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    A rocky beach on the coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán to Las Ánimas, near Playa Caballo, Jalisco

    Photo by HockeyholicAZ, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

    Playa Caballo

    Beach Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco Municipality of Cabo Corrientes Banderas Bay

    A quiet beach right next to Las Ánimas on the jungle coast trail from Boca de Tomatlán, home to a small hotel and beach club.

    Reached by boat from Boca de Tomatlán: 10 min each way. How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa Caballo

    Where to stay near Playa Caballo

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Caballo.

    Hotels in Playa Caballo Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Caballo

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Caballo; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Playa Caballo

    • Reached by boat from Boca de Tomatlán: 10 min each way.
    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 25 min by road (~21 km)
    • Nearest airport: Puerto Vallarta (PVR), 41 min by car to Sayulita
    Rent a car at PVR Flights to PVR

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    About Playa Caballo

    Playa Caballo, also called Playa del Caballo, is a small beach on the south shore of Banderas Bay, in the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco. It sits right next to Playa Las Ánimas, on its Boca de Tomatlán side, on a stretch of coast where the jungle comes down to the sea and no road arrives. The two adjoining beaches are about ten minutes by boat from Boca de Tomatlán.

    Most people reach it on foot. Playa Caballo is the last beach on the popular coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán before it drops down to Las Ánimas, after Colomitos, Playa Escondida and Playa Hacamiya; the whole walk to Las Ánimas takes about two to three hours on rocky paths with roots, steps and constant ups and downs. Boats heading from Boca to Las Ánimas pass right in front of it, and the busy Las Ánimas pier, with its restaurants and water taxis back to Boca, is only a short walk away.

    Compared with its neighbor, Playa Caballo is calmer and more secluded, with clear water and a quieter atmosphere. Its best-known address is Casitas Maraika, a small hotel and beach club of about fifteen cabins set in the jungle above the sand, with a restaurant, a spa and a bar known for its mezcal, which also gets its guests here by boat. For hikers it makes a peaceful last stop before the crowds and lunch tables of Las Ánimas. There is no shop or drinking water along the trail, so bring what you need, and arrange your water taxi back from Las Ánimas, as schedules depend on the weather and demand.

    How to get to Playa Caballo

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlán: 25 min, 21 km

    There is no road. From Puerto Vallarta take the local bus from Basilio Badillo and Constitución in the Zona Romántica to Boca de Tomatlán on Highway 200. From the pier in Boca, water taxis heading to Las Ánimas pass Playa Caballo, about ten minutes away; the simplest is to get off at the Las Ánimas pier and walk over. On foot, follow the coastal trail from Boca past Colomitos; Playa Caballo is the last beach before Las Ánimas, most of the way along a walk of two to three hours.

    Reached by boat from Boca de Tomatlán: 10 min each way.

    Directions to Playa Caballo on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Where to stay Hotels in Playa Caballo Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Caballo. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Playa Caballo

    • Puerto Vallarta · 21 km by road, 25 min to Boca de Tomatlán, then 10 min by boat
    • Autlán · about 170 km by road, ~2 h 30 min to Boca de Tomatlán, then 10 min by boat
    • Tepic · 194 km by road, 2 h 40 min to Boca de Tomatlán, then 10 min by boat

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Playa Caballo: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    Water taxi times change with weather and demand; agree on your return time in advance and reconfirm it at Las Ánimas. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    The beaches here can be visited year-round thanks to the warm climate; weekends can be crowded, weekdays are quieter. Live the World · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    No guide is needed: the coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán can be walked on your own, and water taxis from Boca stop at nearby Las Ánimas. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    For the hike: shoes with good grip, plenty of water (there is nowhere reliable to buy it on the trail), sun protection, repellent and cash for the water taxi back. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Playa Caballo: what to see and do

    Walk the coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán, with Playa Caballo as the last beach before Las Ánimas.
    Swim in the clear, calm water away from the busier beach next door.
    Stop for a meal or a mezcal at the Casitas Maraika beach club.
    Walk on to Las Ánimas for its seafood restaurants and the water taxi back to Boca.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Caballo

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa Caballo.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Caballo; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at PVR (Puerto Vallarta): about 41 min by road to Sayulita, then 41 km more to Playa Caballo, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puerto Vallarta (PVR), about 41 min by road from Sayulita, the base for Playa Caballo.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Caballo, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Sayulita: download a map of the way to Playa Caballo before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    When to go to Playa Caballo warm

    Playa Caballo shares the climate of Sayulita, 41 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa Caballo is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (June, July, and August); in the rainiest ones (July, August, and September) expect storms in the afternoon.

    See the month-by-month climate of Sayulita

    The closest Pueblo Mágico: Sayulita

    Palm-shaded street of shops and stalls in the center of Sayulita, Nayarit warm
    Nayarit Sayulita

    Sayulita is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Playa Caballo, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa Caballo

    Near Playa Caballo

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Lists with Playa Caballo

    Beaches in Jalisco · 20 Beaches near Puerto Vallarta · 40 Beaches near Sayulita · 42 Beaches near Talpa de Allende · 17 Beaches near Mascota · 16

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.