Jalisco, Mexico
Yelapa is a car-free coastal village in Mexico. Visitors take a boat to hike to waterfalls, swim, and relax on the beach.
4.9 from 24 traveller reviews on Viator
Tickets & tours
Compare boat trips, private charters, and guided hikes.
Top ratedJoin one of our guides for this Private Boat Tour from Puerto Vallarta, we will pick you up at City Center Los Muertos Pier and whisk you away to enjoy a scenic private...
Most bookedWelcome aboard our All-Inclusive Mega Catamaran! Spend a full day on the water exploring the south side of Banderas Bay, cruising in style and comfort to places you can...
From$135per person
Best for: luxury cruise and all-inclusive relaxation
Best valueDiscover the best of Yelapa and Majahuitas on a full-day coastal adventure from Puerto Vallarta. Cruise approximately 1 hour from Puerto Mágico to Yelapa, where you’ll...
Explore
Discover the main areas of this remote community.
3 spotsMain Golden BeachThe main stretch of sand where visitors relax, eat, and swim.Explore Photo: tour listing on Viator
3 spotsExplore the VillageThe car-free, authentic community connected by winding, narrow paths.Explore Photo: tour listing on Viator
2 spotsJungle WaterfallsTwo distinct waterfalls located in the Sierra Madre jungle.Explore Photo: tour listing on Viator
Yelapa did not have electricity or telephone lines until 2001.
Modern conveniences are a recent addition.
Plan your visit
A day trip takes at least 6 hours. Many visitors choose to stay overnight.
Visit during the dry season from November to May. The water is clear and temperatures are in the 80s.
You can only reach Yelapa by boat. Water taxis depart from Los Muertos Pier or Boca de Tomatlan.
There are no ATMs in the village. Bring enough Mexican Pesos for your entire stay.
Yelapa is a fishing village on the southern edge of Banderas Bay. It is accessible only by boat. There are no roads connecting it to Puerto Vallarta.
The village is completely car-free. Locals and visitors travel by foot, horse, mule, or ATV. Expect to walk on dirt, sand, and cobblestone paths.
Visitors spend time at Main Golden Beach or hike into the jungle to see the Jungle Waterfalls. The permanent population is between 700 and 1,500 residents. The land is an indigenous community grant.
We list exact durations and departure points.
We show starting prices and extra port fees.
We highlight common complaints from past guests.
From Viator
24 reviews of the private boat tour on Viator
Amazing experience and easy to get to. Had such fun dancing and snorkel. Would do again for sure. Thanks again.
this was a fantastic excursion. the food and drinks were great. the people who worked the venue were kind and attentive. i highly recommend this event
Wonderful boat ride, nice beach with ample water activities available, interesting walk thru the village of Yelapa to see the waterfall.
Had a wonderful time! This is our third time with this tour and still did not disappoint. The crew worked hard to giving it their best service!! Would recommend!
The boat ride with Captain Eric and Chema thank you, it was absolutely fabulous! I think I took a boat ride with them two years ago, and they were they were great that trip as well. I read all the reviews first and they had the best ones, and all the reviews were right. Definitely come on their boat the Mona Lisa with them!
Thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to Yelapa with Chewie (captain) and Chema (host). For us snorkeling for an hour was amazing along with seeing around 20 turtles on the way. Highly recommended and booking directly with Estigo Tours was easy to work with!
Miguel and Mane to very good care of us on this tour. Great knowledge, safe, and knew the locations. Had a lunch on the beach after Yelapa was an interesting stop but worth it for the waterfall. We had the VIP treatment by Miguel and Mane. If you want a great day trip with good stops and good food, consider this tour.
Los Veranos' team was first-rate and we had an incredible trip seeing Yelapa and snorkeling. Highly recommended!
A great day of exploration and history of this beautiful place. Our guide, Moises, shared his passion for history and since it was just my husband and I, it was a private tour. A lovely way to spend a day out of the city.
Travel tips
Water Taxi GuideFind prices, departure piers, and schedules for the Yelapa water taxi.Read 
Day Trip or OvernightCompare a busy day trip to a peaceful overnight stay in Yelapa.Read Waterfall Hike GuideStep-by-step navigation for Yelapa's town and upper waterfall trails.Read Yelapa Packing ListEssential items to pack for Yelapa's car-free village and beaches.Read Best TimeCompare the dry and rainy seasons for visiting Yelapa.Read Dining in YelapaFind seafood, village tacos, and the famous beach pies.Read You can only get there by boat. You can take a water taxi from Los Muertos Pier or Boca de Tomatlan. You can also book a private or group boat tour.
A round-trip ticket from Los Muertos Pier costs about 550 MXN. A one-way ticket from Boca de Tomatlan costs 120 MXN.
No. The village is completely car-free. Locals travel by foot, ATV, horse, or mule.
No. It is a coastal village in a cove. However, there are no roads connecting it to Puerto Vallarta, so it feels like an island.
The ride takes 45 to 50 minutes from Puerto Vallarta. It takes 30 minutes if you depart from Boca de Tomatlan.
Yes, you can swim in the cold pools at the base. Only swim during the dry season. Summer currents are dangerous.
Book your boat tour or check the water taxi schedule today.
