Boca & Villa La Sirena - Your Fun Stuff Logistics Headquarters

Just closer and easier than Puerto Vallarta to most destinations

With Boca de Tomatlán’s location just south of Puerto Vallarta, it is closer than PV to most of the FUN STUFF. We are talking best beaches in Mexico, water-access-only villages, top ziplining, coastal hiking, Vallarta Botanical Gardens, snorkeling, marine wildlife tours, family-oriented ocean fishing, waterfall chasing, ATV jungle tours, horseback riding, traditional family restaurants, and unique, uncommercial Real Mexico spots.

Boca de Tomatlán is an alternative to Puerto Vallarta, it just is not widely recognized. PV, with its heavy tourist marketing, gets name recognition for those searching for a beach-and-sun vacation even if its location is less favorable than Boca de Tomatlán. Boca is only 11 miles south of Old Town Puerto Vallarta, and an easy taxi ride when partying, nightlife, or tourist-oriented shopping and dining are necessary.

Consider a Real Mexico village that offers better access to FUN STUFF, an uncommercial and affordable headquarters, better lodging value, and great traditional Mexican food.

We will break down our FUN STUFF into four geographic areas:

• Boca de Tomatlán

• Los Veranos

• Mismaloya

• El Tuito / Mayto

This blog serves as an overview and reminder of numerous previous blogs posted over the past couple of years, along with a few updates. In keeping with Villa La Sirena’s uncommercial mission, we highlight interesting locations typically unknown to tourist tours.

Boca de Tomatlán - South Shore Transportation Hub & Adventure Gateway

With its location just before the main highway turns eastbound toward the interior region, Boca de Tomatlán is primarily noted as the Panga transportation hub that serves all the South Shore beaches from Colomitos to Yelapa. Besides being the “bus” for villagers, Pangas haul supplies to and from these coastal communities.

Secondarily, Boca provides tourist-oriented Panga trips to some of the best beaches in Mexico. It is also the best departure location for unique snorkeling where you can literally swim with the fishes — an amazing experience for youngsters.

Although Puerto Vallarta is known for world-famous offshore fishing, Boca has numerous Panga captains who provide affordable fishing trips within the Bay of Banderas. These are typically 4–6 hour outings, suitable for families and those not consumed with trophy hunting.

Common Bay catches include Bonito, which put up a nice battle and do well on the dinner plate. Even within the Bay or near its open-ocean boundary, larger species — like this Sailfish caught mid-January — are not uncommon.

Boca also provides Panga service to great beach and village activities and serves as the trailhead for hiking to Colomitos, Las Animas, and (for serious hikers) Quixmito. A previous blog covered hiking in detail. As a reminder, modest hiking trails are also found within Vallarta Botanical Gardens.

Our recently updated video on villalasirena.net shows a unique Boca Panga captain service that can drop guests at secluded beaches along the South Shore for private time. As a special treat, both Quixmito and Yelapa have wonderful waterfalls to visit.

Eating in Boca – Traditional & Authentic Mexican Food

An important reason to consider Boca de Tomatlán vs. Puerto Vallarta is experiencing traditional, authentic Mexican food, not tourist-tweaked versions.

Every Boca restaurant is family owned and operated. Their main customer base is locals, not tourists. Bottom line — if they don’t measure up, they don’t last long.

Previous blogs cover restaurants from Mismaloya to Boca to Los Veranos. Offerings range from the ubiquitous taco to everything imaginable, including home-based spots. Treat yourself to homemade tortillas and seafood harvested and prepared the same day. Freshness is paramount.

Many places are open-air, palapa-covered, on the beach or riverside. Alfresco dining is the norm, and you can eat extremely well on a modest budget compared to PV.

Los Veranos – Ziplining, Botanical Gardens & Casual Dining

Los Veranos is one of Boca de Tomatlán’s closest village neighbors, an easy 12 miles east on Hwy 200.

Viewed from the highway, it seems unassuming. Inside its boundaries are activities many Puerto Vallarta visitors travel far to experience:

Los Veranos Canopy & Adventure Park (Ziplining)

&

Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Los Veranos Canopy features 19 zip lines, is top-rated, and extremely well run. The Botanical Gardens are world-renowned for tropical flora and fauna.

These two locations are major PV tourist destinations, yet much easier to reach from Boca without tour-bus hassle. The onsite manager at Villa La Sirena can also help schedule visits to avoid crowded times.

Nearby casual dining includes La Clavelina, Casa de Robles, and Carmen’s Tacos, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner at reasonable prices. Great spots for Real Mexico dining.

More upscale, tourist-influenced dining (which has its place) includes Hacienda de Oro inside the Botanical Gardens, the Veranos Canopy restaurant, and Chico’s Paradise, famous for its riverside setting on the Rio Horcones.

Mismaloya – Jungle Adventures & Elevated Casual Dining

Just north of Boca, Mismaloya offers departure points for ATV and horseback rides into the tropical forest (often marketed as jungle).

These activities are best during the cooler months when water is still flowing from the rainy season. You travel through canyon terrain into areas used in filming Predator. Well suited for families.

Dining upgrades from basic taco spots include:

• El Jacalito (long-time favorite of Villa staff)

• Maria Cuquita (moderate upscale with great ocean views)

• Both are excellent alternatives to pricey PV resort dining.

El Tuito / Mayto – Bakery Traditions, Raicilla & Endless Sand

About 40 minutes east, you reach El Tuito and the junction for the remote road to Mayto and Tehua.

Before reaching El Tuito, stop at a traditional panaderia making fruit empanadas in wood-fired ovens — a centuries-old tradition. Somewhat comically, they also make Mexican-style pizza in those same ovens.

A few miles before El Tuito is a traditional Raicilla distillery, another reminder that small family operations still define Real Mexico. Be sure to read our previous Raicilla blog and enjoy this unique agave spirit when dining in Boca.

Meandering just a few more miles and another Mexican tradition is available.  El Pajarete.  A long-held tradition in dairy world.  A morning get-it-going drink was milk at its udderly freshness mixed with some cocoa powder, coffee, cinnamon, sugar and more importantly some cane moonshine.  As we pointed out in an earlier blog this tradition got some bad press when a unscrupulous purveyor used tainted liquor.  The unfortunate headlines “the Drink of Death” caused widespread negativity.

Within El Tuito is Galeria Coppelia, directed by Maria Santander, who provides a space for local artists where 100% of profits go to the artists. A refreshing alternative to commercial PV galleries.

Mayto Beach & Tehua – Miles of Sand & Oyster Paradise

For beach divas, Mayto Beach lies west of El Tuito on a road best traveled during daylight. About 45 minutes to a sparsely populated village.

Highlights:

• 7 miles of near-empty beach

• Known for Roosterfish fishing

• Hotel Mayto day passes (pool, restaurant, restrooms)

• Beach camping + day pass = casual “glamping”

A quick side trip over the hill brings you to Tehua, a small fishing village tucked into a cove, famous for oysters. Cande’s Restaurant serves them fresh just above the prep area. See our previous blog on this trip.

Private Tours with Villa La Sirena

If your travels include a stay at Villa La Sirena, check with Rafael, the onsite manager. If his schedule permits, he can host you on a private tour and help design experiences that match your interests.