Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico: Beach Days and Hiking Trails
Boca de Tomatlan, a small fishing village surrounded by lush greenery and located at the mouth of the Horcones River, is 24 km south of Puerto Vallarta.
This charming destination will leave you in awe with its green landscapes and traditional beachside restaurants.
It’s no secret that Jalisco is among the most beautiful Mexican states. And Boca de Tomatlan and the beaches around it are clear proof of that.
The Horcones River flows from the Sierra Madre Mountains through the lush tropical jungle and empties into the sea.
It is at this point that the small, traditional fishing community of Boca de Tomatlan developed.
Being so close to Puerto Vallarta, it’s an authentic haven of peace for travelers who prefer to enjoy quieter environments and connect with nature.
But Boca de Tomatlan is more than just a picturesque town where you can eat well. It is also the ideal starting point to discover beaches full of charm.
From its pier or by taking a hiking route, you can access some of the most beautiful beaches in the southern part of Banderas Bay: Las Animas, Colomitos, Quimixto, Majahuitas, and Yelapa.
If you decide to stay in Boca though, the beach has fine sand, gentle waves, excellent food (especially seafood), and dreamlike views.
Strolling along the boardwalk and watching the fishermen going about their daily work is another of the great charms of Boca de Tomatlan.
How to get to Boca de Tomatlan, Jalisco?
Again, Boca de Tomatlan is about 24 km south of Puerto Vallarta, on the last stretch of Federal Highway 200 along the coast.
The route is very picturesque from beginning to end, as you will be accompanied by the intense blue of the Pacific Ocean on one side and, on the other, by the jungle-covered mountains.
In addition, the road passes through the small towns of Las Juntas and Los Veranos, El Tuito, and other smaller towns.
To get to Boca de Tomatlan from Puerto Vallarta you can drive, take a taxi, Uber, or public bus.
The Bus stop is located on the corner of Basilio Badillo and Constitución streets, in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, the same ones that go to Mismaloya Beach.
Buses to and from Boca and Mismaloya operate every day, from 6:30-7 am at regular intervals until around 10-11 pm. The ticket costs less than 1 USD per leg.
Finally, the most exciting way to get to Boca de Tomatlan is by water taxi, enjoying a pleasant ride along the coast.
For that, you will have to take a “panga,” (a slang term for water taxi) at the Puerto Vallarta Marina or the pier of Playa Los Muertos.
Things to do in Boca de Tomatlan
Despite being so close to Puerto Vallarta, Boca de Tomatlan retains its traditional look and feel of a fishing village.
Therefore, it is the perfect getaway for travelers seeking a true local experience.
In addition, the beauty of the Horcones River, the tropical jungle, and the sea give Boca a unique charm.
In this enclave of Banderas Bay, you can experience the rural culture of Mexico, meet its friendly and polite people, watch the children play in the street or on the beach, feel the noises and aromas of nature, observe the local flora and fauna, etc.
The experience that Boca de Tomatlan offers is very different from that of Puerto Vallarta, some will like it more than others, which is fine.
The Beach
Obviously, everything in Boca de Tomatlan revolves around its beautiful beach.
There you can relax, swim, contemplate the scenery, read a good book, or just sit and enjoy the moment.
Boca de Tomatlan’s beach is divided into two sections: by the boardwalk and the mouth of the Horcones River.
North of the river is the boardwalk, the pier, water taxis, and beachfront restaurants. This area is very picturesque, colorful, and lively, but it is not the best for swimming.
The other part of the beach is south of the river and is suitable for setting up with your umbrella for the day.
The water is clean and the waves are always gentle (because it is inside a bay), so swimming is safe.
Stroll along the boardwalk
Boca de Tomatlan has a cute little boardwalk that opened in 2017. It is a short palm-lined promenade that has a reinforced mouth with a breakwater for the Horcones River.
This simple, but picturesque boardwalk runs parallel to Pelicanos Street and offers public restrooms and showers for about 1 Dollar.
The creation of the boardwalk was quite an event for Boca de Tomatlan. Not only did it help boost tourism, but it also helped keep the river on course.
It also provided an excellent starting point for local fishermen and water cabs heading north and south to Banderas Bay.
Explore other beaches near Boca de Tomatlan
As I said at the beginning, Boca de Tomatlan is an excellent starting point to explore some of the most beautiful beaches in southern Banderas Bay.
Mismaloya is just 5 km away and is also another good place from which to move to the nearby beaches.
