Puerto Vallarta is a vibrant Mexican city located right on the Pacific ocean. It is a frequented port city for many cruise lines, an American and Canadian retiree hotspot, and a popular vacation spot for folks flying in from the U.S.’s west coast. It’s also the first place my husband and I lived together outside the U.S., so it will always have a special place in my heart.
Nestled between Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the city has a Centro area bustling with locals and expats, a trendy Romantic Zone full of restaurants and nightclubs, and a hotel zone with a constant influx of resort-goers. Yet the gem of Puerto Vallarta is the natural beauty that surrounds it.
With Vallarta’s stunning scenery and warm, inviting waters, it’s no wonder that many visitors want to spend their days taking it all in at one of the many beach clubs. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best beach clubs and resort day passes in Puerto Vallarta. This is the guide I wish I had when I was living in Puerto Vallarta in 2022, so I hope it makes trip planning easier for you!
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Top Beach Clubs Puerto Vallarta
Jump to:
Beach club close to the Puerto Vallarta cruise port: Táu
Romantic Zone beach clubs: Sapphire, El Solar, Swell, Mantamar
Puerto Vallarta beach clubs with pools: Sapphire, Táu, Mantamar
Most secluded beach club day pass: Xinalani
Luxury beach club: Táu
Most vegan-friendly day pass: Xinalani
Puerto Vallarta beach clubs with vegan options: Sapphire, El Solar, Mantamar
Gay beach club: Mantamar
Beach clubs without a day pass fee: Mango’s
Sapphire Beach Club Puerto Vallarta
Out of all the Puerto Vallarta beach clubs I’ve visited, Sapphire Ocean Club is my favorite. You pay $300 pesos for a day pass and extra for food and drinks. It might be a little more expensive than some other clubs on this list that don’t have a day pass fee, but for me, it is worth it.
The day pass includes a reclining chair under an umbrella on the beach, access to their swimming pool and showers, and a towel. With so many amenities, it’s easy to stay here all day. Also, it’s pet-friendly, so it’s the ideal place for people with furry friends!
Hours: 9am-6pm daily
Location: Romantic Zone; Los Muertos Beach
Address: Col. Amapas Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, 48399 Mexico
Menu options: Sapphire has a great menu, including snacks like french fries and guacamole, Mexican classics like tacos, salads, sandwiches, and plenty of seafood. I was very thankful that they had clearly marked vegan options. Also, the bar menu is extensive. View menu.
Mango’s Beach Club
Mangos Beach Club is a great place to relax right on the beach in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. They have beach beds, reclining chairs, and umbrellas on the beach, as well as seating inside their restaurant. It feels a bit more family-friendly as compared to some of the other spots on this list.
You can visit Mango’s Beach Club for free if you order food or drinks, which is a huge plus. But keep in mind, as of January 2023, the club asks for a minimum spend of $350 pesos per person.
Hours: 11am-8pm daily
Location: 5 de Diciembre neighborhood; near Playa Camarones
Address: Uruguay 109, 5 de Diciembre, 48350 Puerto Vallarta
Menu options: A mix of Mexican and American dishes, plus drinks
El Solar Beach Club
El Solar is one of the top Puerto Vallarta beach clubs. It’s located in El Barracuda, a seafood spot. Their menu offers vibrant, fresh food and a diversity of drinks.
Hours: 12pm-11pm Monday-Tuesday, 11am-12am Wednesday-Friday, 11am-3am Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm Sunday
Location: Romantic Zone; Los Muertos Beach
Address: Paraguay 1294, 5 de Diciembre, 48350 Puerto Vallarta, Jal.
Menu options: Mostly seafood, but they also have a vegetarian menu with vegan options. View menu. They also have plenty of drink options, from beer to cocktails to non-alcoholic drinks.
Swell Beach Bar
Swell Beach Bar is another highly-rated beach club in Puerto Vallarta. You can enjoy fixings from their menu at a table in their restaurant area or spend the day lounging on beach chairs with a cocktail in hand.
Be aware that this part of the beach can get very busy on afternoons and weekends. If you want a beachfront seat, arrive in the morning.
