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    The long white-sand curve of Playa Destiladeras, Nayarit

    Photo by DELVALLE, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Sunset over the sea at Playa Destiladeras, Nayarit

    Photo by DELVALLE, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Umbrellas and palapas on Playa Destiladeras, Nayarit

    Photo by DELVALLE, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Playa Destiladeras

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

    A long, wide sweep of fine pale sand on the road to Punta de Mita, with seafood palapas, shallow water and waves for surfing and boogie boarding.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 40 min by car (35 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

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    Plan your visit to Playa Destiladeras

    Where to stay near Playa Destiladeras

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Destiladeras.

    Hotels in Playa Destiladeras Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa Destiladeras

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

    Tours from Bucerias City tour express, Butterfly, tequila, river and beach (free kids) ★ 4.6 (238) · From US$22
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide

    How to get to Playa Destiladeras

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 40 min by road (~35 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 Bucerias, near Playa Destiladeras

    City tour express, Butterfly, tequila, river and beach (free kids) ★ 4.6 (238) 4–6 h From US$22
    Private Tour, Sayulita & San Pancho ★ 4.9 (186) 6 h From US$340
    Bucerias Bike and Food Tour ★ 4.9 (181) 3 h From US$90
    El Mirador Jungle ATV Tour – Ride Single ★ 4.9 (64) 3 h From US$88
    Bucerias Taco Tour with Vallarta Food Tours ★ 4.9 (58) 3 h From US$59

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

    About Playa Destiladeras

    Destiladeras is one of the longest open beaches on the north shore of Banderas Bay, a stretch of fine, pale sand around kilometer 7 of the old road from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to Punta de Mita. Guides put its length at about five kilometers. It lies about 38 kilometers from the main square of Puerto Vallarta and a few minutes' drive past La Cruz, with a wide view back across the bay toward Puerto Vallarta.

    The name is said to come from a freshwater waterfall that once ran down to the beach and no longer exists. What draws people now is space: the beach is wide and flat for long walks, and the water stays shallow a long way out, which is why families like it. The surf rolls in steadily and can get strong, so it is a favorite for surfing, from beginners to experienced riders, as well as boogie boarding, and the local winds bring out kitesurfers and windsurfers. Kayaks and paddleboards are popular on calmer days.

    Compared with the busier town beaches it is quiet and has few buildings, but it is not bare. Seafood restaurants under palm-thatched palapas serve ceviche and fried fish, some with accordion music, vendors rent umbrellas and loungers by the day, and there are showers and toilets. The main public entrance has long been signed for the Nahui development rather than for the beach itself, with a large dirt parking area and steps down to the sand.

    How to get to Playa Destiladeras

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 40 min, 35 km

    From Puerto Vallarta drive north to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and follow the signs toward Punta de Mita; the beach is at about kilometer 7 of the old Punta Mita road, roughly 35 to 40 minutes from Puerto Vallarta and half an hour from Nuevo Vallarta. Look for the Nahui sign at the access road. Buses bound for Punta Mita, which leave from Puerto Vallarta (Walmart stop near the marina and the airport pedestrian bridge) and pass through Bucerías and La Cruz, can drop you at the turnoff.

    Directions to Playa Destiladeras on Google Maps

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

    Where to stay Hotels in Playa Destiladeras Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa Destiladeras. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Playa Destiladeras

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

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

    What to bring
    No need to haul beach gear: umbrellas and loungers can be rented by the day, and a couple of vendors sell ceviche. Casago · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa Destiladeras: what to see and do

    Walk the long, flat beach and its shallow water, good for families with children.
    Surf or boogie board the steady beach waves; there is room for beginners and experienced surfers.
    Watch or try kitesurfing and windsurfing when the wind picks up.
    Eat ceviche and seafood under the palapas on the sand.
    Rent an umbrella and lounger for the day and take in the view across the bay to Puerto Vallarta.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa Destiladeras

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

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa Destiladeras; 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 14 km more to Playa Destiladeras, 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 Destiladeras.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa Destiladeras, 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 Destiladeras 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.

    Photos

    When to go to Playa Destiladeras warm

    Playa Destiladeras shares the climate of Sayulita, 14 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

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

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa Destiladeras

    Near Playa Destiladeras

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

    Lists with Playa Destiladeras

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

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.