Fantasy Island Isn’t A Fantasy, It’s Called Yelapa

Yelapa, Mexico - waterfalls

19 August, 2019

There’s a little slice of paradise about 40 miles south of downtown Puerto Vallarta that will make you think you’ve found the Garden of Eden. Surrounded by mountains and jungle, you can only get there by boat or water taxi, and it’s well worth the trip.

The word Yelapa in the local native language means, “the place where the waters come together.” And each year thousands of tourists, give in to their wild side and come to visit. It’s a great day trip and a world away from the raucous, tourist mecca of Puerto Vallarta and the bay.

The moment your water taxi or boat pulls up, you’ll be greeted by a smiling wait staff who want to guide you to “their spot on this magnificent beach. You’ll be offered great food, “mucho grande” icy drinks and a nice warm chaise lounge in the sun. And once you’ve eaten you fill, don’t miss the pie lady for dessert.

Yelapa is a nature lovers dream with tame iguanas, big as a cat, you can pick up and hold, if you are feeling brave, soaring birds, a chattering jungle, and majestic mountains behind you and the gentle waves in front of you.

Water taxi’s leave from Playa Los Muertos and from Boca de Tomatlan, a tiny, magical town south of Mismaloya for the 30-minute trip to Yelapa. So your great time will start even before you get there.

If you want to stay for more than a day there are many small rustic hotels like Hotel Lagunita Yelapa with palapa roofs, mosquito netted beds and candlelight. It is like a journey back in time full of romance and adventure.

It’s things like these and places like Yelapa that can excite even the most, world-weary traveler. And it’s just another reason why Puerto Vallarta and all the towns around Banderas Bay are among the most loved and most visited tourist destinations in the world.

Check out bestofbanderasbay.com and we’ll direct you to the best of the bay. And make sure you’ll have the time of your life.

Saludos,
Irv