Custom 90
A 90-foot event yacht for up to 50 guests, listed with a national open bar, snacks, lunch, kayaks and paddleboards.
Destination guide · South shore
Yelapa & Majahuitas by Private Yacht
Beyond Boca de Tomatlán, the coast road turns inland and the south shore belongs to boats. Villages, coves and beach clubs line the water, and a private yacht lets you choose which ones shape your day.
The south shore
Where the road ends, the coves begin
South of Puerto Vallarta, the highway follows the coast as far as Boca de Tomatlán and then turns inland. From there on, most visitors reach the beaches and villages by water.
That geography has kept this stretch of Banderas Bay quieter than the city. Jungle-covered hills run down to small beaches, some with a village, a few restaurants or a beach club, others with little more than sand and a palapa roof. Water taxis and tour boats serve the best-known places; a private yacht gives you a different rhythm, with your own group, your own pace and a crew who know the anchorages.
This guide follows the shore from Colomitos to Yelapa and Pizota, then covers the practical side of visiting Yelapa and Majahuitas by yacht: how guests get ashore, how beach clubs fit in and why a longer charter often makes sense.
Cove by cove
Six places along the south shore
Listed roughly in the order you meet them after Boca de Tomatlán, with Pizota near Yelapa. Whether a stop fits depends on your charter length, the yacht and the sea.
Colomitos
A tiny cove of turquoise water beside Boca de Tomatlán, also reachable by a coastal trail. Space is tight, so yachts usually anchor offshore. A favorite for a swim or a paddle when conditions suit.
Las Ánimas
A long beach lined with seafood restaurants and home to the Ánima Beach Club. One of the most familiar stops for yacht groups who want a meal or time on the sand.
Quimixto
A small village with a beach and a waterfall inland, which visitors reach on foot or on horseback. Your crew can tell you whether there is time, and a way ashore, on your charter.
Majahuitas
A secluded cove between Quimixto and Yelapa, with a beach club reached from the water. It is named in the listings for the Custom 90 and the Azimut 85.
Yelapa
A relaxed village on a deep cove, known for its beach, its palapa restaurants and the walks up to its waterfalls. Most visitors arrive by boat. It is one of the farther stops from the city, so it suits longer charters.
Pizota
A small, quiet beach community near Yelapa, reached by boat. It appears alongside Majahuitas and Yelapa in the listings for the Custom 90 and the Azimut 85.
Up close
Yelapa and Majahuitas, side by side
The two names guests mention most on the south shore are very different places, and they suit different kinds of day.
Yelapa
Yelapa's cove is deep and framed by steep green hills, with the village spread up the slopes behind the beach. Palapa-roofed restaurants line the sand, and paths lead up through the village toward its waterfalls. Life here moves at the pace of the boats that come and go, which is much of its charm.
On a charter, Yelapa usually works best as the far point of a longer day: a swim on the way, time at anchor in the cove and, if a landing is arranged, a meal or a walk ashore before the cruise back.
Majahuitas
Majahuitas is smaller and more private: a secluded cove with a beach club reached from the water. It suits groups who want a slow afternoon, a swim from the yacht and, where landing is arranged, a few hours on the sand.
Because it sits between Quimixto and Yelapa, Majahuitas also fits naturally into a day that takes in more than one cove. Your captain will suggest the order that makes sense for the sea on the day.
Getting ashore
Anchoring, tenders and landings
This is the question guests ask most about the south shore. The honest answer: it depends on the place, the sea and the yacht.
Larger yachts generally anchor offshore rather than at the beach. Small coves, shallow water, swimmers and other boats all limit how close a vessel can come. From the anchorage, guests may reach the beach by tender or by swimming, but only where that has been arranged and the crew judges it safe.
Ask whether your yacht has a way to take guests ashore; it is not something every listing covers. Even then, not every beach suits a landing on every day, and a swell that is barely noticeable on deck can make stepping onto the sand awkward. Your crew will explain how you get ashore, if landing is possible, before anyone leaves the yacht.
If staying aboard suits your group better, the coves are just as enjoyable from the deck: a swim off the stern, paddleboards or kayaks on yachts that carry them, and the shoreline as a backdrop.
Before the day
Tell us which places matter most, and whether you want time ashore, so we can suggest yachts and charter lengths that fit.
On arrival
The captain chooses a safe anchorage based on the swell, the wind and other boats.
The briefing
Your crew explains whether landing is possible and how: tender, swim, or staying aboard.
Ashore
Carry little, keep phones in a dry bag and agree on a return time with the crew.
Beach clubs & restaurants
Lunch on the sand, planned properly
Several south-shore beaches have restaurants or beach clubs, including the Ánima Beach Club at Las Ánimas and the beach club at Majahuitas. They can turn a charter into a long, slow day.
Beach clubs and restaurants are independent businesses with their own menus, schedules and terms. Unless your booking says otherwise, meals and services ashore are paid separately from the charter, and any reservation your group needs is arranged in advance.
Some yachts include food on board, from snacks to lunch or a chef; others welcome guests' own food and drinks. Deciding whether to eat aboard, ashore or both is part of choosing the right yacht. Compare catering and private chef options and open bar arrangements by vessel.
