Mismaloya Voyage Tips and guide

Mismaloya is a small beach town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, near Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco. It is most known as the filming location for the 1964 The Night of the Iguana, which put this stretch of the coast on the tourism map.

It is only 4 km (2.5 mi) from the village of Boca de Tomatlàn, where the highway turns inland and boats connect visitors to the remote beaches further along the coast.

This small valley is surrounded by the Sierra Madre and the tropical forest. It's known for the pelicans you can meet in the water or on boats. You can find on the beach many activities like diving or snorkeling. The view is gorgeous and the water is calm. The place is safe, colorful and family-friendly. It's an ideal place to rest, have lunch and even have an overnight stay to enjoy the sunset.

Map of Mismaloya

Mismaloya is along the Carretera Pacifico (Fed Hwy 200), 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Puerto Vallarta Zona Romantica. The nearest airport is in Puerto Vallarta.

It is 344 km (214 mi) from Guadalajara.

The bus is a great option as taxis can be expensive, and not many drivers for ride-share apps want to go this far.

From Puerto Vallarta, the white and orange buses depart from the Zona Romantica at the 20.602399-105.2347081 Puerto Vallarta Bus Stop at intersection of the street Basilio Badillo and Calle Constitucíon. The ride is beautiful. These buses cost M$10 (Jan 2026), and offer you change. They depart around every 20 minutes.

You can also access by boat between Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa at various times during the day.

Pangas (water taxis) wait at the piers of Boca, Playa Las Animas, Los Muertos, and Yelapa. Rates are from M$100-350 per person (Jan 2026).

• Mismaloya was the filming location for The Night of the Iguana. You can see some of the settings they constructed in the vicinity.
• 20.4658-105.2931 Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Carretera a Barra de Navidad Km.24 S/N (just beyond Las Juntas y Los Veranos), ☏ +322 223-6182. 09:00-18:00 daily. Vallarta Botanical Gardens a pleasure garden high in the glorious Sierra Madre Mountains. Located on 8 ha (20 acres) of land, these botanical collections features thousands of different species of plants. The gardens are in a unique tropical dry forest ecosystem at 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level. Against the backdrop of soaring mountain peaks, there are Palm Gardens, Rose Garden, Tree Fern Grotto, Orchid House, Jungle Trails, Tropical Bird Watching, Agave Gardens, displays of Mexican Wildflowers and the Carnivorous Plant Collection. Bringing your swimsuit and enjoy a refreshing dip in the crystal clear Rio Los Horcones. Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a nonprofit institution opened to the public in 2005. The Hacienda de Oro Restaurant, has delicious brick oven pizzas, salads and other Mexican specialties.  
• 20.530317-105.2824522 Zoológico de Vallarta. A wildlife park in Mismaloya.  
• 20.482294-105.295313 Chico's Paradise. A river valley with rock formations and picnic/restaurant.  (updated Feb 2026)

• Snorkeling tours are popular and readily available. You can book in advance or just show up and many vendors will try to sell you a tour. Expect them to beach the boat directly on the Mismaloya Playa, where you will board and depart, likely for Los Arcos.
• 20.522708-105.2606211 El Eden de Mismaloya. Adventure park with canopy zip lines in the jungle, a river and natural swimming pools.  

• 20.5498-105.2540872 Palo Maria Waterfall.  
• 20.530348-105.2857073 The mountains of Mismaloya.  
• 20.484419-105.4486194 Cascada de Yelapa (Take a water taxi to Yelapa). On the main beach in Yelapa, walk to the right and cross the creek. Hike upwards a few meters to the cobblestone trail. Turn right, and then follow the trail over a ridge and up the adjacent valley. After hiking about 1½ km through a tropical deciduous forest, your persistence will be rewarded. The waterfall is about 10 m high, with a pool for bathers at the base. The falls are more impressive during the rainy season (northern summer).  
• 20.5103-105.314316 Boca-Playa Las Animas Trail. This coastline trail connects Boca to a series of secluded beaches on the way to the fishing village of Quimixto. 20.50723-105.343955 Playa Las Animas, 4 km (2.5 mi) in, is the largest such beach, with a range of beach bars and frequent ferry service back to Boca. The trail has several 25–50 m (82–164 ft) climbs, a few of which require keeping a hand on a rope.  (updated Feb 2026)

There is a tiny village next to the beach with a typical market.

In addition to the places you’ll find in maps and restaurant search apps, there are a number of unlisted local restaurants. Many of them are situated along the beach, so you can sip and eat with the waves running up to your feet. Like most businesses in this region, plan for cash-only (a few take credit but you can’t plan on it). Prices (2023) are typical; M$60 for a beer, M$180 for 4 chicken tacos, etc.

Tepic ← Puerto Vallarta ←

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→ La Manzanilla → Manzanillo