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Playa Caballo is a beach in the Banderas Bay south of Puerto Vallarta, and it’s kind of a secret beach! We knew nothing about this beach until hiking from Boca to Las Animas Beach, and we were blown away at how beautiful Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta is.
Playa Caballo isn’t just a quick beach day trip from Puerto Vallarta. Instead, it takes a bus ride to Boca, then a hike or a water taxi to the actual beach. And then the same thing to return. It truly is a full-day adventure, and for those looking for a peaceful beach day on a golden sands beach, Playa Caballo is for you!
When we visited Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta, a new accommodation and restaurant was being built on the north end of the beach. With this new addition, there are now two places to actually stay at Playa Caballo — perfect for those looking for a full romantic getaway, or baby-mooners visiting Puerto Vallarta!
Alright, let’s dive into all things Playa Caballo to see if it’s the best beach near Puerto Vallarta for you!
Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta Quick Facts
- Location | Playa Caballo Jalisco Puerto Vallarta | 20.509756, -105.339697
- Best For | a full-day beach adventure
- Beach Vibe | relaxed and non-touristy
- Hike Info | 2.3 miles one way, moderately difficult
What Is Playa Caballo in Puerto Vallarta?
Playa Caballo is a beach in Jalisco that’s accessible only by boat or by foot. It’s a large sandy beach with golden sand and not many tourist or other people.
In fact, when we were at Playa Caballo we were the only people on the beach aside from one person with a stand selling coconut water to the workers building the newest Playa Caballo resort.
Playa Caballo is the perfect beach to hang out at for a few hours, totally escaping the tourism in Puerto Vallarta and instead embracing a true romanticized Puerto Vallarta beach vacation!
Where Is Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta?
Playa Caballo is located just north of the much more popular Las Animas Beach in Jalisco, Mexico. This beach is actually a rather large beach in Puerto Vallarta that butts right up to the jungle.
The exact coordinates for Playa Caballo are 20.509756, -105.339697.
The Resorts At Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta
Hotelito Mio | King Size Beds and Bathtubs | Spendy, but a total dream.
Casitas Maraika | Newest Resort at Playa Caballo | Check current prices here
Recommended Stays
- Check out the newest resort at Playa Caballo here! It was in the very beginning phases of being built while we were there!
How Do I Get To Playa Caballo?
First, You Need To Get To Boca
While you can certainly hire a boat from Puerto Vallarta to take you to Las Animas and then walk the short distance to Playa Caballo, the cheapest way to get to Playa Caballo is by taking a bus from Puerto Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlan.
This bus leaves Puerto Vallarta from the Romantic Zone at the following coordinates, 20.602312, -105.234727. It will cost 10 pesos to get to Boca, and Boca is the final stop on the route.
From the bus stop, if you’re hungry go to the left and along the highway, you will find a super good taco stand right around the corner! It’s run by the sweetest family!
If you don’t need food, you will head down the stairs and at the very bottom of the stairs, take the first right if taking the water taxi, or continue straight to the river and hang a left if hiking to Playa Caballo. Follow the further instructions below.
Getting To Playa Caballo By Water Taxi
Getting to the bottom of the stairs from the Boca bus stop, hang a right and head all the way past the restaurants to the boat dock… it’s a big cement pier.
At the pier / boat dock, you can ask people what line to be in or just wait for the person selling tickets to ask you if you have a ticket.
Purchase a ticket to Playa Caballo if they’ll let you, but you’ll likely end up taking the water taxi to Las Animas, as there’s a pier there and not one at Playa Caballo. Take note of the final taxi back to Boca if you plan on taking the water taxi back!
Once you reach Las Animas, walk towards the shore. As you get onto the beach, go to the left. Walk all the way through the restaurants, and then up along a path that leads you behind some homes.
This path continues close to the beach, but a little bit in the jungle too. Within five minutes, you should be passing through a resort and then the trees will clear and you’ll see the dreamy Playa Caballo.
Getting To Playa Caballo By Foot
Taking the bus from Puerto Vallarta to Boca, get off at the Boca bus stop and head down the stairs. From the bottom of the stairs, continue straight until you get to the river. At the river, or rather the second road, go left.
Follow the dirt road until it ends, and looking to the right, you’ll see a swinging bridge that crosses the river.
Cross the swinging bridge, and then follow the path with signs leading to Las Animas.
There are multiple signs along the way, and the trail is pretty obvious. While it’s along the beach, there’s actually quite a bit of elevation gain and walking up and down steps and the like.
Be prepared for a moderate hike, made harder if it’s super hot.
The hike from Boca to Playa Caballo is 2.3 miles, but you’ll pass a handful of small beaches like Los Colomitos that you can stop and enjoy along the way.
When you finish your day at Playa Caballo, return the same way you came, or walk to Las Animas, the path continues up behind the beach resort on the far side of the beach, and grab a water taxi back to Boca.
It’s worth noting, water taxis only accept cash, and you should double-check when the last water taxi is in Boca before taking off.
Is Playa Caballo Worth The Trek There?
Honestly, there are quite a few other beaches near Puerto Vallarta that are really great and don’t take as much effort to get to. We hiked to Playa Caballo when staying in Boca, so it wasn’t as long of a day — adding the trip to and from Boca from Puerto Vallarta makes this beach adventure quite a big one!
