It’s easy to understand why most vacationers come to Puerto Vallarta to stay on the beach. And these days, they don’t simply confine themselves to Playa de Oro, the golden Puerto Vallarta luxury hotel strand. Increasing numbers are venturing out and discovering the entire Puerto Vallarta region’s quieter resorts. Beginning in the north, on the lush Nayarit Coast, are sleepy San Blas and Rincón de Guayabitos; farther south, the crystal sands of Bucerías decorate the northern arc of the Bay of Banderas, while south past Puerto Vallarta are tiny [node{33087 link Boca de Tomatlán and Yelapa], nestling at the Bay of Banderas’s jungly southern edge. Beyond that, south of the pine-clad Sierra Lagunillas crest, lie the gemlike bays of Chamela, Careyes, and Tenacatita; and past that, the homey country resorts of Melaque and Barra de Navidad bask on the Costa Alegre (Happy Coast) of southern Jalisco.

The shoreline offers more than resorts, however. Visitors are increasingly seeking rustic paradises where they can lay out a picnic or even set up camp and enjoy the solitude, wildlife, and fishing opportunities of a score of breezy little beach hideaways.

The 300-odd miles of the Puerto Vallarta coastal region offer visitors their pick of shorelines, which vary from mangrove-edged lagoons and algae-adorned tide pools to shoals of pebbles and sands of many shades and consistencies.

Sand makes the beach—and the Puerto Vallarta region has plenty—from dark, warm mica to cool, velvety white coral. Some beaches drop steeply to turbulent, close-in surf, fine for fishing. Others are level, with gentle, rolling breakers, made for surfing and swimming.

Beaches are fascinating for the surprises they yield. Puerto Vallarta–area beaches, especially the hidden strands near resorts and the dozens of miles of wilderness beaches and tidepools, yield troves of shells and treasures of flotsam and jetsam for those who enjoy looking for them. Beachcombing is more rewarding during the summer storm season, when big waves deposit acres of shells—conch, scallop, clams, comb of Venus, whelks, limpets, olives, cowries, starfish, and sand dollars. It’s illegal to remove seashells, however, so remember to leave them for others to enjoy.

During the summer–fall rainy season, beaches near rivermouths (notably Río Santiago north of San Blas and the Río Purificación near Tenacatita) are outdoor galleries of fantastic wind- and water-sculpted snags and giant logs deposited by the downstream flood.