Weekend Beaches to Visit

For expats and nationals, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta in Riviera Nayarit are top coastal cities to live in. It’s easy to see why, because Puerto Vallarta has some of the best beaches in the area. The Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay provides a beautiful backdrop, mesmerizing scenery and tons of great beaches for those lucky enough to live there. Are you wanting to kick back and relax on the soft sands drinking a delicious cocktail or just watching people in the water? You can do that in Puerto Vallarta as there is a beach that will meet all of your needs. To learn more about the best beaches in Puerto Vallarta, continue to read below.

Playa Los Muertos: Action and Excitement

Do you want to be surrounded by excitement and action, and you don’t mind crowds? If you do, then Playa Los Muertos is the perfect weekend beach to visit. Playa Los Muertos Beach is easy to find as it is the main beach in town located by the Puerto Vallarta Malecon Boardwalk and Pier. The Playa Los Muertos Beach is walking distance to many different shops and restaurants in Old Town, Puerto Vallarta, and this beach is the most popular in Puerto Vallarta. Playa Los Muertos Beach is perfect for people who want to enjoy the warm sun and enjoy mingling with the crowds. There are also restaurants that provide tables with shade right on the beach, too. Are you an adrenaline junkie and looking for something exciting to do? You can go parasailing, jet skiing, and water skiing, then take a spin on the big yellow banana boat for a fun, yet silly ride. The Puerto Vallarta pier was specially designed to resemble a sailboat, and once dusk arrives, the lights on the pier create an illuminated, romantic atmosphere.

Conchas Chinas: Quiet and Beautiful

Are you wanting to go to a beach that isn’t crowded, but instead quiet and beautiful? If you are, then Conchas Chinas Beach is the perfect beach spot for you. Conchas Chinas Beach will get you away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The waters are spectacular as they are a clear turquoise blue, and the sands are white and soft. Since the waters are so clear, the ocean waters are perfect for swimming, but the area can have strong undercurrents from time to time so stay aware. At the southern edge of the beach, you will find several shallow tide ponds, and you can watch fish and crabs just enjoying the water there. You will want to make sure you bring a picnic when you come to the Conchas Chinas Beach as there aren’t any restaurants on the beach. At the top of the stairs above the beach, you can find a few port-a-potties if you need to use the restroom. A day at the Conchas Chinas Beach will create memories that you and your family and friends can remember for many years. Living in paradise is pretty sweet, isn’t it?

Playa Palmares: A Favorite Beach with Locals

Playa Palmares Beach is a favorite beach with the locals. The Playa Palmares Beach is located on Conchas Chinas southern edge, right below a condominium complex that has the same name. Guests to the beach can use the stairs that are located off of the main highway and the stairs lead straight to the Playa Palmares Beach. Usually, the beach isn’t crowded and the water is crystal clear, which makes it great for swimming. There are no public bathrooms at the Playa Palmares Beach, but some of the local hotels have restaurants. Plan ahead and bring a picnic with you when you are visiting this beach.

Boca de Tomates: Unusual Beach Experience

The Boca de Tomates Beach is ideal if you are wanting an unusual and authentic Vallarta beach experience. The Boca de Tomates Beach sands are black, and many visitors are just not used to this. To get to the Boca de Tomates Beach, you will have to drive a few miles on a dirt road, but it is just a few minutes from the Puerto Vallarta Airport. The Boca de Tomates Beach is home to many local wildlife such as crocs and iguanas. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best beach for swimming because of the dark sands, but visitors can enjoy the wildlife and the sea turtles. The sea turtles come to this beach every year to lay their eggs, then when the baby sea turtles have hatched, the conservationists will release the baby sea turtles to the sea. This is amazing to watch and a fun experience for the whole family. On the beach there are numerous seafood restaurants where you can dine and get something cold and delicious to drink. It has been said that the best pescado zarandeado and shrimp ceviche can be found here at one of the little restaurants on this secluded beach.

Playa Colomitos: Beauty and Adventures

Playa Colomitos Beach is the beach for you if you are in search of beauty and adventure. Visitors can go on a tour of the bay on a boat, as there are several small beaches just south of Puerto Vallarta where visitors can only reach by boat. The Playa Colomitos Beach is perfect for visitors looking for relaxation among nature and adventure. To get to the Playa Colomitos Beach, you will need to take a taxi ride to Boca de Tomatlan, and this is usually about a twenty-minute journey from Old Town Puerto Vallarta. Then in Boca de Tomatlan, you will take a water taxi which lasts approximately fifteen minutes until you arrive at Playa Colomitos Beach. The sands on this beach are white and soft, and the waters are a bluish green color. The waters are clear and ideal for swimming. Before you travel to this beach, you may want to make reservations at the Ocean Grill Restaurant, which is a lovely and elegant open air restaurant next to the beach. They provide fresh and tasty cuisine that comes with an amazing view of the ocean.

