What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?

The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.

Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city's beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.

Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?

Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views. The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot. Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.

What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?

Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area's natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.

Las Amapas Beach In Puerto Vallarta

Las Amapas Beach and how to get there

Table of Contents

Features & amenities

Restaurants

Hotels

Swimming

Water Activities

Smooth Swell

Romantic Zone

About the beach

Located in the Romantic Zone
Between Los Muertos Beach (north) and Conchas Chinas Beach (south)
A small 350 foot beach (110m)

more…

Longitude/Latitude: 20.594970803939237, -105.24109481349322
The name references the local tree (Amapa)
Only access along paths from Los Muertos Beach or from Conchas Chinas

Puerto Vallarta Malecon (Boardwalk) A City Favorite

Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone (AKA: Old Town Or South Side)

Mismaloya Beach, Puerto Vallarta, A Complete Guide

Los Muertos Beach The Most Popular One In Puerto Vallarta

Introduction

Puerto Vallarta has a number of beaches in both the Downtown area, north of the Cuale River and in the Romantic Zone (south of the river).

One of these is Las Amapas Beach, located in the southern end of the Old Town by the sea (Romantic Zone) the area south of the Cuale River in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

The beach itself is quite small, a short stretch of about 350 feet (110m) of golden sand. The beach’s name comes from the trees that live in the area, Amapas (Tabebuia rosea), a tree species that is found in Mexico and all the way down to Ecuador that can grow up to 50 feet tall.

Where is Las Amapas located?

Las Amapas Beach, is located in the southern end of the Old Town by the sea (Romantic Zone) the area south of the Cuale River in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

The beach is located just south of Los Muertos Beach and extends from El Púlpito, the rocky formation, like a peninsula, that sticks out on the south end of Playa Los Muertos to Conchas Chinas Beach.

There is a path with steps that takes you over the ridge of El Pulpito (The Pulpit) and down to Amapas, there are parts that have eroded a bit, so you have to move carefully and it’s certainly not a path for those who have physical limitations.

How can you get to Las Amapas Beach?

You only have two ways to get there by land. Walk to the southern end of Los Muertos Beach, just past Las Pilitas (The Small Baptismal Fonts) where the original Seahorse statue is located and walk to the base of El Púlpito (The Pulpit), the rocky outcropping that separates Los Muertos and Las Amapas. You’ll see a path start off there. The video above shows the route.

Another way is to approach the beach from the south. You’ll start off on Amapas Street either by the highway or following Santa Barbara Street. You walk to the end of this street arriving to the edge of the sea, you’ll have a large tree right in front of you. Walk to the right along Amapas street and at the end you’ll see a portal and a paved path. Follow it along the edge of the buildings, you’ll be on Las Amapas beach when the path ends.

Las Amapas Beach, Puerto Vallarta

What can you do on this beach?

The beach is flanked by rocks, to the right the aforementioned Pulpit Rock and to the left, rocks that extend to Conchas Chinas Beach to the south.

The beach itself has pale yellow sand of medium texture, the waves are normally soft and the water is the transparent green-emerald seawater of the bay and its well-kept beaches. There are several trees on the shore that offer nice shade, if necessary (some are Amapas, by the way).

When you are at Las Amapas Beach you can stroll up and down the edge. To the north you go up the path to The Pulpit and the Punto Muerto Lookout. You can also walk down the path from The Pulpit to Los Muertos Beach with all its attractions.

To the south of Amapas there is a comfortable cemented path that takes you all the way to Conchas Chinas beach.

Some history

CHRONICLES OF PUERTO VALLARTA
By the City Historian, Juan Manuel Gomez Encarnación.

One, undoubtedly important author, is Manuel Andrade Beltran from Puerto Vallarta, who has written several interesting books, among them the one entitled “Unforgettable Times of Puerto Vallarta (Tiempos Inolvidables de Puerto Vallarta)”, published in 2006 by the University of Guadalajara. We present this small fragment from his book.

“… In the summer, the families of Puerto Vallarta liked to go every Sunday to Las Amapas Beach to spend the day. Almost everyone would walk there carrying their food: dried fruit, meat for the grill and tortillas; there was plenty of firewood there.
This beach could only be reached on foot or by canoe, since at that time (1942-1950) there was no road, everything was forest and plots with abundant coquito de aceite (small oil coconut).
The people who brought their canoes would fish and harvest oysters; each family settled under a tree or made small palapa huts. After the families bathed in the sea, they would go to rinse off in the stream of Las Amapas; the water of this river was very clean and fresh.
Men liked to go to gather ripe small oil coconuts and eat the pulp, it is very tasty. Sometimes they would throw stones at the coconuts. When they returned from these trips, families would get ready to go to mass; at that time there was a lot of religious devotion, that is to say, Vallarta was a very religious town”.

Las Amapas and El Púlpito from the South

Tips

On this beach there are no services and, therefore, it is a favorite beach for romantic couples and small families who enjoy the tranquility and seclusion it offers.

We recommend either taking your garbage and waste with you or placing it in the garbage containers available on the south end of the beach.

Location map

FAQ

What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?

The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.
Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city’s beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.
Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?

Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views.

The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot.

Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.
What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?

Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area’s natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.