Sayulita
Bucerias is nearby so many cute little Mexican towns, which means it can be a great home base for other adventures. Sayulita is an adorable hippie/surfer paradise, but it can become overrun with tourists during high season. If you’d like to try somewhere else, San Pancho is another nearby town that can be a great stop to stroll cute shops and to spend the day on the beach.
Nuevo Vallarta
With 5 kilometers (3 mi) of golden beaches, luxurious resorts & condominiums, multiple golf courses, and first-class infrastructure, Nuevo Vallarta is considered one of the best beach destinations in Mexico. It actually has the 2nd highest number of hotels and resorts in the country (after Cancun, of course). In addition to all of that, it has very exclusive restaurants and two of the country’s most important marinas.
Nestled between Puerto Vallarta and Bucerias, this master-planned resort & condominium community features some of the most luxurious vacation home rentals and hotels such as the Mayan Palace, Dreams Villamagna, and Paradise Village. The newest addition to the area is the Grand Luxxe at Vidanta which received the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award. Beachside, all-inclusive, short-term, or long-term stays, there is something for everyone in this town. There is even a U.S. Consulate located within the community at the Paradise Plaza Mall.
Destiladeras
This is truly one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the bay, and it is great for surfing or boogie boarding. $100 MXN for parking and $250 MXN for a table and beach chairs.
Litibu
Beautiful almost-virgin beach with fine white sand and calm waves. Off the beaten path, but definitely worth the drive. There is also a great hike nearby to the top of Monkey Mountain with an amazing 360° view of the coastline and jungles! The hike takes about 1.5 hrs each way.
Yelapa or Las Animas
These beaches are an hour’s drive south (past Puerto Vallarta) and then you have to grab a water taxi, but it is worth the trip. They are on the south shore of Bahía de Banderas (Banderas Bay), and you can only reach them by boat. The businesses in town are all locally run, and you’ll still see locals fishing from the pier. Grab your towel, and take to the sand to top up your tan. To get there, most people drive to Boca de Tomatlan where you can easily get one of the water taxis to take you there for a small fee. If you are up for more of an adventure, you can hike to Las Animas!
On the way back, ask the water taxi to drop you off at Playa Colomitos, considered to be the smallest beach in Mexico. It’s beautiful! There is also a restaurant called Ocean Grill with great views of Playa Colomitos and they have delicious food. Great for a special occasion… I even took my wife there for her birthday last year! Don’t forget to make a reservation online though.
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