Hi, I'm heading down to Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 15th for a week! Yahooo! It's my first trip down there. I am looking for a day away from the crowds with beaches, relaxing, snorkeling, etc. I've read about Yelapa, and excursions to Las Caletas. Can anyone tell me why I'd want to do one over the other? Muchas gracias, Peter

Hola, Peter. I'm heading to Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 10th for 2-1/2 weeks, and it's about my 12th time. LOVE IT!!!<BR><BR>I have taken the day trip to Las Caletas and truly enjoyed it. It's a beautiful beach, you can snorkel, scuba, go kayaking (I believe they kayak over to Mahahuitas), take nature hikes, get a massage, lie on the beach or in a hammock. There is a building where an excellent lunch is served as well. <BR><BR>Las Caletas would be my personal choice, because the only way I know of to get to Yelapa (other than passing by on a boat tour) is to take a water taxi (which leaves from the pier on Los Muertos Beach). I haven't been in one yet, but when the waves are choppy, they don't look like something I personally would want to be riding in.<BR><BR>Because Yelapa is this sleepy little community with it's own waterfall you can climb up to, no electricitiy, etc., some people do like it there and even take the water taxi over, spend the night, and return the next day.<BR><BR>Just out of curiosity, where are you staying in PV? <BR><BR>Please feel to write me further with any questions you might have that I could help with.<BR><BR>Marsha

Yelapa has had electricity for nearly a year now. For more info see<BR>http://vallarta-info.com/yelapa.html

If I understand correctly Las Caletas is an organized package tour deal $$. <BR><BR>Anyone can go to Yelapa on their own, and yes by water taxi from Playa Los Muertos pier (or leaving further south from Boca de Tomalatan), for 1 day or for your entire vacation!! As JR pointed out Yelapa has had electricity for awhile now but it is still a small rustic town. Friends just got back from their first time there and loved it, wished they'd spent more time there and less in town in PV (just their opinion).<BR><BR>To answer your question which one~~ I vote Yelapa if you are more adventurous or the other is you're the AI resort type.

Thanks for the info! I think we'll do Las Caletas, as this will be my girlfriend's first hot-beach vacation (poor baby, I LOVE tropical holidays). This will be my first time in PV (used to live on the east coast and do caribbean instead), and we are staying at the Villa Del Palmar. Best, Peter