Quimixto shows a quieter side of the coast south of Puerto Vallarta. We love it for the mix of jungle, sea, and village life in a single small, boat-access community where the pace feels calm and grounded.
You will not find roads running through town or a resort-heavy waterfront. Instead, Quimixto welcomes you with narrow paths, a relaxed beach, and daily life shaped by fishing, local food, and the river that runs down from the hills.
Set in the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, roughly 20 kilometers south of Puerto Vallarta, this roadless fishing village sits where the Sierra Madre foothills meet the Pacific.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to get to Quimixto and what to do once you arrive. If you want an easy guided day on the water or a simple village visit with time for the beach and waterfall, here's how we recommend planning it.
How to Get to Quimixto
Book a Day Tour
We recommend visiting Quimixto on a guided day trip if you want the easiest way to enjoy the village without handling boat timing and local logistics on your own. One of the most direct options is joining a tour that brings you into the heart of this coastal village.
After a scenic boat ride across Banderas Bay, you'll arrive in Quimixto and begin with time by the beach, with views of the Sierra Madre and the beachfront palapa restaurants that shape village life.
As you walk through town, you can stop by food stalls for fresh tropical fruit like mango, coconut, and pineapple, especially with a sprinkle of Tajín, Mexico's beloved chili-lime seasoning.
You can also stop at The Bar at Dora's Place, a cozy street stall bar with locally crafted raicillas and other regional spirits. Dora's also serves artisanal ice creams that are especially welcome on warm afternoons.
One memorable part of the visit is stopping at a rustic fisherman's home, where your guide introduces you to one of Mexico's most cherished daily rituals, making tortillas by hand. You take part in the process and enjoy the tortillas with homemade salsas and beans.
Though the tour also includes Yelapa and Pizota, Quimixto stands out for its blend of flavor, tradition, and coastal charm. The day ends with a grilled beachfront BBQ lunch by the water.
Water Taxi from Boca de Tomatlán
If you prefer to go on your own, a common route begins in Boca de Tomatlán, a fishing village just south of Puerto Vallarta. From there, you can catch a water taxi, or panga, directly to Quimixto.
To reach Boca, take a local bus labeled "Boca" from the corner of Constitución and Basilio Badillo in the Zona Romántica. The ride takes around 45 minutes. Once at the beach, the boats are easy to find. Budget approximately 100 to 200 MXN per person each way for the Quimixto water taxi, though we recommend verifying fares at the pier since posted rates may not reflect current pricing. Boats leave through the day when they have enough passengers, and the ride takes about 15 minutes.
Be sure to confirm your return time with the boat captain when you arrive, since return boats run during daylight hours and schedules can vary.
You can also catch a water taxi from the Los Muertos Pier in the Zona Romántica. The ride to Quimixto takes about 40 minutes and runs at least four times daily during high season.
If you want to enjoy the coastline without coordinating boats yourself, we suggest choosing the guided route.
What to Do in Quimixto
Discover Life in the Village
Quimixto is more than waterfalls and beaches. Much of its appeal comes from the everyday rhythm of village life. We suggest taking your time on the cobblestone paths and watching the town unfold around you.
You might see fishermen mending nets or children playing by the dock. Handmade crafts, like macramé or beaded jewelry, are sometimes sold from stalls shaded by palm fronds. Visit the simple local chapel among the houses, or pause along the pier to watch boats coming and going.
With a few pesos and a friendly greeting, you may find residents open to conversation. These small exchanges offer a warm look at local life and tradition.
Visit a Local Ranch for a Raicilla Tasting
Just outside the village, small family-owned ranches sometimes open their doors to visitors curious about traditional agave spirits. Quimixto sits within the coastal raicilla production zone of Cabo Corrientes.
Spend time with local producers who distill raicilla using ancestral techniques. Coastal raicilla, the style made near Quimixto, involves roasting agave hearts in earthen pits, fermenting with wild yeasts, and double-distilling through a traditional Filipino still, a copper-and-wood instrument whose origins may trace back to colonial-era trade routes between Mexico and the Philippines.
You'll learn how this spirit differs from tequila and mezcal, hear stories about the plants and people behind each bottle, and enjoy a tasting under the shade of mango trees. It's also a good way to support local livelihoods.
Hike Through the Jungle to the Quimixto Waterfall
Quimixto is a quiet fishing village where jungle trails lead to one of the area's best-known waterfalls. The trail follows the La Puerta River upstream through tropical foliage, crossing wooden bridges and shaded paths beneath dense jungle canopy. According to verified trail data, the round-trip hike covers approximately 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles), is rated easy, and takes just over an hour in total. The terrain is mostly flat with some uphill sections and shallow river crossings, so water shoes or sturdy sandals with good grip are recommended.
