Colomitos Hike: Your Detailed 6-Hour Adventure Review

So, you’re thinking about hitting the Colomitos trail? That’s awesome! This pretty fantastic trek in Puerto Vallarta offers, like your ultimate mix of eye-catching coastal scenery and just a bit of workout. We spent nearly six hours, like exploring every nook and cranny, and this review will basically give you, you know, all the essential details so your adventure’s really cool. Basically, get ready to experience the beauty of Mexico’s coastline with, you know, a bit of effort, of course!

What to Expect on the Trail

Colomitos trail, in some respects, it starts near Boca de Tomatlan, a fairly small fishing village near Puerto Vallarta. You can get there, you know, via taxi or bus from the Romantic Zone, so you have to catch the bus in the Puerto Vallarta Old Town area. Once there, just look for a path at the edge of the beach – that’s like your entry point to pure bliss. You’ll almost follow the shoreline for a while. It is pretty manageable in a way but you’ll want sturdy shoes due to, like, some rocky patches. Honestly, along the way, just expect, you know, gorgeous views, sounds of crashing waves, and a couple of secluded beaches. So, really make sure, it’s almost paradise, honestly.

The overall path goes up and down in some sections with stairs carved in and with lots of nature. It runs to about two and a half miles each way and should take 5 hours round trip at the pace the people of average condition keep. The first stretch involves the highest altitude you’re likely going to get to with a staircase right at the start. From that section until the destination it’s usually flat.

Trail Difficulty and What to Bring

Alright, now let’s talk about how hard it is and the very essential stuff to bring. We’d basically rate this hike as, you know, moderate. There is that one very brief steep incline to tackle at the beginning which then levels out for the duration of the trek so your biggest threat, you know, will be just the humidity combined with all that sweat and sun exposure. What do you need to pack? Here’s our list to guide you.

Loads of Water: Yeah, really important! You’ll get sweaty!
Snacks: Just so you’re going to want to keep that blood sugar level in check!
Sunscreen and a Hat: Protect your skin from sun exposure!
Comfortable Hiking Shoes: Like, your feet will thank you, right?
Swimsuit and Towel: It’s likely you are going to want to swim, maybe.
Camera: As a matter of fact, you won’t regret bringing something to capture those incredible sights.
Insect Repellent: It can come in handy for those sneaky mosquitoes at dawn or dusk.

Finding the Trailhead and the Boat

As I was saying, reaching the trailhead, in other words, is actually straightforward, but knowing a bit about the location to watch is like your secret sauce. Starting from Boca de Tomatlan, stick to the coastline and you’ll basically notice the marked path. However, just an important tidbit: Sometimes, the water level could be just a bit too high. At the start, basically consider a very brief water taxi trip to get you on the other side quickly to basically save your sneakers from just a bit of soaking if the level is unusually high, maybe from storms farther away in the Pacific. By the way, some may say that a guy will be there soliciting for business in such conditions to ensure an easy trip to the other side.

Beaches Along the Route

Alright, here’s the best part, that is to say, all those lovely, isolated beaches. This trek passes near some of the loveliest hidden strips of sand you’ll get to experience in the Puerto Vallarta area. Besides Colomitos Beach near the very end of the trail, watch for smaller beaches en route; like, they’re wonderful for just a quick dip or photo stop. A couple, that said, will require scaling around and/or down some rocks for access but that honestly adds a bit more fun to, you know, that already fun adventure! Remember to treat those spots kindly and leave, of course, no footprint, okay?

Arriving at Colomitos Beach

Okay, so Colomitos Beach… It’s, like, teeny but packs that significant punch regarding beauty and chill vibes. This little cove can become just a bit crowded because it is usually sought by local families, day trippers and tour groups, but early risers will probably catch that sweet, tranquil period before everyone is just basically jostling for prime lounging positions. You will probably find that the waves can just lap at the tables so this beach can easily be overflowed from storms! After having lots of fun hiking, remember there are restaurants waiting so your hunger doesn’t need to get too severe. It almost goes without saying, that there is usually seafood with Mexican drinks waiting.

During busier periods of time such as Spring Break and holidays, one of the restaurants brings in a DJ that plays techno until 7 pm, so remember that. This isn’t the only party location on Colomitos – since boats can bring large coolers, party goers will just sit right in the sand.

The Hike Back

After all that lounging on a beach you’re really ready to hit the trail again for your return trip. Now, do you have to go back from the same direction you came? The short answer is: Nope. What you should do before sunset or running out of drinking water depends if you plan to pay extra for convenience!

One alternative to get to Boca de Tomatlan from Colomitos involves riding a water taxi at your convenience. You’re able to negotiate, to some extent, with each driver on price for transport of people – make it convenient for you as needed.

Another alternate solution goes over the mountains over to the highway. At this intersection a local bus arrives to transport back into Puerto Vallarta. Now, be sure to consult on price with a travel agency as you’re prone to potentially get lost on those mountains without any direction. You might think of consulting a tour guide for maximum convenience as safety should always be considered.

But do not be too fearful. On return travel with some friends, be sure to plan ahead, stick to what is safest to do and keep hydrated as needed!