The Best Hidden Beaches in Puerto Vallarta

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Puerto Vallarta is a tourist destination known around the world for its beautiful beaches, exotic jungle, and extraordinary culinary scene. But do you know of any of the hidden beaches in the area that are even more fascinating than the ones that are in plain sight? Now, those are the places you need to visit!

In this article, we’ll reveal some of the top hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta that’ll make you fall in love all over again with this Mexican paradise.

From the remote bliss of Yelapa to the fascinating Marietas Islands, here’s why PV’s one of the best destinations to escape from everyday life and enjoy the simple happiness that nature brings.

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Yelapa

Yelapa is, without a doubt, one of the most stunning beaches in Vallarta. It can only be reached by sea and is completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Banderas Bay.

With calm waves, it's a great place to go snorkeling or follow a small trail up to the beautiful waterfall the area’s known for.

There are also some small restaurants right on the sand here, so you don't need to prepare much. Just sit down and enjoy the delicious fresh food (it pairs well with a piña colada!).

To get to Yelapa you can take a water taxi (known as a panga) from the Los Muertos pier in the Romantic Zone.

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Las Ánimas Beach

Like Yelapa, the only way to get to Las Ánimas is by sea, and you can get here from the Los Muertos pier.

This beach, although hidden, has more movement of people than the rest of the beaches that we’ll mention. Here you’ll find restaurants and a variety of activities such as kayaking, jet skiing, and parasailing.

If you like adventure, here you can find Las Ánimas Adventure Park, a park by the sea with zip lines, suspension bridges, and even a tequila tour!

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Madagascar Beach and Colomitos Beach

These two beaches are a paradise because there really is nothing but nature! No local restaurants, little shops, or vendors… just you, the ocean, and the trees.

To visit them, your first stop is Boca de Tomatlán, a small fishing village south of PV (about a 30-minute car drive). Once there, you must hike along the shore that’ll take you to a line of small hidden beaches that cannot be accessed by car, only on foot or by boat. It’ll take about 10 to 15 minutes to reach these beautiful beaches, and trust us, the walk will be completely worth it!

The beaches are quite quaint, letting you really soak in the natural beauty they offer. Colomitos is really only a stretch of beach less than 30 meters (about 100 feet) long, giving itself the title as "the smallest beach in Jalisco.”

Don’t forget to bring water and some food in case you get hungry, since you really won’t find anything to buy!

To get back to Boca de Tomatlán, you can walk the path again or ask a passing water taxi for a ride.

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Marietas Islands

Last but certainly not least, the Marietas Islands with their impressive "hidden beach" cannot be left off the list.

Due to its rich biodiversity, the Marietas Islands are recognized as a natural wonder and are therefore a protected area. They can only be visited on tour and the number of people admitted per day is restricted, so make sure you reserve your space in advance!

You can only enter its famous hidden beach by swimming through a natural tunnel that forms between the rocks of one of the islands during low tide. Being in there feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Marietas Islands are located in front of Punta Mita, about 1 hour away from Vallarta.

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Puerto Vallarta is a true paradise for beach lovers. With so many beautiful spots to choose from, you'll never be short of a quaint spot to soak up the sun and cool off in the sea.

Vallarta is such a wonderful destination that it’s not only one of the top places to vacation in Mexico, but also to live.

If moving near the sea is a wish you have in mind, we’re here to help you find your new home in paradise. At Tao Mexico, we’re specialists in real estate and we have luxury developments in downtown Puerto Vallarta and in the Marina Vallarta area.

‍Get in touch with us so we can tell you all about the properties we have available. We’re here to help answer any of your questions and guide you through the process until you have the keys to your new dream home in your hands.

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