Playa Conchas Chinas

A string of rocky coves just south of Old Town — calmer, clearer and quieter than Los Muertos.

By Sam Med · Last updated September 2026

Puerto Vallarta, March 2023. Photo: Another Believer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Just south of Zona Romántica, past the point, Playa Conchas Chinas is a series of small coves separated by rock formations. The rocks shelter the water, so it's calmer and clearer than the open beach at Los Muertos — the best spot near Old Town for a quiet swim or a bit of snorkelling.

What it's like

Small pockets of sand between rocky outcrops, tide pools to explore, and generally far fewer people than the town beach. Some coves sit below smart villas and a boutique hotel or two, but the beach itself is public, like all beaches in Mexico. It's more about scenery and calm water: there are no beach clubs, no rows of loungers and few vendors. A couple of restaurants sit above the coves, but facilities are minimal compared with Los Muertos, so bring your own water, snacks, a towel and anything you need for the day. The absence of infrastructure is precisely what keeps it quiet.

Getting there

It's a short taxi or a southbound bus ride from Old Town, or a walk if you're up for it. The commonest frustration here: the coves sit below private villas and the access points are easy to miss. Signed public stairways and walkways run between the properties down to the sand — look for the beach-access signs off the main coastal road. Once down, you can often walk between adjacent coves at low tide.

Swimming and snorkelling

This is why people come. The rock formations break the Pacific swell, which makes this the only worthwhile shore snorkelling in the city.

Come at low tide for the most sand and the best tide pools.
Bring water shoes — the entry is rocky, and there are urchins in places.
Pack a snorkel; the sheltered water around the rocks is good for a look.

Conchas Chinas vs Los Muertos

	Conchas Chinas	Los Muertos
Water	Sheltered, clear, calm	Open surf, currents
Crowd	Few people	Busy, sociable
Service	Almost none	Beach clubs, vendors, food
Sand	Small pockets between rocks	A long continuous stretch
Getting there	Short taxi or bus	Walk from Old Town

Most visitors end up doing both: Los Muertos for the atmosphere, Conchas Chinas for the swim.

Staying here

Conchas Chinas has some of the best-value villas and boutique hotels in the city, many with sweeping bay views — see luxury hotels. The trade-off is the same as Amapas: steep access, and you'll ride into town for dinner.