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    Satellite view of Playa Careyeros on the Punta de Mita coast, Nayarit

    Photo by EOX IT Services, Copernicus Sentinel data 2016, CC BY 4.0, via EOxCloudless

    Playa Careyeros

    Beach Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit Municipality of Bahía de Banderas Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit

    A quiet, almost undeveloped beach between Punta de Mita and Higuera Blanca, with clear turquoise water and a rough, poorly signed dirt road in.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 55 min by car (46 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa Careyeros

    Where to stay near Playa Careyeros

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Careyeros.

    Hotels in Playa Careyeros Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Careyeros

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Careyeros; 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 Playa Careyeros

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 55 min by road (~46 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 Playa Careyeros

    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 Playa Careyeros

    Playa Careyeros is a small beach on the Riviera Nayarit coast between Punta de Mita and the village of Higuera Blanca, a few minutes' drive from each. Together with neighboring Punta Negra it is one of the last stretches near Punta de Mita still largely in its natural state, with soft white sand, clear turquoise water and green hills behind.

    The water stays shallow a long way out and the waves are usually small enough for swimming, though their size varies with the swell, so check before going in. It is rarely crowded. In winter you can sometimes see humpback whales in the distance, and from December to March they pass close to this coast.

    There is very little here. Access is mostly by car down an uneven, unpaved road that is not well signposted, and some visitors find it hard going, so a sturdy vehicle helps. Local vendors sell food and drinks and rent umbrellas, and there is parking along the road, but there are no bins, so whatever you bring you take away. Taking shells or stones is not allowed.

    The beach is also turtle country, fittingly, since carey is the Spanish name for the hawksbill turtle. A turtle conservation camp called Careyeros-Litibú, based in Punta de Mita, has looked after two beaches along about four kilometers of this shore, and researchers fitted a hawksbill here with a satellite tracker to follow its movements. Nesting and hatching in the region run roughly from June to February.

    How to get to Playa Careyeros

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 55 min, 46 km

    From Higuera Blanca the beach is about five minutes by car; from Punta de Mita take the road toward Higuera Blanca and watch for the side tracks down to the coast. The last stretch is a rough gravel road with almost no signs, so use a map app or ask locals. Punta de Mita is about an hour's drive from Puerto Vallarta, and buses to Punta Mita leave from the Walmart stop near the marina in Puerto Vallarta and from the airport pedestrian bridge.

    Directions to Playa Careyeros on Google Maps

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

    Where to stay Hotels in Playa Careyeros Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Careyeros. 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 Careyeros

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

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

    Best time of day
    November to April, when it generally does not rain; mornings and early afternoons, when the sun is less harsh. Humpback whales pass from December to March. Posta · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    Sea turtle nesting and hatching in the Riviera Nayarit run from June to about February; the Careyeros-Litibú camp covers two beaches along 4 km of this coast. PV Angels (Riviera Nayarit CVB) · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Water, snacks, sunscreen, towels and an umbrella. There is nowhere to throw away rubbish, so carry it all out. Posta · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Taking shells or stones from the beach is prohibited. Watch the water before swimming and follow local advice. Posta · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa Careyeros: what to see and do

    Swim in the clear, shallow water on a calm day, after checking the waves.
    Spend an unhurried day on a beach that is rarely busy.
    Watch for humpback whales offshore between December and March.
    Combine it with a stop in Higuera Blanca or the restaurants of Punta de Mita.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Careyeros

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

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Careyeros; 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 11 km more to Playa Careyeros, 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 Careyeros.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

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

    Airalo

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    When to go to Playa Careyeros warm

    Playa Careyeros shares the climate of Sayulita, 11 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

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

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa Careyeros

    Near Playa Careyeros

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

    Lists with Playa Careyeros

    Beaches in Nayarit · 25 Beaches near Sayulita · 42 Beaches near Puerto Vallarta · 40

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.