Hidden Beaches South of Puerto Vallarta
South of Puerto Vallarta, the city begins to disappear surprisingly fast.
Hotels give way to tropical forest, the coastline becomes more dramatic, and small coves and fishing villages appear between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
This stretch of coast is home to some of the most beautiful beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, including Mismaloya and Los Arcos, Boca de Tomatlán, Colomitos, Quimixto and Yelapa.
Some can be reached by road or trail. Others are best reached by boat.
And that is exactly what makes exploring them so much fun.
Getting Here
A Different Side of Puerto Vallarta
Most visitors first experience Puerto Vallarta through its Malecón, hotels and beaches near town.
Travel south, however, and the landscape changes.
The highway follows the mountains above the ocean before reaching small communities such as Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán. Beyond Boca, many of the coast's most attractive beaches are connected primarily by pangas, water taxis and private boats.
That makes this part of Banderas Bay perfect for travelers looking for a quieter day on the water, snorkeling and the feeling of discovering a beach hidden between the jungle and the sea.
Marine Park
Los Arcos de Mismaloya
One of the first landmarks you encounter heading south is Los Arcos de Mismaloya.
These dramatic rocky islets rise directly from Banderas Bay just offshore from Mismaloya and have become one of the most recognizable natural symbols of Puerto Vallarta.
The protected marine area surrounding Los Arcos is one of the region's classic destinations for snorkeling, scuba diving and wildlife observation.
Above the water, the rocks are home to seabirds.
Below the surface, rocky walls and underwater habitats attract tropical fish and other marine life, making Los Arcos one of the easiest places to add a snorkeling experience to a day on the southern coast.
The area's dramatic rock formations also feel connected to Puerto Vallarta's early identity.
Long before the city received its current name in 1918, the settlement was known as Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe, and later simply Las Peñas or Puerto Las Peñas.
Today, Los Arcos continues that visual connection between Puerto Vallarta and the rocky coastline that surrounds it.
The Gateway
Boca de Tomatlán: Gateway to the Hidden Beaches
About 20 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta by road, Boca de Tomatlán is a small fishing village set where the Horcones River meets the ocean.
Unlike many of the beaches farther south, Boca is easy to reach by car, taxi or public transportation.
But for many travelers, Boca is not the final destination.
It is the gateway.
Small pangas and water taxis depart from its beach toward Colomitos, Las Ánimas, Quimixto, Majahuitas and Yelapa, making it one of the most important jumping-off points for exploring Puerto Vallarta's southern coastline.
Boca itself is worth spending some time in.
The beach is compact, local restaurants sit close to the water and the atmosphere still feels much more like a fishing community than a resort area.
It is also the starting point for the coastal hiking trail that leads toward Colomitos and other beaches farther south.
Hidden Cove
Colomitos: A Tiny Jungle Cove
Colomitos is one of the smallest and most photogenic beaches near Puerto Vallarta.
Tucked between steep green hillsides, this tiny cove has clear emerald water and a narrow stretch of sand surrounded by tropical vegetation.
Official tourism information highlights its gentle water and suitability for swimming, snorkeling and diving.
You can reach Colomitos in just a few minutes by panga from Boca de Tomatlán.
Or you can walk.
The coastal trail from Boca takes roughly 40 minutes at a relaxed pace and offers beautiful views through tropical vegetation before descending to the beach.
Arriving from the water, however, gives Colomitos an entirely different feeling.
From a boat, the beach suddenly appears between the forested cliffs — exactly the kind of place people imagine when they hear "hidden beach in Puerto Vallarta."
Waterfall & Jungle
Quimixto: Beach, Jungle and Waterfall
Continue south and you reach Quimixto, a small coastal village located between Las Ánimas and Majahuitas.
Its beach has clear emerald water and conditions suitable for snorkeling and diving, while during parts of the year the waves also attract surfers.
But Quimixto offers something the smaller coves do not:
a village and a waterfall.
