10 Best Beaches in Puerto Vallarta

Playa de los Muertos is about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta and offers a vibrant, youthful scene in the Zona Romantica with a lively nightlife and constant parties. It's lined with dozens of restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges, many of which spill right onto the beach so you can put your toes in the sand and enjoy a craft cocktail while dancing to the thumping bass of the latest dance hits.

If you're looking to be in the heart of the action and you want to party with the hippest young crowd, Playa de los Muertos is the place to be. From restaurants and clubs to the calm, clear waters of the Bay of Banderas, it's all right here.

Playa Mismaloya is famed for its appearance in the 1964 film "Night of the Iguana" and offers a marine park, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a tequila tour of town. This beach is located about 50 minutes south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. You can head just offshore to the collection of rocky islands that make up Los Arcos National Marine Park and go scuba diving or snorkeling among endless varieties of colorful sea life.

Lining the shores here are plenty of resorts and restaurants that offer outstanding amenities and pampering. When you're done resting along the sand and clear waters, you can take a tequila tour and go bar hopping in town.

Playa Conchas Chinas is a hidden gem among beaches in Puerto Vallarta and is favored by locals for its gorgeous, untouched sand and waters, and serene surroundings devoid of crowds. This beach is about an hour north of downtown but is lesser known among visitors, making it a great place to go for some peace and quiet in a tropical paradise environment. Here you can see stunning combinations of colors between the forest and mountain backdrop and turquoise waters.

Rock formations create tidal pools, which are great to explore and relax in, and the beach is lined by restaurants. You can also rent equipment and sign up for activities like snorkeling and water sports.

Playa Palmares is about an hour north of downtown and offers a spectacular stretch of powder-soft sugary sand, shallow turquoise waters, and a stunning coastline. This beach is one of the more off-the-beaten-path destinations, and because of this it tends to be less crowded than a lot of the beaches in the Puerto Vallarta region. The beach is easy to access via buses or rideshares, and with an easy jaunt, you can enjoy a narrow stretch of white sand and calm waters.

If you're looking for a secluded spot that's not one of the busier, more crowded beaches in Puerto Vallarta, this is a great option. It's a family-friendly spot where you can just relax and chill.

PlayYelapa a is a day trip from Puerto Vallarta, about 3 hours south of the city, that offers a secluded fishing village that has a truly storybook sense to it. This beach is accessible by boat and sits on a turquoise-green, calm bay with palapa-covered restaurants lining the beachfront and offering up the freshest seafood around. Local fishermen set out for the day here or cast their lines off the pier.

The bay is protected by rocky hills lined with village homes that seem to climb the cliffs, and you can book a stay at a local bed and breakfast for the night. This is a fairy-tale paradise that makes for a superb day away from the city.

Playa Colomitos is south of Puerto Vallarta in Cabo Corrientes and offers a rock-shrouded cove beach with calm waters just outside of a quaint, classic fishing village. Though just 11 miles from downtown, it feels like a whole different world with golden sand and a cascading waterfall erupting from a backdrop of a lavish jungle mountain. You can get here on foot from Boca de Tomatlan or take a water taxi.

This beach doesn't offer any services or amenities, so bring your beach chairs and picnic with you, but it's a true paradise away from the crowds. You can also go hiking up into the jungle to explore the mountains.

Playa Punta Negra is a mere 15 miles south of Puerto Vallarta with a scenic shoreline lined with a few condos but very few vacationers and plenty of amenities. Here you can take a romantic walk on the beach, go swimming, build sandcastles, or hit the waves for some boogie-boarding. You can also hit up the beach vendors to do some souvenir shopping or visit one of the excellent restaurants that line the beach for local dishes and fresh-caught seafood.

If you're looking for a beach that has all the amenities of the famous beaches without the crowds and noise, Playa Punta Negra is a great choice. It's family-friendly and offers shops, restaurants, and tons of amenities.

Playa Camarones is a prime stretch of sand and surf just off the downtown Puerto Vallarta boardwalk with shops, bars, seafood restaurants, and tons of water adventures. Its name means "Shrimp Beach," and it offers outstanding seafood you can enjoy at the restaurants lining the shore. If you're adventurous, you can try your hand at paddleboarding, parasailing, and Jet Skiing. If you're just looking to relax, you won't find softer sand in many other places.

On the southern end of the beach, fly-fishers cast their lines hoping to hook a prime catch. This is a popular and versatile beach with plenty of amenities and adventures to have.

Playa las Caletas is a hidden, private beach that you can only access via water taxi offering a craggy shoreline with hammocks and a backdrop of thick jungle. This beach is fully staffed with pampering amenities. You'll be met by staff ready to serve drinks on the beach and set you up with scuba diving and snorkeling, swimming with sea lions, guided nature walks, and more.

After your day relaxing on the beach, you can take a zip-line ride to race over the beach from above, the kids can take a donkey ride, or you can navigate a swinging bridge at an adventure park right on the beach. It's located along the shoreline to the south of downtown.

Playa de Oro at the northern end of the Hotel Zone is named after a former hotel and offers golden sand, clear waters, and tons of amenities and facilities. This beach has been awarded Blue Flag certification for its clean conditions and amenities. You can go kayaking, waterskiing, take a banana boat ride, or try your hand at parasailing. You can also, of course, go swimming, relax in the sand, or build sandcastles with the kids.

At the entrance to the beach, you can check out an artisan market selling handmade wares from local crafters. The beach is also lined with shops and restaurants. It's all just about 15 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta to the west.