Puerto Vallarta: Take A Water Taxi, Enjoy The View

Water Taxis

With high season upon us in Puerto Vallarta, we get a lot of inquiries about how to get to that island called Yelapa. After explaining that Yelapa is not an island but a village to the south, only accessible by boat, we recall our first visit down the coast by water taxi. We were staying at the Rosita Hotel and took a water taxi from there. What an adventure for naïve foreigners on their first trek to the jungle! It was a magical trip and gave us our first opportunity to view the coastline and learn the different stops from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa.

A boat still leaves from The Rosita at 11:30 every morning but Sunday. It stops for more passengers at the most popular embarkation point; the big pier at Los Muertos Beach. There’s an office at the foot of the pier where tickets can be purchased for Yelapa.

Sailing times start at 9:45 in the morning from Los Muertos on the Puerto Vallarta side and the last boat takes off at 6 pm. The earliest taxi leaving from Yelapa is 7:30 and the last is at 4:45. It’s really important to know these times, unless you plan to spend the night in Yelapa, which you need to be prepared for. There are many more accommodations now than in the days when we first began our journeys there but they do fill up, especially in high season. We tell our friends to buy their water taxi tickets in advance, also. The most recent data we have is $150 from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa and $280 if you purchase a round trip. That’s pesos, of course and don’t lose your ticket!

Boats also leave from Boca de Tomatlan, which is at the end of the bus route to Mismaloya. From Boca the boat ride will cost $70 pesos but loading and unloading are done right on the beach, so prepare to possibly get your fanny wet. Bring along a light jacket or sweater as it can be chilly out on the ocean in the early morning and late afternoons.

The drop offs are Las Animas, Quimixto and Yelapa. Sometimes taxis unload people at Majahuitas but they are usually employees of this private report.

A word of advice: water taxis leave on time. Don’t expect a boat to wait around for you, even if you have a ticket. You have a very good chance of seeing whale, dolphin or manta-ray and sometimes even sea turtles so have your camera handy. If you’re spending the night, Bring a Flashlight!

Que cómo es es!

Thanks to our Guest Blogger Adam Garcia for this great article!  (Opinions expressed are his own…)

About Vacation Villas of Mexico Founder, Vanessa Cole

The founder of the company, Vanessa Cole, lived in Puerto Vallarta for 10 years and in Cancun for 2 years. She has worked in Luxury Vacation Villa Rentals since 2001.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Vanessa earned a degree from the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in International Business and Latin American Studies.  Fluent in Spanish, she has worked and traveled all over Mexico and South America.

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