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    The forested Isla del Coral and its small beach seen from the water, Nayarit

    Photo by WendyAvilesR, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    A panga off Rincón de Guayabitos with Isla del Coral behind, Nayarit

    Photo by AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Pale cliffs and jungle above the beach of Isla del Coral, Nayarit

    Photo by WendyAvilesR, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Isla del Coral

    Island Compostela, Nayarit Municipality of Compostela Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit

    A small jungle-topped island off Rincón de Guayabitos, a 15-minute panga ride away, with a sheltered beach, easy snorkelling and an underwater Virgin.

    Reached by boat from Rincón de Guayabitos: 15 min each way. How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Isla del Coral

    Where to stay near Isla del Coral

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Isla del Coral.

    Hotels in Isla del Coral Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Isla del Coral

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

    Tours from Sayulita Yelapa & Secluded Private Beach ALL INCLUSIVE Adventure ★ 4.8 (2,559) · From US$135
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Isla del Coral

    • Reached by boat from Rincón de Guayabitos: 15 min each way.
    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 1 h by road (~79 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.

    Tours from Sayulita, near Isla del Coral

    Yelapa & Secluded Private Beach ALL INCLUSIVE Adventure ★ 4.8 (2,559) 6–7 h From US$135
    Marietas Islands National Park: Full Day ALL INCLUSIVE Tour ★ 4.8 (772) 6 h From US$130
    Horseback Riding in Sayulita Through Jungle Trails to the Beach ★ 4.9 (215) 2 h From US$79
    Hike and Yoga Jungle Experience in Mexico ★ 5.0 (175) 2 h 30 min From US$30
    Sayulita Taco Tour ★ 5.0 (159) 2–3 h From US$54

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

    About Isla del Coral

    Isla del Coral is a small rocky island in Jaltemba Bay, about 2 km off the beach of Rincón de Guayabitos in the municipality of Compostela, on the Riviera Nayarit coast north of Puerto Vallarta. Seen from Guayabitos it is a green dome rising out of the sea; up close its sides are pale cliffs topped by dense forest, with a small beach of light sand and a rough old dock on the side facing the mainland. It is small enough to cross on foot in about ten minutes, and it is treated as an ecological reserve that shelters seabirds, sea turtles and other marine life.

    The reason to come is the water. The beach faces a sheltered cove that works like a natural saltwater pool, calm and clear on most days and easy for children, and a reef lies just offshore, within an easy swim. Snorkellers see yellow, silver and electric-blue fish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, sea urchins, starfish and patches of coral, and divers and snorkellers also look for the weathered statue of the Virgin Mary set on the sea floor. There is a small sea cave at beach level.

    Facilities are basic: a shack or two selling snacks, drinks and ceviche, a tiny restaurant on the hill, a few handmade palapas and tables and umbrellas for rent. There is no phone signal. The pangas that make the crossing leave from the beach in Guayabitos and the trip takes 15 to 20 minutes; most people spend half a day or more. Many day tours from Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, about an hour and a half away by road, combine the island with other beaches of the Jaltemba coast.

    How to get to Isla del Coral

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta to Rincón de Guayabitos: 1 h, 79 km

    Rincón de Guayabitos is on Highway 200 about an hour and a half's drive north of Puerto Vallarta. Pangas to the island leave from the beach in Guayabitos, where local boatmen sell round trips: the first boat goes at about 10:30 am and they run roughly every half hour until 6 pm, taking 15 to 20 minutes each way. Organized day tours from Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta include road transport, the boat and snorkel gear.

    Reached by boat from Rincón de Guayabitos: 15 min each way.

    Directions to Isla del Coral on Google Maps

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

    Where to stay Hotels in Isla del Coral Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Isla del Coral. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Isla del Coral

    • Puerto Vallarta · 79 km by road, 1 h to Rincón de Guayabitos, then 15 min by boat
    • Tepic · 97 km by road, 1 h 25 min to Rincón de Guayabitos, then 15 min by boat
    • Guadalajara · 235 km by road, 2 h 55 min to Rincón de Guayabitos, then 15 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 Isla del Coral: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    Boats from Guayabitos run from about 10:30 am, roughly every half hour, with the last at 6 pm. Mexico News Daily · checked Oct 2026
    Entry
    About 350 pesos for the round-trip panga ride, snorkel gear included; a table and umbrella on the island rent for about 200 pesos. Mexico News Daily · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Arrive early: fewer people and better visibility for snorkelling. Escape to Mexico · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    No guide needed: local pangas from the beach in Guayabitos take you across; day tours from Puerto Vallarta are optional. Mexico News Daily · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Cash, reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes and a swimsuit; there is no phone signal on the island. Escape to Mexico · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Taking sand, coral, stones, plants or animals off the island is not allowed. Escape to Mexico · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Isla del Coral: what to see and do

    Snorkel the reef just off the beach for parrotfish, butterflyfish and starfish.
    Look for the statue of the Virgin Mary on the sea floor.
    Swim in the sheltered cove, calm enough for children.
    Walk across the island and peek into the sea cave at beach level.
    Eat shrimp ceviche under a palapa or at the little restaurant on the hill.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Isla del Coral

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Isla del Coral.

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Isla del Coral; 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 26 km more to Isla del Coral, 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 Isla del Coral.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

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

    Airalo

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    Photos

    When to go to Isla del Coral warm

    Isla del Coral shares the climate of Sayulita, 26 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    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 Isla del Coral, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Isla del Coral

    Near Isla del Coral

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

    Lists with Isla del Coral

    Islands in Nayarit · 3 Islands near Puerto Vallarta · 3

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.