If you’re looking for a full day adventure with an awesome beach hike, then yes, Playa Caballo is worth it! Just be sure to pack lots of food and water, as there aren’t any amenities at this beach.
Likewise, if you’re looking for a beach that’s totally away from all the tourism Playa Caballo is perfect. If it’s in your budget, it would be well worth staying at one of the resorts at Playa Caballo to experience a true beach vacation.
What Should I Pack For Visiting Playa Caballo?
With Playa Caballo being a full day affair, we recommend packing lots of food, water, and tasty drinks (cough, cough some Mexican beer!). You can purchase food and drinks from Las Animas, or enjoy meals at their restaurants, but that means you’d have to leave this beach, so instead just pack food with you!
Other than food and water, we recommend bringing cash in case you decide to take the water taxi back, and the following items!
- Water bottle
- Snorkeling gear or goggles
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Coozies
- Small, packable towel
- Sunglasses
Staying Safe At Playa Caballo
Lifeguards
With Playa Caballo being such a secret beach in Puerto Vallarta, there aren’t any lifeguards there. Swim and get in the water at your own risk.
Flag Warnings
Just like with the lack of lifeguards, there are also no flag warnings at Playa Caballo. Don’t get in the water if you’re questioning it. Rip currents can suck you out to sea without any notice… and especially don’t get in if the water is dirty or sandy looking.
That’s when the water is rougher under the surface and can be extremely dangerous.
Keeping Your Belongings Safe
When we were at Playa Caballo we had our entire camera set up in a backpack, and felt fine leaving it tucked away against a rock while we both swam in the ocean.
With that said, there was hardly anyone else at the beach and we both kept looking back keeping our eyes on our belongings. Obviously, leave your stuff behind at your own discretion, and try tucking it away into some rocks or the trees in the forest if you’re worried.
For keeping cash safe, there are these super creative cash hiders for beach days that you may want to purchase before heading to Puerto Vallarta.
Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta FAQs
Can I swim at Playa Caballo?
Yes! There are no lifeguards here so swim with caution. But the water is beautiful!
Is there snorkeling at Playa Caballo?
There a few big rocks under water at Playa Caballo and we did see a couple big schools of tiny fish while snorkeling here. But there wasn’t a huge variety of fish and the snorkeling isn’t as good as it was in Yelapa.
Is there shade at Playa Caballo in Puerto Vallarta?
No. Playa Caballo is a big open sandy beach with no shade on the beach. In the forest you can find some shady spots to sit, but I would plan for finding no shade there.
Is it hard to hike to Playa Caballo Jalisco?
The hike from Boca to Playa Caballo has a lot of ups and downs on stairs and on the trail. This paired with the heat can make the hike difficult. Thankfully, there are a handful of places you can jump in the water to cool off on your hike, just be sure to dry off so you don’t chafe!
How long does it take to hike to Playa Caballo?
From Boca to Playa Caballo the hike is 2.3 miles. With the continual up and down along the coastline, I would plan for about two – two and a half hours for your hike.
Are there food and drinks offered at Playa Caballo in Puerto Vallarta?
No, aside from a random vendor that may or may not be set up for the day, there is not food or drinks at Playa Caballo. Neighboring Las Animas Beach, just a five minute walk away has restaurants offering food and drinks.
What Makes Playa Caballo So Great?
Playa Caballo is the perfect beach escape in Puerto Vallarta away from all things touristy. It’s a super quiet beach, some may say it’s even a secret beach in Puerto Vallarta.
The golden sand beaches and not many visitors make the Playa Caballo Puerto Vallarta beach so great. And if you’re in the market for a resort stay, Playa Caballo offers two beautiful options again completely away from the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta.
When we came across Playa Caballo, we actually had no intention of spending time there. Instead, we were hiking to Las Animas, but couldn’t pass up spending the day at Playa Caballo instead.. it’s really that perfect!
Like we mentioned above, while Playa Caballo is perfect, it’s not necessarily the best beach in Puerto Vallarta for everyone. If you’re looking for something with easier access, check the beaches in the posts below.
15 Beaches in Puerto Vallarta | all walkable from downtown Puerto Vallarta
15 Beaches Near Puerto Vallarta | most just a bus ride away, but some with a bus and hike combo to get to!
More on Puerto Vallarta
We visited Puerto Vallarta on two extended trips totaling 14 weeks in PV! We’ve experienced Puerto Vallarta in the high season and the off season, and Heather’s even experienced it via a cruise stop.
With all the time we’ve spent in Puerto Vallarta, you can bet we have a lot of info to share. Check out more of our Puerto Vallarta resources below!
READ MORE | Is Puerto Vallarta Safe + Scams to Avoid
READ MORE | Best Excursions in Puerto Vallarta + What To Know About Booking Them
LEARN MORE | 9 Waterfalls in Puerto Vallarta
DRINK MORE | 10 Craft Breweries in Puerto Vallarta + Banderas Bay
EXPLORE MORE | Visiting Yelapa … Is It Really All That Great?
FIND MORE | Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide | All our Puerto Vallarta Resources On One Page
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