Travel and Leisure Magazine Readers Survey listed Puerto Vallarta as the number one beach in Latin America. There is a pick of shorelines to explore from endless white sandy beaches to mangrove-edged lagoons and tide pools. Beaches where the jungle meets the sea, coves, and hidden private places, even beaches that sit between rugged cliffs.
There are city beaches full of sun worshippers and vendors lined with open-air cafes that fill at dusk to watch some of the most spectacular sunsets on earth. Wilderness beaches on the far edges of the region where wildlife abounds in many forms from the sea and the sky. Puerto Vallarta beaches are the reason why the area is so popular; they are simply put, wonderful. Here are a list of the most popular beaches and websites for more information on resorts or attractions there. If you would like additional information e-mail author of this article.
South Side Beaches:
Mismaloya -Probably the most well know beach due to the filming of Night of the Iguana here in l963. This 500 meter long beach sits at the very edge of the jungle where the Mismaloya creek meets the sea. Several species of wildlife have been spotted here including many different types of birds as well as land animals such as deer, pumas, jaguars, quails, monkeys and armadillos that have been seen in the hills above the beach. The shallow surf makes it a good place to swim and thus popular with families.
There is Jet Ski, para sail, and boat rentals available and so are water taxis to remote beaches. The original movie set is now a restaurant at the far end of the beach and several palapa style eateries line the beach that offer an array of delights for eating and drinking. Mismaloya beach is located 7 miles south of town on highway 200. The entrance is at the bottom of the hill between The La Jolla de Mismaloya Resort and the bridge. http://www.lajollademismaloya.com/ Is the resort website that will show what the beaches look like there. http://www.vallartasouth.com/ Features the south side beach areas of town.
Boca de Tomatlan - A small seaside village cove that sits at the edge of the jungle, 3 miles south of Mismaloya, where the mouth or boca of the Toamtlan river meets the bay, hence its name. This quiet fishing village is the source of most of the fish sold in this area. Fleets of small fishing pangas leave each morning from its shores. Water taxis also leave here for the chain of small remote beaches accessible only by boat. A family owned open-air restaurant serves beach goers to this secret little beach.
