Best known as the setting for the movie that put Puerto Vallarta on the tourist map, director John Huston's "The Night of the Iguana," this is a beautiful small bay framed by tropical rainforest-blanketed mountains. On the beach are lots of rustic palapa restaurants and a large hotel, inland a small village with country-style restaurants and a small hotel that's fun to explore, especially on horseback.

Nearby rock outcroppings define the Los Arcos National Marine Park, a super place to snorkel, scuba dive or bird watch — even the whales in Banderas Bay from November through March seem to favor this area.

• 26 miles from Puerto Vallarta
• Reached by public bus, private car, taxi or water taxi caught at the Los Muertos pier
• Don't miss checking out the old movie set