How to Vist Yelapa: Jalisco, Mexico’s Unspoiled Fishing Village

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A colorful and traditional fishing village, tucked along the Riviera Nayarit, Yelapa is a tiny slice of paradise.

Only reachable by boat from nearby Puerto Vallarta or Boca de Tomatlan, Yelapa takes the dreamy vibes up a notch as no cars are allowed.

Four-wheelers, donkeys, horses, and walking are your only modes of transportation in these narrow, winding streets. 

After spending a day or two here, you’ll also see just how unique Yelapa is.

As one of the last comunidad indigena, a land grant for indigenous people, this tiny coastal town retains much of its culture and heritage without the influence of foreign investments.

I didn’t know much about Yelapa before going, although friends in San Pancho told us tales of cute palapa huts, waterfall hikes, and the tastiest beach-side homemade pie. It sounded like a mellow, tropical dream. 

We took advantage of Semana Santa and escaped the crowds with a group of friends. It ended up being the perfect short but sweet, good-vibes-only weekend.

Picture waterfall hikes, eating pie on the beach, horseback riding, and so much more! 

Whether you’re looking for a day trip from Puerto Vallarta or simply want to escape to an off-the-beaten-path spot on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Yelapa is the place to be.

Read on to find out how to visit Yelapa and the perfect two-day itinerary!

How to Visit Yelapa, Mexico

How to Get to Yelapa From Puerto Vallarta

Getting to Yelapa is a breeze (literally)! You can really only reach Yelapa by boat from Puerto Vallarta or Boca de Tomatlan.

Taking the water taxi to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta:

• Departs: Los Muertos Pier in PV
• Times: 11 am, 11:45 am (except Sundays), 3 pm, and 5 pm
• Cost: 550 pesos roundtrip

This option allows you to take the boat directly from Puerto Vallarta on a day trip to Yelapa, which is ideal if you don’t have the means to drive to Boca de Tomatlan.

Taking the water taxi to Yelapa from Boca de Tomatlan:

• Departs: Boca de Tomatlan Pier/Beach
• Times: 8, 9, 10, 11:00 am and 12, 12:30, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6:45 pm
• Cost: 240 pesos roundtrip

Either option will get you safely and quickly to Yelapa. Carry-on baggage is included in the price. If you need further assistance, speak to the boat staff or email Sergio at, yelapasergio @ hotmail (dot) com

Taking the water taxi from Yelapa to Puerto Vallarta:

You’ll have a shorter window of time getting back to Puerto Vallarta from Yelapa. Only two ferries run each day at 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. You’ll have more flexibility if you can take the water taxi back to Boca de Tomatlan.

Taking the water taxi from Yelapa to Boca de Tomatlan:

The water taxi from Yelapa back to Boca de Tomatlan runs frequently throughout the day. Departures leave the dock at 7, 8, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 12, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4, 5, 5:30, and 6. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the salty breeze and beautiful landscapes!

Don’t want to DIY? You can also visit Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta with this tour!

If you have car transport, you can drive past Puerto Vallarta all the way to Boca de Tomatlan, which is another small coastal fishing village. Driving there will take roughly 45 minutes. Once in Boca de Tomatlan, you can park your car in a secure family-run lot for a fee.

Be warned that while Google Maps says you can technically drive to Yelapa, remember that it’s a car-free city. The road quickly turns to dirt as you approach the town and you won’t find anywhere to park.y 45 minutes. Once in Boca de Tomatlan, you can park your car in a secure family-run lot for a fee.

What to Expect in Yelapa

When you first arrive in Yelapa, it’s common to ooh and aah, which was exactly our first reaction! 

The bay is dotted with swaying water taxis and parked fishing boats. Lush green hills overlook the inviting, sparkling water. On the far left of the bay sit palapa huts, camouflaged with shady palms. This entire scene is especially scenic approaching the village by boat.

Right in the middle of town is the beach with colorful umbrellas lining the sandy shore. In the ’60s, there were only makeshift palm huts to cover boats and paddles pulled onshore.

To your right, you’ll see a dainty pueblo with colorful facades, irregularly placed like a game of Tetris.

