Best Puerto Vallarta Beach Clubs to Get Your Sun, Sand, and Seafood Fix
- Kimberly M.
- Jan 15
- 10 min read
Disclosure: The opinions shared in this post are based on my personal experiences. I was not hosted by, contacted by, or compensated by any of the establishments mentioned.
Growing up, a beach vacation was one of those luxuries that, if we were lucky, happened just once a year. I’ll never forget the summers my uncle would round up my aunts, uncles, and cousins, rent a huge beach house in Virginia Beach, and we would take the adventurous 3.5-4 hour drive to the coast for a few days of sun, sand, and salty sea water. Those were some of the best days of my childhood.
As we grew older and lives changed, the family trips slowly came to an end. So, I made up for it as I entered adulthood, spending my hard-earned money on vacations to the coasts of Miami, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico– anywhere that I could spend days in the sand by the water. So it only makes sense that when we moved to Puerto Vallarta, the most exciting thing for me would be just that…the beach.
Puerto Vallarta certainly has its choices of beautiful beaches to take in the ocean breeze (I mention a few of my favorites in this list of the best beaches in Mexico), but as a single mom and solo traveler, it’s the beach clubs and restaurants that make the experience even better. Pair a beautiful beach with full-service, good food, tasty cocktails, and access to restrooms and showers, and you can easily pass an entire day beachside.
Below are a few of my favorite Puerto Vallarta beach clubs that definitely warrant a visit during your next beach day:
Uruguay 109
5 de Diciembre
Mangos Beach Club is one of my personal go-to oceanfront beach clubs in Puerto Vallarta. In fact, I’ve been so many times that most of the staff know me on a first-name basis! Located right in the heart of downtown Puerto Vallarta, Mangos is the ideal place to go when you want the beach club vibe, but don’t want to have to travel far to get to it. It’s easily accessible by public transportation and within walking distance to the Malecón, nightclubs, and all of the other great downtown spots.
Another great thing about Mangos is that it is both family- and dog-friendly, with kids' menu options and non-alcoholic drinks. I’ve gone several times with my son, as well as alone; however, I must admit that the best times are had when you go with a group of other adults. The staff is always very attentive, doing whatever they can to keep you shaded and comfortable.
The beach beds and plushes are super comfortable (and stylish) for larger groups, and regular folding beach chairs are available for groups of two or for those enjoying a solo beach day. There are indoor restrooms, an outdoor rinsing shower, and tents next door where you can get a very reasonably priced massage. Want to try parasailing or hop aboard a banana boat with friends? You can do so, just steps away from your seat.
On weekends (Friday through Sunday), they have a DJ to add to the beach club vibe. I will warn you, though, some of the music is NOT censored– so if you’re traveling with little ones, it may not be the ideal place to “relax.” There’s also a delicious brunch on Sunday mornings from 9am-1pm, offering Mexican staples such as birria, menudo, chilaquiles, machaca, omelettes, quesadillas, handmade tortillas, huevos al gusto, and hotcakes. Their everyday menu serves mostly seafood, but there are several non-seafood options for those with allergies.
If your plan is to go during the weekend and grab a beach chair or beach bed, I highly recommend calling in the morning to reserve a spot. Otherwise, you may be disappointed to find that all of the beach seating is taken. However, there are usually plenty of tables available in the regular seating area (also outdoors). Don’t skip the chance to stay for sunset– you’ll see some of the most breathtaking views!
Downsides:
Unfortunately, because of its prime beachfront location, there are nonstop vendors that will try to sell just about everything multiple times. A smile and a short “no, gracias” is usually enough, but you will have to say it a LOT.
During high-season and vacation weeks such as Semana Santa, there may be minimum spend requirements to sit in the beach zone.