From the beach, visitors can walk through the community and follow a trail through tropical vegetation toward the Quimixto waterfall.
This combination makes Quimixto a great stop for travelers who want more than just a few hours on the sand.
Swim. Walk through the village. Head into the jungle. Visit the waterfall.
Then return to the beach for lunch before boarding your boat again.
For a private boat itinerary, Quimixto works particularly well because it combines several different experiences in one destination.
The Classic Escape
Yelapa: The Classic Escape
Farther along the coast lies Yelapa, perhaps the most famous of Puerto Vallarta's boat-accessible villages.
Nestled against the Sierra Madre Mountains, Yelapa is approximately 45 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta by boat and is traditionally reached from the sea.
The arrival alone is part of the experience.
Boats enter a wide green bay surrounded by mountains, while the village climbs into the tropical landscape behind the beach.
The main beach is broad enough to spend the day swimming, kayaking, snorkeling or relaxing beneath a palapa.
Walk farther into town and you can explore small paths, local restaurants and another waterfall.
Yelapa has long attracted travelers looking for something different from the larger resorts around Banderas Bay. Official tourism information describes its relaxed and somewhat bohemian character, shaped in part by artists and musicians who have made the village their home.
It is close enough for a day trip, but it feels much farther away.
Private Boat
Why Explore the Southern Beaches by Private Boat?
Water taxis are an easy way to reach many of these beaches.
But a private boat tour from Puerto Vallarta offers something different:
freedom.
You can spend more time snorkeling at Los Arcos. Stop at Colomitos before it gets busy. Have lunch in Quimixto. Continue toward Yelapa. Or simply find a quiet cove and jump into the water.
There is no need for every trip to follow exactly the same route.
For families, couples or small groups, this flexibility is one of the best ways to experience the southern coastline.
It transforms the day from transportation between attractions into a real exploration of Banderas Bay's hidden beaches.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling Along Puerto Vallarta's South Coast
The rocky shoreline south of Puerto Vallarta creates many opportunities for snorkeling.
Los Arcos is the most established snorkeling area, while protected coves such as Colomitos offer clear water when conditions are favorable. Quimixto and Yelapa also provide opportunities to get into the water and explore the coast.
As always in the ocean, visibility and sea conditions change from day to day.
That is another advantage of going with an experienced local captain or naturalist guide: they can help choose the best location based on that day's conditions.
Quick Guide
Which Beach Should You Visit?
Choose Los Arcos if snorkeling and marine life are your priority.
Choose Boca de Tomatlán if you want to experience a small fishing village or begin a coastal hike.
Choose Colomitos if you are looking for a tiny jungle cove and beautiful clear water.
Choose Quimixto if you want beach, village and waterfall in the same outing.
Choose Yelapa if you want to spend most of the day exploring a remote coastal community.
Or don't choose just one.
A private boat makes it possible to combine several of them into a single day.
The Big Picture
Beyond the Beaches
What makes the southern coast of Puerto Vallarta memorable is not one particular beach.
It is the landscape connecting them all.
The Sierra Madre Mountains fall almost directly into Banderas Bay, leaving small pockets of sand between forest, rivers and rocky coastline.
There are few large roads.
Many communities still look toward the ocean as their easiest connection to the rest of the bay.
And traveling between them by boat lets you see Puerto Vallarta from a completely different perspective.
Explore With Us
Explore the Hidden Beaches with Ecotours Vallarta
For travelers who want to explore beyond the usual beaches, Ecotours Vallarta can combine snorkeling, nature and the coastal communities south of Puerto Vallarta into private experiences around Banderas Bay.
Spend the day around Los Arcos. Look for a quiet cove. Swim at Colomitos. Walk through Quimixto. Continue toward Yelapa.
The itinerary is part of the adventure.
Because sometimes the best beaches in Puerto Vallarta are the ones you have to leave Puerto Vallarta to find.