Playa Palmares is a splendid example of the seemingly endless beauty that Jalisco, Mexico offers visitors. It is located around 7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles) from the city of Puerto Vallarta and can be easily visited by car or city bus.
Boca Beach, Boca de Tomatlan
Boca Beach is a spectacular stretch of sand that is situated at the mouth of the Horcones River in the small Jalisco village of Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico. The beach is divided into two sections with the river in the middle, and the Malecon on the north side.
Playa Amapas, Puerto Vallarta
Playa Amapas is a small but gorgeous beach that is situated in the Zona Romantica section of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and lies south of the Cuale River in the state of Jalisco. It sits right next to the most popular beach in the area, Playa Los Muertos, and is a just short hike on a steep trail that leads beachgoers over the El Púlpito rock formation and down again. From the trail, there are sprawling panoramic views on both sides for the perfect photo op.
Playa Yelapa
Playa Yelapa is one of the most secluded and beautiful beaches in all of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Most visitors to Mexico haven't even heard of Yelapa and it has been well hidden and off the beaten path as it has no road access and requires a 1-hour boat ride from Puerto Vallarta to visit its pristine shores. The village is quaint, beautiful, and is perfectly tucked into the tall jungle-covered mountains of the Sierra Madre. No cars, no stoplights, and no high rise can be found in Yelapa making it an excellent place for a quiet beach getaway.
Playa San Pancho
Playa San Pancho is a spectacular stretch of fine white sand and is the main attraction of a town called San Francisco or San Pancho as it is more commonly referred to as. San Pancho lies along the coast of Mexico on the Pacific Ocean side of the country in the beautiful state of Nayarit. The town is close neighbors with the popular surfing destination known as Sayulita and is a short around ten-minute drive away.
Playa Malpaso, Nayarit
Playa Malpaso is a gorgeous beach in Mexico that lies on the coast of the popular Bay of Banderas. It sits between the seaside villages of Sayulita and San Francisco(San Pancho). The beach can only be accessed by either boat or hiking in from one of the two towns, and most beachgoers choose to do the hike. The beach is still untouched by commercialization and as such there are no resorts, bars, or even houses, which makes visiting Playa Malpaso a pleasant and relaxing experience
Playa Varadero, Nuevo Vallarta
Playa Varadero is a beautiful stretch of sand that is located in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, and shouldn’t be confused with the popular vacation destination of Cuba. The beach is situated along the coast of the Bay of Banderas and lies right next to the Nuevo Vallarta Marina. It is just one of many gorgeous beaches in the Mexican state of Nayarit but is home to a whole host of excellent amenities
Playa Los Muertos, Puerto Vallarta
Playa Los Muertos is the most popular beach in all of Puerto Vallarta and lies on the beautiful shores of the Bay of Banderas in the Zona Romantica area. It is the vacation destination of many travelers who are visiting the state of Jalisco, Mexico, as there is so much to see and do. It boasts many amazing beachfront resorts that cater to all types of budgets and the beach features a plethora of fun-filled activities for people of all ages. The Zona Romantica area is especially popular among the LGBTQ community and is a great beach vacation for the whole family.
Playa Las Animas
Playa Las Ánimas is a picturesque vacation destination that lies along the beautiful shores of the Bay of Banderas in the southern zone of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It features a lovely sandy beach with fairly gentle waves and boasts excellent amenities like beach resorts, vendors, restaurants, and places to shop for locally crafted souvenirs. Aside from the commercialization, Las Animas is actually a quaint little Mexican village with no road access that is perfectly tucked into a lush mountainside covered with vibrant green jungle vegetation.
Playa Caballo
Playa Caballo (Horse Beach) is situated south of the popular vacation destination known as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It is one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the Mexican state of Jalisco and is somewhat isolated, in a good way. The beach can only be reached via water taxi or by taking the arduous, but exciting coastal hiking trail. The trail leads hikers through the jungle and gives them the opportunity to stop at several epic attractions along the way.
Playa Colomitos
Playa Colomitos is one of the most secluded and beautiful beaches in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, and is a must-visit for anybody visiting the village of Boca de Tomatlan or the Puerto Vallarta area. This incredible beach is perfectly tucked into the Sierra Madre Mountains and lies on the gorgeous shores of the Bay of Banderas. Playa Colomitos could be described as a short stretch of pristine sand that lies in a picturesque rocky cove backed by a jungle ravine with a small creek that empties out into the ocean.
Playa La Lancha
The name Playa La Lancha conjures up positive vibes mixed with raw adrenaline to those who are in the know. A true surfers hideaway and adventure seekers paradise that is tucked away in the jungles of Nayarit, Mexico, and is perfectly situated on the northern shores of the Bay of Banderas near the lovely village of Punta de Mita. Once you make your way to Playa La Lancha, if you don’t already have a surfboard, there is a surfboard rental shop WildMex Surf & Adventure.
Playa Las Gemelas, Puerto Vallarta
Escape the busy beaches and murky waters of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and head south of the city to find true peace and beauty at places like Playa Las Gemelas in the Conchas Chinas area. The beach is actually two beaches, which is where the name Las Gemelas (The Twins) actually comes from. They are both short stretches of near-perfect white sand lined by resorts like the Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta and the Condiminios Girasol Sur and are open to the public by entering a beach access point on the north beach.
Playa Sayulita, Nayarit
Playa Sayulita is a long stretch of gorgeous sand that is situated in the town of Sayulita, Mexico. It is one of many popular spots along the Riviera Nayarit and brings in a ton of surfers looking to catch that near-perfect wave. The beach is divided into two sections the south beach and the north beach which are divided by the Sayulita River that runs out into the Pacific Ocean. The south end of the beach is where most of the action takes place and tends to be quite busy at times.
Playa Carricitos, Nayarit
During your visit to Sayulita, Mexico you’ll probably feel the need to escape from the hustle and bustle of the busier beaches like Playa Sayulita or Playa de Los Muertos. One of the best remedies to the overcrowded downtown beaches is the picture-perfect getaway of Playa Carricitos, one of Riviera Nayarit’s most beautiful hidden gems. Playa Carricitos is located on the other side of the peninsula of Punta Sayulita and takes around 45-60 minutes walking, depending on where in Sayulita you’re starting from.
Playa Punta de Mita
Playa Punta de Mita is a beach located along the coast of Mexico’s Bay of Banderas in the small village of the same name, Punta de Mita. Considered a part of the Mexican state of Nayarit, Punta de Mita attracts many visitors from the Puerto Vallarta area who come to witness the amazing beauty of the region.
Playa Bucerias, Nayarit
Playa Bucerias is a beach that is situated in the popular resort town of Bucerias which lies in between the towns of Nuevo Vallarta and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. It is a long and gorgeous stretch of sandy beach that sits on the edge of Banderas Bay in the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico. Being one of the longest beaches in Banderas Bay means Playa Bucerias has a ton of fun for the whole family to enjoy.
Playa de Los Muertos, Sayulita
Playa de Los Muertos is one of Sayulita, Mexico’s most prized possessions, and is a must-see attraction when visiting the Riviera Nayarit. Known to be one of Sayulita’s quieter and less crowded beaches, Playa de Los Muertos is the perfect day trip away from the crowds like the ones that gather at Playa Sayulita. The beach is situated in a crescent-shaped cove with rocky outcroppings and gorgeous mountain jungle scenery.
Playa La Manzanilla, Nayarit
Playa La Manzanilla is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach that features lovely white sand and is around 1 km long. It is located in the small fishing village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle (La Cruz) in Mexico and is just a short drive from its larger neighbor Bucerias.