Hours: 10am-6:30pm daily
Location: Romantic Zone; Los Muertos Beach
Address: Amapas 182, Zona Romántica, Amapas, 48380
Menu options: Ceviches, aguachiles, tacos, salads, and more. The bar menu includes cocktails, beer, juice, smoothies, and more.
Táu Beach Club
If you’re looking for a luxury beach club, you’ve found it. Tau Beach Club stands out from many other spots on this list with top-notch amenities and incredible service. It’s the perfect place for people visiting Puerto Vallarta on a cruise because it’s a short distance from the port.
Tau feels exclusive, and the price reflects it. A day at this incredible beach club costs $2000 pesos per person, which includes $800 pesos in food credit. With a day pass, you’ll have access to a beachfront infinity pool, beach lounge chairs with umbrellas, Balinese beds, lockers, showers, and private parking.
Hours: 10am-5:30pm daily (stay later if you pay for dinner)
Location: Marina Vallarta; El Salado Beach
Address: Paseo de la Marina Avenue #655, Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Menu options: A refined menu with vibrant salads, fresh seafood, and elevated Mexican fare. View menu.
Mantamar Beach Club Bar
Mantamar Beach Club Bar is a gay beach club located on the beach in Puerto Vallarta’s popular Romantic Zone. It’s an adults-only club that advertises itself as “straight-friendly”. Like many of the other clubs on this list, it is located on the busy Los Muertos Beach.
The club features numerous pools, including a suspended pool that overlooks the beach. There are lounge chairs and cabanas along the beach, as well as gazebos for bigger groups, making it a trendy beach club for larger groups.
Hours: 10:30am-8pm daily
Location: Romantic Zone; Los Muertos Beach
Address: Amapas #380 Col. Emiliano Zapata Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, 48380, Mexico
Menu options: The menu includes a diversity of options, such as seafood, salads, snacks, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, pizza, and sushi. View menu.
Bonus: My favorite vegan-friendly resort day pass near Puerto Vallarta
Xinalani Retreat Day Pass
Situated on a secluded beach right outside the small town of Quimixto (south of Puerto Vallarta), Xinalani is a boutique yoga hotel only accessible by boat. Far from the city and crowds, Xinalani is the place to go if you’re looking for true relaxation.
It’s a bit of a journey, but it’s actually relatively easy and cheap to get from Puerto Vallarta to Xinalani. My husband and I visited while we were living in Puerto Vallarta and it was a perfect beach day experience, away from the busyness of the city.
A day pass costs $50 USD per person. It includes access to the facilities, including beds and umbrellas on a secluded beach, a gorgeous pool, snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddle boards, basic drinks, and an incredible, wholesome, yet filling vegetarian lunch. When we were there, nearly everything was vegan, and it was all truly delicious.
You have to message Xinalani’s team directly via WhatsApp (use the number on their website) to reserve a spot for the day. Once you reserve, they’ll send instructions on how to get to Xinalani. You’ll have to take a taxi or bus from Puerto Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlán (expect an hour or longer) and then take a water taxi to the beach next to Xinalani (around 15 minutes). You’ll walk less than five minutes from there to the Xinalani reception area. Paradise awaits.
Essential Mexico Travel Resources
Have a Mexico trip coming up soon? There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to dozens of countries and living abroad on several continents, here are some of my favorite websites and resources for planning unforgettable trips.
🗺️ Hotels + Vacation Rentals: I always use this site for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and great rewards. When I’m looking for a vacation rental, I compare Vrbo and Airbnb.
💪 Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is essential for any trip! I use SafetyWing, which has affordable rates and coverage for many adventure sports.
🚠 Tours + Activities: Viator (owned by Trip Advisor) is the best site for comparing and booking experiences with local tour operators.
🚗 Car Rentals: Use DiscoverCars, a highly-rated platform for comparing and booking rental cars around the world.
📱 Easy phone plans abroad: Use this company to get an eSIM for phone coverage while traveling—without getting a SIM card or canceling your existing plan (unless you want to!)
🛬 Airport Lounge Pass: One membership with Priority Pass grants you access to over 1300 lounges in nearly every country (trust me, it’s a game changer!)
🎒 Essentials always in my bag: Check out my ‘in my bag‘ page for the items I always have in my carry-on.
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