Yelapa Mexico is a gorgeous remote fishing village in Jalisco you can only reach by boat. Don’t be fooled by google maps saying you can drive there – you really can’t, unless you have a crazy powerful off-road vehicle.
We decided to visit Yelapa at the VERY last minute, and it ended up being one of our favorite destinations. It’s truly SUCH a charming village full of friendly locals, beaches, authentic eateries, and no cars – giving it even more charm.
I’ll share some of my travel stories from deciding to visit Yelapa at the last minute, and afterwards I’ll share some more practical info such as getting to Yelapa, things to do in Yelapa, some hotels in Yelapa Mexico I visited/recommend, where we ate in Yelapa, and how we walked to the Yelapa waterfalls.
Make sure to read more Mexico travel tips here or scroll to the bottom of this article!
Our Jalisco Mexico Road Trip – Leaving La Manzanilla
We had no plans to visit Yelapa Mexico on our two-week road trip of Jalisco, Mexico. When we left the little beach town of La Manzanilla in the early afternoon, we weren’t quite sure where we would go.
A few names were dropped by Felix, the only Mexican among us – Yelapa, El Mayto, maybe just Puerto Vallarta to visit some friends. Conversation was tossed around. Could we make it all the way to Punta de Mita TODAY? Maybe not; it was 4+ hours away. He didn’t feel like driving THAT much. Maybe we should just look up airbnbs along the coast? There’s another town just up here… oh wait, I think we passed it.
Springing to work in the sparse periods where the phone actually had service, I adjusted the Airbnb and booking.com maps to the entire coast below Puerto Vallarta, basically to Costa Careyes. We were REALLY winging it today, I thought. It was super fun, but also kinda stressful after 4pm not to know where you’ll be sleeping.
Confusion After Deciding to Visit Yelapa Mexico
As we drove, the only places that looked reasonable were in this place called Yelapa… which Felix mentioned, right? Yes, he did. But it mentions something about a boat, said Cleo from the front seat. But no, there’s a road that goes there on Google Maps. Why would it say I can drive in if I can’t? Surely if it was boat-in only, it would tell us, right? This seemed logical to us. We requested to book a two-bed spot for the night with a balcony.
As soon as we turned off the main road, maps told us it would take 1.5 hours to go just a little way to the town. The roads looked thin and winding – VERY winding. But a blind faith in Google Maps not to lead us off a cliff kept us going – until the airbnb confirmed our reservation.
We asked if we could drive in, and if we could park… and she replied that, oh no, you can only take a water taxi boat in, from a tiny town called Boca de Tomatlan… which is off the main road (and only 35 minutes away rather than 90). Confused, we called her, discussed among ourselves, and decided we would go for the adventure… I mean, a boat-in town on the coast? Coooooool.
Reaching Boca de Tomatlan to Get Our Boat to Yelapa
You can reach Yelapa by water taxi from Puerto Vallarta (Los Muertos Pier) or Boca de Tomatlan, a tiny village much closer to Yelapa. Water taxis run much more often from Boca de Tomatlan – every hour on the hour. As we were coming from the south, this option was more natural for us. Here’s the boat schedule from both locations.
Once we arrived in Boca de Tomatlan, we purged some of our belongings for what was planned to only be a single night in the town on the way up the coast. This is one of the easiest points to get from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa.
With a few bags each and the rest left in the car, we haggled with a few different people trying to sell us ferry tickets until we realized they weren’t trying to scam us – 100 pesos in each direction is the going rate... although it will likely increase each year.
We appreciated the tiny town of Boca de Tomatlan on the way to the boat. It had a tiny beach with a river channel, with beautiful villas dotting the coastline and restaurants and families along the sand.
We were the last ones on the last boat of the day. We crammed into the front of a speed boat with about 10 rows of 5 people – sitting on top of and among tons of random things that people brought – wound-up wires, stacks of buckets, building supplies, and even an adorable and scared pitbull who was not so keen for the boat trip and buried his head in his owner’s lap.
The Yelapa Water Taxi
The boat ride is about 40-45 minutes and is incredibly scenic. We passed by tons of villages, beaches, and venues along the coast that we quickly realized had no roads leading to them – only boats. Yachts and boats of all shapes and sizes were docked off the coast, waiting between secluded beaches and exclusive restaurants in Quimixto, Las Animas, and more beach villages on the way to Yelapa.
The water splashed to the side of the boat, but we didn’t get wet at all. Besides, the water was glassy and calm, giving way to amazing views of smooth rocks jutting out of the water along the coast. I couldn’t wait to get in the water!
When we first pulled into the bay of Yelapa, I couldn’t help but think it looked like a (very) miniature Mexican Positano… with colorful buildings dotting the hill and making their way up the mountain just above the water.
