Welcome to Yelapa, Jalisco, a tiny village nestled in the heart of the 7th largest bay in the world. In order to access this stunning cove, one can either drive for a few hours on a single road, however, it is much easier to access this last remote area by boat. Yelapa is considered one of the safest places to travel in Mexico as it is also one of the last untouched authentic beaches, filled with locals, culture, and traditions. Considering the commute in order to get there, it has become a favorite among those vacationers who simply want to get away, relax and stay away from parties and noise.

Yelapa Is Home To Mexico’s Last Authentic Untouched Beach

Once you arrive on the beaches of Yelapa, you’ll disembark the ferry and be faced with two choices - do you check-in at your hotel and exit off the hotel pier or do you hit up the beach right away and leave by the beach pier? Getting to the beach is surprisingly easy as those looking for fresh air can take a simple 20-minute walk from the mainland or can have access to a wide range of horses for a laid back horseback riding adventure. However, vacationers are encouraged to visit the remote location of this small town, as many locals sell homemade clay pots, garments, artwork, and hand-carved musical instruments. There has been mention that the main beach is slightly crowded and not as isolated as they would have preferred, but the inner town also has quieter and more private beaches such as Playa Isabel.

Covered in a thick blanket of gold sand with untouched turquoise waters, the beaches are home to incredible marine life and on land, many local village restaurants are ready to serve each client for breakfast, lunch or dinner and dessert, including various pies handmade by the “pie ladies.” And while you’re on vacation, relax and enjoy one of Yelapa’s homemade moonshine brews. 

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Plan ahead and be prepared with a list of items that are both essential, required or highly recommended for an optimal vacation. Other than the common essentials like bathing suits and extra shorts, hiking boots or shoes as much of the town’s roads are old cobblestones and sand. Whether you’re looking to stay for a quick vacation or in need of some much longer “me time,” there are plenty of places to stay in Yelapa, including some with short term rents to make it cheaper on the accommodation budget. For an epic scenery, Vereda is a jungle oasis completed with an impeccable list of butterfly species, national iguanas and cultural identifying birds. For a romantic beachfront, Miramar offers private balcony villas with a beachfront view with a private hammock, for the perfect way to wake up during sunrise.