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Banderas Bay Offers Over Forty Miles of Shore Line With a Wide Variety of Beaches

The beaches of Banderas Bay on the central Pacific Coast of Mexico stretch continuously along the 40 plus miles of shore line of Mexico largest bay. Puerto Vallarta is located roughly in the center of the horseshoe shaped bay. From the southern tip of the bay, at Pizota to the Northern tip near Higuera Blanca the beaches differ greatly, though they all offer their own exotic charm.

Starting in the middle, the most popular beach in Puerto Vallarta itself is Los Muertos Beach, in the area often referred to as Olas Altas, the name of this area's primary street just a block off the beach. The official name for this colonia or neighborhood is Emiliano Zapata. The local chamber of commerce has made a valiant effort to rename the area the Zona Romantica for obvious commercial reasons, but local and ex-pats still speak of going down to "Olas Altas."

The same image conscious entities attempted to change the name of Playa Los Muertos, Beach of the Dead, to Playa del Sol, Beach of the Sun, but most prefer the funky and historic name. Los Muertos is a lively spot with good restaurants, hotels and condominiums facing the beach. Beach vendors, roaming musicians and parachute rides add to the festive feel. It is a popular place for ex-pats from Canada, the U.S. and Europe, as well as tourists who enjoy exploring local flavor and lifestyle. For families the location near economical to medium priced restaurants and hotels makes this area of Puerto Vallarta a popular family destination. However, the sand is coarse, there is a fairly steep incline at the shore line and the waves tend to break hard as much as 70% of the time, so that it is a spot where very young children should be watched carefully, when near the water.

Going south from Los Muertos, there are quieter beaches, with fewer facilities. The sand gets coarser the further south you travel around the bay, until you will notice at Yelapa the beach is actually made up of billions of pieces of tiny broken shell and fragments of volcanic matter. Several of the most beautiful beaches on the south side of the bay are flanked by tiny villages that can only be reached by boat.

The closest beaches south of Los Muertos can be reached by walking down Los Muertos and over a couple of rock outcroppings. Each rock outcropping leads you to another beach or a pleasant tide pool area and provides interesting views of beachside homes. To reach beaches further

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