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    Waves washing into the small sandy cove of Playa Colomitos between rocks, Jalisco

    Photo by Dennis S. Hurd, CC CC0 1.0, via Flickr

    Emerald water and boulders at Playa Colomitos below the jungle, Jalisco

    Photo by Dennis S. Hurd, CC CC0 1.0, via Flickr

    Looking out from Playa Colomitos to a sailboat in the bay, Jalisco

    Photo by Dennis S. Hurd, CC CC0 1.0, via Flickr

    Playa Colomitos

    Beach Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco Municipality of Cabo Corrientes Banderas Bay

    A tiny emerald cove in the jungle west of Boca de Tomatlán, reached on a 30 to 45 minute coastal trail or a short water-taxi ride.

    Reached on foot from Boca de Tomatlán: 40 min each way. How to get there ↓

    Near here

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    Plan your visit to Playa Colomitos

    Where to stay near Playa Colomitos

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Colomitos.

    Hotels in Playa Colomitos Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Colomitos

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

    Hiking in Hidden Beaches : Boca, Colomitos & Las Ánimas ★ 5.0 (3) · From US$33
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Playa Colomitos

    • Reached on foot from Boca de Tomatlán: 40 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 ↓

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

    Popular tours to Playa Colomitos

    Hiking in Hidden Beaches : Boca, Colomitos & Las Ánimas ★ 5.0 (3) 6 h 30 min From US$33

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Playa Colomitos

    Playa Colomitos is a tiny cove on the south shore of Banderas Bay, in the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, just west of Boca de Tomatlán and about 40 minutes by road and trail from downtown Puerto Vallarta. Wedged between big boulders and jungle-covered hills, it is only about 30 meters of white sand, with emerald-green water in front and a small creek coming down behind. No road reaches it: you walk in along the coastal trail or come by water taxi.

    Colomitos is the first beach on the popular hike from Boca de Tomatlán to Las Ánimas, and for many people it is the whole point. The trail starts in Boca: you follow the Horcones River upstream to a footbridge, cross it, then climb above the shore past a few houses and into the trees, with rocky stretches, steps and short climbs. It is about 1.5 kilometers and 30 to 45 minutes in good conditions, and it is signed, so no guide is needed. A separate detour leads to a seasonal waterfall that can be dry in the dry months and risky after heavy rain.

    The water is often calm and clear, good for a swim or a look around with a mask, but conditions change with the swell, currents, runoff and passing boats, so check before going in. There are no vendors on the sand and no entrance fee; above the water, the Ocean Grill restaurant serves lunch by reservation and runs its own boats. Its beauty and its size are the catch: the cove fills up fast, especially on weekends and holidays, so come early and midweek if you can. Many people continue another hour along the trail to Playa Las Ánimas, with its restaurants, and take a water taxi back to Boca.

    How to get to Playa Colomitos

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

    From Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica, take the local bus marked Mismaloya/Boca from Basilio Badillo and Constitución south on Highway 200 to Boca de Tomatlán, about 40 minutes (the urban fare rose to 11 pesos in April 2026; the Boca route may cost a little more). In Boca, follow the Horcones River upstream to the footbridge, cross it and follow the trail west: 30 to 45 minutes on foot. Do not try to wade or swim across the river mouth. Alternatively, water taxis from the Boca pier take about 10 minutes; buy tickets from the boat staff, ask whether the price is per person and arrange your return before you leave.

    Reached on foot from Boca de Tomatlán: 40 min each way.

    Directions to Playa Colomitos on Google Maps

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

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

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    From the nearest cities to Playa Colomitos

    • Puerto Vallarta · 21 km by road, 25 min to Boca de Tomatlán, then 40 min on foot
    • Autlán · about 170 km by road, ~2 h 30 min to Boca de Tomatlán, then 40 min on foot
    • Tepic · 195 km by road, 2 h 40 min to Boca de Tomatlán, then 40 min on foot

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

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

    Entry
    There is no entrance fee to the beach. Bring cash for the water taxi or the Ocean Grill. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Time needed
    The trail from Boca de Tomatlán takes 30 to 45 minutes each way in good conditions; the water taxi takes about 10 minutes. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    The cove is small and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays; arrive early, ideally on a weekday. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    November to April is generally drier. June to October is the rainy season, when the jungle is greenest; bring a poncho and mosquito repellent. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    The 1.5 km trail from Boca de Tomatlán is signed, so a guide is not needed; wear tennis shoes. Mexico Travel & Leisure · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Water and snacks (there are no vendors on the beach), sturdy shoes, sun protection, your own snorkel mask, cash, and a bag to carry your trash out. Take Me To Puerto Vallarta · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Cross the Horcones River at the footbridge, never by wading or swimming across the river mouth. Check waves, currents and boat traffic before swimming, and pack out your trash. 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 Colomitos: what to see and do

    Hike the signed coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán, about 30 to 45 minutes through the jungle.
    Swim or snorkel in the emerald water of the cove when the sea is calm.
    Look for the seasonal waterfall on its side trail in the rainy months.
    Book lunch at the Ocean Grill above the water.
    Keep walking about an hour to Playa Las Ánimas and take a water taxi back to Boca.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Colomitos

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

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Colomitos; 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 42 km more to Playa Colomitos, 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 Colomitos.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Colomitos, 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 Colomitos before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    Photos

    When to go to Playa Colomitos warm

    Playa Colomitos shares the climate of Sayulita, 42 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa Colomitos 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 Colomitos, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa Colomitos

    Near Playa Colomitos

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

    Lists with Playa Colomitos

    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.