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Mexico🇲🇽 | beachesPlaya MismaloyaIguana film ruins, Los Arcos boats, river path, cove palapas | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Playa Mismaloya
👌 Worth visitingbeach ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

The Sierra Madre jungle comes right down to the sand at Playa Mismaloya, and the little rock islet Los Arcos-style arch is not what you look for here; the ruined concrete set from The Night of the Iguana sits on the hillside above the river mouth, and it is what the beach is best known for. The beach lies in Mexico’s Jalisco state, south of Puerto Vallarta. The cove is small, the sand coarse and gray-tan, and the water is calm but not postcard clear. Snorkeling is average, and the crowds arrive by boat tour around midday. Skip a long beach day. A morning is plenty. I asked a boatman about the price of a ride to the rocks, and he shrugged and said, “Depends who’s asking, amigo, and how hungry you look.” Plates of fried fish arrive at palapa tables on the sand.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 beach in MexicoWhy Playa Mismaloya should be on your travel list

Playa Mismaloya works as a pause on the highway south of Puerto Vallarta, and backpackers stop for a few specific reasons. The cove is sheltered, so the water stays gentle enough for easy swimming and for hopping in a small boat to the Los Arcos marine reserve offshore, where snorkelers float among rock formations and tropical fish. The second draw is history. The crumbling Night of the Iguana film set, built for the 1964 John Huston movie with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner, sits up the hill and gives the stop a story that most Pacific beaches lack. The beach also costs little to sit on, and the palapa restaurants along the sand serve fresh seafood without resort pricing. Combine it with the nearby coastal villages and you have an easy half day that breaks up the road between town and the beaches farther south.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Night of the Iguana film set: The weathered remains of the set built for the 1964 John Huston film stand on the hillside by the river mouth. It is the reason many people come, and the ruins make a good photo with the jungle behind them.
  2. Los Arcos marine reserve: Local boatmen run short trips from the beach to the rock arches just offshore. The protected waters hold schools of fish, and snorkeling here is the best water activity in the cove.
  3. Mismaloya River walk: A path leads inland along the river, with jungle foliage and small pools. It is a quiet change from the sand and takes little time.
  4. Palapa seafood lunch: Open-air restaurants on the sand serve whole fried fish, shrimp and ceviche with the water a few steps away. Prices are fair for the setting.
  5. Swimming in the cove: The bay is sheltered
… read more 👉
  1. Night of the Iguana film set: The weathered remains of the set built for the 1964 John Huston film stand on the hillside by the river mouth. It is the reason many people come, and the ruins make a good photo with the jungle behind them.
  2. Los Arcos marine reserve: Local boatmen run short trips from the beach to the rock arches just offshore. The protected waters hold schools of fish, and snorkeling here is the best water activity in the cove.
  3. Mismaloya River walk: A path leads inland along the river, with jungle foliage and small pools. It is a quiet change from the sand and takes little time.
  4. Palapa seafood lunch: Open-air restaurants on the sand serve whole fried fish, shrimp and ceviche with the water a few steps away. Prices are fair for the setting.
  5. Swimming in the cove: The bay is sheltered and mostly calm, so floating about in shallow water is easy. Surf is minimal, so this is not a place for riding waves.
The film set in the morning and the seafood lunch on the sand pair well in a single easy day.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Playa Mismaloya

Edenva Ecotourist Park in Puerto Vallarta

Edenva Ecotourist Park in Puerto Vallarta

4.9(397) 6h
From €63
per personViator
Full-Day Experience in Banderas Bay

Full-Day Experience in Banderas Bay

4.9(320) 8h
From €90
per personViator
City tour express, Butterfly, tequila, river and beach (free kids)

City tour express, Butterfly, tequila, river and beach (free kids)

4.7(235)
From €19.77
per personViator
Snorkeling at Los Arcos 5 islands Hidden Beach and Cliff Jumping

Snorkeling at Los Arcos 5 islands Hidden Beach and Cliff Jumping

4.9(123) 2h 30m
From €40
per personViator
Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer

Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer

3.8(326)
From €29
per personViator
Rey Spearo - Enchanting And Romantic Custom Created Tours

Rey Spearo - Enchanting And Romantic Custom Created Tours

4.8(42) 6h
From €452
per personViator
Beginner Scuba Diving Exploration in the Arches of Mismaloya

Beginner Scuba Diving Exploration in the Arches of Mismaloya

5.0(20) 3h
From €178
per personViator
Sayulita & San Pancho Day Trip from Puerto Vallarta with Tequila