In the rainy season, the landscape turns especially green, with birdsong and the sound of rushing water all around. The waterfall is usually strongest during and just after the rainy months.
Once there, you can cool off in the natural pool, rest on sun-warmed rocks, and enjoy the surroundings. At the falls, Los Cocos Restaurant-Bar offers cold drinks and fresh seafood with a jungle view. A horseback riding option is also available near the river at the top of the village for travelers who prefer to ride rather than hike.
Explore the Jungle Trail and Wildlife
Take time to explore the lesser-known forest paths around Quimixto. The trail passes through tropical deciduous forest in the lower elevational zone of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Look for sunbathing iguanas, flitting butterflies, and birds like hummingbirds, magpie jays, and parrots among the foliage.
While the trails are easy to follow on your own, a local guide can add helpful context along the way. If you want a fuller understanding of what you're seeing, guided exploration is the better choice.
Savor Authentic Coastal Cuisine
Dine at beachfront palapas offering regional flavors like grilled fish, ceviche, handmade tortillas, and cold drinks. These rustic eateries often do not have signs, just the aroma of home-cooked meals. Charly's Bar is a local favorite worth seeking out.
Enjoy your food with the ocean breeze and maybe a tune from a local musician. Meals here feel relaxed, local, and welcoming.
Lounge on a Secluded Beach
El Volador beach, just steps from the village, is a calm stretch of sand where jungle meets the sea. It's a good place for sunbathing, swimming, or simply listening to the Pacific.
The beach is usually quiet and free of vendors. Settle under a palm, feel the warm sand, and let the coast set the pace for your day.
Take a Sunset Stroll by the Estuary
Follow the La Puerta River to its meeting point with the Pacific. As the sun lowers, the estuary becomes especially calm, with soft light on the water and birds flying overhead.
Locals often gather here to fish or relax. It is a peaceful place to slow down before heading back by boat.
Cultural Roots and Resilience
The cultural landscape surrounding Quimixto carries the legacy of the Wixárika (widely known as Huichol) and Náayerite (Cora) peoples.
Visitors to Puerto Vallarta often encounter Wixárika beadwork and yarn paintings in local galleries. The beadwork designs carry specific meaning. Flowers represent prayers for rain, deer symbolize requests for love and bounty, and scorpions offer protection.
Later, the village became part of colonial trade routes and was included in the Costalegre eco-tourism corridor, a formally designated conservation and tourism zone established by the Jalisco state government in 1990.
What to Pack for Your Trip
- Hiking Sandals or Water Shoes The trail includes shallow river crossings and root-covered paths. Supportive footwear with good grip is essential.
- Quick-Dry Towel Lightweight and practical for waterfall swims.
- Waterproof Bag Protect electronics and valuables on boat rides. A waterproof phone pouch can be especially handy for the panga crossing.
- Cash in Pesos Plan to bring all the cash you'll need before leaving Puerto Vallarta. You'll need it for the bus, water taxi, food, drinks, and everything else.
- Sun Gear Hats with a strap for the boat ride, light sleeves, and reef-safe swimwear.
- Water Bring at least 2 liters per person. Vendors are sparse on the trail, and the heat and humidity are significant.
- Bug Repellent Especially important on jungle trails year-round.
- Motion Sickness Medication Take it about an hour before boarding if you're prone to seasickness. Panga rides can be choppy.
Pack thoughtfully so you can enjoy the jungle, the beach, and the boat ride more comfortably.
Best Time to Visit Quimixto
Dry Season (November to May)
Expect warm, sunny days with little rain. This season is ideal for hiking, sunbathing, and clear snorkeling. The trails are drier, and the beach usually feels breezy and calm.
From December through March, the water taxi crossing may also include humpback whale sightings. We like this stretch of the year for travelers who want easier trail conditions and calmer weather.
Rainy Season (June to October)
This is when the jungle is at its greenest and the waterfall is at full force. While tropical rain is likely, it is usually brief and often falls in the afternoon or evening.
If you enjoy dramatic scenery and do not mind some moisture, this season has a lot to offer. Trails may be muddier and river crossings deeper, but the jungle feels especially alive. It also tends to feel quieter.
Final Thoughts
Quimixto invites you to slow down and pay attention to your surroundings. Between the boat ride, the village paths, the river trail, and the beach, it offers a side of the bay that feels peaceful and grounded.
Whether you spend the day at the waterfall, eat grilled fish by the sand, or chat with a local artisan, Quimixto gives you a closer look at life on this stretch of coast.
For a guided day that combines nature, culture, and easy planning, we recommend a tour with Vallarta Adventures. It's a practical way to visit Quimixto with transportation, bilingual guides, and stops in Yelapa and Pizota included in the same day.
However you choose to go, Quimixto is worth visiting if you want to see more of the coast beyond the main beaches of Puerto Vallarta.
