Mexico, Banderas Bay, Small Bay at Boca de Tomatlan

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Boca de Tomatlán

Puerto Vallarta


Boca de Tomatlán is a seaside village that’s less commercialized than Puerto Vallarta and a good place to munch ceviche tostadas on the beach. You can get water taxis from here to more remote beaches further along the bay. It's 16km from Puerto Vallarta, beyond Mismaloya, southwest along the coast.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Puerto Vallarta attractions

1. Playa de las Ánimas

1.93 MILES

Playa de las Ánimas is a long, sandy beach with a small fishing village and some palapa (thatched-roof) restaurants offering fresh seafood. It's also a…

2. Mismaloya

2.04 MILES

Mismaloya, the location for the 1964 film The Night of the Iguana, is about 12km south of Puerto Vallarta: you can still see the dilapidated Iguana sign…

3. Jardín Botánico de Vallarta

3.59 MILES

For a change of scenery from the beach, head for the tropical highlands of the Sierra Madre mountains and wander the well-curated Jardín Botánico de…

4. Playa de Quimixto

4.89 MILES

This beach, just beyond Las Ánimas, has a waterfall accessible by a half-hour hike or by hiring a horse (M$300) on the beach to take you up.

5. Playa Palmares

4.93 MILES

Graced with golden sands and serene aqua-green shallows, Playa Palmares is one sweet strip of coastline. Hugging an undeveloped shore about 6km (4 miles)…

6. Playa Conchas Chinas

6.96 MILES

Around 3km south of downtown is the beautiful condo enclave of Playa Conchas Chinas. It's a tiny cove favored by families for the shallow and sheltered…

7. Playa de los Muertos

7.63 MILES

Despite its name, Playa de los Muertos (Beach of the Dead) is a lively beach which is handy for downtown. At the southern end of the beach, a stretch of…

8. Playa Olas Altas

7.97 MILES

The handiest beach to the Zona Centro is Playa Olas Altas, just south of the Río Cuale.

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