↑ ↓ to move ↵ to open esc to close
    Sand and gentle surf at the north end of La Peñita's beach, on the same stretch of Jaltemba Bay that runs on to El Naranjo, Playa El Naranjo, Nayarit

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

    Playa El Naranjo

    Beach Compostela, Nayarit Municipality of Compostela Banderas Bay Riviera Nayarit

    Long, empty beach north of La Peñita at the far end of Jaltemba Bay, with a sea-turtle camp where you can camp and help release hatchlings.

    From Puerto Vallarta: 1 h 10 min by car (89 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Playa El Naranjo

    Where to stay near Playa El Naranjo

    Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Playa El Naranjo.

    Hotels in Playa El Naranjo Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Playa El Naranjo

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa El Naranjo; 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 El Naranjo

    • From Puerto Vallarta: about 1 h 10 min by road (~89 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 El Naranjo

    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 El Naranjo

    Playa El Naranjo is the long open beach that runs north from La Peñita de Jaltemba along the northern end of Jaltemba Bay, in the municipality of Compostela, Nayarit. It stretches for about 7 km of clean, pale sand up to Boca del Naranjo, its northern end, roughly 6 km north of Rincón de Guayabitos. Behind it is low coastal land and the farming villages along Highway 200, the nearest being La Lima de Abajo, from where a local road leads down to the shore.

    Unlike the busy town beaches of Guayabitos and La Peñita, El Naranjo is almost undeveloped. There are no restaurants, palapas or chair rentals. The waves are usually moderate, but the open Pacific can turn rough with strong surf, so swim with care and stay out when the sea is up.

    The beach is best known for its sea-turtle camp. Run by the non-profit Grupos Ecologistas de Nayarit and certified by Profepa, the federal environmental agency, it patrols the sand for nests, moves the eggs to an incubation area and releases the hatchlings. The camp is set up for visitors: it has bathrooms, showers, shaded areas and parking, groups can pitch tents, and visits include a talk on the turtles' life cycle, the hatchery and, when there are hatchlings and the weather allows, a release at the water's edge. On this coast the nesting and hatching season runs roughly from June to February. Bring everything you need for the day, including water, food and shade, and take your rubbish with you.

    How to get to Playa El Naranjo

    Drive from Puerto Vallarta: 1 h 10 min, 89 km

    From Puerto Vallarta take Highway 200 north past Bucerías, San Francisco and Lo de Marcos to Rincón de Guayabitos. Boca del Naranjo is about 6 km north of Guayabitos: continue on Highway 200 past La Peñita de Jaltemba and take the turn toward La Lima de Abajo, then the local road west to the beach, about 10 km and 15 to 20 minutes from Guayabitos in all.

    Directions to Playa El Naranjo on Google Maps

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

    Best with a guide Tours to Playa El Naranjo on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. 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 El Naranjo

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

    Before you go to Playa El Naranjo: hours, prices and tips

    Best season
    Sea turtles nest and hatch on this coast roughly from June to February, the time to see the camp at work and possibly a release. PV Angels · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    The beach needs no guide; visits, overnight camping and releases at the turtle camp are arranged with the camp (Grupos Ecologistas de Nayarit) by phone in advance. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide PV Angels · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Nothing is sold on the beach: bring water, food and shade. For a night at the turtle camp bring a tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, insect repellent and comfortable clothes. PV Angels · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Do not touch the hatchlings and leave no litter, especially plastic bags and drink containers, which turtles can mistake for jellyfish. The surf can turn strong, so swim with care. PV Angels · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Playa El Naranjo: what to see and do

    Walk the 7 km of nearly empty sand north from La Peñita toward Boca del Naranjo.
    Visit the El Naranjo sea-turtle camp, see the hatchery and learn how the nests are protected.
    Join a hatchling release when the season and the weather allow.
    Camp overnight at the turtle camp with your own tent and take part in a beach patrol.
    Watch the sunset over Jaltemba Bay away from the crowds of Guayabitos.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Playa El Naranjo

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Playa El Naranjo.

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

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Sayulita often include Playa El Naranjo; 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 32 km more to Playa El Naranjo, 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 El Naranjo.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or surfing at Playa El Naranjo, 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 El Naranjo 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 El Naranjo warm

    Playa El Naranjo shares the climate of Sayulita, 32 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and November.

    Playa El Naranjo 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 El Naranjo, with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Playa El Naranjo

    Near Playa El Naranjo

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

    Lists with Playa El Naranjo

    Beaches in Nayarit · 25 Beaches near Sayulita · 42 Beaches near Compostela · 13 Beaches near Puerto Vallarta · 40 Beaches near San Blas · 10 Beaches near Tepic · 7

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.