Playa Yelapa

Playa Yelapa fronts a small fishing village in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, reachable only by boat from Puerto Vallarta, roughly a 50-minute water taxi ride across the Bay of Banderas. The beach is a wide crescent of soft golden sand with generally calm, clear water protected by the bay's curve, making it comfortable for casual swimming despite its remote, open-ocean setting. There are no roads or cars in the village itself, which gives the whole area a slower, more rustic character than anywhere accessible by land near Puerto Vallarta. A cluster of family-run palapa restaurants lines the back of the beach, serving fresh-caught fish and seafood, and several operators rent hammocks strung between palm trees for lounging through the afternoon. The village's bohemian reputation dates back decades, drawing long-term visitors and a loose community of artists alongside day-trippers, and a well-known waterfall sits about a 20-minute walk inland through the jungle. Amenities are basic by design — simple restrooms through the restaurants, no organized beach club infrastructure, and cash-only transactions in most places. The vibe is unhurried and informal, popular for both single-day boat excursions and overnight stays in small guesthouses above the beach. Return water taxis run on a set schedule from Puerto Vallarta's Los Muertos pier or Boca de Tomatlán, so visitors need to plan around departure times.