↑ ↓ to move ↵ to open esc to close
    Sunset over the beach and wooded headland at Los Ayala, the start of the path to Playa del Beso, Nayarit

    Photo by jmc.cantero, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

    Playa del Beso

    Beach Compostela, Nayarit Municipality of Compostela Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit

    A small cove among rocks just past Los Ayala, also called Playa Frideras, reached by a 15-minute jungle path or along the shore at low tide.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 1 h 10 min by car (81 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa del Beso

    Where to stay near Playa del Beso

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa del Beso.

    Hotels in Playa del Beso Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa del Beso

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa del Beso; 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 del Beso

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 1 h 10 min by road (~81 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 del Beso

    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 del Beso

    Playa del Beso, the "Kissing Beach", is a small cove at the southern end of Jaltemba Bay, just west of the village of Los Ayala in the municipality of Compostela, Nayarit. It is also known as Playa Frideras (maps spell it Freideras), and the state tourism board describes it as lying just over the steep hill at the south end of Los Ayala's main beach. Nuevo Nayarit, on Banderas Bay, is about 60 km to the south.

    The beach is a short stretch of sand tucked between rock formations, with clear water, a small cave and patches of reef that are good for snorkelling. There are no restaurants or facilities on the cove itself; the palapas, chair rentals and seafood restaurants are on the main beach in Los Ayala. The name comes from the Paseo del Beso, the jungle path of about 15 minutes that links Los Ayala with the cove: local lore says couples who walk it hand in hand will stay together, and some people propose on the rocks at the end of the trail.

    You can also reach the cove along the shoreline when the tide is low, or by boat from Los Ayala. The path continues past Playa del Beso to Playa Hamaca, where a small shack sells drinks, and on to the secluded Playa del Toro, a walk of up to two hours in all. The best months are December to March, the dry season and the busiest time of year in Los Ayala.

    How to get to Playa del Beso

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 1 h 10 min, 81 km

    From Puerto Vallarta, drive north on Highway 200 to Rincón de Guayabitos and continue about 2 km to Los Ayala; the state tourism board puts Los Ayala about 60 km and an hour and a quarter from Nuevo Nayarit. By bus, second-class Compostela buses leave Puerto Vallarta about every hour for Guayabitos (about 100 pesos, roughly three and a half hours), and a local shuttle runs between La Peñita, Guayabitos and Los Ayala. From the south end of Los Ayala's beach, take the Paseo del Beso over the hill (about 15 minutes), walk along the shore at low tide, or hire a boat on the beach.

    Directions to Playa del Beso on Google Maps

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

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

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

    Before you go to Playa del Beso: hours, prices and tips

    Time needed
    The full trail from Los Ayala past Playa del Beso to Playa Hamaca and Playa del Toro can take up to two hours. The Surf Atlas · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Go at low tide if you want to walk there along the shore; otherwise take the 15-minute path over the hill. Food and Pleasure · checked Oct 2026
    Best season
    December to March is the best season on this coast: dry, sunny and the busiest time of year in Los Ayala. Food and Pleasure · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    No guide is needed: the path from Los Ayala takes about 15 minutes, and boats can also take you round from the beach. Food and Pleasure · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Plenty of water and sunscreen for the trail, and a mask for snorkelling over the cove's reefs. The Surf Atlas · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa del Beso: what to see and do

    Walk the Paseo del Beso through the jungle from Los Ayala.
    Snorkel over the small reefs and peek into the cave at the cove.
    Carry on along the trail to Playa Hamaca and Playa del Toro.
    Walk back along the shore at low tide.
    Eat seafood on the main beach of Los Ayala afterwards.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa del Beso

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa del Beso.

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa del Beso; 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 23 km more to Playa del Beso, 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 del Beso.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

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

    Airalo

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

    When to go to Playa del Beso warm

    Playa del Beso shares the climate of Sayulita, 23 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa del Beso 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 del Beso, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa del Beso

    Near Playa del Beso

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

    Lists with Playa del Beso

    Beaches in Nayarit · 25 Beaches near Sayulita · 42 Beaches near Puerto Vallarta · 40 Beaches near Compostela · 13 Beaches near San Blas · 10

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.