Booking choice: The sunset dinner show cruise, from $119 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Most people first hear of Las Caletas as the place where Rhythms of the Night happens. It is a real cove with its own story: a sheltered beach under the jungle, south of Puerto Vallarta, that the film director John Huston made his home.
Today Vallarta Adventures runs it as a private venue, open to guests on its tours only.
The quick answer
Las Caletas is a private cove between Quimixto and Yelapa on the south shore of Banderas Bay, reached only by boat, about 45 to 60 minutes from Puerto Vallarta. John Huston lived there for close to 20 years. You can visit on the evening dinner show or on the Las Caletas beach day; both are run by Vallarta Adventures.
Where is Las Caletas?
On the south shore of Banderas Bay in the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, between the villages of Quimixto and Yelapa.
The coast here is steep jungle that drops straight into the sea, which is why there is no road. Boats leave from Puerto Vallarta's maritime terminal and from Nuevo Vallarta.
Who was John Huston, and why does Las Caletas matter?
The Hollywood director who filmed The Night of the Iguana near Puerto Vallarta in 1963, putting the town on the map; he later lived at Las Caletas for close to 20 years.
Huston's retreat is now the venue for Vallarta Adventures' day and evening programmes, and the operator still presents the cove as his former home.
How do you get to Las Caletas?
Only by boat, on a Vallarta Adventures tour: the evening dinner show or the daytime beach club.
The crossing takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Independent boats cannot land guests there, because the cove is a private venue.
See the cove at its most magical: by torchlight on the sunset dinner show.
Check dates for the sunset dinner show cruiseWhat is Las Caletas like at night?
Lit by torches and candles: you walk up from the beach to dinner tables among the trees, then to an open-air amphitheatre for the ALMA show.
The paths are sandy, uphill and uneven, so flat shoes matter. In summer the jungle holds the heat and humidity after dark; a hand fan and insect repellent help.
What is the Las Caletas beach day?
A seven-hour day trip with lunch, an open bar, snorkelling, kayaks and paddleboards, plus kids' and teens' adventure areas.
Cooking classes, margarita making and mezcal tastings are included; spa treatments, the sea lion and ray encounter and scuba diving cost extra. The same $20 access fee and peso port fee apply.
Want the beach in daylight? The day trip adds snorkelling, kayaks and a kids' club.
Explore the Las Caletas beach dayDay or night: which visit is better?
Night for couples and a show, day for families with younger children and anyone who wants the beach.
The dinner show has a minimum age of 6 and finishes late; the beach day includes a kids' park for ages 4 to 11. If you only do one, choose the night for the setting and the spectacle.
Can you swim at Las Caletas on the dinner show?
No, the evening is about dinner and the show; swimming, snorkelling and kayaking are part of the day trip.
Pack for an evening out, not the beach: a light layer for the boat, flat shoes and insect repellent.
Is Las Caletas accessible for limited mobility?
Not really: the operator says the island has sandy, uphill and irregular paths and is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
If walking is hard, a sunset cruise that stays on the boat is a better choice. See Puerto Vallarta sunset cruises compared.
Ready for the cove by torchlight? Check your date for the dinner show cruise.
Check dates for the sunset dinner show cruiseFrequently asked questions
Is Las Caletas an island?
No. It is a cove on the mainland coast, but with no road it can only be reached by sea, which is why it is often called an island.
Can I visit Las Caletas on my own?
No. It is a private venue, open to guests on Vallarta Adventures' day and evening tours.
How long is the boat ride to Las Caletas?
About 45 to 60 minutes from Puerto Vallarta.
Ready to book
Choose your evening
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Sunset Cruise, Candlelit Dinner & ALMA Show
- Sunset cruise from the Puerto Vallarta maritime terminal and back
- Candlelit buffet dinner with live music (the Michelin-chef menu is Premier only)
- Unlimited open bar on the boat and at dinner
Las Caletas Beach Day with Lunch & Open Bar
Snorkel, kayak and a kids' club at the show's cove
Sunset Sailing with Wine & Cheese
- Sunset sail on Banderas Bay on a sailboat (max 30 guests)
- Fine wines and imported cheese
- Open bar on board
