Why go
Puerto Vallarta sits between Bahía de Banderas and the Sierra Madre, so beach choices feel different over a short distance. Los Muertos pairs sand with the Romantic Zone; farther south, headlands and coves change the scenery. Northward, the land opens into longer beaches and a broader coastal plain.
The full story
Begin at Los Muertos if you want a beach that is part of the city. It meets the Romantic Zone, so a shoreline stop can connect naturally with a walk through nearby streets. South of town, the hills press closer to Bahía de Banderas. Headlands break the coast into smaller beaches and coves, including the shore at Conchas Chinas; fishing villages lie farther along the southern side of the bay. This is the direction to consider when the landscape matters as much as the sand, though reaching a particular cove may take more planning than walking onto an urban beach. To the north, the slopes ease back and longer sandy stretches replace the tighter southern shoreline. The Río Cuale runs through central Puerto Vallarta toward the bay, giving a useful landmark for orienting the older center. Looking inland, the Sierra Madre forms the green backdrop to all three coastal settings. That relationship between river, hills and sea explains why the bay does not offer one uniform beach experience.