Near Guadalajara

The Best Beaches

Best Beach Award Winners.

  • Best Beach.

    Playa Las Tortugas

    Completely uncrowded, pristine, undeveloped 9 km beach with great swimming and walking.

  • Best Nightlife.

    Sayulita

    Excellent bars and clubs that stay active until later at night and still have a charming laid-back vibe.

  • Most Peaceful.

    Playa Las Tortugas

    The only sounds are the waves, birds and breeze in the palms. No construction or traffic.

  • Best Restaurants.

    Puerto Vallarta

    It’s tough to beat the variety and quality of excellent restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.

  • Closest.

    Chacala

    It’s a straight shot from Guadalajara and you might just get here in under 3 hours.

  • Naturally Beautiful.

    Playa Las Tortugas

    A protected turtle sanctuary, huge wetland, amazing birds, and whales.

Playa Las Tortugas.

Natural Beauty: 10/10 – Stunning beach, tasteful development, lined with coconut palms, backed by huge wild wetland, mountain views.

Restaurants: 5/10 – guests often use (outstanding) private chef option, plus villas have complete kitchens.

Beach Quality: 10/10 – Unique 9 km beach, wide, clean, excellent for walks/runs, and a true swimming beach. Uncrowded surf spot.

Peacefulness: 10/10 – Retreat level quiet, just the sound of ocean waves and birds, ideal for relaxation.

Nightlife: 1/10 – The best stars you’ll ever see. Rather than relying on bars, you connect with those you’re with.

Distance to Guadalajara: 8/10 – 3 hours 45 minutes.

San Pancho (San Francisco).

Natural Beauty: 7/10 – A still charming beach town cut into the jungle and set on a lovely beach.

Restaurants: 8/10 – A fantastic selection of restaurants, from casual taco stands to gourmet dining, with fresh seafood and local flavors.

Beach Quality: 7/10 – A lovely beach with good waves, though the beach break can make swimming problematic for kids and the less hardy.

Peacefulness: 7/10 – Generally relaxed, but the town has a lively energy, especially in high season.

Nightlife: 6/10 – A mix of laid-back beach bars, live music, and small gatherings. Not a party town, but there’s always something happening. Things settle down late evening.

Distance to Guadalajara: 9/10 – 3 hours.