Hiking Boca de Tomatlan – Las Animas Beach

by Rodolfo Nicolas Gonzalez Tourism

If you are in Puerto Vallarta, you can start this journey at Boca de Tomatlan’s bus stop in Zona Romantica to get to this small and beautiful Mexican Fishing Village, once at the entrance, you walk strait down the road towards town and the ocean. Along this road you will be bombarded by locals asking if you need a boat ride, which you can take if you don’t want to hike, but for those of you that are hiking that is all you need to say and they will let you be.

When you get to the end of the road on the right hand side is the beach, boats and ocean. On the left is where you turn to continue walking. You walk along this road until you come to the concrete pedestrian bridge, that you cross to start the main trail. The bridge is located past a parking lot and there will be signs for the La Posada Pacifica hotel.

Once you are crossed the bridge, you will follow the path towards your right. This path weaves through houses and follows the coast around to the end of the bay. Just keep to the coast and you will be more than fine. If you need help, ask the locals, the nicest people on Earth.

The stretch from Boca to Colomitos takes about an hour. Once you get past the first point, through all of the houses, the trail opens up to the jungle. This leg is also the hardest part, with the most up’s and down’s. On the actual jungle path, you will find signs marking how far you have gone and what the next beach is.

At Colomitos Cove the trail picks back up on the opposite side of the beach via high concrete steps. After heading up the steps you then pass through the jungle for a few minutes until you arrive at Playa Escondida. This beach is very secluded, shaded, and my favorite of the hike.

Once you get past Playa Escondida, you are done with the hardest parts of the hike and onto the final jungle stretch leading to Playa las Animas. Upon finishing this short jungle section, you will start walking across stunning beaches and bungalow filled resorts until you reach Playa los Animas.

The Boca de Tomatlan – Las Animas hike is something that everyone should do if you are in a good physical condition and if you like the nature, free and fun!