art + objets d'arts + photography

The beach is divided into two sections, one in the area by the town and the pier where the boats arrive and are moored, a beach of clear yellowish sand mixed with rocks about 300 yards long, is not the best option here.

Passing a small point where there’s a tile roof house, you get to the main beach, of medium grain sand, relatively narrow (maximum of 25 yards wide) and 600 yards long, mostly with soft waves.

This beach offers the only permanent restaurant/bar in the area, Los Cocos, with local seafood and Mexican food, you’ll find simple, rustic, but tasty local dishes and a very good bar with nice cocktails. (there are two other restaurants at the further end of the beach, further south)

As mentioned above, Quimixto is a town and beach in the southern part of the Banderas Bay, what is known as the south zone or south coast. You can get there hiking (about 18km/11 miles moderate hike path) but almost all visitors get there by sea in one of the “pangas” water taxis.  Another popular way to get there is with one of the many beach cruise tours in Puerto Vallarta.

It’s located halfway between Las Ánimas Beach (to the east) and Las Caletas (to the west).

You can take a water taxi all the way from Puerto Vallarta, the Los Muertos Beach Pier is a popular starting point, but I’d recommend using the same route you’d take for all beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, starting off with one of the local buses that travels south to Boca de Tomatlán and sometimes all the way to El Tuito.

So go to the corner of Constitución street and Basilio Badillo street in the Romantic Zone (Old Vallarta). Here you’ll find the orange and white public transport buses that go south. They cost around 50 cents (USA dollars) and take you to Boca de Tomatlan (read the whole Boca article for more details). Walk from the bus stop to the Boca malecon/boardwalk or the pier, tell them you want to go to Quimixto and get on a water taxi going south. The schedule is constant, so there are really no fixed times. Just make sure to find out when you can catch the boat back from Quimixto to Boca. The boat trip costs somewhere between 6 and 8 dollars one way. There is no need to buy a round trip that way you’ll have a more flexible schedule too.

The trip is some 20 minutes long and will be faster or slower depending on the stops along the way, which in turn depends on the passengers that take the same water taxi with you. Along the way you’ll pass Colomitos Beach and Las Ánimas Beach. Stops beyond Quimixto include Majahuitas and Yelapa, so if you arrive to any of these, you’ve gone too far! :-)

As mentioned above, Quimixto is a town and beach in the southern part of the Banderas Bay, what is known as the south zone or south coast. You can get there hiking (about 18km/11 miles moderate hike path) but almost all visitors get there by sea in one of the “pangas” water taxis.  Another popular way to get there is with one of the many beach cruise tours in Puerto Vallarta.

It’s located halfway between Las Ánimas Beach (to the east) and Las Caletas (to the west).

You can take a water taxi all the way from Puerto Vallarta, the Los Muertos Beach Pier is a popular starting point, but I’d recommend using the same route you’d take for all beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, starting off with one of the local buses that travels south to Boca de Tomatlán and sometimes all the way to El Tuito.

So go to the corner of Constitución street and Basilio Badillo street in the Romantic Zone (Old Vallarta). Here you’ll find the orange and white public transport buses that go south. They cost around 50 cents (USA dollars) and take you to Boca de Tomatlan (read the whole Boca article for more details). Walk from the bus stop to the Boca malecon/boardwalk or the pier, tell them you want to go to Quimixto and get on a water taxi going south. The schedule is constant, so there are really no fixed times. Just make sure to find out when you can catch the boat back from Quimixto to Boca. The boat trip costs somewhere between 6 and 8 dollars one way. There is no need to buy a round trip that way you’ll have a more flexible schedule too.

