why go to Yelapa?

As you may have guessed, we love Yelapa.

Let us count the ways:

1. Yelapa is a small village with practically no cars, but it’s easy to get to. Without car traffic, there are no car noises, which makes it easier to enjoy bird noises, people noises, water noises, and even no noises. It’s so quiet you can hear the motor of the water taxi as it arrives from quite a ways up the river. Without cars, there is no need for big paved roads, so the “streets” in Yelapa are footpaths, the right size for people, dogs, and horses, not large vehicles. You do have to watch out for bicycles, pack animals, and a few ATVs (used for hauling ice and other sundries) on the main paths. For a place that’s just 40 minutes by boat from Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa feels very remote and protected from the hustle and bustle of city life.
2. You can have an active vacation or total relaxation, or a little of both.
   There’s plenty to do in Yelapa–paragliding, hang gliding, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, exploring on foot or by boat, birdwatching, and cultural activities–but it’s also a perfect spot to just read, get a massage, or sit and soak in the tropical breeze and sunshine.
3. It caters to tourists, but not too much. Yelapa is tourist-friendly: There are restaurants, places to stay, activities, and easy ways to get from point A to point B. Even if you speak only English, you can get by with no worries. But Yelapa is not a tourist trap: You won’t see store after store of postcards, t-shirts, and plastic junk, and once you venture past the beach area (where day visitors arrive and spend most of their time) you will mostly see local residents going about their business.
4. Yelapa is in Mexico. The more we explore Mexico, meet Mexican people, and learn about Mexican culture and history, the more we want to know. It’s a large, diverse, and fascinating country, with gorgeous landscapes and distinctive wildlife as well as congenial people, and we hope to spend more time there.

To be fair, here are a few reasons Yelapa might not be everyone’s favorite place:

1. It’s rustic. Some of the paths are plain dirt or are unevenly paved with stones, and are shared with pack animals and dogs. Certain places along the main path smell like a barnyard, because they’re filled with barnyard animals. With almost all open-air structures, you may see a dog wandering through a restaurant or a gecko on the wall. (Dogs in Yelapa do not rely on people for companionship the way U.S. dogs generally do, and, although friendly and low-key, they are unlikely to approach you if you don’t invite them to.) Your shoes and feet may well get dusty or sandy, and there’s a small chance you’ll have to step across or wade through some water if you want to take a shortcut from the main beach to the village (From October to June is usually the dry season, but we can only guess how low the water level at the mouth of the Rio Tuito will be.). Accommodations are simple, with few modern luxuries, and because anything imported into Yelapa has to come in by boat or on a very long and bumpy truck ride, the few stores in town sell only very basic grocery items and other necessities.
2. If you don’t do much walking, Yelapa’s car-free streets will take some getting used to. For those with major mobility issues, we can arrange a lift on an ATV or horse, and can provide suggestions on suitable places to stay for senior citizens, families with small children, or anyone else who has trouble getting around on foot. Although we can’t make the roads flat, we’ll do whatever else we can to make the wedding accessible for all of our guests.
3. Yelapa is a small village, with no museums or other major cultural institutions to visit. There’s a cemetery, if you don’t mind walking up an extremely steep path (We guess it’s about a 20% grade–steeper than most of our hills in San Francisco. Bring your walking stick and shoes with traction!), and not much else in the cultural sightseeing department. Those seeking to learn about local history and culture can take a “backroads cultural tour” with Brad, or get your dose of culture through food, music, and conversation with the locals.

Also see Brad Wollman’s “Why Yelapa?” page.

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