The 12 Best Beaches in Puerto Vallarta 2025 | Visita Vallarta
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Mexican Pacific Coastline

Beaches of
Puerto Vallarta

The 12 most loved beaches in Puerto Vallarta — from downtown to the ones you can only reach by boat.

Complete guide

12 beaches for every taste

From the vibrant Playa Los Muertos to the paradise of Colomitos, only reachable by hiking through the jungle.

1
🏖️

Playa Los Muertos

Downtown

Vallarta's most iconic beach in the Romantic Zone. Photogenic pier and lively atmosphere all day long.

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2
🐚

Playa Conchas Chinas

South coast

Tiny coves with natural rock pools. Turquoise waters and spectacular sunrises.

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3
🌊

Playa Lindomar

Conchas Chinas

Natural pool-style coves, perfect for kids. Restaurants with happy hour at sunset.

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4
🪨

Playa Punta Negra

South coast

Hidden beneath a cliff. Few visitors, family-friendly atmosphere and gentle surf.

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5
⛱️

Playa Palmares

South coast

Wide sand and a gentle entry into the water. It was the first beach in Jalisco to earn a Blue Flag, back in 2014.

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6
💎

Playa Las Gemelas

South coast

Two adjoining coves with talcum-soft sand and natural shade under a giant tree.

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7
🎬

Playa Mismaloya

Historic

Horseshoe-shaped cove where "Night of the Iguana" was filmed. View of Los Arcos.

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8
🦐

Playa Camarones

North zone

Continues where the Malecón ends. Whale watching from the shore in season.

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9
🌇

Playa Del Holi

Hotel zone

Behind La Isla mall. Skyline views at sunset and shopping nearby.

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10

Playa Las Ánimas

Boat-only

Boat-only access. Fresh seafood, banana boat, parasailing and ziplines.

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11
🌴

Playa Yelapa

Rustic

No-roads village with a waterfall and the famous homemade pie sold by the Pie Ladies.

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12
🏝️

Playa Colomitos

Hidden

One of the smallest beaches in Mexico. Hidden paradise tucked into the tropical jungle.

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Keep reading

In-depth beach guides

A map of the coast, public beaches, beaches for kids, flags and safety — in full detail.

The Best Beaches in Puerto Vallarta, Sorted by the Day You Want

Not another ranking: the right beach for your first afternoon, a real swim, a sunset or a day with kids.

9 min read

Map of Puerto Vallarta Beaches: the Coast from North to South

How the bay is actually shaped, in four stretches — and why each beach looks the way it does.

9 min read

Public Beaches in Puerto Vallarta: There Are No Private Ones

What a resort can legally charge you for, what it cannot deny you, and what to do if someone stops you.

9 min read

Puerto Vallarta Beaches for Kids, Organized by Age

Babies, 4-to-9s and teenagers need different beaches. Shade, slope, bathrooms and how far from the car.

13 min read

Quiet Beaches in Puerto Vallarta, Ranked by Effort

Empty sand is a trade, not a secret. Four levels of effort and the comfort you give up at each one.

9 min read

Beach Flags in Puerto Vallarta: Reading the Sea Before You Swim

The colour code, rip currents that do not look dangerous, and what Blue Flag actually certifies.

10 min read

Playa Esmeralda: 200 Metres of Sand and Nothing Scheduled

No restaurants, no loungers, no music. Where it is, how to reach it and what to bring.

9 min read

Playa Garza Blanca: Yes, You Can Go — It Has Its Own Public Access

The beach everyone thinks belongs to the resort. It does not, and the pedestrian entrance is easy to miss.

9 min read

Los Arcos: the Rock That Made the Richest Water in the Bay

Older than the bay itself — the geology behind the arches and what its protected status really means.

9 min read

The Malecón, Hour by Hour: Why Midday Is the Wrong Time

Walk it south to north starting at 4 p.m. and it changes character almost every hour until night takes over.

9 min read

Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta? Five Trips, Five Answers

Same bay, same airport, same sunset — built for different holidays. Which one fits yours.

9 min read

The Best Beaches in Jalisco: 350 km of Coast Beyond Vallarta

Sorted by how much time you have — one day in Cabo Corrientes, a weekend in Chamela, a week down the Costalegre.

9 min read

Want to explore the beaches on a tour?

Yelapa & Majahuitas, Playa Las Ánimas and Hidden Beach are accessible on our boat tours.

See boat tours