ADVENTURE TO LAS CALETAS in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
A hidden oasis south of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Where the jungle meets the ocean, only accessible by boat. We recommend Vallarta Adventures! Las Caletas is a beautiful 1000 yard long beach broken up into 4 smaller beaches and includes a natural reserve with over 1000 hectares of jungle.
The beach is so remarkable, that filmmaker John Huston chose to build his own secluded sliver of paradise here in the 1970’s for two decades until his failing health led him back to the US.
The beach is owned now by the all-inclusive tour operator, Vallarta Adventures since 1990. Las Caletas resembles a small fishing village in the middle of the jungle with modern amenities built for adventure, sports, relaxation, and entertainment.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details. Inspirational Travel Adventures is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Las Caletas has crystal-clear blue/emerald water perfect for scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. You can also encounter native wildlife and sea life.
This stretch of land is considered one of the best beach destinations in the world. Las Caletas is listed as one of the Top 4 Secluded Beach Destination in the World by TripAdvisor!
One’s senses are on overdrive when you first lay eyes on this magical destination! The rugged, minimalist jungle beach vibe takes over your senses as you explore the pathways, bridges, and out buildings. Each more impressive than the next. Flamingo’s, pelicans, tropical flowers, and smells from the plethora of food choices on the outdoor buffet assault your senses all at the same time. The beverages flow freely and smiles of welcome surround you! PARADISE!
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LEARN MORE
WHERE IS LAS CALETAS LOCATED?
ADVENTURE TO LAS CALETAS in Puerto Vallarta
Las Caletas is located 27 km from Puerto Vallarta to the South. This is about a 60-90 minute beautiful boat ride down the Banderas Bay past Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlan, Las Animas, and Quimixto.
FUN FACT: The land is owned by the local Chacala Indians and leased to Vallarta Adventures. The primary language spoken in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is Spanish. However, many locals speak English, especially those who work in the tourist zone. Locals appreciate when visitors and foreigners try to communicate in Spanish, and it may be helpful to know some basic Spanish vocabulary. For example, “hello” is hola, “goodbye” is adíos, “please” is por favor, and “thank you” is gracias.
In attempting to have it all, never forget that if we don’t have love, joy, peace, tranquility and an ability to be truly present in our lives that we don’t have it all anyway. We really don’t have anything.
~Carolyn Anderson
Snorkeling provides complete relaxation as your underwater senses take control. Floating around and just allowing the ocean to take you within its gentle currents for movement through its underwater world builds a trust and confidence in the exploration of the ocean.
You will experience discoveries unlike anything you’ve seen before. The undulating coral fans in vibrant colors provide shelter for small schools of topically colored fish. Other darting bigger fish provide a scene of magnificence that you have to experience to really understand.
Snorkeling is just one of our favorite relaxing adventures when we travel to the ocean.
The beaches, sunshine, and ocean provide the backdrop for many other adventures! Do you have a personal BUCKET LIST for travel dreams? You too can DAYDREAM YOUR NEXT TRAVEL ADVENTURE! We did on our last visit in Puerto Vallarta to Las Caletas! We enjoyed exploration!
HISTORY OF LAS CALETAS LOCATION
Fun fact: HISTORY OF LAS CALETAS quoted from John Huston (Las Caletas is also famous for being the chosen home of renowned American filmmaker John Huston – ANGELICA HUSTON’S Dad – during the last years of his life.) Quoted via https://medium.com/@halliebroberg/the-hidden-las-caletas-beach-of-mexico-8a7ccccfb862
“I am now living in Las Caletas, where I’ve leased one and a half acres from the Chacala Indian Community, the Mexican government has granted these Indians a long stretch of coast and a large interior region. To get to where I live you drive about fifteen miles south of Puerto Vallarta to a small fishing village called Boca de Tomatlan, where the highway leaves the sea and turns inland over the mountains. From Boca, you take a panga (an open fiberglass boat with an outboard motor) south some thirty minutes to Las Caletas.