Further into the hills and jungle that surround the village, you’ll also find the Yelapa River.

Yelapa managed to keep government greed from taking away their land and constructing hideous hotels, which is why Yelapa is left largely “unspoiled.”

Not one 17-story concrete building impedes your view. All the land belongs to the people. They fought for it, and the history is all recounted in a touching way inside Yelapa’s cultural museum.

Where to Stay in Yelapa

We stayed in an Airbnb in Yelapa, but there are plenty of quaint, thatched-roof bungalows and private villa accommodations. If you’re traveling during the off-season, booking ahead is unnecessary.

However, if you’re planning to visit Yelapa in December around the holidays, it’s wise to book in advance. After all, you don’t want to take a boat across the Bahia Bay just to find out there’s no vacancy!

• Casa Frente al Mar – Beachfront casa with large open-style kitchens and clean rooms
• Casa Bahia Bonita – Beachfront studios surrounded in greenery
• Casas Garcia – Offers awesome views of the Yelapa bay and beach with typical style decor
• Casa Berita – Sweet, family-run casitas on the town side of the bay with close proximity to the museum and town waterfall

Things to Do in Yelapa (2 Day Itinerary)

Much of what Yelapa has to offer lies hidden in its winding streets.

The hip cafés and bars, the cultural museum, the colorfully decorated central plaza, the town’s popular waterfall (and the faraway waterfall), the school, basketball court, and let’s not forget the historic Yacht Club.

You can also go paragliding in Yelapa, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding or go out dancing! There are equal parts activities in nature and lazy beach days.

Here are just a few ideas of things to do in Yelapa…

• Lounge on the beach with a piña colada or strawberry margarita in hand
• Hike to the town’s small waterfall (15 minutes) and also hike to the bigger waterfall (2 hours)
• Explore the narrow, cobblestoned streets
• Visit the cultural museum of Yelapa
• Drink a delicious michelada
• Kayaking in Banderas Bay
• Snorkeling
• Horseback riding to the waterfalls

Day 1 in Yelapa

To maximize your first day in Yelapa, take the earliest ferry (11:00 a.m.) from Puerto Vallarta or Boca de Tomatlan (8:00 a.m.).

Then, start exploring by hiking to the nearby waterfalls, passing by local homes along the way. 

The furthest waterfall from town takes about 2.5-3 hours round trip. You can celebrate your hiking accomplishments back on the beach with a cocktail in hand. Hole up at one of the oceanfront restaurants to watch the sunset and enjoy dinner.

Day 2 in Yelapa

On your second day in Yelapa, spend the morning exploring the narrow streets and visiting the Museo Yelapa to learn more about this idyllic village.

If there’s time, finish out your Yelapa adventure with horseback riding or kayaking in the beautiful bay. 

Like your first day in Yelapa, maximize the time you have on your second day in Yelapa by taking the late ferry back (4:00 pm to PV or 6:00 pm to Boca).

Visit the Cultural Museum in Yelapa (Museo Yelapa)

The first thing I recommend doing in Yelapa is going to its History, Art, and Culture Museum. Yelapa is so much more than a tiny, coastal town. 

Settled by four families who came down the mountain from the Chacala indigenous community, their descendants still own the land.

“Yelapa is a unique community—’one of the few remaining places on Earth where the original inhabitants still reside on, own, and control their own land.’

As a comunidad indigena, Yelapa is a land grant or reservation legally set aside and protected for its indigenous people. The land is held collectively by the community. Outsiders may not buy any land, but they may long term lease it.” –Palapa in Yelapa

Yelapa’s history is so rich, somewhat mysterious, and worth discovering to give your trip greater context. Entrance only costs 50 pesos for foreigners, so it’s also a budget-friendly activity to do in Yelapa.

A group of dedicated curators labored for years to make the Yelapa Museum what it is today. It is a symbol of this community’s strength and resilience.

The museum opened in March 2019. It houses a collection of photos by Lisa Law, who fell in love with Yelapa while living there in the late 1960s. There’s also a collection of decades-old objects donated by expats and Yelapa’s original 4-5 families.

In its center, the museum also boasts archaeological and historical artifacts which are presumed to be from the Aztec period.

