Welcome to Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico

Dos versiónes de Español

Welcome to Yelapa

Nestled in the southernmost cove of the worlds 7th largest bay, lies the peaceful village of Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico. Although there is a road which leads to the pueblo, it is most easily accessible by boat. Transportation to the village departs daily from various locations in the Puerto Vallarta area. Yelapa's tranquillity is ideal for those looking to stay, for that entirely laid-back vacation. The beach is covered in a blanket of golden sand, and is a superb place to swim, snorkel, or parasail. If you are not that energetic you can just relax in one of the numerous beach chairs, soak up the sun, and enjoy a cold .

Here for the day?

Once you arrive in Yelapa you disembark at the "playita" pier, or directly on the beach. This is just the start of your adventure. Have your picture taken with an iguana, or enjoy a meal at one of the many beachside restaurants. After lunch try a piece of pie, made fresh daily, and sold on the beach by one of the "". One taste, and you will see why Yelapa has become renowned for its pies. Like to drink? Then try some of the local moonshine called "". If you wish you can take a 20-30 minute walk, or horseback ride into the village. are located behind "Fanny's Restaurant" on the beach. You wind your way through the village, which has a new , schools, houses,and lots of friendly locals. As you near the waterfall you will pass by "Javier's Rosewood Artisans". Here are displayed, salad bowls, rolling pins, vases, chopsticks, and many other things made of locally grown rosewood. Eventually you will arrive at a breathtaking 150-foot waterfall, which has " Cascada y Bosque Restaurant" at its base. If you so desire you could have a snack , a soda , or a cold beer. A whistle from the Princesa Tour boat signals that it is time to wander back through the village towards the beach . Upon arrival on the beach , it is time to go back to Puerto Vallarta.

So you want more...

There are those who find that the day trip is not quite enough, and choose to stay overnight. Accommodations are abundant, and prices vary to suit any budget. There are 3 hotels, many houses, or rooms for rent, by the day, week, or month. Yelapa has limited electricity, and it is suggested that you bring a flashlight. If you forget, you can always buy one in the village. The village just opened a new , and has some restaurants which are open for dinner nightly. If your timing is right, don't miss one of the full moon bonfires, which are usually attended by quite a few of the locals. If you still find the need to explore, you can arrange a day trip to the (a bird sanctuary), a to one of the many secluded beaches, a trip, or a horseback tour (guided or non-guided) to spectacular waterfalls, and swimming holes up the river. On Sundays, watch the community soccer team compete against one of the local villages, or even participate in a softball game, or a croquet match.

What to bring

If you plan to stay for more than the day trip then there are some items that you should bring with you. These are only suggestions and your needs may vary depending on the individual, and your length of stay.

Basic Items

camera, film
binoculars

sunscreen
small flashlight

sunglasses
extra batts, bulbs

Clothing

T-shirts
shorts
light sweater
bath towel, face cloth

short sleeve shirts
underwear
long pants
beach towel or blanket

long sleeve shirts
socks
hat or cap
bathing suit

Footwear

hiking boots

sandals or thongs

tennis shoes

Personal Items

toothbrush, paste
shampoo
deodorant

dental floss
razor, blades
personal toiletries

bath soap
hair brush
nail clippers

First-aid Kit

Band-Aids
insect repellent
tweezers

hydrogen peroxide
Tylenol or aspirin
antiseptic

iodine
antacid
antibiotic cream

Recreational Items

note pad & pen

book

deck of cards

Getting here...

There are no cars in Yelapa, although there is a road which leads to the outskirts of the village. The road is used mostly for the delivery of building materials used by the community. The most widely used method of travel to and from the pueblo is by boat. Scheduled departures to Yelapa leave daily from different locations in the Puerto Vallarta area. The price of the service is dependent on the distance that you travel. The further the distance, the more the cost. It is best to be a little bit ahead of time to ensure that you do not miss the boat, as they do sometimes leave earlier than the scheduled departure time.

Yelapa Schools Donations...

Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa

Daily Departures from, click here

Return trips leave on a daily basis from various locations in the village area. Either from the playita (little beach) pier, which is right next to the Yacht Club, or on the beach. The water taxis cruise by all of the locations and pick up anybody that is waiting. If you are taking the Princesa you must go to the beach to board. For Water Taxi reservation go to the "Links" section, and look in the "Tansportation & Tours' sub-section.

