What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?

The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.

Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city's beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.

Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?

Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views. The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot. Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.

What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?

Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area's natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.

Esmeralda Beach, South Zone, Puerto Vallarta

Table of Contents

Features

Vendors

Condos

Swimming

South Zone

Summary

Esmeralda Beach is a secluded and pristine spot, ideal for nature lovers and adventurers.
It is located in the South Zone of Puerto Vallarta, known for its rugged jungle scenery and luxury accommodations.
The beach captivates visitors with its fine golden sand, moderate waves, and turquoise waters.

By car, it takes approximately 25 minutes to reach from the Romantic Zone.
The beach offers some protection from the wind and is ideal for swimming due to its beautiful soft sand and gentle sea shelving.

Puerto Vallarta Malecon (Boardwalk) A City Favorite

Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone (AKA: Old Town Or South Side)

Mismaloya Beach, Puerto Vallarta, A Complete Guide

Los Muertos Beach The Most Popular One In Puerto Vallarta

Introduction

Esmeralda Beach is located 5.6 miles (9.1 kilometers) from Puerto Vallarta’s Main Square, it can be reached by land on a scenic drive along Federal Highway 200 to Mismaloya (Carretera Federal 200) between the sea and the green hills! It’s a small 630 ft long beach (190 m) with what is the standard Banderas Bay golden sand and short stretches of emerald green-blue water.

It’s a less-known beach in Puerto Vallarta so you won’t find it very crowded. The access along a stream makes it a bit of a challenge, especially if there’s a lot of water (June to mid-October is the rainy season) and the edges are slippery.

Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone has many beautiful beaches, from north to south to Mismaloya, you’ll find:

Las Estacas Beach
Punta Negra Beach
Palmares Beach
Garza Blanca Beach
Esmeralda Beach
Las Gemelas Beach
Mismaloya Beach

I’ve seen Esmeralda Beach called El Chilte Beach (Playa El Chilte) and La Manzanilla Beach (Playa La Manzanilla).

Amenities & Where to eat

This beach has no restaurants or extra services, there are some beach vendors during the busy season (December to April) selling shrimp or fish shish kabobs (pescado & camarones embarazados) and maybe a coconut salesman, so bring your own food and drinks.

The various condos have palapa sunshades for their owners, but they are not available to the public, so if you need shade, arrive early and go to the southern end and you’ll have a bit of shade, otherwise, bring your own beach umbrella too.

What to do

While on the beach, beyond sunbathing and a dip in the sea, you can take a stroll northeast and southwest, the longest stretch is toward Garza Blanca beach, it’s some 1300 ft (400 m) to the northeast. There are lots of rocks along the edge, but it’s passable. For those that are a bit more adventurous, you can walk southwest along the edge of the sea to Las Gemelas Beach, this route is a bit more dangerous and you need to be agile and in shape. It’s only 500 ft (145 meters), but it’s over rocks and boulders, some are slippery, so do take care and if you become injured, please do not blame me.

There is a breakwater with a nice pelican statue that can be part of your adventures on Playa Esmeralda too.

How do I get to Esmeralda Beach?

The best way to get to Emerald Beach is a 25-minute ride on the southbound local bus that takes people to all the beaches and towns in the South Zone. They are very cheap (about 50 US cents, 10 pesos MX) and leave every 15 or 30 minutes from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Constituyentes streets in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone.

In a taxi, or more affordably with Uber, it is easy to get from downtown Puerto Vallarta all the way down to Palmares beach. The fare will be around $120 to 170 Mexican pesos ($6 to 8 US dollars). If you’ve rented a car there are parking spots available by Playa Esmeralda Condos and Sierra del Mar, but there is no guarantee that they will be available.

By Sierra del Mar and Playa Esmeralda Condos, you’ll see an opening and path between them. Go down to the beach along this corridor that frames a small creek that runs from the hills to the beach. It is seen from the beach and is mentioned in the video as well.

Where is Emerald Beach?

Esmeralda Beach is located south of Puerto Vallarta in what is known as the South Zone that starts off just by Hyatt Ziva and Las Estacas Beach.

The beach is located between Garza Blanca Beach and Las Gemelas Beach. It is 5.6 miles (9.1 kilometers) from the Main Square in downtown Puerto Vallarta, you’ll get there driving along Federal Highway 200 (Carretera Federal 200) toward Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan.

You’ll leave the highway when you get to Sierra del Mar and Playa Esmeralda Condos.

Note: As of Jan 27, 2022 Google Maps states this beach is called “Playa la Garza Blanca” (a duplicate), that’s a mistake, Garza Blanca is further north along the highway.

Where to stay at Esmeralda Beach

There are no hotels directly on Esmeralda Beach, only condominiums. There are a number of well-known hotels and resorts in this area of the South Zone that are close to Playa Esmeralda, including the following:

Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta (0.4 miles / 600m northeast)
Hotel Mousai (0.6 miles / 950 m northeast)
Grand Park Royal Puerto Vallarta (0.3 miles / 500 m southwest)

Conclusion

This beach is another one of the hidden beaches in Puerto Vallarta because access is not really user-friendly, you’ll find this beach much less crowded than beaches in the rest of the bay. There’s enough space to find a spot for yourself.

The breakwater creates a mini-bay that is great for a swim and some relaxation at the edge of the sea. Great for couples and younger beach fans.

FAQ

What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?

The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.
Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city’s beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.
Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?

Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views.

The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot.

Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.
What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?

Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area’s natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.