- Ask whether time ashore fits your charter length.
- Confirm whether a reservation is needed for your group size.
- Bring a way to pay ashore; charter inclusions do not cover bills on land unless stated.
- Make sure everyone is comfortable with the way ashore your crew describes.
Charter length
Why the south shore rewards a longer day
No timings here, because they vary with the yacht and the sea, but the pattern is reliable: the farther the cove, the more the extra hours matter.
Shorter charters
Usually best for the nearer stretch: Los Arcos, Colomitos or a swim near Boca de Tomatlán, with time to return comfortably.
Longer charters
Make Las Ánimas, Quimixto and Majahuitas realistic, with room for a swim and a beach-club visit where landing is arranged.
Full-day charters
Generally the best fit for Yelapa, Pizota or several coves in one outing, without rushing the return.
Yachts that mention these coves
Listings built for south-shore days
The Custom 90 and Azimut 85 listings mention Majahuitas, Yelapa and Pizota; other listings below describe beach-club transfers or quiet-beach days. The Custom 90 is offered only during select months each year, and every route is still confirmed per charter.
Azimut 85
A crewed 85-foot flybridge yacht with a chef, a three-course meal, an open bar, towels and a jet ski in the listed arrangement.
Custom 50
A spacious, versatile boat for groups of up to 30 heading to quieter beaches or a beach club.
Tiara 44
An uncomplicated choice for bay cruising or a private ride to a beach club, with a paddleboard and floating mat on board.
Sea Ray 46
A comfortable all-rounder with a kayak, floating pad and two fishing rods aboard, popular for celebrations and beach-club transfers.
Custom 34 Trimaran
A shaded, open trimaran for up to 30 guests, often chosen for parties, sunset cruises and beach-club transfers.
Practical notes
Before you head south
- Footwear you can get wet, for landings and any walk to a waterfall
- A dry bag for phones and cards if you plan to go ashore
- A towel, which most yachts do not list
- Sun protection for time on deck and on the beach
- A light layer for the return, especially on winter afternoons
- Flexibility: the crew may change the order of stops to suit the sea
If one place is the reason for your charter, say so when you inquire. We will tell you honestly whether it fits your date, your group and the yacht you have in mind.
Private charter request
Which cove is calling you?
Tell us the places on your list and how long you would like to be out. We match yachts and charter lengths that make the south shore realistic for your group.
Questions & answers
Yelapa & south-shore questions
Straight answers to the questions guests ask most. Anything not covered here is confirmed in writing when you inquire.
Can we go to Yelapa on a private yacht?
Yes, on charters long enough to reach it and when conditions allow. Yelapa is one of the farther south-shore stops from Puerto Vallarta, so it generally suits longer or full-day charters; route ideas are confirmed in writing and adapted by the captain on the day.
Can the yacht pull up to the beach at Yelapa or Majahuitas?
Usually not. Larger yachts generally anchor offshore, and guests go ashore by tender or by swimming only where it has been arranged and is judged safe. Your crew will explain how you get ashore, if landing is possible.
What is Majahuitas like?
Can we visit the Yelapa waterfalls during a charter?
Possibly, if your charter allows time ashore and a landing can be arranged. The waterfalls are reached on foot from the village, so wear shoes you can walk in and agree on a return time with the crew.
What is the difference between Las Ánimas and Majahuitas?
Las Ánimas is a long, lively beach with seafood restaurants and the Ánima Beach Club, and it is closer to Puerto Vallarta. Majahuitas is a smaller, more secluded cove farther along the shore with its own beach club. Both are popular for a meal ashore when landing is arranged.
Is lunch at a beach club included in the charter?
Not unless your booking says so. Beach clubs and restaurants are independent and normally paid separately; some yachts include food on board instead, so we compare both approaches when you plan.
Where is Pizota?
Pizota is a small, quiet beach community near Yelapa on the south shore, reached by boat. It appears in the listings for the Custom 90 and the Azimut 85, and like any distant stop it depends on charter length and conditions.
Can we stop at Quimixto?
On some charters, yes. Quimixto is a small village with a beach and a waterfall inland, reached on foot or horseback. Whether you go ashore depends on the yacht, the sea and the time you have.
Do we have to swim to get ashore?
Not necessarily. Depending on the place and the yacht, guests may reach the beach by tender or by swimming, but only where arranged. If neither suits your group, you can enjoy the cove from the deck and swim off the stern instead.
Which yachts are listed for south-shore and beach-club days?
The Custom 90 and Azimut 85 listings mention Majahuitas, Yelapa and Pizota, while the Tiara 44, Sea Ray 46, Custom 50 and Custom 34 Trimaran are described for beach-club transfers or quiet-beach days. Routes are still confirmed for each charter.
Is the south shore practical for a large group?
Yes, with planning. The Custom 90 is listed for up to 50 guests and the Custom 50 for up to 30, but getting a big group ashore takes time and depends on the anchorage, so landings are planned carefully or skipped in favor of swimming from the yacht.
What should we pack for a day on the south shore?
Footwear you can get wet, a dry bag for phones and cards, a towel (most yachts do not list them), sun protection and a light layer for the return. If you hope to walk to a waterfall, bring shoes with grip.