What to do in Yelapa?

You could sit and relax, or...

  • Swim in the bay. The snorkeling in Yelapa cove is not impressive, but there are boat trips to nearby spots with much more interesting marine life. For snorkeling or SCUBA outings, ask around in town (try Rogelio at Mimi's Cafe in the village) or contact us and we'll investigate for you.

  • There are two waterfalls, each with a small swimming hole below it--see the "upper cascadas" and "la cascada" on Jeff's Yelapa map. If you decide to trek up to the upper waterfall (the one that's upriver, about a 90-minute hike each way), note the directions on Jeff's map. If you're lucky, you might hear or see military macaws flying overhead on your way. The other waterfall is much closer, about 20 minutes uphill from the village--follow the sign in the central village and you can't miss it. If you are discussing directions to "the waterfall", make sure it's clear which one you're talking about!

  • If you've always wanted to fly, try paragliding from the hills above Yelapa. You can take a tandem flight with an experienced paraglider, so even if this is your first time you can fly like a pro. The photo on our "overview of Yelapa locations" page was taken by a paraglider, and there are some more cool aerial photos taken by paragliders on Brad's website. Contact Adventure Paragliding for information on tandem flights in Yelapa, or look for signs in the village or by the Hotel Lagunita on the beach.

  • For shorter and perhaps more accessible flight experience, check out parasailing--you stand on the beach while trussed into a parachute attached to a boat. When the boat starts moving, you are lifted into the air and fly slowly around the entire cove before making a gentle landing back where you started on the beach. The parasailing guys are on the beach next to the hotel during the afternoon--can't miss 'em. paragliding from Yelapa Tapa

  • Rent a kayak in the village and paddle your way around the cove, or venture out into the bay. Experienced kayakers may want to try getting down to Pizota, a tiny beach town south of Yelapa.

  • Sailboats and other boats may also be available for rent, and fishing trips are also available from some of the locals. If this interests you, look at the links page on yelapa.info under "transportation and tours", and/or let us know and we'll put you in touch with contacts who can assist you with finding what you're looking for. NEW! Fishing trips and boat tours are now available through yelapaadventures.com , and through Luis who has a PDF posted on the Garcia Rentals website.

  • Attend a yoga class. Judith Roth's new and improved yoga studio just opened and looks beautiful. NOTE: If there's enough interest, we may arrange for a yoga class for guests. If that sounds good to you, let us know.

  • Take a birdwatching tour. NOTE: If there's enough interest, we may arrange for a group birdwatching walk for guests. If that sounds good to you, let us know.

  • Take a boat tour out to the Marietas. There's snorkeling there, a beach to hang out on if you like, blue-footed boobies nesting on the islands, and possibly whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and/or manta rays to encounter on the way there and back. (See the wildlife page for more about the creatures living at these islands.) Talk to Rogelio at Mimi's Cafe in the village if you want to go to the Marietas. NOTE: If there's enough interest, we may arrange for a group trip to the Marietas for guests. If that sounds good to you, let us know.

  • If you want to treat yourself or someone else to a massage, the Hotel Lagunita has massage therapists under contract; just visit the office to ask how to make an appointment (or if you're a guest of the hotel, sign the sign-up sheet outside the massage/spa building). There are several independent massage therapists in town. If you'd like us to ask around for some names, let us know.

  • If you plan to stay longer in Yelapa, check out some of the other regular happenings in town, and watch for signs posted on utility poles in the village for special events. Here are the regular events we're aware of (subject to change, of course):

    • Monday night is movie night at Passionflower Gardens (and movies are shown at Cenaduria Ramona every night).
    • Tuesday night, sarandeado (a local specialty--the catch of the day marinated and slow-barbecued) is served at the Eclipse, and one of the servers often entertains the guests with her fire-dancing talents.
    • Wednesday night and Saturday night, the Yacht Club (which is a restaurant, not a yacht club!) is open for a somewhat fancy dinner from 6 to 10, then dancing to hip-hop, reggae, and other contemporary dance music. If you hear people talking about "the disco", this is what they mean.
    • Thursday night is Italian night at Passionflower gardens, with live music.
    • Look for signs in the village to see if there's a movie showing at the Oasis or perhaps live music or a fire dancing performance at one of the local restaurants.

  • If you end up staying a few extra days and want to try SCUBA, canopy tours, dolphin- or whale-watching excursions, or other tours of the Bahía de Banderas area, Vallarta Adventures is one of the companies offering a variety of outdoor tours and activities.