I have my place on a ten-year lease, with an option for another ten. After that, the land and whatever I’ve built on it goes back to the Indians. Las Caletas is my third home. There are no roads to it, and it’s unlikely there will ever be — the nearest village is about half an hour away by jungle trail. Las Caletas faces the sea and its back to the jungle, for this reason, one thinks of it as an island.
Life here is lived in the open. At night wild creatures come down to inspect the changes I’ve made in their domain: coatimundis, opossums, deer, boars, ocelots, boas, and jaguars. We find their spoor or trails in the mornings. Flocks of frenetic parrots come winging in at first light, full of talk. They climb, dive, wheel as one bird, and alight in the treetops, all talking. They take off, do another quick turn or two, and disappear — talking.
After sunrise, the jungle quiets down, but there is always something going on at sea. Pelicans in tandem, skimming the waves — gulls and other seabirds, diving when the surface of the bay seethes and boils with sardines or schools of other small fish. There’s a manta ray who performs regularly about fifty yards offshore. He always jumps twice. The first time is to get your attention. Then he throws all three thousand pounds of himself so high out of the water that you can see the freckles on his white underbelly [sic]. Gray humpback, [sic] killer whales, [sic] and porpoises ply the offshore waters. We’re trying to keep a record of the grays because this is the farthest south they’ve ever been seen.
The winters are sparkling clear. There is almost no rain for nine months. By spring the jungle greens have faded to olive drab. In late June the clouds begin to gather. They thicken and lower until they’re halfway down the mountainsides. The atmosphere gets heavier and heavier. Then one day the heavens opened and the torrential rains beat down. Instantly there are explosions of color throughout the jungle: orchids, birds or paradise, and all manner of bromeliads. And every night there’s an electricity display out at sea, lighting up the horizon like a great artillery duel between worlds.
Now that I’m of a certain age, I’m following a piece of old Irish advice in going to live by the sea: ‘It stops old wounds from hurting. It revives the spirit. It quickens the passions of mind and body, yet lends tranquility to the soul.’”
-John Huston
If you remember to pack the TOP 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO PACK, you will be ready to dive into the ocean for this adventure right along with us!
HOW DO I GET THERE?
ADVENTURE TO LAS CALETAS in Puerto Vallarta
We boarded a water transport to Las Caletas in Puerto Vallarta at the marina. Vallarta Adventures provides an excellent round trip transport complete with unlimited beverage service and entertainment! It was truly a highlight of the day. The trip there and back was just as entertaining and enjoyable as the day spent at Las Caletas!
We even stopped to whale watch as part of the return trip. We highly recommend this tour!
Be sure to pack the correct supplies for the day!
We packed our own SNORKEL GEAR and WATERPROOF VALUABLES POUCH/WALLET and UNDERWATER WATERPROOF CAMERA, towel, book, and sunscreen so we were well prepared!
WHAT WILL I EXPERIENCE AT LAS CALETAS?
ADVENTURE TO LAS CALETAS in Puerto Vallarta
This beach is leased to Vallarta Adventures by the Chacala Indigenous community. Because this tour provider offers all-inclusive amenities to those visitors that arrive with their “Las Caletas Beach Hideaway” and the “Rhythms of the Night- Savia” tours, including food, activities and drinks, you are not able to arrive here independently.
We enjoyed the Las Caletas Beach Hideaway Tour offered through Carnival Panorama! It was definitely the highlight of our trip!
Snorkeling opportunities are available here! The ocean floor in this area does appear vastly different from other SNORKELING SPOTS we’ve experienced.
People were swimming and eating and having a great time! It was very relaxing! I could spend countless hours here on this beach and be totally happy!
Las Caletas offers many things to do and enjoy, not only for adults but for teens and children too. There’s an animal encounter with parrots and a zoo on site.
You can learn to scuba dive, power snorkel, swim with sea lions, take cooking classes, kayak, paddle board, ride the banana boat.
There’s an 18+ beach, an activity beach and a beach for relaxing.
