Puerto Vallarta beach guide
Playa Las Ánimas
Lively southern cove with gentle swimming shallows, seafood palapas, and water sports
AccessWater Taxi (Panga) Only
Sand and shoreLight Golden Sand
Water conditionsCalm and shallow
Sun and shadeFull Sun until 4:45 PM
Best fitFamily & Calm
About Playa Las Ánimas
A popular, family-friendly roadless beach reached by water taxi or coastal hike from Boca, featuring seaside dining, water activities, and a long wooden pier.
Playa Las Ánimas is the most developed and lively of the south-coast roadless beaches. Fronting a protected bay with shallow, gentle water, it is lined with cheerful open-air seafood palapas serving garlic shrimp, ceviche, and cold margaritas. Visitors can rent banana boats, kayaks, and parasailing gear, or simply relax on daybeds while watching pangas arrive at the wooden pier.
How to get there
Located along the roadless southern coastline of Banderas Bay. Access by boat or coastal trail.
- Board a panga water taxi at the Boca de Tomatlán pier or Los Muertos Pier.
- Accessible via coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán.
Local planning notes
- Complete the 2-hour coastal hike from Boca to Las Ánimas, then reward yourself with lunch and a boat ride back.
- Walk 5 minutes north over the wooden boardwalk to discover the peaceful sands of Playa Caballo.
- Agree on panga return times with your boat captain when you arrive.
Before you go
- Can become lively and bustling when midday tour catamarans dock.
- Cash is preferred by most beachfront restaurants.
Nearby places and attractions
- Las Ánimas Wooden Panga Pier: Solid wooden dock enabling dry boat arrivals without stepping into deep water. (Center of beach)
- Los Conos & El Caracol Palapas: Thatched-roof ramadas serving wood-grilled Huachinango Zarandeado and fresh coconut water. (Directly on sand)
- Las Ánimas Beach Adventure Park: Jungle adventure park with canopy ropes, suspension bridges, and tequila tasting. (Behind beach)