Anyway, you have many options: Las Animas, Quimixto, Majahuitas, Yelapa, Pizota, and many more.
Las Animas
Playa Las Animas is the first stop by water taxis going westward along the southern part of Banderas Bay.
Being relatively close to Puerto Vallarta, it is a very popular stop where most people go to. So it can get a bit crowded sometimes.
The natural surroundings as well as the beach and the sea, make everyone want to visit this small paradise.
As you already guessed, access to Las Animas beach is only by boat from Los Muertos Pier in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta or Boca de Tomatlan.
Both make daily trips, approximately every hour, from their respective docks. However, sports and hiking lovers can walk there from Boca (I will tell you about it later on).
The boat ride from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Ánimas takes about 10 minutes and passes by beautiful beaches (such as Colomitos and Caballo Beach).
Las Animas Beach has the perfect characteristics to enjoy water activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle surfing.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a little more action and adventure, you can to go to Las Animas Beach Adventure Park.
This park has zip lines, hanging bridges, rock climbing, a Tequila tour, and other exciting attractions.
If so much action whets your appetite, the palapas on the beach have something to please your taste buds.
Octopus, mahi mahi mahi, tuna, and shrimp cocktails are options you won’t be able to resist.
For dessert or snacks, the best options are local tropical fruits (mango, pineapple, coconut, banana, and papaya).
Colomitos Beach
Right around Boca de Tomatlan (5 minutes by boat) is Colomitos, a tiny paradise that will make you want to stay and never leave!
I say tiny because it is one of the smallest beaches in Mexico (it is barely 30 meters long).
When seen from the air, it is a triangular bay surrounded by dense vegetation and round rocks. But don’t be fooled by the fact that it is small, because its beauty is enormous.
This hidden paradise is located on the southern curve of Banderas Bay, between the Horcones River and El Caballo Beach, just before Las Animas.
What is so special about Colomitos? For starters, it has a jungle setting and an almost virgin environment.
Add crystal clear water, warm golden sand, and its famous restaurant: The Ocean Grill.
Therefore, in addition to being a universe of sun, sand, and sea, Colomitos Beach is also a gastronomic highlight.
The best activities to do in Colomitos are swimming, diving, and snorkeling. The latter will allow you to discover the rich marine ecosystem that lies underwater.
In the shallow areas of the bay, you can see puffer fish, giant damselfish, moray eels, and spotted box fish, among others.
In addition to aquatic activities, there are also land activities. You can even get to Colomitos by hiking from Boca de Tomatlan.
Quimixto Beach
Quimixto is another popular beach between Las Animas and Majahuitas, at the mouth of La Puerta River and near Boca de Tomatlan.
The only way to reach this beautiful sandy beach is by water or by hiking from Boca.
Quimixto’s main beach has medium-grain sand, is relatively narrow, and stretches for 550 meters. The waves are mainly gentle and the waters are clean and crystalline.
For dining, there is Los Cocos restaurant, a small palapa that serves local seafood and Mexican food.
The dishes are simple and rustic, but extremely tasty. There is also a beach bar that makes delicious cocktails.
Quimixto is known for its waterfall which, depending on the season, brings more or less water.
In fact, most visitors who come to Quimixto do so in order to make the small hiking trail that leads to it. The route is approximately 1.5 km long and runs inland.
You may want to read: Yelapa Beach & Waterfall: Mexico’s Hidden Gem for Adventure Lovers
The walk is simple and very pleasant since it takes place in the middle of nature. Don’t be afraid of getting lost, because it is signposted.
Another way to get to the waterfall is on horseback. The ride costs around 300 pesos per person (about 15 USD) and lasts 30 minutes.
Undoubtedly, it is a good option for travelers who cannot or do not want to walk. In addition, if you put into practice your bargaining skills you can get a better deal.
The waterfall forms a natural pool that invites you to enjoy a dose of fresh water in the middle of the sea. So be prepared for a dip. The area has a restaurant that sells snacks and fresh drinks.
Hiking in Boca de Tomatlan
The nature that surrounds Boca de Tomatlan is an invitation to do some hiking and thus reach the beaches mentioned above.
Of course, it is not an alternative for everyone, since the routes have steps and steep slopes.
Folks who are used to walking and don’t have knee problems will greatly enjoy this activity.
The trail that starts in Boca de Tomatlan and goes to Las Animas beach, passing through Colomitos, is your best option for exploring the area on foot.
