Monday, May 30, 2011

Our Beaches

The 3 natural attractions that make Puerto Vallarta a magical place are, the Sierra Madre Mountains, the rivers coming down the mountains, and the Pacific Ocean with its beaches.
We invite you to enjoy Puerto Vallarta´s beaches, where you will find endless activities to participate in, from scuba diving, walking on the golden sand, viewing humpback whales (in the winter) and dolphins in the near distance, listening to the soothing sound of waves, or, taking in one of Vallarta’s unparalleled sunsets.
Playa de Oro

Located in the north part of the city, Playa de Oro (or Gold Beach) is ample, safe and sandy, bordered by rocky configurations that make it a tranquil beach.

Surrounded by an arch of grand hotels, you’ll be able to enjoy a number of recreational activities and aquatic sports, such as parasailing, waterskiing and swimming. This is one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Vallarta among locals and visitors alike.

Los Muertos Beach

Probably the most famous, the most visited and the most talked about, Los Muertos beach is located at the south end of the Malecón just past the Río. Otherwise known as Old Town or Zona Romántica, the beach here caters to families and honeymooners alike and is a wonderful place to watch a sunset.

Here you will find a variety of restaurants, bars, galleries, clothing stores and souvenir shops, among other attractions, not to mention a large number of locals and foreigners, making this beach area the ideal place for fun and entertainment, day or night.

Las Gemelas Beach (Twin Beach)

Las Gemelas, or The Twins, are a pair of beaches, each approximately 100m in length, distinguished by their fine, white sand, transparent water and gentle waves onshore.

On these two beaches you will find many aquatic activities to choose from. Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, walking, climbing the rocks that divide the beaches and searching among them for crabs as well as sunbathing or relaxing and under palm trees.

Conchas Chinas Beach

Conchas Chinas is one of the most fascinating beaches you’re likely to find in Vallarta. Only a few minutes south of the city nestled between the verdant mountains and the aquamarine waters of the Pacific with pristine, sandy white shores. Enjoy the natural pools formed by encircling rocks, a roasted fish on a stick; relax and enjoy is the motto here. Thanks to the clarity of its waters you’ll be able to see the wide variety of fish and sea life to be found here, an experience you’ll never forget. One of the most pristine beaches in Puerto Vallarta.

Garza Blanca Beach

Garza Blanca beach is not to be missed. There is still public access to it at the side of the developments on it, a road that leads all the way to the beach. It’s a small and discreet beach located at kilometer 7 on the Pacific Coast Highway, just a bit south of Las Gemelas. Its white sand and aquamarine waters are perfect for the photo album. Come, relax, feel and experience the tranquility of this extraordinary place.

Mismaloya Beach

Located at the southernmost point in Puerto Vallarta, Mismaloya lies at the foot of the mountains in its own blue/green bay. If you want to enjoy some of the best views Vallarta has to offer, its roadside vantage points, its hotels, their terraces and several beach restaurants are the best places to see them from.

This beach is famous for having been the one chosen by John Huston to film Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana” in 1964. The ruins of the construction still exist at the far end of the beach. In the rainy season this beautiful river swells to new levels, offering a vast array of flowers and birds for the most avid bird watcher.

National Marine Park Los Arcos

This incredible marine park is situated between Las Gemelas and Mismaloya. Don’t miss the opportunity to boat, snorkel, or SCUBA dive through the deep tunnels, caves, colorful reefs and arches of these amazing islands, and get to know the numerous forms of sea life and birds that make Los Arcos their home. These islands seem to float on the surface of some of the most profound waters of the Pacific. Their unforgettable image will be brought up in your memory whenever you think of Vallarta.

Boca de Tomatlán

Situated among hills, trees and palms. Where the river flows into the Pacific, lies the small fishing village of Boca de Tomatlán, the last beach accessible by land before the highway turns inland. From here you can hire the famous pangas, or water taxis, to take you to the island beaches of Yelapa and Quimixto. Now is the time to get on board and discover more of the Pacific. From Boca de Tomatlán onwards, you will need to take a water taxi to see the rest of Vallarta’s beaches.

Las Ánimas Beach

Las Ánimas is a beach that is distinguished by its golden sand; divided by a line of rock, to the right is the tourist section; to the left is a much more private beach called El Caballito (Little Horse). Behind it stand imposing mountains and before it the Pacific, colored light blue due to its shallow depths, which make it perfect for swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and kayaking. Or if you only want to relax here, you can sunbathe on any of the reclining sun chairs in front of its many restaurants while enjoying fresh seafood.

Quimixto Beach

A somewhat rocky and secluded beach which is settled by a small village of a several hundred families. There are horse and guide hire concessions in town which lead visitors through a small canyon behind the town to a series of waterfalls

Whether arriving here by boat or panga, those seeking new and unique experiences will find the small village of Quimixto to be the spot. Visitors to this beach can either walk or ride a rented horse inland, where you will eventually find a picturesque waterfall with a good size lagoon for swimming or snorkeling.
Discover and enjoy the variety of sea life at Quimixto, where you will see a world of tropical fish, sea turtles, coral, and so much more.

Majahuitas Beach

Majahuitas lies at the foot of a lush jungle, the place to experience some of the area´s wildlife, colored by tones of gentle blue of the Pacific. Wander in this spectacular area, with its inlets and sunken canyon you must see for yourself. Climb aboard an adventure on a kayak, or simply walk along the beach and relax while enjoying the singing of birds.

Yelapa Beach

Do you want to go to a place “where the waters meet and whirl”. That is the meaning of the name Yelapa, a picturesque beachside village inviting to explore its landscapes, about two hours away from Boca de Tomatlán by water taxi. It is a place distinguished by its color, its tradition, its gentle people who, for the most part, dedicate their lives to fishing and tourism. Given that it is a traditional village, you must try its dishes of Mexican food, fresh fish and lobster.

Yelapa, the perfect place to ‘lose’ yourself in the jungle, wade through rivers, or take up sports such as swimming in its gentle water, SCUBA diving or fishing, or taking long walks in the village until you reach its waterfall, more than 50 meters high, that falls from the mountain in the rainy season (June to September). If you´ve had enough of tours and excitement you may simply choose to relax on the beach.

Cabo Corrientes

Continuing along the bay you will soon arrive at Mayto Beach, where you will encounter a variety of plants and animals, as well as the largest sea turtle conservation and release camp in Jalisco. If it’s a meal you’re after, don’t miss Tehuamixtle beach, which is well known for its large oysters and shrimp at low prices, on a small beach 200m long.

Not far from here lies Villa Del Mar beach, where the waves and vibrant green vistas continue to impose themselves. There is an estuary here where you can kayak. If you stay on land, you can sample the variety of locally grown crops, including fresh fruit.

Have fun and enjoy our beaches!

2 comments:

  1. Great list of Beaches !
    Scuba diving is an excellent hobby for underwater naturalists.

    http://www.bestscubapro.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Considering the fact that Los Muertos Beach is one of the top 5 beach destinations for gay/lesbian travelers, I'm surprised we were left out of this article. Long after the families and honeymooners are gone, we are still here.

    ReplyDelete