The neighborhood
Why Mismaloya?
Mismaloya is a small, picturesque bay on Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore where the dense tropical jungle of the Sierra Madre mountains tumbles directly into the warm waters of the Pacific. Its name comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “the place where you can fish with your hands” — a testament to the area’s crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life. Mismaloya gained international fame in 1964 when John Huston filmed “The Night of the Iguana” here, starring Richard Burton and Ava Gardner, putting Puerto Vallarta on the world map as a glamorous tropical destination.
Located approximately 10–12 minutes south of downtown along the scenic coastal highway, Mismaloya offers a dramatically different experience from the city’s bustling hotel zone. The bay is flanked by jungle-covered hillsides, and the iconic Los Arcos National Marine Park sits just offshore, offering world-class snorkeling and diving. Mismaloya Beach is a wide, sandy crescent, while the surrounding hillsides are home to spectacular private villas — many featuring infinity pools that seem to float above the jungle canopy. Just 10 minutes further south lies Boca de Tomatlán, the launching point for water taxis to Las Ánimas, Quimixto, and Yelapa.
All of Puerto Vallarta
