Hike or Boat to Las Ánimas? Comparing the Three Ways to Reach the Beach

No road reaches Playa Las Ánimas, so every visitor makes the same decision: walk in, ride in, or combine the two. The hike to Las Ánimas from Boca de Tomatlán is the most talked-about option, but it is not automatically the best one for your group. This comparison sets the three routes side by side on time, cost, effort and risk, so you can choose before you leave the hotel.

The Short Answer

• Walk one way, boat back if you are reasonably fit and want the best of the day. This is the classic and the one we suggest to most people.
• Boat both ways from Los Muertos Pier if you have small children, a bad knee, or simply came for a beach lunch.
• Boat from Boca if you want the shortest crossing, and the option to walk a piece of the trail from either end.

Route 1: Walking from Boca de Tomatlán

You take a bus or taxi to Boca, cross the river and follow the coast to Las Ánimas. It covers about 5 km, with published figures between 4 and 5 km, and roughly 120 m of total climbing.

• Time: about 2 hours non-stop, 3 to 5 with swims. Add 45 to 60 minutes on the bus.
• Cost: very low. Reported bus fares run from about 10 to 20 pesos each way; a taxi or Uber is roughly 150 to 250 pesos from the south side of town.
• Effort: easy to moderate. The stairs to Colomitos in the first 30 to 45 minutes are the hard part.
• What you get that boat passengers miss: Colomitos, the quiet coves past it, the rock sections beside the surf and the Casitas Maraika stop.

White-and-orange buses signed Boca or Mismaloya usually pick up at Basilio Badillo and Constitución in the Zona Romántica. Check with the driver that yours goes all the way to Boca.

Route 2: Water Taxi from Los Muertos Pier

Boats leave from the pier in the Zona Romántica. You buy a ticket at the stand and ride directly to Las Ánimas, with no bus and no stairs.

• Time: about 20 to 40 minutes each way, depending on the boat and stops.
• Cost: the highest of the three. A recent report puts the round trip at about US$25 to $30 per person. Confirm at the stand, since prices vary by season.
• Effort: none, beyond getting in and out of the boat.
• Drawbacks: departures have gaps of 45 minutes or more, and boats may not run when the sea is rough. Ask for the return time, and note that the last boat from Las Ánimas is usually around 5 pm.

This is the best option with young children or anyone who is not comfortable on narrow ledges. The same pier also serves Yelapa and Quimixto, if you prefer to compare beaches. To explore those further, our guide to quiet beaches covers the alternatives.

Route 3: Water Taxi from Boca de Tomatlán

This is the cheap, short crossing. Take the bus to Boca, then a panga for 10 to 15 minutes to Las Ánimas.

• Time: up to an hour on the bus, plus the short ride.
• Cost: about 100 pesos each way by the most recent report, with older reports at 50 pesos. Agree the price before you board.
• Effort: minimal.
• Bonus: you can walk the easy end of the trail from Las Ánimas toward Casitas Maraika and back, which gives you the coastline without the hard stairs.

Side-by-Side: Which Route Wins

• Cheapest: walking, with the boat back. About 150 pesos of transport per person.
• Fastest door to beach: the boat from Los Muertos.
• Best scenery: walking, by a distance.
• Best with children under seven: either boat.
• Best in a very hot month: a boat in, with a short walk at the easy end.
• Most exposed to weather: all three. Mud affects the walkers, while swell can stop the boats.

What It Costs a Group of Four

Per-person fares hide the real comparison, so here are rough totals for four people using recent reported prices. Your own figures will vary.

• Bus to Boca, walk, panga to Boca, bus home: about 500 to 550 pesos in transport.
• Taxi to Boca, walk, panga to Boca, bus home: about 600 to 700 pesos, with an earlier start.
• Bus to Boca, panga both ways: about 950 pesos, and you skip the trail.
• Boat from Los Muertos, both ways: about US$100 to $120.

The boat from Boca only pays off if someone in your group cannot do the stairs. The Los Muertos boat costs the most, but it also saves a two-hour round trip on the bus, which is worth something on a short vacation.

Which Route Suits Which Traveler

Couples and active friends

Walk in, boat out. The quiet coves are the reason to come, and you can only reach them on foot.

Families with children under seven

Take a boat. The first section includes narrow ledges and tall steps, and strollers are impossible. You can still try the gentler path near Las Ánimas if the kids want to explore.

Older travelers and bad knees

The stairs are harder going down than up for many people, so the boat is the kinder choice. A short out-and-back on the easy end still gives you a taste of the coast.

Photographers

Walk, and start early. The rock sections and high viewpoints are the best views on this shore, and the morning light is on your side.

Lunch-focused visitors

Boat from Los Muertos or Boca. If the goal is grilled fish and a long afternoon on the sand, there is no need to earn it.

The Hybrid Most Guides Skip

You can also run the route in reverse: boat to Las Ánimas in the morning, then walk back to Boca. This has real advantages. You skip the wait at the pier in the afternoon, you have the option of swimming at Colomitos near the end, and you are not depending on a last boat. The drawback is that lunch comes early and the toughest stairs come last, in the heat of the day. It suits fit walkers on cooler days, and it works especially well if you left a car in Boca.

Another good middle ground is simply walking from Boca to Colomitos and back. At about 1.6 km each way, it gives you the jungle, the views and a swim in half a day, without any boat at all.

Four Things That Should Change Your Choice

The season

November to April is ideal for walking, and you may spot humpback whales from the headlands between December and March. From June to October the steps get muddy and afternoon storms build quickly, so walk at dawn or take a boat. See our Puerto Vallarta climate guide.

The sea

Swell and high tide affect the low rock sections of the trail as well as the boats. If the water looks rough at breakfast, ask at the dock before you head out.

Trail conditions after Hurricane Simon

We found no published report on the path since the storm of October 2026. Ask locally whether it is clear, and whether the footbridge at Boca is usable. Some guides mention a bridge, others a crossing further upriver.

Your finishing time

There is no road out. If you walk in, reach the beach with hours of daylight to spare, and confirm the last boat when you arrive.

If You Would Rather Not Organize It Yourself

There are guided options for the same stretch of coast. See the Visita Vallarta tours page for departures on the bay, compare guided Puerto Vallarta tours, or check boat tours and private charters if your group wants a boat for the day. For a detailed look at the beaches themselves, read about Playa Las Ánimas and Playa Colomitos. Other walks are covered in our guide to hiking trails near Puerto Vallarta.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to hike or take a boat to Las Ánimas?

For most fit visitors, walking in and taking a boat back is the best combination. Boats are better with young children, in very hot weather or if you only want a beach day.

How much is the water taxi to Las Ánimas?

From Boca, about 100 pesos each way by recent reports. From Los Muertos Pier, about US$25 to $30 round trip. Both vary, so confirm before you board.

Can you walk back from Las Ánimas instead of taking a boat?

Yes, the trail runs both ways. Allow at least 2 hours and start well before dark.

Do boats run all day?

They run until around 5 or 6 pm, but not on a fixed timetable, and they can stop in rough seas. Ask at the pier when you arrive.

Can I see Colomitos if I go by boat?

Not on the standard water taxi. Colomitos is about 30 to 45 minutes on foot from Boca, or you can hire a private boat.

Which is the best option for children?

A boat, particularly with children under about seven. Older kids who are confident on stairs usually enjoy the walk.