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    Los Ayala beach and the forested hill crossed by the trail to Playa del Toro, seen from the sea, Nayarit

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

    Playa del Toro

    Beach Compostela, Nayarit Municipality of Compostela Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit

    A tiny cove of golden sand under a cliff-top lookout on the Punta Raza headland, about an hour's jungle walk from Los Ayala.

    Reached on foot from Los Ayala: 1 h each way. How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa del Toro

    Where to stay near Playa del Toro

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

    Hotels in Playa del Toro Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa del Toro

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

    • Reached on foot from Los Ayala: 1 h each way.
    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 1 h 5 min by road (~80 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 Toro

    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 Toro

    Playa del Toro is a small, secluded cove on the Punta Raza headland, the hilly, forested point that closes Jaltemba Bay to the south, in the municipality of Compostela, Nayarit. It lies about 5 km west of Rincón de Guayabitos and faces north across the little bay that maps call Ensenada El Toro. There is no road: the cove is reached on foot through the jungle, or from the water.

    The beach is tiny, only about 200 m long and 30 m wide, a strip of fine golden sand between big rocks, with thick vegetation behind it and clear, generally calm water in front, so it is good for a swim, some snorkeling or simply sitting on the rocks with a book. Above it, a cliff has been turned into a lookout, the Mirador del Toro, with wide views over the Pacific and the bay; it is a fine spot for sunset, but the rocks are uneven, so watch your step. There are no restaurants, drinks stands or other services on the cove.

    The walk is the main event. The trail leaves from the west end of Los Ayala beach, crosses the hill to Playa Frideras, better known as Playa del Beso, and continues past Playa Hamaca to the lookout and down to the cove. Most people take about an hour each way, though with stops and side trails the outing can stretch to two hours; the path is shaded but has some ups and downs. Guides suggest going to the lookout first and then down to the beach, wearing sneakers, carrying plenty of water and putting on insect repellent. You can also come by boat from Los Ayala, or swim around from Playa Frideras on a calm day.

    How to get to Playa del Toro

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta to Los Ayala: 1 h 5 min, 80 km

    Drive or take a bus north from Puerto Vallarta on Highway 200 to Rincón de Guayabitos and continue about 2 km to Los Ayala. From the west (left-hand) end of Los Ayala beach, follow the trail over the hill to Playa Frideras (Playa del Beso), about 15 minutes, and on past Playa Hamaca to the Mirador del Toro and the cove, about an hour in all. Fishermen on Los Ayala beach can also take you round by boat.

    Reached on foot from Los Ayala: 1 h each way.

    Directions to Playa del Toro on Google Maps

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

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

    • Puerto Vallarta · 80 km by road, 1 h 5 min to Los Ayala, then 1 h on foot
    • Tepic · 100 km by road, 1 h 30 min to Los Ayala, then 1 h on foot
    • Guadalajara · 238 km by road, 3 h to Los Ayala, then 1 h on foot

    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 Toro: hours, prices and tips

    Time needed
    About an hour on foot each way from Los Ayala; the round trip with the lookout takes about two hours. Posta · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Late afternoon, to watch the sunset from the cliff-top lookout. Posta · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    No guide is needed; the trail starts at the west end of Los Ayala beach, and you can also hire a boat there. Posta · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Sneakers, comfortable clothes, plenty of water and insect repellent. Marival Distinct · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa del Toro: what to see and do

    Hike the jungle trail from Los Ayala past Playa del Beso and Playa Hamaca.
    Take in the view from the Mirador del Toro, on the cliff above the cove.
    Swim and snorkel in the calm, clear water of the cove.
    Watch the sunset over the Pacific from the lookout.
    Come back to Los Ayala for seafood at the beach palapas.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa del Toro

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

    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 Toro; 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 Toro, 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 Toro.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa del Toro, 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 Toro 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 Toro warm

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

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

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa del Toro

    Near Playa del Toro

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

    Lists with Playa del Toro

    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.