BEACHES
Relaxation is easy to find in the beautiful state of Nayarit! Below are a few beaches located North of Puerto Vallarta and close to The Mission.
Punta de Mita
Located at the northern tip of the Bahia de Banderas, 26 miles from Puerto Vallarta on the Punta Mita Highway, this once-remote beachside fishing village is now home to the Four Seasons Punta de Mita Resort. The beach itself is fairly rocky but offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre Mountains that frame the bay. Sports, tours and amenities of all kinds are available. The area is known as a great surfing beach and snorkeling is excellent along the islands just off shore. A short walk along the beach brings visitors to isolated stretches of pristine coastline.
El Anclote
"Anchor Beach" is at Km 21 on highway 200 north of PV. This wide beach is known for its mild surf. Fishing boats are anchored at the far right of El Anclote and boat rentals are available for tours to the Marieta Islands to explore, snorkel, scuba dive or fish. El Anclote has many services as it has a large local population.
San Francisco/San Pancho
A sleepy little town 31 miles (49 km) north of Puerto Vallarta known for its "gnarly waves, dude." Purported by some surfers to be the best in the area due to its big open ocean beach and southwest to northwest swells. Surfers from around the world congregate there to experience the giant waves that have made this beach so popular. San Francisco/San Pancho is also known for its untamed natural beauty and is a favorite among naturalists.
Sayulita
22 miles north of the airport, the idyllic Sayulita beach is located in a cove where the jungle meets the sea. Perfect for surfing or sunning and everything in between. Seaside cafes and fine dining along with other services available. Along the point of the cove there are hidden beaches that can be found by walking through a graveyard. These beaches are well worth the effort. Lots of private little spots between rock formations teeming with marine life. The swift tides bring an abundance of seashells and other sea treasures to these tiny beaches.
Destiladeras
Located 19 miles from the airport at Km 8 on Highway 200 and popular with the locals for its wide sandy beaches and with surfers for its two- to five-foot swells. The beach is situated between the cliffs of Punta del Burro and has several natural pools of fresh water. There are a few seaside palapa restaurants with fabulous views of the Bahia de Banderas and Puerto Vallarta in the distance.
Bucerias
The name means "Place of the Divers." Its 5-mile stretch of white sand beaches is the longest along the Bay of Banderas. This beautiful beach comes alive on Sundays when locals bring their families for a day at the shore. Its long shallow shoreline is perfect for body surfing, boogie boarding, surfing and shell collecting. Located 12 miles north of the airport, Bucerias is popular with Canadian and North American visitors. This old-fashioned Mexican town has plenty of local color with its many shops and town square market. Literally dozens of open air restaurants line the beach on one of the four main streets that run parallel to the water for miles.
Nuevo Vallarta
The clean white sand beaches here seem endless. The beaches of Nuevo Vallarta begin four miles north of the airport. Activities abound here. Visitors and locals surf, body surf, wind surf, jet ski, water ski, parasail, ride a big yellow banana bicycle. The hotels and mega resorts of the area offer many amenities including beachside cafes and bars.