The whole thing was so raw and natural… with the jungle stretching as far as the eye could see. And again… no cars or roads disrupting the view of the far-reaching green-brown mountains. Just pink, green, blue, and yellow buildings all the way along the shore.
Yelapa Hotels and Rentals – Where to Stay in Yelapa
We were four people, and we decided to go super-budget in Yelapa with a room with two big beds and a massive sea-view balcony. The place, called Casa Choco, had some rooms with 2 beds and a balcony, and one massive 3-bedroom unit that was gorgeous and also quite cheap for what it was
We booked it on airbnb at the time, but they have better deals on booking(.)com – check out Casa Choco here as my top recommendation for Yelapa hotels with an EPIC sea view for couples or 4 people who don’t mind sharing a room. It’s also affordable with a perfect central location in town.
One thing I will mention about Yelapa Mexico hotels is that there are not many of them, and they book up quickly in this tiny, sought-after village. Make sure to book in advance. We got very lucky Casa Choco was available!
Other Options for Yelapa Hotels
I walked the entire length of the village many times during our stay (which, spoiler alert… we extended to 3 days instead of one) so I checked out most of the other accommodation options too. Here are some other good hotels in Yelapa Jalisco:
Casa Bahia Bonita: This quaint hotel is located on the opposite side of the bay to the main town, and presents incredible views of the bay from private balconies and a small private shaded seating area.
Casa Papaya: This small hotel/apartment rental complex is perfectly located between the beach and town with only a few minutes’ stroll to either one. They come fully equipped with kitchens, balconies, jaw-dropping ocean views, and even a small private beach to lay out on.
Day Trip to Yelapa Mexico
If you don’t choose to spend a few nights in Yelapa, you may choose to take a day trip to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta. There are two main types of Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa day tours: one regular tour with buffet meals and one all-inclusive tour with drinks and even a masseuse.
Both tours stop in Yelapa and one stops in another beach town called Majahuitas, as well as some other spots to see wildlife on the Bay of Banderas, and include waterfalls and lots of snorkeling.
The Regular Yelapa Day Tour is under $90 and includes snorkel/swim spots, an hour in Yelapa to see the waterfalls (which I don’t think is enough), and 2 hours at Majahuitas Beah Club.
The Luxury All-Inclusive Mega-Yacht Day Trip to Yelapa is $120 and includes an open bar, two meals and snacks, tons of water exuipment including SUP’s, kayaks, fishing, mattresses, and tubing, 3 hours in Yelapa to see the beach and waterfalls, and 2 hours sseimming on the Bay of Banderas looking for wildlife or doing water spots (much better value).
Things to Do in Yelapa Mexico
If you decide to stay in Yelapa for more than a day trip, you’ll get to enjoy a much emptier beach after about 3:30pm!
After our first night (and most delicious meal at Pollo Bollo, more info below) we had fallen in love with the village. Not wanting to go back to the mainland (or, well, the main part of the land… Yelapa feels like an island, but it isn’t!) we asked our host if we could stay another few days. To our delight, he said yes. Here is what we got up to:
Relaxing on Pristine Beaches, Of Course.
Our first order of business when we heard we could stay longer was to veg out on the beach. We headed to the main beach, Playa Yelapa, and spent a few pesos on beach chairs to relax on for the day, and oh was it worth it. We ordered breakfast (chilaquiles) from one of the restaurants and spend the rest of the morning listening to the eaves lapping up towards our chairs.
There’s another tiny beach in town perfect for watching the sunset, right outside Yelapa Yacht Club. But the rest of the bay is more rocky and not sandy.
Swimming, Snorkeling, and Water Sports in Yelapa Jalisco MX
While you are relaxing on the beach it would be silly not to go swimming in the pristine sea, of course! We found some areas clearer than others, as there were waves hitting a certain part of the bay while we were there. You can take a dip all around Yelapa; just watch for boats and waves crashing on the rocks.
If you are spending a few days in Yelapa, try to rent or bring a snorkel and try snorkeling around some of the rocks points surrounding Yelapa for the best water visibility and fish to see. If you take a day tour to Yelapa, snorkeling will be provided.
There are also tons of water sports in Yelapa that visitors love. You will no doubt see many people paragliding in Yelapa from boats right inside the bay. You can also rent kayaks from a few different places along the cove and explore the bay.
Yelapa Waterfalls
There are famously two different Yelapa waterfalls to hike to. One of the Yelapa waterfalls (Cascada de Yelapa) is only about a 15-minute walk from town and EVERYONE must do it as one of the top things to do in Yelapa. It’s an easy and beautiful walk up into the jungle along a well-marked trail, and if it has been rainy recently, it’s a sight to behold.
Sadly, when we were there, it was dry season, and there was hardly a trickle of water off the top. Luckily some adorable puppies were playing to take our attention away from a lack of waterfall dip!
