While spending time in Puerto Vallarta, you are very likely to visit one of the many beaches in the area.
The entire area of Vallarta (and a bit further beyond), features some really incredible, picturesque beaches, great for adventure, building sand castles, and just retiring as many pensioners and ex-pats have done.
You can fulfill all your hopes and dreams of: sitting on the sand and burning your skin away, fattening up on endless buffets and cocktails at resorts, adventure into some coastal jungles and villages, and to touch horses and seeing a fat kid riding a donkey on his way to work (photo included).
In this post, I will cover 4 beaches:
Nuevo Vallarta
Sayulita
Litibu
and the ultimate: Boca De Tomatlan
Beaches of Mexico Map
Nuevo Vallarta, (in the state of) Nayarit , Mexico
If you are staying in central Puerto Vallarta, then getting to Nuevo Vallarta is just a 20-30 minute taxi ride (I recommend an Uber to save about 30%).
Nuevo Vallarta is full of large-scale resorts, and loaded with foreigners on vacation.
The general demographic here is couples in starting in their mid 40s, families who bring their kids, and plenty of pensioners, and ex-pats.
You can tell many of them are from the United States and Canada due to their waist size being quite round (tourists here are fat) 😉
If you are a young adult looking to engage in a robust week of alcoholism and chasing tail, then this is definitely not the place.
A view of a resort on the beach of Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Another resort dots the clear blue seas of Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
An expat walks down the jungle-like streets of Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A local mexican worker uses a rope and custom boots to scale a tree to cut off old branches in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
You can go for a nice Kayak ride down the river in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A small church dots the trees of Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
The natural beauty is preserved by hundreds of hours of labour in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
These homes are rented either permanently or part-time by expats in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A life guard keeps an eye on the beaches in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Sand castles in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A resort in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
You can do para-gliding in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico for a cost of about $50-100 USD
A toy para-glider floats above beach-goers in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
The general demographic in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico is 45+, and slightly overweight ex-pats primarily from Canada and the USA
Business as usual along the beaches in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
You can rent a jet ski in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico for about $50 for a few minutes
Building castles is fun in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Some of these are actually apartments that are ‘time-shared’ or purchased by rich foreigners
An ex-velociraptor hunts for food along the beaches in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Major resorts in the distance in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A young father plays with his offspring in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Dinosaurs fly in the sky’s of Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A fancy resort in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A para-glider floats in the sky, above yellow sands and resorts in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Resorts are continuously being built in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
The clear blue pools of Riu Palace in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico. I stayed here about 10 years ago while on vacation.
The clear blue waters of Riu Palace in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
A bird takes a bath in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Tourists enjoy burning their skin on the beaches of Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
The beautiful architecture of a hotel/apartment complex in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
This hotel/apartment reminds me of a giant cake in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
This well-maintained beauty is well-kept by many labourers in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
Looks exactly like your typical wallpapers of a dream-vacation in Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico
More hotels and apartments for you to visit in the future in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
A local mexican prepares this parachute for any tourists wishing to do para-gliding in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
Mexicans bathing in the sunlight in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
A giant lizard crosses the road in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
Boca De Tomatlan, (in the state of) Jalisco, Mexico (etc)
Boca De Tomatlán (Mouth of the Land with Tomatoes) is, in my opinion more geared towards entry-level adventurers looking for a nice hike along the cliffs and steep hills of the Mexican coast.
In this section, I’m combining several smaller beaches into one album:
Boca De Tomatlan
Colomitos Beach
Playa Las Animas
Quimixto
You have the option of taking high-speed boats (that act like a local bus service) between the different beaches, but the real fun is walking along the coastal cliffs and in between high-away cliff-side and beach hotels.
A view of Boca De Tomatlan
Mexican locals giving directions in Boca De Tomatlan
During this season, the waters are a bit lower in Boca De Tomatlan, Mexico
This is off-season in Boca De Tomatlan, Mexico
There is huge support for tourism from Canada and the United States in Mexico
Dozens of hotels scale the cliffs of Boca De Tomatlan, Mexico
A yacht floats carelessly in Boca De Tomatlan, Mexico
A view of Boca De Tomatlan, Mexico from the cliffs on the other side
Boca De Tomatlan, Mexico Zoomed in
Leonidas facing the waters of Colomitos Beach
Colomitos beach is actually just a small cove. There are still many people here.