Carretera Costera a Barra de Navidad, KM 9.5
Zona Hotelera Sur
If pampering, relaxation, and a touch of luxury are more your vibe, you will not want to pass up on a day pass at Xalli Beach Club. Located about 20 minutes from the Malecon, Xalli Beach Club offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere with beach beds and chairs, provided towels, and an infinity pool and jacuzzi overlooking the beach. The beach area is enclosed by rocks, creating a calm cove with sparkling emerald waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Xalli is another family-friendly beach club, though its quiet, relaxing atmosphere makes it more appealing to adults. I’ve gone twice with my son, and both times there was only one other family with kids. It has never been crowded. We love the fact that the beach and pool seating areas are completely separate, so you can choose your vibe without being distracted by the other.
The food, dessert, and cocktails are carefully crafted and presented, and absolutely DELICIOUS. My son loves the fact that for every adult beverage, there’s an equivalent non-alcoholic beverage with a slight spin on the name.
The bathrooms are super clean and bright, with a shower and changing area, making it easy and comfortable to dry off and change before hopping back on the long ride to Puerto Vallarta. Before you leave, make sure to take advantage of the plentiful gorgeous photo ops, including the famous Los Arcos rock formation in the distance!
Check out my video on TikTok for an even better view of Xalli Beach Club.
Downsides:
In addition to the distance, a day pass at Xalli Club can be quite pricey, costing $1,800.00 MXN for adults and $900.00 MXN for children (free for kids under 5)*. Although part of it is automatically credited toward your bill, the credit gets depleted quickly.
Also, unlike other beach clubs, there is no music here, not even soft background music– just the sound of the water, nature, and the voices of other patrons (although some may actually prefer this).
The beach club closes at 6pm, so unfortunately, you won’t be able to watch the sunset from your beach chair. However, you can always dry off and have dinner at Amixti Restaurant just steps away, or upstairs at the Tapazolli Espresso Wine Bar.
*Prices as of January 2026
Playa Caballo
First and foremost, if you do not like EDM (electronic dance music), this is NOT the beach club for you. One of the biggest highlights of this beach club is its distinctive music style and live DJs. However, there is no variety, which can be a turnoff for some. But if house music, trance-style beats, and boho vibes are your thing, keep reading.
Located on Playa Caballo, Anima Beach Club is only available by water taxi, unless you choose to take the 1.5-hour hike from Boca de Tomatlan. When I went with a group of friends, we used Anima as the end goal of our hike, and it was the perfect spot to sit in the shade, eat well to refuel, and drink well to “rehydrate.” They have two sides: the restaurant side with regular tables and the beach club side with comfy lounge chairs, a DJ booth, and a small, sandy dance area. Whichever side you choose, you will definitely want to make a reservation before arriving.
I was surprised to see that the menu prices are more reasonable than those of the other beach clubs in the area, offering a nice selection of fresh seafood and non-seafood options. Their spirits, wine, and mixology menu are also plentiful, with signature handcrafted cocktails that will leave your mouth watering. I tried the La Cilla, a fruity, yet spicy cocktail made with fresh jalapeño slices. My mouth was on fire, but it was too good to put down! But the best part of the experience was the service. Not only were the waiters super friendly, fun, and energetic, but they would literally run to input your order and bring it back. Did I mention that each table receives its own personal waiter?
While family-friendly, they are only likely to accept reservations with children in the restaurant, not at the beach club. During our visit on a Friday afternoon, we had one teen and one tween, and they only allowed us access to the beach club on the condition that we leave before 5pm, when the real party got started. They advised us that, in the future, they usually allow children in the beach club only on Sundays.
That said, once the evening rolled around and the sun started to set (another spectacular place to view the sunset, by the way), we could definitely see the crowd change and become less family-friendly. At that time, the yachts started to pull in with fancy party goers, the bottles and shots of tequila started to make their rounds at other tables, the music got louder, and the strobe lights near the DJ booth started to glow, making for quite a light show as our water taxi pulled away.
Downsides:
As mentioned above, it is only accessible by water taxi unless you choose to hike. While they do offer their own water taxi, it is only available during certain hours.
They are not very flexible with reservations and have been known not to honor them if you are late.
