Villa Santa Cruz

Conchas Chinas, Puerto Vallarta

LOS MUERTOS BEACH
Los Muertos Beach in Old Town is our most popular beach and the center of daytime activity, also a favorite for sunset. The spot where tourists and locals effortlessly mix, it is a gathering place for all ages and features some of the best restaurants in town, several with gorgeous palapas situated right on the sand. La Palapa and El Dorado are favorite spots to relax in a lounge chair under an umbrella 20 feet from the ocean while waiters bring you food and drink. Los Muertos has all kinds of water sports such as wave runners, parasailing and fishing charters. Walk south to the end of Los Muertos Beach and climb the cliff stairway to Conchas Chinas Beach.

The Water Taxi leaves Los Muertos pier every morning at 10 and 11 AM for the beautiful beaches on the south part of they bay only accessible by boat. We highly recommend visiting Las Animas, Quimixto and especially the bohemian paradise of Yelapa.


CONCHAS CHINAS
Conchas Chinas is a beautiful residential area on the edge of town as you head south along the scenic coastal highway to Mismaloya. Developed in the 1970's when wealthy North Americans started investing in this hidden paradise, multi million dollar villas line the highway that divides this prestigious neighborhood. The beach side of the highway is Lower Conchas Chinas; villas perched along the mountainside pertain to Upper Conchas Chinas.

The beaches in Conchas Chinas are exquisite; a series of white sandy beaches set between volcanic rock reefs. It makes a pleasant walk and you will find the protected coves great for swimming and snorkeling. There is a beautiful wide sandy beach down a steep road near the Hotel Conchas Chinas and famed El Set Restaurant on the highway to Mismaloya. You can also access these beaches by stopping for breakfast or lunch at Lindo Mar, a great beach front restaurant just another block south, next to El Set Restaurant.


PUNTA NEGRA
About 4.5 miles south of town is Punta Negra Beach named for the black rocky point. Public access down a road below Hotel Jalisco Vacactional. Up river from Punta Negra is El Nogalito jungle restaurant and Contacto Natural Spa.


MISMALOYA BEACH
Mismaloya Beach is located about ten kilometres south of Old Town. You can take the Boca/Mismaloya bus or taxi to the entrance of the Barcelo Hotel, walk towards the ocean down the path that runs between the hotel and the river all the way to the beach. Mismaloya is the main launching point for fishing and snorkeling inside the bay, site of the original film set of Night of the Iguana , the notorious movie starring Richard Burton that put Vallarta on the map in the early 1960's. Mismaloya is an authentic Mexican jungle village and popular beach with locals featuring rustic palapa restaurants; all major water sports available for rent. Horseback riding upriver to jungle restaurant and waterfall at El Eden , film set of Predator.

Los Arcos Islands National Marine Park is a huge rock formation and Vallarta's most well known geological landmark, located at the mouth of Mismaloya cove. An excellent spot for snorkeling with large reefs made of volcanic rock, it is like swimming in an aquarium. We work with a very reliable dive company in Mismaloya owned by two brothers, Chato and Chipol; you will see their dive shop on the path down to the beach, Mismaloya Divers.


BOCA DE TOMATLAN
Boca de Tomatlan Is the last beach destination accessible by road. The rugged, jungle covered terrain along the south shore is impressive and is well worth a trip down the curvy mountain highway that hugs the coastline. The village of Boca de Tomatlan is another authentic Mexican fishing community set in a lush jungle river gorge and launch point for boats heading south to beaches only accessible by boat.


NUEVO VALLARTA
Nuevo Vallarta is about ten minutes past the marina. An area with residential and exclusive membership projects and a long stretch of white sandy beach with a great beachfront restaurant called Etc Beach Club.


BUCERIAS
Bucerias is a charming beach town with lots of great seafood restaurants and a long white sandy beach perfect for swimming, located approx 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta (ten minutes past Nuevo Vallarta).