Las Ánimas Beach
The most popular of the boat-only beaches: a water taxi or a jungle walk from Boca de Tomatlán, with Quimixto's waterfall one cove further.
South of Puerto Vallarta the road ends at Boca de Tomatlán. Beyond it, the shore of Banderas Bay is cliffs and jungle with a string of coves that no road reaches. Las Ánimas is the first of the larger beaches along it, and the busiest: a long strip of sand with restaurants, a pier and water sports. Most people come by water taxi from Boca; others walk the coastal trail and take the boat back. One cove further, Quimixto has a village and a waterfall, and Majahuitas is a small snorkelling cove now run as a beach club. For the whole coast, see the south shore.
At a glance
| Where | South shore of Banderas Bay, 4.7 km along the coast from Boca de Tomatlán; no road access |
|---|---|
| By boat | Water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán, or fewer, pricier boats from the Los Muertos pier |
| On foot | Coastal trail from Boca, 1.5–2 hours one way, moderately challenging |
| On the beach | Palapa restaurants, chairs with a purchase, a pier, banana boats and parasailing |
| Water quality | Not rated unfit in any COFEPRIS round since 2024 |
Getting to Boca de Tomatlán
Boca de Tomatlán is a fishing village on Highway 200, 18–20 km south of town, where the Horcones river meets the sea. City buses marked Boca or Mismaloya leave from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Constitución in Old Town, by the OXXO, every 15–20 minutes; the ride takes 30–40 minutes, past Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya, and Boca is the end of the line. Pay the driver in cash, in small change; see buses. A taxi from town costs roughly MXN 300–450 and takes 25–35 minutes. If you drive, there is a private car park in the village (MXN 100 in late 2024).
The water taxi
From the beach at Boca, open pangas run to Las Ánimas, Quimixto and on to Yelapa, roughly every hour from about 8 a.m. You pay the boatman, in pesos. Fares are not regulated and quotes vary by operator; these are the one-way prices reported most recently:
| From Boca de Tomatlán to… | Reported fare, one way |
|---|---|
| Las Ánimas | About MXN 100 (2024–2026); some operators ask 120 |
| Quimixto | About MXN 100–150 |
| Yelapa | About MXN 120 (240 return) |
The last boat back is the thing to get right: usually around 5 or 6 p.m., earlier from Quimixto, and it depends on the season. Ask your boatman when you arrive, and don't count on a later one.
From the Los Muertos pier in Zona Romántica there are boats too, which saves the bus ride but costs more: return tickets have been quoted at MXN 400–550, with only a few departures a day, mostly late morning, and a return ticket is valid only with the company that sold it. These boats call at Las Ánimas on the way to Quimixto and Yelapa.
Or walk: the coastal trail
A path follows the coast from Boca de Tomatlán through jungle and over headlands, past the small coves of Colomitos (2.2 km) and Playa Madagascar, to Las Ánimas (4.7 km) and on to Quimixto (8.1 km), using the city's figures for its trail project. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to Las Ánimas. The first stretch has steep steps and some scrambling; it gets easier after Madagascar. There is no fee to walk it; there are no toilets on the way (there's a paid one in Boca), so bring water and start early, before the heat. Walk out, eat on the beach, and take the water taxi back. More detail, and the other walks around town, in hikes and viewpoints.
Las Ánimas: the beach
Las Ánimas is a long beach with gentle waves, generally good for swimming, with a pier in the middle where the boats come in. It is lined with palapa restaurants; as on most beaches here, the chairs and umbrellas belong to them, and ordering food or drinks gets you a seat, plus the showers and toilets. A meal with drinks was quoted at about MXN 300–400 a head in 2026. Some restaurants take cards; bring cash anyway, for the boat. Banana boats and parasailing operate from the sand, and a separate adventure park behind the beach has ziplines.
Quimixto and its waterfall
Quimixto, the next cove, is a fishing village of about 400 people with no road. The draw is the waterfall on the La Puerta river, roughly 10 m high, just over a mile inland: about 30 minutes' walk each way on an easy path with shallow river crossings. There is no entry fee, but the restaurant at the falls expects you to buy something if you sit or swim. Horses can be hired for the ride up (MXN 250 in recent reports); some guides advise against it for the animals' sake, and the walk is easy. Boats back to Boca can stop earlier here, around 5 p.m.
Majahuitas
Majahuitas is a small cove about 2 km west of Quimixto, reachable only by boat, with a reef and small underwater caves that make it good for snorkelling. It used to be a tiny eco-resort of eight casitas without electricity; that closed — in 2018, according to most accounts — and the cove is now used by Vallarta Adventures for a beach-club day and weekend parties. Most visits are now part of a paid tour; ask at Boca whether water taxis still drop off there. Mexican law makes beaches public and forbids blocking access to them; we couldn't establish how that works in practice at Majahuitas.
Tours that include Las Ánimas
Many boat tours combine Los Arcos snorkelling, Las Ánimas and Quimixto in a day. Published 2026 prices from activity desks give an idea:
| Tour | Price (adult) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Los Arcos, Las Ánimas & Quimixto | About US$96 | 8 hours, breakfast, lunch at Las Ánimas, open bar; dock fee and horse extra |
| Yelapa waterfall & Majahuitas | About US$99 | 7 hours, plus a US$20 access fee and a dock fee |
| Majahuitas beach club | About US$129 | 6 hours, all-inclusive, plus a port fee |
A tour buys convenience, food and drink. If you only want the beach, the bus and a water taxi cost a fraction. How to judge any boat trip: boat tours and day trips.
Before you go
- Cash in pesos for the bus, the boat and tips. Don't count on finding a cash machine once you leave Boca.
- Weather. Storms in June 2025 brought landslides onto Highway 200, with Boca among the worst-hit spots. In the rainy season, check the road and the sea before setting out.
- Rivers. The Horcones at Boca runs highest from June to October; pangas take visitors up it to natural pools when the water allows.
- Water quality. Las Ánimas and Quimixto passed COFEPRIS's tests in every round since 2024; see beaches for how to check the latest.
Frequently asked
How do you get to Las Ánimas beach?
By water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán, about MXN 100 one way, or from the Los Muertos pier in town, which is pricier and less frequent. You can also walk the 4.7 km coastal trail from Boca in 1.5 to 2 hours and take a boat back.
How do you get to Boca de Tomatlán?
Take the city bus marked Boca or Mismaloya from Basilio Badillo and Constitución in Old Town; it is the end of the line, 30 to 40 minutes away. A taxi takes 25 to 35 minutes.
What time is the last water taxi back from Las Ánimas?
Usually around 5 or 6 p.m., depending on the season, and earlier from Quimixto. Ask your boatman when you arrive.
Is the hike from Boca de Tomatlán to Las Ánimas hard?
Moderately. It takes 1.5 to 2 hours, with steep steps and some scrambling at the start, then easier going. There is no fee and no toilets along the way; bring water and start early.
Is Quimixto worth it?
If you want a waterfall: it is about 30 minutes' walk inland from the beach, on an easy path. The village is quieter than Las Ánimas, but boats back leave earlier.
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