The second of the Yelapa waterfalls is a much bigger trek from the town – an hour and a half – that goes along the creek that empties out into the bay. This is a perfect Yelapa activity for an active day outdoors with a great reward at the end.
Hiking in Yelapa
The main hikes in Yelapa are to the waterfalls, but there are also some other hikes you can do along the tiny, winding roads in and out of the city.
El Faro – El Faro is an observation deck on the big hill across from Yelapa town. I noticed this lookout our entire time in town and even tried to make it up there while we were there, but I couldn’t find the trail even after looking at this map and ended up at a hilltop hotel instead. Maybe you will find it when you visit!
Yelapa Tapa – this viewpoint (visible on Google Maps) is just over 3 miles from town. It’s a fabulous viewpoint over all of Yelapa and the entire Riviera Nayarit, but this means that its almost entirely UPHILL to get here! The view at the end is worth it, though.
Wander Yelapa’s Tiny Cobblestone Streets
One of the most charming parts of Yelapa is the tiny winding roads of the main town and the hilly crossing from the town to the beach. Many of these streets are covered in colorful and festival flags and surrounded by little local restaurants and friendly doggos hoping for a pat along the way.
Yelapa Cultural Museum
In the main town near the basketball court, you will find Yelapa’s cultural museum (Museo de Yelapa), and don’t write it off just because it’s in a tiny town! This fascinating museum actually goes into the history of Yelapa and how it has maintained its authenticity to this day unlike many of its beach resort city counterparts.
You can learn about how it was founded as a fishing village as well as interesting artifacts that have been found in the area. It’s definitely worth popping into while here.
When I visited, I noticed that the Yelapa Museum also had different events going on for each day of the month, from Women’s/Men’s circles to Temescal to yoga to children’s days. Check the site (linked above) for events.
Horseback + Mule Rides
Horses and mules are still a popular way for locals to get around a town with no cars, although 4×4’s are being used much more often these days. Some locals may offer you a horseback or mule ride to one of the Yelapa waterfalls or to the beach. I’m not sure on the ethics of this but it’s surely one of the things to do in Yelapa that you’ll come across!
Delicious Yelapa Restaurants and Food
Of of the most awesome things to do in Yelapa is TO EAT!!! This village is small but mighty when it comes to food options. They have some incredible and famous eateries, which I will mention below, as well as a few more places to went and enjoyed:
Restaurante Pollo Bollo: MUST EAT! If you eat meat, you cannot miss this delectable BBQ place with expertly cooked chicken, ribs, fish, and more. It’s affordable and simply mouth-watering… it was so good we went two nights in a row and had to pry ourselves away to try something else on our third night!
Cafe Bahia: Right on the main pier, super cute, locally owned, and DELICIOUS! Cafe Bahia is a cute modern cafe with a Mexican twist. They serve many Mexican dishes with a few extra options (from eggs benny to brekky burritos), great coffee, and options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (although I recommend breakfast/brunch).
La Cabañita: This place was absolutely bursting with people on our last night in Yelapa, so we thought it must be a sign and got in line. And, it was! This place has fantastic, authentic Mexican fare and margaritas (and also shows sports games too). Try the margs and tacos al pastor.
Domingos Restaurante: This is the beach restaurant we went to when we were visiting and we enjoyed the food! There are a few restaurants to choose from along the main beach, and we ordered breakfast food here which was good.
Homemade Pies from the Pie Ladies: One of Yelapa’s claims to fame when it comes to food are the fantastic homemade pies served by the ‘pie ladies’ who peruse the beaches and streets every afternoon. They are mostly sweet pies, and apparently still use the same recipe passed town for generations! You can’t miss them, and you also can’t miss trying one of these pies while in Yelapa.
What to Bring to Yelapa Mexico
When you are coming to Yelapa Mexico, don’t forget that you re cut off from the world! Here are things you can’t forget:
- BRING CASH! There are NO ATMs in Yelapa!
- Bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and cover-ups for the sun as there are not many shops.
- A first aid kit is a good idea as a precaution; any hospitals here are tiny.
- Towels to lay on the beach or dry off with after a swim, in case your accommodation doesn’t provide enough
- Water Bottle to stay hydrated during the water taxi ride, hikes, and beach days
- Snorkeling equipment if you chose to take yourself snorkeling
- A good book to read as you get amongst Yelapa’s much more chilled out, slow pace of life!
- a camera to capture incredible moments in Yelapa!
- Check out my big list of travel essentials here for more ideas of what to pack for Yelapa and Mexico.
Enjoy your Visit to Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico!
I hope this has been enough of a story and a guide to get you to want to visit this incredible destination! Let me know in the comments below what you thought of your trip and if I missed anything important that I should add.
More on Mexico:
- Travel tips for Mexico
- Is Tulum Safe? Our Story + Safety Tips
- Taking the Ferry to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen
- Best Areas to Stay in Tulum
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.