Water taxi to Yelapa

No road for ordinary cars reaches Yelapa, so the water taxi is how almost everyone arrives: about 45 minutes from Los Muertos Pier in town, or 25 from Boca de Tomatlán, with boats roughly every hour. The village sits in the southernmost cove of Banderas Bay, and its name is said to mean where two rivers meet the sea.

The beach is split by an inlet, with palapa restaurants on the long northern stretch that give you a lounger for a little food and drink. Women walk the sand selling slices of pie, and the local drink is raicilla, a smoky agave spirit. Footpaths lead up to the Cola de Caballo waterfall, and horses and kayaks are for hire. There is also a small nonprofit museum of art, history and culture in the village. Summer, July to September, is very hot and humid, with storms most evenings.