La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Beach, a lesser known family option

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Beach, Nayarit, Mexico

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Beach beside Marina Riviera Nayarit

There are five beaches around La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, some larger than others, with easier and more difficult access. We will concentrate on the ones that are more readily available and offer better services and experience. Two of these beaches are this one and Playa La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Playa La Manzanilla.

The sequence of beaches from east to west in La Cruz are:

• El Tizate Beach
• La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Beach
• La Manzanilla Beach
• Piedra Blanca Beach
• Arena Blanca Beach

In this article, we focus on La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Beach, the second most popular beach option in La Cruz, behind La Manzanilla Beach.

The beach measures a total of 2950 feet (0.55 miles) and offers an 80 feet wide stretch of grey-golden sand. There are a few breakwaters along the way that help corral the sand in and keep a swimmable and shallow stretch of family-friendly beach.

La Cruz de H. beach location

The beach is to the east of the town known as La Cruz de Huanacaxtle in the northern part of Banderas Bay. The town of La Cruz is found between the towns of Bucerias to the southeast and Punta de Mita to the west along the edge of the bay.

By car or Uber, it is about 50 minutes from Puerto Vallarta‘s main square. Depending on the time of day (and traffic), you can add or subtract some 10 minutes to the trip. The distance is 19.7 miles (31.7 km).

The beach is almost precisely oriented in an east to west direction. On the west side, it borders with the Marina Riviera Nayarit area, and to the east, it extends to the beach area in front of the Vallarta Gardens Hotel.

From Puerto Vallarta, the trip begins as if one were going north towards Tepic and Compostela on Federal Highway 200. After Bucerías, look out for the exit that branches off to the highway going towards Punta de Mita and Marina Riviera Nayarit.

Continue on Federal Highway 200 towards Punta de Mita, when enter the town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle turn left to Ibis Street and then right on Flamingos Street, then turn left on first street you encounter, drive down it until you arrive to a small roundabout. The La Cruz Beach is to your left.

Access by land and in a vehicle is via Albatros Street and Del Mar Street (close to the Fish Market). On foot you can also do so via Delfin Street and taking the path to the east until you leave the Marina Riviera Nayarit and jump over to the La Cruz Beach area (watch the header video).

It is a beach mostly used and known by the local inhabitants of La Cruz. Because there are no restaurants on the beach, like at La Manzanilla, it is better for a picnic where you bring your own beach chairs and shades. For the same reason, it’s a beach that is better for people that live close by. The beach is also popular for families with children. The waves are kind, the sand is soft, and the beach very gently slopes into the sea. Children and families will enjoy swimming and floating at the beach.

There are no services directly available on the beach. I am guessing you can go to the “Mercado del Mar” (the fish market on Del Mar Street) for toilet access, but I can’t guarantee it.

During the high season, the beach offers vendors serving cold drinks, ice-cream, and food. But as you can see in the video (shot in May), once the low season kicks in, you almost have the beach all to yourself on weekdays.

There is no place right on the beach, but in the town of La Cruz there are several options, some with excellent views of the town, the Marina and the bay. Among these we can mention:

• Quinta del Encanto
• Villa Bella Bed And Breakfast
• Villa Magnolia

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle was once a small, simple fishing village. Now it even sports a modern Marina.

La Cruz Beach and La Manzanilla, its two biggest and most easily reached beaches, are examples of its natural beauty and appeal.

In the northern part of the bay, there are many great and popular beaches. It’s a great place for a family trip if you want to see how the local Mexican families in the area get along and enjoy their beaches and natural resources.

• La Cruz on Wikipedia