It is a beautiful route that winds its way along the coast and passes through lush jungles and secluded beaches.
The route itself is not very difficult, but there are sections of steep stairs that will take your breath away.
Don’t worry, when you reach Las Animas Beach you can recharge your batteries in any of the beach-front restaurants.
If you don’t want to walk back, you can always take a water taxi.
The trail from Boca to Colomitos is approximately 1.5 km long and takes about 30 minutes, depending on your pace and stops.
If you get to the beach and is too crowded, you can continue walking for another 10-15 minutes until you find small secluded, and virgin beaches where there will probably be no one.
The rest of the trail after passing Colomitos Beach is fairly flat, so the worst part will be over. At the end, you will reach Las Animas, the most developed beach of all along the hike.
There you can spend the rest of the day, have a bite to eat and cool off in the sea.
At Las Animas, you will find many water taxis ready to take you back to Boca de Tomatlan. The cost of the ride is about $50-100 Pesos per person (3-5 USD).
The hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Animas is an excellent way to get in touch with the purest of Jalisco’s nature.
With a bit of luck, you will come across wild animals typical of the area, such as iguanas, foxes, raccoons, small reptiles, birds, and others.
Don’t worry about them, because they are used to human presence. In any case, don’t try anything that could endanger you or the animal.
The route is self-guided, well signposted and it is difficult to get lost. However, for your peace of mind, you can always hire a local guide to help you along the route. The one-way distance is about 5 km.
Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent. Of course, don’t forget to bring your bathing suit, because you will pass by a lot of beaches that will be a temptation to get into the water.
Where to eat?
Like the entire coast of Jalisco, Boca de Tomatlan is an excellent destination to enjoy the flavors of the sea that characterize this area.
Boca’s Beach has a series of small restaurants, one after another along the shore, distinguished by the color of their tablecloths.
In any of them, you will enjoy the freshest local fish and seafood, under the shade of rustic roofs made of palm leaves.
Best of all, they are quite inexpensive, so you will eat well, cheaply, and with a privileged view. You can’t ask for more.
If you want something fancier, Le Kliff restaurant, 600 meters from town, towards Mismaloya Beach, offers delicious gourmet dishes accompanied by wonderful views of the entire Bay.
Its sophisticated menu features delicacies such as wood-grilled oysters, crab cream, grilled salmon, seafood salads, and much more.
Explore Vallarta’s Botanical Garden
Very close to Boca de Tomatlan (on the same highway) is one of the greatest tourist attractions of Puerto Vallarta, its famous Botanical Garden.
This beautiful place extends over 25 hectares and 410 meters above sea level. It is a space full of color and life, trees, flowers, and an exuberant tropical jungle that you cannot miss.
The Vallarta Botanical Garden offers a tour for the whole family where you can walk along paths, feel the freshness of nature, see hundreds of plants, rest, and more.
Each of its corners is extremely well cared for and full of details that will surprise you.
Hanging bridges, an Orchid Conservatory that exhibits 315 of the 1100 native species in Mexico, a beautiful chapel, a cactus garden, a grotto full of ferns and the Horcones River are some of the other charms of the Vallarta Botanical Garden.
There is so much to see that time will fly by in this place. Besides, if you like photography, you will get tired of capturing different shots with your camera.
Be sure to try their brick oven pizzas, colorful and fresh salads, freshly baked tortillas, and other typical Mexican dishes. I repeat: Try the pizza!
Undoubtedly, a visit to this “Eden” is the best way to take a break from the beach. In addition, the experience is also educational.
The entrance fee is approximately 300 Pesos (about 16 USD) per person and it is free for children under 4 years old.
Boca de Tomatlan, Jalisco: Conclusion
As you can see, there are many things to do in Boca de Tomatlan and its surroundings.
Despite being a small place, it has a lot to offer to every and any visitor.
If you add the friendliness of its people, its peaceful atmosphere, and the lodging options for travelers on a budget, Boca de Tomatlan becomes a destination you will have a hard time resisting.
Whether you’re seeking a day of relaxation by the water, an adventure along lush jungle trails, or a taste of fresh seafood, Boca has something unique to offer.
This charming village remains a peaceful alternative to busier beach towns, making it ideal for those looking to connect with nature and escape the crowds.
I hope you enjoyed the tour and that this guide will inspire you to visit some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast of Jalisco. See you at the next destination!