Sayulita & San Pancho Day Trip from Puerto Vallarta with Tequila

4.0(42) 10h
From €49
per personViator
Beachfront Massage Experience in Mismaloya

Beachfront Massage Experience in Mismaloya

4.8(16) 50m
From €42
per personViator
Canopy Los Veranos Zipline

Canopy Los Veranos Zipline

4.5(14) 5h
From €108
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Dry Season (November to May): Playa Mismaloya sees almost no rain, with highs of 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F) and calm, clear water. Whale season in Banderas Bay runs December to March, and boat trips leave from the Mismaloya pier.
  • Peak Weeks (late December to Easter): Beds fill and rates climb 30 to 50 percent. Weekends bring Mexican families to the sand.
  • Wet Season (June to October): Humid heat of 30 to 35°C (86 to 95°F), with afternoon downpours and the heaviest rain in September. Prices drop, the beach empties, and the river brings runoff that clouds the water.
  • Daylight: Roughly 11 hours in December and 13 hours in June, so beach days stretch a bit longer in summer.
Aim for late October or early November, when the rains fade and the high-season prices haven’t started.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
mexico-beach-playa-mismaloya
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica (Old Town) is the best base for backpackers, sitting about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of Playa Mismaloya. It has the densest cluster of hostels, cheap taquerías, bars and rooftop terraces where solo travelers meet quickly, and dorm beds usually run US$15 to 30 a night. Buses to Mismaloya leave from the Basilio Badillo and Constitución corners, so you can reach the beach in 30 to 40 minutes for under US$1.

The quieter Conchas Chinas stretch, just south of Old Town, sits closer to the beach. It is more residential and has fewer budget beds, but the walk down … read more 👉
Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica (Old Town) is the best base for backpackers, sitting about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of Playa Mismaloya. It has the densest cluster of hostels, cheap taquerías, bars and rooftop terraces where solo travelers meet quickly, and dorm beds usually run US$15 to 30 a night. Buses to Mismaloya leave from the Basilio Badillo and Constitución corners, so you can reach the beach in 30 to 40 minutes for under US$1.

The quieter Conchas Chinas stretch, just south of Old Town, sits closer to the beach. It is more residential and has fewer budget beds, but the walk down to small coves is pleasant. Mismaloya itself has only a handful of simple rooms and a few resorts on the hillside, so it suits a night or two for early whale trips, not a lively social scene. Most travelers sleep in Old Town and come down for the day.
Best hostels in Mexico


Best quality hotels in Mexico

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Playa Mismaloya is a small, sheltered cove with calm water for most of the year, and locals swim here daily. The bay is protected, so waves stay modest, though summer swells can bring a stronger shore break and the river mouth muddies the water after heavy rain. Stay away from the rocky edges, where surge pushes against the stones. Jellyfish are uncommon but turn up occasionally in warm months, so ask the lifeguards or boat operators. The sun is fierce between late morning and mid-afternoon, so bring shade and reef-safe sunscreen. Petty theft happens on any busy Mexican beach, so keep your phone and cash on you or with a friend while you swim. Boat operators near the pier quote high prices to tourists, so agree on the fare first.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Playa Mismaloya

Local buses marked Mismaloya or Boca de Tomatlán leave from Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town along Constitución and Basilio Badillo, and the ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes for under US$1. A taxi from the Zona Romántica to Playa Mismaloya costs roughly US$10 to 15 and takes 20 to 25 minutes. Either way, you arrive on Highway 200 beside the river mouth, a short walk from the sand.
Playa Mismaloya works well for swimming in the dry months, when the cove is sheltered and the water is calm and warm at around 26 to 29°C (79 to 84°F). Snorkeling is possible near the rocks, and boat operators run trips to Los Arcos marine park for around US$40 to 70. Surfing is not a draw here, as the waves are small and mostly break close to shore.
Yes, Playa Mismaloya is a public beach and entry costs nothing, as all Mexican beaches are federal land. You pay only for extras, such as sun loungers and umbrellas at the beach restaurants (often free with a meal or drink of around US$5 to 10). Parking along the road is informal and costs about US$2 to 5.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Mexican beaches near Playa Mismaloya

Explore more nearby:

  • Playa Blanca—Empty Pacific sand, palapa grills, Potosí lagoon, heavy waves| 520 km away
  • Zicatela Beach—Mexican Pipeline, La Punta lessons, surfer sunsets, taco lane| 1014 km away
  • Mazunte—Turtle center, Punta Cometa sunsets, steep surf, yoga palapas| 1070 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Playa Mismaloya deserves a half day, or a full one only if you plan to snorkel Los Arcos and linger over lunch. I would arrive early, before the tour boats, see the film set, and move on south by evening.

✈️ When did I visit Mexico?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Mexico in February and March 2016. Had to hurry a bit as I didn’t want to miss the free performance of the Rolling Stones in Cuba.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Mexico, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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