More about the Yelapa Museum

I didn’t know about this latter detail while touring the museum, as there was no sign. Instead, just as I was about to leave, the woman who handed me my ticket told me a story.

From what I could understand, her grandfather (maybe great grandfather?) was from the mountains. He and a group of others found Yelapa and discovered lobster for the first time from fishing in the bay. 

She said once they realized that fishing was much easier labor than farming, and they migrated to the coast. Apparently, no one occupied the land at that time which made them think they were the first to discover what is now known as Yelapa.

After they started unearthing objects, like preserved kitchen utensils and sculptures, locals realized that the area had been occupied for possibly hundreds of years. 

She said no one really knows exactly how old Yelapa truly is, although they assume it can date up to 1,000 years, as it was similar in shape and design to artifacts found by the Mayas. 

She concluded that they are trying to partner with the government’s corresponding agency to have tests run on the artifacts and clarify who created the objects and how old they are.

If you go to the museum, you must ask her about her story! I’m not 100% sure of our translation (haha we were both swapping English and Spanish). But this is what I remember from what she shared with me. Interesting, in any case!!

Hike to the Yelapa Waterfalls

You can’t take a trip to beautiful Yelapa without visiting the waterfalls!

There are two cascades that you can hike to. One is a 10-minute walk from town while the other is about an 1 hour 15 min+ hike into the jungle. We did both!

Yelapa Town Waterfall

The Yelapa waterfall inside the pueblo is a popular tourist attraction for incoming boat tours.

Large groups come to take photos and stay usually for 20 minutes before going back.

When a tour group is there, it feels quite overcrowded. There is an on-site restaurant for refreshments and on the way, you’ll pass several families selling local goods.

The waterfall, while nice, is small and, in my opinion, not spacious enough to swim. Still, it offers a refreshing dip for anyone wishing to cool off on a hot day!

Yelapa Big Waterfall

The larger waterfall of Yelapa requires a bit of a workout (roughly 1.5 hours each way).

Just follow the trail and signs out of town. The hike is easy enough to do in sandals (at least for me it was fine). You’ll do several river crossings and pass lots of local homes. It was one of the highlights of the trip!

Go early in the morning, pack a picnic lunch, and enjoy a refreshing swim at the base of the falls. Definitely worth the effort!

Best Yelapa Restaurants for Lunch or Dinner

Yelapa is such a tiny town that its huge array of delicious restaurants and bars might surprise you!

Since we were only there for two days, we took advantage of eating out for both lunch and dinner to experience as many restaurants as we could.

Here are some of the best places to eat in Yelapa, according to locals and expats:

• Pollo Bollo – a local hotspot serving fresh grilled barbecue chicken and fish dishes (awesome portions!)
• Café Bahia – a waterfront café (pueblo side of town) offering Mexican fare with fresh seafood, soups, homemade baked goods (and yummy tamarindo margaritas)
• Café Eclipse – an internet café serving authentic Mexican breakfast and good coffee.
• El Manguito – a well-priced restaurant overlooking the river with great drinks!
• Chico’s – one of the best beach bars serving fresh seafood, tacos, and drinks at a fair price.

Bonus Snacks & Drinks!

Let’s not forget, Yelapa is famous for its homemade pies (which we so sadly missed out on). The “Yelapa Pie Ladies” can be found roaming the beaches and streets between 12-4 pm. Make sure to ask around if you can’t find them!

Micheladas Vicky is a must-stop corner bar if you like Mexican michelada drinks. Make sure to grab one on your way back from the town waterfall!

I could easily whisk myself back to enjoy a few more days in Yelapa. This 2-day itinerary was perfect for relaxing and exploring Yelapa’s unique community and culture! If I get the chance to go back, I’ll definitely seek out some lemon meringue pie from the Pie Ladies, and most definitely take another hiking trip to the waterfall.

Before you go, make sure to check out my other guides to the Riviera Nayarit, including the cute beach towns that line the coast!l definitely seek out some lemon meringue pie from the Pie Ladies, and most definitely take another hiking trip to the waterfall.

Any questions or thoughts just drop them below in the comments!! 

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