A list of most of the options includes:
- scuba diving
- snorkeling with sea lions
- paddle boarding
- kayaking
- guided nature walks
- a wonderful hilltop spa
- the orchidarium
- the aviary
- a deer sanctuary
- Yoga
- Cooking lessons, etc.
WHAT IS THE CLIMATE OF LAS CALETAS?
ADVENTURE TO LAS CALETAS in Puerto Vallarta
December through April bring Puerto Vallarta’s most ideal weather conditions, which is why these months are also the most popular among tourists. The average daily high temperature during this time ranges from around 80°F (27°C) to 85°F (29°C), with low humidity and very little rainfall.
The rainy season runs from June through mid October, with virtually no precipitation the rest of the year. Even in rainy season, the rain normally falls in short bursts, most often at night, with most days being hot and dry. Tours and fishing trips are seldom affected by the weather in Puerto Vallarta, it’s very rare.
The coldest month in Puerto Vallarta is January at 72°F. Hurricane season in Puerto Vallarta lasts from July to October, although most precipitation falls in September. Winter temperatures are comfortable, with daily highs averaging 79°F and lows of 55°F.
We highly recommend a beach vacation/exploration of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico! It is very family friendly and there are many relaxation locations on the beaches of Las Caletas! Only a short boat ride there and a day of luxurious, Mexican sunshine awaits at this hidden location!
There was food service and drink service right on the beach along with bath house, restrooms, shopping, Mezcal tasting and hammocks over the ocean galore! We were very comfortable here at all times!
WEDDING PACKAGES OF LAS CALETAS?
ADVENTURE TO LAS CALETAS in Puerto Vallarta
EXPLORE! ENJOY!
I was pleasantly surprised to note the wedding packages that Las Caletas offers! What a super cool idea for a destination wedding! How romantic and beautiful would this be? Imagine a sunset wedding on this gorgeous beach surrounded by your friends and family!
God’s magnificent creation is on full display here in Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico! We were just in awe of it’s raw beauty both underwater and on land. WHAT a beautiful island to explore and enjoy!
Did you notice some affiliate links along the way?? If you plan to buy any of the products we mentioned or search for other purchases, please consider clicking through our link on this page. It won’t cost you a dime, and it will help our website continue running and offering you further inspirational travel adventures!
Inspirationally Yours,
Barbara
BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/
About Me
A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her high school/college athlete football sons.
WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com
MAKE SURE TO SHARE INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL ADVENTURES! Click on any social media link below!!
Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #29
COZUMEL MEXICO, SNORKELING ADVENTURE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
COZUMEL MEXICO, SNORKELING ADVENTURE
Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #4
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #10
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #16
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #22
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
COZUMEL, MEXICO SNORKELING ADVENTURE
RELATED POSTS:
View it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures:
SNORKELING SPOTS
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
SNORKELING SPOTS
View it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures:
10 FAVORITES ON A CRUISE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW:
10 FAVORITES ON A CRUISE
[ctct form=”1004″ show_title=”false”]
Barbara Robinson
TRAVEL BLOG🛩 * ADVENTURE🛶 * INSPIRATION🌞 Thanks for exploring our travel blog! We hope to assist you in your next adventure through learning from ours! We are transitioning empty-nesters perpetually seeking our next luxury snorkeling adventure! Daily God’s awe inspiring inspiration surrounds us with all of His natural beauty in every direction if we but slow down to observe. Take a moment each day to ENJOY!
6 Comments
Rhonda
Las Caletas looks so peaceful and serene; a perfect place to relax. I can see the real benefit of a private beach here.
Barbara Robinson
YES! Give it a try! You won’t be disappointed!
Sonia
Las Caletas looks like both a relaxing spot on the beach and also one where you can find plenty of opportunities for activities. Sounds like it would be a fun trip.
Barbara Robinson
YES! We can’t wait to return and see the evening show!
Shreya
I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta but I’ve never even heard of Las Caletas! The photos look stunning. I guess I’ll just have to make another trip down to Mexico!
Barbara Robinson
It was so amazing! Try a visit there, next trip!!