Playa Las Gemelas
Best for. Travellers who want a small, clear water cove for a quiet morning swim and easy snorkelling, a short ride south of Puerto Vallarta and away from the busy town beaches.
Best spot. The accessible north cove early in the day, a slow swim in the clear water and a snorkel along the rocks that divide the twins, before the small beach fills.
Know this. These are small beaches with clear but sometimes lively Pacific water, limited access hours and no facilities, so bring your own snorkel gear, water and shade, and check the posted opening time.
Puerto Vallarta's town beaches are wide, warm and often crowded, but drive a few kilometres south along the coast road and the shoreline breaks into a string of small coves with clearer water. Las Gemelas, the twins, are two of the prettiest, a pair of little beaches sitting side by side just past Conchas Chinas, about 9 kilometres south of the main square. They are small and unserviced, with nothing to buy and nowhere to sit but the sand, and that is exactly why the water stays clear and the mood stays calm.
This is a beach for a slow, simple morning. The clear blue green water is some of the best near Puerto Vallarta for a swim, and the rock wall dividing the twins is the local snorkelling spot, alive with fish when the sea is calm. Bring your own mask and fins, since nothing is hired here, and come early while the water is glassy and the small beach is quiet. The north cove is the easy one to reach by a stairway down from the road, while the south cove hides behind the rocks and takes a scramble or a short swim, which keeps it quieter still. It is a pocket of clear water calm, minutes from the city yet a world away from its busy sand.
The honest notes are practical. These are small beaches, so they feel full quickly, and the posted access hours mean this is a daytime spot rather than a sunset one, so check the opening time before you set out. There are no facilities at all, so carry water, shade and everything you need, and remember this is open Pacific water with rocks at the edges, calm on a good day but capable of picking up, with no lifeguard on hand. Take it for what it is, an early, clear water swim and snorkel away from the crowds, and Las Gemelas is one of the loveliest quiet mornings near Puerto Vallarta.
A quiet cove, not a club
Las Gemelas has clear water and rocks to snorkel, not daybeds or bars. The serviced beach scene sits back in town and at the resorts.
There is no beach club here, no loungers and no service, and that is the whole appeal of Las Gemelas. It is a small, natural cove for a swim and a snorkel, and everything you need you carry in. Puerto Vallarta's serviced beach days live elsewhere, along the town beaches and at the resort and beach clubs to the south around Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya, where loungers, food and drink come to the sand. Many visitors pair a clear water Gemelas morning with a serviced club afternoon nearby. Our Puerto Vallarta beach clubs guide points you to the beach days worth booking when you want that side of the trip.
South past Conchas Chinas
Las Gemelas lies about 9 kilometres, or 5.5 miles, south of Puerto Vallarta's main square, along the coast road past the Conchas Chinas neighbourhood. The white and orange southbound buses toward Boca de Tomatlan pass this way and are the cheap local option, or a taxi is quick and simple. Look for the stairway down to the north cove from the road, as it is easy to miss.
Come in the morning for the clearest, calmest water and to beat the small beach filling up, and check the posted access hours since it is a daytime beach. Bring your own snorkel gear, water and shade because there is nothing to hire, keep children close near the rocks and watch the swell, as there is no lifeguard. The dry season from November to May is the most reliable window for clear water.
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Las Gemelas is a small natural cove with no club on the sand, but tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a serviced beach day nearer Puerto Vallarta. We reply by email.
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Common questions about Playa Las Gemelas
Where is Playa Las Gemelas and how do you get there?
Las Gemelas is about 9 kilometres, or 5.5 miles, south of Puerto Vallarta's main square, along the coast road past Conchas Chinas. The white and orange southbound buses toward Boca de Tomatlan pass it cheaply, or a taxi is quick. Look for the stairway down to the north cove from the road, since the small beach is easy to miss.
Is Las Gemelas good for snorkelling?
Yes, it is one of the better snorkelling spots close to Puerto Vallarta. The water is clear on calm days and the rock wall dividing the two coves gathers fish, so bring your own mask and fins as nothing is hired on the sand. Snorkel when the sea is gentle, stay clear of the rocks in any swell, and remember there is no lifeguard.
Are there facilities at Las Gemelas Beach?
No, there are no services at all, no loungers, vendors or toilets, which is part of why the cove stays clear and quiet. Bring your own water, shade, snorkel gear and food. If you want a serviced beach day with loungers and food brought to you, the beach clubs are back in town and at the resorts nearby.
Can you visit Las Gemelas any time of day?
The north cove has posted access hours, commonly around 9 in the morning to 8 in the evening, so it is a daytime beach rather than a sunset spot, and it is best to check the current opening time before you set out. Mornings are the finest time anyway, with the clearest, calmest water and the quietest sand before the small beach fills.
When is the best time to visit Las Gemelas?
The dry season from November to May brings the clearest, calmest water and the most reliable sun, while the summer rains can stir the sea and cut visibility. On any day, early morning is best, when the water is glassy for swimming and snorkelling and the two small coves are at their quietest.