Primarily catering to those staying at the resort hotels, this beach is wide and sandy, offering a great view of Puerto Vallarta proper and its undulating-mountain backdrop. Public access is available but difficult to get to. Best bet is to take the secondary entrance alongside the Plaza Marina Shopping Center and follow the road all the way to the beach, keeping to the right. You can walk westerly to the Boca de Tomates beach, a nice walk, which has a few restaurants and ends at the entrance to the Ameca River.

• About half an hour north of Puerto Vallarta by public bus, private car or taxi
• Public access by foot from inside Marina Vallarta is on the north side of the golf course; take a left
• Don't miss checking out Nikki Beach, a very sensuous and cool restaurant-bar-beach club where you can eat in bed!