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    Satellite view of Playa de Barro north of San Pancho, Nayarit

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

    Playa de Barro

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

    A remote jungle-backed beach north of San Pancho with a small natural mud bath and rock pools, reached by a long hike or a rough 4x4 road.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 1 h 5 min by car (79 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa de Barro

    Where to stay near Playa de Barro

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa de Barro.

    Hotels in Playa de Barro Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa de Barro

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa de Barro; 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 de Barro

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 1 h 5 min 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 Playa de Barro

    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 de Barro

    Playa de Barro, "mud beach", is a remote stretch of sand on the Riviera Nayarit coast between San Francisco (San Pancho) and Lo de Marcos, about five kilometers south of the center of Lo de Marcos. The coast north of San Pancho is far less built up than the area around Sayulita: wave-battered beaches backed by forest, with luxury villas on the first hills out of town and then only jungle.

    The beach takes its name from its mud. At the south end there is a small natural mud bath, and some visitors who have tried it describe it as rejuvenating; there are also rock pools to explore at low water. Travel writers compare it to a castaway beach, and usually only a handful of quiet visitors are there. The sea can be rough, so go in carefully, although on some days the water is warm and the waves gentle.

    Getting there is part of the trip. On foot from San Pancho it takes a few hours each way along roads and forest paths, and it gets hard once the midday heat sets in; by car there is a rough, bumpy road for which a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended, especially in the rainy season. There are no services at all. Visitors have complained of litter, so carry your rubbish out, and respect the private-property signs along the access path.

    How to get to Playa de Barro

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 1 h 5 min, 79 km

    On foot from San Francisco (San Pancho): take the road that winds past the large golf course on the north side of town and climbs through hills lined with villas; about two miles (3 km) out the houses give way to jungle, and a narrower path crosses a stream and runs through patches of dense forest to the beach. Allow a few hours each way and start early. By car, the beach is reached by a rough dirt road; a 4x4 or AWD vehicle is recommended, especially in the rainy season.

    Directions to Playa de Barro on Google Maps

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

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

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

    Before you go to Playa de Barro: hours, prices and tips

    Time needed
    A full day if you walk: a few hours each way from San Pancho, plus time on the beach. Universal Traveller · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Start as early as you can: the walk from San Pancho takes a few hours each way and gets hard once the midday heat sets in. Universal Traveller · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    The access road is rough; a 4x4 or AWD vehicle is recommended, especially in the rainy season. Beach Atlas · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Plenty of water for the hike. Universal Traveller · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Respect the private-property signs along the access path, take your rubbish with you, and be careful going into the sea, which can be wild. Beach Atlas · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa de Barro: what to see and do

    Try the small natural mud bath at the south end of the beach.
    Explore the rock pools at low water.
    Hike north from San Pancho past the villas and into the jungle, crossing a stream on the way.
    Spend a few hours on a beach where you may meet only a handful of people.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa de Barro

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa de Barro.

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa de Barro; 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 9 km more to Playa de Barro, 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 de Barro.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

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

    Airalo

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    When to go to Playa de Barro warm

    Playa de Barro shares the climate of Sayulita, 9 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa de Barro 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 de Barro, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa de Barro

    Near Playa de Barro

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

    Lists with Playa de Barro

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

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.