Anima has been known to host celebrities and influencers and tries to maintain a particular “aesthetic,” which, unfortunately, has resulted in people with reservations being turned away if they do not meet the unspoken dress code or visual vibe Anima aims for.
No other variety of music is played besides EDM.
Carretera a Barra De Navidad
Playa Palmares
While technically a beach restaurant rather than a beach club, Canto Palmares Playa still offers all the good food, good drinks, and good vibes that make for a fun beach day. It is located on Playa Palmares, the first beach in the state of Jalisco to receive the Blue Flag certification. Whether you choose Canto Palmares as your destination or decide to stop there just to refuel after spending a day splashing around on the beach, you won’t be disappointed.
Canto Palmares is known for its seafood selections, but it also offers several non-seafood options. (Just make sure you ask them to cook/fry your food separately if you have a seafood allergy– my son and I unfortunately learned this the hard way several years ago.) They also have delicious cocktails, with their margaritas and mezcalitas being at the top of my list.
There are several seating areas on both the lower and upper levels, with the upper level restroom offering a gorgeous, open view of the beach (don’t worry, no one can see you)!
In addition to the restaurant seating, they also offer on-beach service when you rent the tables and chairs right in front of the restaurant. They also frequently have live music and DJs to add to the restaurant's liveliness. One can easily spend hours there with family or friends!
Downsides:
Sometimes the beach area can be a bit rocky, and over the years, the shoreline has receded.
The later it gets, the harder it gets to get an Uber or taxi back, so make sure to plan in advance!
Playa Las Animas
This is another one that is a restaurant versus a beach club, but it is still one of my favorite places to spend a beach day and eat some good seafood. It is located on Playa Las Animas and, like Anima Beach Club, is accessible only by water taxi or hiking (in fact, it's just a short walk from Anima Beach Club, maybe only 15 minutes, as I recall). However, they do offer their own private pickup and return to Boca de Tomatlan with your reservation.
Located on soft sands with warm emerald waters and breathtaking views, El Coral offers a place to relax and unwind while enjoying some of the area's most delicious seafood and top-notch cocktails. There is plenty of spacious seating available with beach umbrellas, and if you get there early enough or make the request in your reservation, you can snag one of the folding beach chairs at the front of the beach (perfect for when you are with kids who want to play and swim in the water while you relax). There are also restrooms and outdoor showers available to rinse off before heading home.
Downsides:
As mentioned, it is only accessible by water taxi, making a “quick trip” difficult (and honestly not worth it at that point).
If you choose to take their water taxi home, you’ll need to know in advance when you want to return. There’s no “let’s wait and see how we feel,” or you’ll end up without a seat.
The water sometimes “stings.” We haven’t figured out what the small, stinging bites are when in the water, but they have caused some people to avoid the water.
Quimixto, Cabo Corrientes
Formerly known as Akali Beach Club, Playa Chica Locca is now marketed as a part of an all-inclusive experience led by Chica Locca Tours, with day passes available. Although I haven't been since the name and concept changed, it is worth mentioning it because the beach venue and grounds are absolutely GORGEOUS.
Located on its own private beach, it offers spacious facilities, including an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, luxurious shaded lounge seating, a gorgeous wine cellar, pristine bathrooms with air conditioning, outdoor showers, and photoworthy views in every direction. And the food and drinks? Let’s just say that I have never had a dish or cocktail there that I didn’t like. This is another secluded beach near Quimixto, so you will need water transportation to reach it (they offer their own with a reservation).
The times I visited were with friends, so I cannot speak to the experience of going with kids. However, for the most relaxing experience, I’d recommend going with adults only.
Downsides:
As mentioned, they are only accessible by water.
This is one of the furthest beach clubs in the area, so planning in advance and making reservations are non-negotiable.
The day passes are quite pricy, currently listed on their website at $2500 MXN for adults and $1,500 MXN for children (ages 4-12)*
*Prices as of January 2026
Have you been to any of the beach clubs mentioned here? If so, which was your favorite? Which was your least favorite? And of course, if you have any other recommendations that weren’t listed here, share them in the comments!
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