southern beaches that are otherwise unreachable by road.

Best for: People-watching, beach club energy, sunset drinks at the pier, access to water taxis. This is your beach if you want to be in the middle of everything.

If You Want Peace and Quiet: Conchas Chinas

Just a 10-minute walk (or quick bus ride) south of Los Muertos, the vibe changes completely. Conchas Chinas, or "Chinese Shells," is a series of small rocky coves separated by granite outcroppings. There are no beach clubs here, no vendors calling out drink specials, no thumping music. Just the sound of waves against rock and the occasional snorkeler surfacing with a story about the fish they saw.

The rocky tidepools between coves are worth exploring at low tide. You'll spot sea urchins, small crabs, and colorful marine life. The homes perched on the hillside above are some of the most expensive in Puerto Vallarta, which tells you something about the quality of this stretch of coast.

Best for: Couples, readers, snorkelers, anyone who wants a beach without a soundtrack. Bring your own everything because there are no services here.

If You're With Kids: Playa Camarones

Located in the Hotel Zone north of the Malecón, Playa Camarones is the beach that Puerto Vallarta families have used for generations. The water is notably calmer here than at the south-side beaches, with a gradual sandy bottom that lets little ones wade out safely. The beach is wide and flat, perfect for sandcastles and beach games.

The Hotel Zone location means you're never far from a convenience store, bathroom, or air-conditioned restaurant if someone has a meltdown (kid or adult, no judgment). Several beachfront restaurants rent chairs and umbrellas for the day, and the prices are more reasonable than the south-side tourist zone.

Best for: Families with young children, anyone who wants calm water and easy logistics. The Malecón boardwalk is a short walk away for when the kids need a change of scenery.

If You Want an Adventure: Las Ánimas

There's no road to Las Ánimas. You get there by water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán (the last beach town accessible by car on the southern coast) or from the Los Muertos Pier, and that boat ride through the open bay is half the experience. As the city falls away behind you and the jungle-covered Sierra Madre drops straight into turquoise water, you start to understand why people fall in love with this coastline.

The beach itself is a long crescent of golden sand backed by dense tropical jungle. A handful of palapa restaurants line the shore, serving the freshest ceviche and grilled fish you'll find anywhere. The fishing boats pull up right onto the sand. You can rent kayaks, try stand-up paddleboarding, or just park yourself under a palapa and let the afternoon dissolve.

Best for: Day-trippers who want to feel like they discovered something. The boat ride adds a sense of occasion that makes even a simple beach day feel like a proper adventure.

If You Want the Postcard: Mismaloya

Mismaloya is where John Huston filmed "The Night of the Iguana" in 1964, the movie that put Puerto Vallarta on the international map. The setting hasn't lost its magic. The beach sits at the mouth of a jungle river, framed by dramatic green hills that tumble down to meet the ocean. It's the kind of scenery that makes you reach for your camera every five minutes.

Just offshore, the Los Arcos Marine Park, a cluster of granite arches rising from the sea, offers some of the best snorkeling on the bay. Tour boats circle the islands daily, and you'll see pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and if you're lucky, manta rays gliding beneath the surface. Back on shore, beachfront restaurants serve cold drinks while you watch the pangas come and go.

Best for: Photographers, nature lovers, snorkel enthusiasts. Mismaloya delivers the "tropical paradise" shot that makes everyone back home jealous.

If You Want to Escape Everything: Yelapa

Yelapa is the beach that changes people's plans. They come for a day trip and start looking at rental listings. This tiny fishing village at the southern end of Banderas Bay is only accessible by boat (about 45 minutes from Los Muertos Pier), and that isolation is precisely the point. There are no ATMs, no chain stores, and no stoplights. Just a village of maybe 2,000 people living where the jungle meets the sea.

The main beach has a scattering of restaurants serving freshly caught fish and cold Pacificos. But the real draw is what's beyond the sand. A 30-minute jungle hike takes you to a waterfall where you can swim in a freshwater pool surrounded by tropical plants. Back in the village, the legendary "pie ladies" walk the beach selling homemade pies (coconut, chocolate, key lime) that have become as famous as the village itself.

Best for: Anyone who needs a digital detox. Yelapa moves at its own speed, and after an hour there, you will too. Just don't miss the last water taxi back unless you're ready to stay the night.

The Hidden Gems: Las Gemelas & Palmares

Las Gemelas ("The Twins") are a pair of small coves tucked between Las Ánimas and Quimixto on the southern coast. Accessible only by boat or a jungle trail, they see a fraction of the traffic that their neighboring beaches get. The snorkeling here is excellent, with rocky outcroppings on either side of the coves create sheltered pools where tropical fish gather. If you ask your water taxi captain nicely, they'll drop you here instead of the more popular stops.

Playa Palmares is the opposite kind of hidden. It's a long, open stretch of sand north of the city near the Ameca River mouth, used primarily by locals. You won't find it in most guidebooks, which is the appeal. Bring your own shade, supplies, and a sense of self-sufficiency. On weekends you'll share the beach with Mexican families grilling on the sand. On weekdays you might have it entirely to yourself.

Best for: Travelers who've already done the main beaches and want to go deeper. These spots reward the effort of finding them.