The South Shore
Where the road runs out and the best beaches begin — reachable only by boat.
South of Puerto Vallarta, past the village of Boca de Tomatlán, the coastal road ends and the shore turns wild — a string of jungle-backed coves and villages reachable only by boat. This is where you go to escape the city.
The beaches and villages
- Yelapa — the best-known: a car-free village with waterfalls.
- Las Ánimas — a wide sandy beach with palapa restaurants and watersports.
- Quimixto — a small cove with a waterfall hike inland.
- Majahuitas & Colomitos — tiny, secluded coves; Colomitos is billed as Mexico's smallest beach.
- Las Caletas — the private cove used for Rhythms of the Night.
How to get there
Take a water taxi from the Los Muertos pier or, cheaper and quicker, from Boca de Tomatlán (a short bus ride south). Many day trips also visit the south shore by boat. Bring cash and check return times — see getting around.
The south shore has Puerto Vallarta's most beautiful beaches precisely because you can't drive to them. Even a half-day by water taxi feels like a proper escape.