A cliff-side view of Colomitos Beach, through the trees
Another small beach along the coast in Mexico
Another small beach along the coast in Mexico
A view of the coast along Banderas Bay, Mexico
Tourist adventurers walking along the coast of Banderas Bay
A lizard sun-tanning on a rock along the coast in Mexico
There was a total of 4-5 lizards tanning on rocks along the coast in Mexico
Arriving in Playa Las Animas (Las Animas Beach) in Mexico
Many boats float around in Playa Las Animas
A very cool sculpture representing the video game Mario
After a long day, it was time to ride back to Boca De Tomatlan in a boat. This is a shot of Colomitos Beach
A hotel along the beach in Mexico
Day 2, going back to Playa Las Animas in Mexico
Tourists boarding small boats to get to their bigger boat in the ocean in Playa Las Animas
Tourists going to the bigger boat in the ocean in Playa Las Animas
Horses for adventure at Playa Las Animas
A mexican flag falling over in Playa Las Animas, Mexico
Finally, the coast of Playa Las Animas, Mexico
Leonidas adventuring in Mexico
Leonidas Adventuring in Mexico
Walking towards Quimixto Beach, Mexico
A donkey used for various purposes in Quimixto Beach, Mexico
Little kids play in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
Little girls play a game in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
Locals gather food in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
Locals gather food in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A mural for a restaurant in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
The simple coast of Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A little fat boy goes to work on his donkey in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
Horses used for adventure hikes in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
Playing with a horse in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A little fat boy returns on his donkey to continue working in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A lonely starving horse seeks food in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A young horse stands by its parents in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A horse with no apparent owner walks around in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
2 more wild horses walk around freely in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A free donkey stands beside a tree in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A waterfall near Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico. I forget the name of it.
The same waterfall that is on a hiking path through Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A wild dog sits by a few horses in anticipation for something wild in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A local woman takes her group of horses back to their home in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A donkey helps transport goods in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
A dog stands watch atop a house in Quimixto Beach Village, Mexico
Litibu, Nayarit, Mexico
This beach is located in a currently under-development area, which will evolve into a massive resort location within 5-10 years.
It is about 30 minutes driving from Nuevo Vallarta, and is only accessible by car.
My friend and I rented a jeep, to visit Litibu, and ultimately, Sayulita.
I wouldn’t say that this beach is prime for swimming, because the waters are a bit intense, but the view of the birds felt almost like National Geographic.
A truck full of locals, on their way to Litibu beach
A cliff-top view of Litibu beach, Mexico
The opposite side of the cliffs in Litibu beach, Mexico
The jeep we rented to visit Litibu beach, Mexico
Despite not having a paved road, there are still many houses and small hotels along the beaches in Litibu beach, Mexico
Litibu beach, Mexico is flocked with hundreds of birds
The birds dive-bomb into the waters to hunt for fish in Litibu beach, Mexico
Litibu beach, Mexico on a different, more relaxing day
Litibu beach, Mexico
Hundreds of birds dive-bomb into the ocean in Litibu beach, Mexico
A pelican hunts for its meal in Litibu beach, Mexico
Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
After visiting Litibu, it was time to visit Sayulita, which was only about 30 more minutes away.
Sayulita is a more popular destination for many tourists, and is a popular little town to stay in as well.
I found that walking around here for a maximum of 2 hours was sufficient, but some foreigners actually live here for months at a time.
To get here, you either take a bus, which can take about 2+ hours, or just rent a car, and arrive within about 1 hour of driving from Nuevo Vallarta.
The roads in Sayulita, Mexico are joined stones, something that apparently is important for this town
A tourist sales corridor to the beach in Sayulita, Mexico
The beach of Sayulita, Mexico is much more popular than Litibu
A little boy searches for his dreams at the beach in Sayulita, Mexico
Birds stand on rocks in Sayulita, Mexico
A view of the hills features small hotels in Sayulita, Mexico
A michelada is one of my most favourite drinks now in Mexico. It’s beer, mixed with clamato, a tangy flavouring, and a rim of sour spice and lime.
Inside a restaurant space in Sayulita, Mexico
Going to the washroom in Sayulita, Mexico
The coast of Sayulita, Mexico
The streets of Sayulita, Mexico
Conclusion
By far, my most favourite beach (and section of beaches) was Boca De Tomatlan, and the hike that you can do along the coast.
I did this hike, in a span of 2 separate occasions, which turned out to be an amazing experience.
On the other hand, if staying in an all-inclusive resort is your thing, then Nuevo Vallarta has everything you need.
I can’t say much about Sayulita, although it has a certain small beach-town charm to it.
If you stay in Vallarta for long enough, you can definitely experience all of them.
Since 2010, Leonidas has been an incredible Web Developer, and amazing Digital Marketer. He is the author of various exciting case studies in digital marketing, most notably in Pay Per Call Marketing.
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