Introduction

Las Animas Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

Las Animas de Quimixto Beach (Playa), Jalisco, Mexico

Playa Las Ánimas de Quimixto (Las Animas de Quimixto Beach), more known as just “Las Animas”, is a beautiful beach in the southern zone of Puerto Vallarta.

It is the first stop water taxis make (locally called “pangas”) on the way West in the southern section of the Banderas Bay. Its relatively close location makes it a very popular stop and luckily both the natural setting, the beach and the sea make it a beautiful experience.

How to get to Las Animas

Playa Las Animas de Quimixto, Jalisco, Mexico

Las Animas Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

Boca de Tomatlán is your best starting point to Las Animas beach, it is the last bay and town by the edge of the ocean that the Highway goes through on its way south to El Tuito, then to Barra de Navidad and Manzanillo.

The trip by land in a local bus from Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlan is 10.2 miles (from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Constitución streets), some 30 minutes by land unless you are pinned behind a truck or a bus, then it could take longer. The scenic ride between the jungle and hills on the left and the emerald-colored waters of the sea to your right makes it all worthwhile and enjoyable.

Local bus to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán

Local public transport from Puerto Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlan

You’ll first go by Los Arcos (there’s space to stop for a photo session if you are going by car, never enough photos of those rocky islands!), then you’ll drive by Mismaloya (you’ll know when you see the Barceló hotel on your right) and then 3 miles ahead of you, you’ll follow a curve that goes left and you’ll see Boca from above you’ll see the beach and bay, you are now in arriving.

Turn right at the village and go to the Malecon, along the edge of the river you’ll find parking spaces. If you took a local bus, then it’s just a matter of walking 150 yards downhill to the Malecon.

Here pangas (water taxis) disembark and embark passengers and take them back and forth between the beaches and small towns down the coast: Las Ánimas, Quimixto, Majahuitas, Yelapa and some go even further south to Pizota, El Chimo, Cabo Corrientes, Tehuamixtle or Mayto.

Beaches south of Puerto Vallarta

Beaches south of Puerto Vallarta

Las Animas beach is a day tour favorite, there are many tour operators and cruise trips in the bay that arrive here during the day. It’s the first beach 2 miles (3 km) from Boca (some 5-10 minutes away), right after Caballo Beach, the ride in the water taxi should be around 3 to 4 dollars per person per stretch. Check out the water taxi schedule.

About Las Animas Beach

The pier makes it much easier to get on and off the boats, and the beach is also a tourist beach-lover top choice. The sand is clear-colored and fine, the waters clean, the waves soft and the surrounding nature astounding.

Las Animas beach east side

Las Animas beach east side

There is an assortment of small restaurants and vendors providing food and drink, some fortunate people also have permission to live in the area, that just as Las Caletas is also an Indian Ejido, administered by Indian communities in Chacala, a village in the mountains close to El Tuito, or at least it was known as one, it might have changed in the most recent decades, but we have not been informed.

Las Animas beach, west-side

Las Animas beach, west-side

The late William (Bill) Reed, author married to Sylvia Rosa Garcés Marroquí, lived here many years in a house called “Casa Guillermo” (or was it Casa Mario…?) and got to know all the pros and cons of dealing with the ejido administration and the local Indian attitudes and some ugly surprises too which you can read that in “Escape to Paradise, A Mexican Odyssey” by the author.

Casa Mario (Casa Guillermo) house where (William) Bill Reed and Sylvia Rosa Garces Marroqui de Reed lived at in Las Animas

Casa Mario (Casa Guillermo) house where (William) Bill Reed and Sylvia Rosa Garces Marroquí de Reed lived at in Las Animas

What to do in Las Animas

Las Animas

Las Animas Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

Take a jumpy tour in the sea on a banana boat, or soar above the sea behind a motorboat in a parasail enjoying the impressive view from above, walk up and down the beach, or just lay down under one of the many parasols and relax with a beer or a margarita.

Las Animas Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

Las Animas Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

Las Animas beach is for relaxing, but if you want to have some action, then you should maybe try the Las Animas Beach Adventure Park where you’ll find a canopy tour, hanging bridges, rock climbing, and other fun activities, including a Tequila Tour.

Las Animas Beach, Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico

Las Animas Beach, Puerto Vallarta

Las Animas beach is located in the Cabo Corrientes Municipality, an area known for its natural beauty, you’ll find that fruit is abundant here, that’s because mango, papaya, coconuts, and bananas are cultivated in the area too.

Panorama Las Ánimas de Quimixto

Panorama Las Ánimas de Quimixto

And don’t forget to enjoy the local delicacies too, both from the land and from the sea, including the local shellfish, “ostiones”, oysters… yummy!

A walk over to Caballo Beach

Caballo Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

Caballo Beach, Jalisco, Mexico

I can also recommend you take a walk up the beach to Casas Maraika and Caballo Beach, the path is easy and the views impressive. Playa Caballo is very nice, not as crowded and the sea just as nice, just take care if the waves are strong, safety first, as always.

Casas Maraika has a nice bar where you can get some lemonade, a cold beer or something stronger if you so desire, plus a snack or sandwich.

Las Animas Beach location map

This beach is located to the west of Boca de Tomatlan, between Colomitos Beach and Quimixto in what is considered Puerto Vallarta’s south zone.

Last Updated on 10/09/2022 by Puerto Vallarta Net