Is Yelapa worth a day trip from Puerto Vallarta?

Yes — Yelapa is the most accessible 'off-grid' fishing village from Puerto Vallarta. You get a beach, a waterfall hike, fresh seafood, and a complete change of pace from the resort strip in a single day. Stay overnight to see it after the day-trippers leave.

What is there to do in Yelapa?

Swim at the main beach, hike 30 minutes inland to the Yelapa waterfall, eat pie from the famous beach pie ladies, take a panga to the secondary beach (Playa Isabel), and walk through the village. Most visitors do all of this in 4–5 hours.

Can you stay overnight in Yelapa?

Yes — there are around a dozen small hotels and B&Bs ranging from $40 to $200 USD per night. Hotel Lagunita is the best-known. Most properties have limited power (solar/generator) and weak cell signal. Book ahead in dry season (Nov–Apr).

Puerto Vallarta · Yelapa

Yelapa — The 2026 Day Trip Guide

Q: How do I get to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta?

By boat only — no road connects Yelapa to Puerto Vallarta. Public water taxis run from Los Muertos pier in the Romantic Zone (45 min, $20 USD round trip) and from Boca de Tomatlán (25 min, $10 USD round trip). Last return boat is typically 5 PM.

By Mr. Playas · Updated March 2026

Yelapa is a fishing village on the south side of Banderas Bay, reachable only by boat, with no through-road, no chain hotels, and intermittent electricity until the early 2000s. It is the most popular day trip from Puerto Vallarta and, for good reason, still feels separate from the resort strip across the bay.

Quick answer

How do I get to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta?

Water taxi from Los Muertos pier in the Romantic Zone — 45 minutes, $20 USD round trip, departures around 10:30 AM and 11 AM with return boats at 3:30 PM and 5 PM. Cheaper option: drive or taxi to Boca de Tomatlán (25 min south) and take the local panga ($10 USD round trip, 25 min).

What to Do in Yelapa

The boat drops you at the main beach. From here, three things define the day. First, the waterfall hike — 30 minutes inland through the village along a clear path, passing small homes, the cemetery, and the river, ending at a 40-meter waterfall with a deep pool you can swim in. Free; bring water shoes.

Second, the pie ladies. Several local women walk the beach with trays of homemade coconut, lemon meringue, and chocolate pie. 60 pesos a slice. It is a Yelapa tradition older than most of the visitors. Buy one.

Third, lunch at a beach palapa — Cafe Bahia and Pollo Bollo are the consistent ones — and a panga ride to the quieter Playa Isabel on the other side of the headland, accessible only by boat ($5 USD per person).

How to Plan the Day

From Los Muertos pier

Buy tickets at the pier 30 minutes before departure. Round-trip $20 USD per person. Last return is 5 PM — miss it and you are overnighting.

From Boca de Tomatlán (cheaper)

Local bus from Puerto Vallarta to Boca (45 min, $1), then panga to Yelapa (25 min, $10 USD round trip). Most flexible schedule.

Organized day tour

Day tours from PV combine Yelapa with Los Arcos snorkeling and lunch for $80–110 USD. Convenient but less time in the village.

Yelapa & Los Arcos day tours from PV

Combine the Yelapa waterfall and beach with snorkeling at Los Arcos National Marine Park. Lunch and round-trip transfers included.

Browse Yelapa tours on Viator

What to Bring

Cash in pesos — most palapas and the pie ladies do not take cards
Water shoes for the waterfall trail (river crossings)
Biodegradable sunscreen
Dry bag for the boat ride if conditions are choppy
A book for the slow afternoon hours

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Heading north instead? See the Marietas Islands guide — the hidden beach and how to actually get a permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yelapa safe?

Yes — it is one of the safest day trips on Banderas Bay. The village is tiny and tourism-dependent. Standard travel sense applies; nothing unusual.

Are there ATMs in Yelapa?

No reliable ATM. Bring cash. Some hotels and a couple of restaurants take cards, but the boat operators, beach palapas, and pie ladies are cash only.

Is the Yelapa waterfall worth the hike?

Yes for the swimming pool at the bottom. The hike is mild — 30 minutes through the village on a clear path. Skip if you have mobility issues; otherwise it is the best thing in Yelapa.

Should I stay overnight in Yelapa?

Yes if you want to see the village without the 11 AM–4 PM tourist crowd. Hotel Lagunita and Hotel Casa Milagros are the established options. Cell service is spotty; bring a book.