Island Compostela, Nayarit Municipality of Compostela Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit
A grass-topped rock islet in Jaltemba Bay, also mapped as Isla Cerotero, between the beaches of Guayabitos and Los Ayala and Isla del Coral.
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Tours to Isla Cangrejito
Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Isla Cangrejito; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Tours from Sayulita
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How to get to Isla Cangrejito
- Nearest airport: Puerto Vallarta (PVR), 41 min by car to Sayulita
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Tours from Sayulita, near Isla Cangrejito
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About Isla Cangrejito
Isla Cangrejito is a small rocky islet in Jaltemba Bay, in the municipality of Compostela on the Riviera Nayarit coast. It lies about 1.7 km off the beaches of Rincón de Guayabitos and Los Ayala and roughly 1 km southwest of Isla del Coral, the larger, wooded island that the boats from Guayabitos visit. OpenStreetMap names it Isla Cangrejito; Wikidata and GeoNames list the same rock as Isla Cerotero, and that is the name on the photos taken of it from Guayabitos beach.
It is tiny, only about 70 meters across in its mapped outline: a dome of dark rock with steep sides and patches of grass and low scrub on top, with no beach and no buildings. From the sand in Guayabitos it is the little rock on the horizon to the left of Isla del Coral.
The state tourism board and the travel site Food and Pleasure both mention boat rides from Los Ayala to Isla del Cangrejo (Crab Island) along with Isla del Coral, which appears to be this islet, and the rocky water around this end of the bay is popular for snorkelling. There is nothing to do ashore, so treat it as something to see from a panga on the way to Isla del Coral or on a fishing or snorkelling trip, and agree the route and the price with the boatman on the beach before you leave. December to March, the dry season, is the best season on this coast.
How to get to Isla Cangrejito
Only by boat. Drive north from Puerto Vallarta on Highway 200 to Rincón de Guayabitos and Los Ayala (about 60 km and an hour and a quarter from Nuevo Nayarit), or take a Compostela bus from Puerto Vallarta to Guayabitos (about every hour, about 100 pesos, roughly three and a half hours). Boat trips to Isla del Cangrejo and Isla del Coral leave from the beach at Los Ayala, and pangas to Isla del Coral leave from the beach in Guayabitos.
Directions to Isla Cangrejito on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Before you go to Isla Cangrejito: hours, prices and tips
- Best season
- December to March is the best season on this stretch of coast. Food and Pleasure · checked Oct 2026
- Guide or tour
- You can only get there by boat: boat trips to Isla del Cangrejo and Isla del Coral leave from the beach at Los Ayala. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Food and Pleasure · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Isla Cangrejito: what to see and do
See the islet from a panga on the way to Isla del Coral.
Ask the boatmen in Los Ayala for a ride round Isla del Cangrejo.
Snorkel in the rocky water at the south end of Jaltemba Bay.
Photograph it at sunset from the beach in Guayabitos or Los Ayala.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Isla Cangrejito
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Isla Cangrejito.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Isla Cangrejito; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at PVR (Puerto Vallarta): about 41 min by road to Sayulita, then 25 km more to Isla Cangrejito, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Puerto Vallarta (PVR), about 41 min by road from Sayulita, the base for Isla Cangrejito.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Sayulita: download a map of the way to Isla Cangrejito before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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Photos
When to go to Isla Cangrejito warm
Isla Cangrejito shares the climate of Sayulita, 25 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.
See the month-by-month climate of Sayulita
Weather in Isla Cangrejito now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Sayulita
Sayulita is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Isla Cangrejito, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Compostela · Nayarit · 45 km away
- San Blas · Nayarit · 56 km away
- Mascota · Jalisco · 77 km away
Closest to Isla Cangrejito
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Isla del Coral · Island · 1 km away
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Los Ayala · Village · 2 km away
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Playa del Beso · Beach · 2 km away
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Rincón de Guayabitos · Town · 2 km away
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La Peñita de Jaltemba · Town · 3 km away
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Playa del Toro · Beach · 3 km away
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Playa Punta Raza · Beach · 5 km away
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El Monteón · Village · 6 km away
Lists with Isla Cangrejito
Islands in Nayarit · 3 Islands near Puerto Vallarta · 3Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.