Did you enjoy the information that we have provided on the best weekend beaches to visit in Puerto Vallarta? Are you a long time Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta resident or a new expat in town? If so, you should see how many of these beaches you can visit, then let us know which one was your favorite.

Recommended: Check out our Villa La Estancia Real Estate Discovery Program

Top Family Beaches in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta offer great beaches that you should not miss when you spend your vacations or choose to live in Banderas Bay, Mexico. The beaches in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta provide the most picturesque views, with cool blue waters and yellow sand. There are many beaches that are perfect for swimming as well as beaches that have shallow waves where supervised children and families can enjoy the waters and go frolicking on the shorelines.

The beach at Villa La Estancia, called Nuevo Vallarta beach, is one of the most beautiful in Banderas Bay and stretches for miles. The water here is relatively shallow for playing in the waves and body boarding, and the sweeping coastline is great for walking with a partner or running in the morning or in the early evening out of the midday sun. Sometimes, you will see turtles arrive to the beach to lay eggs and dolphins jumping in the distance.

Some beaches to the north of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta have gigantic waves where surfing can be truly pleasurable and challenging. Banderas Bay’s wide coastline is ideal for many outdoor activities like beach volleyball, frisbee throwing, running and camping. Don’t limit yourself by visiting just one beach; there are many of them guaranteed to make you smile.

Besides your beach at Villa La Estancia Residences, here is a list of the top family beaches in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta that you can visit:

  1. Sayulita Beach
  2. About half an hour’s drive from Villa La Estancia, you will find Sayulita, the coolest and hippest beach in the area. It offers more than just a gorgeous beach, but an active tropical lifestyle that would blow you away. It is a surfer’s paradise, with huge waves as well as areas safe for learning to surf. It is teeming with world class surfers and surf shops abound. But it is not just surfers who can have a good time in Sayulita; it boasts of a very wide beach with restaurants and bars offering services.

    What makes Sayulita truly special aside from a wonderful beach life is the different environment that you can experience. There are restaurants where you can gorge on Mexican food and delicacies, as well as a farmer’s market on Fridays. You will also find a number of beachwear designer stores and signature shops that will satisfy your shopping cravings and make you think of San Francisco in the late 60s / 70s. Lastly, don’t miss the nightlife for a bohemian night out.

    Sayulita Beach
    Source: Flickr.com

  3. Punta Mita Beach at the Anclote
  4. North of Nuevo Vallarta, you will find Punta Mita, a laid back, serene place to enjoy a day at the beach. This beach is more reminiscent of a mediterranean beach resort, an ideal hideaway from the boisterous and clogged city life. Relaxation and peace can be achieved here, erasing the hassles and pressures of life. Get a sling chair, sip your favorite cocktail and feel the tranquility of its air while treating yourself to a sumptuous dinner of fresh marlin or grilled tuna.

    Although Punta Mita is a relatively small and quiet beach, there are cozy restaurants, stores and surf schools that will heat up your stay, offering a unique choice for your vacation or day trip. Punta Mita is the best for people watching and soaking up a totally different atmosphere that will energize and invigorate any listless soul. Shallow and blessed with marine life like colorful corals and different fish species, its waters are ideal for snorkeling and is a feast for any snorkeler or scuba diver’s eyes. Watch out for starfish and squid.

  5. Camarones Beach, Puerto Vallarta
  6. One of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular beaches. It is located on the North side of the Malecon. It has a wide beach and a long stretch of shoreline that can host a large number of visitors. Order and safety are a priority; lifeguards are all over the area during the busy seasons of summer. People who have a knack for tasting tropical delicacies would surely love this place. Vendors that sell fish, shrimps, fruits and other delicious snacks is a sure hit for hungry appetites.

    Because of its wide shores, active bodies who are into beach volleyball and other outdoor activities are an instant shoot at Camarones Beach. You could work up a sweat by competing in beach running or try frisbee throwing. There are still a lot more you can do at this beach resort that would result in complete family fun and entertainment.

    It is not the most sophisticated beach in Puerto Vallarta, but here you will really see how local Mexican’s enjoy the beach, especially if you go on Sundays.