The Deserted Beaches of Riviera Nayarit
The Riviera Nayarit is blessed with a handful of truly deserted beaches. Places where you can walk and not see another soul. Just alone with your thoughts, the breaking waves and sea birds. In reality, from Puerto Vallarta to a little north of Lo de Marcos, the beaches have all been claimed by development . That’s not to say you can’t find undeveloped pocket beaches to hike to. But to find a deserted beach you can actually take a walk on, you must head to the northern part of the Riviera Nayarit.
Please take note that none of these beaches have services. No food, no drink and no bathrooms. Perhaps a few may have such things at one end, but don’t rely on it or expect it unless you’re a guest. And if you visit, villplease pack out what you pack in, and grab a few pieces of garbage as your donation!
Playa Punta Raza
Playa Punta Raza is the first deserted beach you’ll find coming from Puerto Vallarta. It’s about 60 km north of Puerto Vallarta before you reach Guayabitos. It’s around the corner from the expanding high-end One&Only Mandarina resort. The beach is a few miles long and, while it has a few hotels and structures, by and large it’s an empty, lovely stretch of beach. On the north end of the beach is an estuary that is blocked from entering the ocean in the winter but once summer rains hit the two bodies of water are connected.
Playa Las Tortugas
Playa Las Tortugas is the next beach up the coast, and it is by far the longest deserted beach on our list, at over five miles. It is about 115 km up the coast from Puerto Vallarta. It has the largest estuary of them all, and is one of the few that connects through to the ocean all year. There is an enclave of 17 charming and luxurious villas near the estuary but the developer was forward thinking enough to set them back from the beach in order to preserve the beauty of the beach. Walking this beach is quite an experience as you may not see another soul the entire time. If you’re walking from the villas because you would be walking almost ten miles out and back without seeing any development. Almost the entire beach was recently declared a sanctuary, so hopefully this deserted beach’s future is secure.
Playa Mita
Not to be confused with Punta Mita, Playa Mita is a pretty small beach at just 2,000 feet. It’s more like a quick visit sort of place. But there is no development and it’s difficult to get to so it has that special feeling you get when you feel like you’ve found a hidden gem. There is a seasonal estuary here and unnamed points to the north and south so it feels pretty cozy.
Plata Potreritos
Just around the corner from Playa Mita is Plata Potreritos. A bit longer and also with a seasonal estuary. Folks have constructed rudimentary palapas on the beach for shade, but there are no services here.