The trip is some 20 minutes long and will be faster or slower depending on the stops along the way, which in turn depends on the passengers that take the same water taxi with you. Along the way you’ll pass Colomitos Beach and Las Ánimas Beach. Stops beyond Quimixto include Majahuitas and Yelapa, so if you arrive to any of these, you’ve gone too far! :-)

There’s a nice waterfall about a mile inland, upriver from Quimixto town. La Puerta river creates a waterfall about a mile upstream. The hike there is not complicated and enjoyable, you can go through the town along the cobblestone street or walk along the beach across the river to Los Cocos Restaurant (the rustic palapa by the sea and river) and from there take the trail along the edge of the river to the big bridge and start the trail inland to the waterfall. You’ll find signs along the way indicating that you are on the right path.

Beside the bridge is also the place you can rent a horse if you don’t want to (can’t) hike there, if you haven’t already been approached by the horse rental team close to the landing pier.

It’ll be around 30 minutes to get there, more or less, depends on the speed you can do the hike.

The trail is interesting, with lots of nature, vegetation and jungle (during the humid season) you can almost completely forget you are in Mexico. It is very much a whole new world. There are parts that have the shape of a horse or mule, carved into the hill. Take care of the horse poop along the way if you do it on foot. I’ve done it twice on foot and would feel guilty if I took a horse, not only because I love horses, but also because I’d feel quite decadent. Why miss an opportunity to build up some healthy stamina too! ;-)

Horses for rent in Quimixto, waterfall tour

The horseback tour from Quimixto to the waterfall is around $250 pesos per person ($12-15 USA dollars) and is around 20 minutes each way (don’t forget to haggle a bit if the price you are given deviates too much from this reference amount).

Once you are almost at the waterfall the trail opens up to the riverbed, with a soft stream and beautiful vegetation, walk over the stream and up the stairs carved into the edge of the hillside and boulders to the hanging bridge over to the small restaurant and the waterfall with its small pool. People mention that the pool water is cool, I found it just the right temperature to cool down from the hike, so I would say it depends on your personal thermostat. Bring a towel for the pool and in case you walk across the rivers and need to dry up and put shoes on.

The Quimixto waterfall, one of the town’s sightseeing attractions

Yes, the guys at the little restaurant expect you to buy something to use their tables and access the waterfall pool. By the way, they only accept cash, so take that into account. We bought a few soft drinks and that was fine. Why get all worked up for a few dozen pesos, especially after sweating the hike to get there. Pick your battles wisely. :-)

On both my trips had no issues with bugs, mosquitoes or no-see-ums, but there are people that mention them, so if you are especially sensitive (or tasty), bring some bug spray just in case. There is no cellphone reception there by the waterfall, so you’ll feel like you’re off the grid on a faraway island somewhere in the tropics.

La Puerta river right after the Quimixto waterfall

The crystal clear and clean waters of Quimixto are popular with snorkelers and scuba divers.

Another local attraction is the large variety of seabirds, including pelicans, seagulls, and herons, including ducks in the river. The surrounding hills offer iguanas, coatimundi, raccoons, opossums, parrots and with some luck even an ocelot or deer.

The only official Quimixto accommodation option is Xinalani Resort on the eastern end of the beach.

Beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlan, Colomitos, Las Caletas, Las Animas, Quimixto, Majahuitas & Yelapa

First off, it’s very small as you’d expect if the population of the area is 400 inhabitants… there are a few stores for drinks and snacks to take on the hike. If you get a photo with the iguana, you are expected to pay the owner, if you HAVE to get the shot, make sure to negotiate the price before the photoshoot.

Street in the town of Quimixto, Jalisco, Mexico

Take a few photos of the place, you’ll find small stores and stands offering souvenirs, t-shirts, sombreros and other beach gear. If you look hard enough and ask you may even find some good raicilla, but drink in moderation!

Quimixto is also a place favored by surfers between October and April, there are even competitions that are held here regularly.

Check out the water taxi schedule which makes stops along the way.

• The waterfall size will depend on the season, ask before going there
• You can hike or horseback to the waterfall
• Sunscreen and bug spray are a good idea
• Raicilla is a liquor similar to Tequila
• Buy a one-way ticket to Quimixto (maintain a flexible schedule)
• Bring a towel and swimsuit, you’ll want to take a dip once you get to the waterfall