Yelapa to Puerto Vallarta

Daily Departures from, click here

Area Maps

Yelapa has many restaurants that cater to the local people, as well as the tourists. A great seafood meal of giant shrimp, "camarones", served with garlic, butter and spices, or freshly caught red snapper or dorado, served with rice, a vegetable and the traditional tortillas, are prepared to perfection. "Sarandeado" (barbecued fish on a stick) is a local specialty. Most of the local establishments do not accept Visa / Mastercard, and it is better to bring cash, or traveler's cheques. The "Beach Restaurant / Bars" are open during the day while the tourists are in town, but some do stay open during the evening. The "Village Restaurant / Bars" are open for dinner. The atmosphere in all restaurants is casual.

Casa Estela

My first trip to Yelapa was with my brother in 1983. We arrived on the Sarape, and were greeted by a man named Valentin. We rented rooms from Valentin in the village, in a place called "El Caracol", which was right next door to the family house. Over the years he has become a good friend of mine, and a few years ago I decided to help him fix up a house (casa) of his in the village. When I first started to finish the casa, there was a cement floor, a cement post and beam structure, a bathroom, a palapa (palm leaf) roof, and palapa walls. I brought in bricks, and cement from El Tuito, by single axle dump truck, via the road. I removed the old wall structures, and had it walled in with red brick. I did not complete the arches, as these will be done next year. Each year when I take my vacation in Yelapa I contract the local trades people to build a little on the casa, always leaving it in a liveable state for when I return to Canada. Casa Estela has a beautiful view of the beach, and it is a very quiet location.

There are updates for other years 1997, to 2007. They are best viewed by the Frames version, or No frames version, because they have photos.

Communication

Many years ago Yelapa did not have any phones. Over the years they started appearing, at the Hotel Lagunita (business use only), one public phone behind Chico's Restaurant, and two public phones in the village at Alfonso, and Berita's "Telephone / Fax" service. At the public phones you would pay for the "minutes" of your call.....price depending, on whether it was a fax, a local, or a long distance call. Now Yelapa has many phones, and even "Internet Cafes" at "The Vortex Cafe", and "Mimi's Restaurant". There are now many pay phones all over the village. They accept "pre-paid calling cards" only, which are available at many of the local stores. It is still possible to fax in Yelapa. The fax numbers are noted below in blue. To send a fax , you first have to call the blue number. When they answer, tell them that you would like to "send a fax". They will then turn on the fax machine. You call back, and send your fax. You then have to wait until the recipient notices their name on a notice board, or are found, and the message passed on, that they have a fax. Then they have to write you reply. Be patient.....

Hotel Lagunita.....

011-52-322-209-5055

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

and..011-52-322-209-5056

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Hotel Blue Moon.....

011-52-322-209-5058, & 62

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Village Phones.....

011-52-322-209-5073

10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

011-52-322-209-5059

10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Casa Milagros.....

011-52-322-209-5178, & 79

4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Art & Music

There are a number of artists, and musicians living in Yelapa seasonally, or on a full-time basis. Some of the artists include, Anton Haardt , Angeline Kyba, John O. Thomson, Chris Moses, Bryden Bullington, , , Lorenzo Lewis, Chris Mensalves, Margo Solorio, Sophia Sutherland, Magui Stites, , Karen Coolie, and Filmmaker: Mick Diener. Their works can be found locally, in Puerto Vallarta, the U.S., and Canada. Other artists have visited Yelapa. They include, D.ita, Malou Flato ,Steven John Koeppe, J. Thomas Soltesz, Neil Ehrlich, Rachel Fann, Dale LaVoie, Eric Michaels, Nick Thorkelson, Lanni Sulje, Simon Webb, Katrina Wells, and Photographer: Michael Wigle

The musicians (pro or non-pro) visit, live seasonally, or on a full time basis. they include: Ron Doering, d'Rachael, Bobby Jones, Dawn Jones, , , "Montana Chris" , Chris Moses, Stevie Vallance, and Brad Wollman.

Note* Just " Click" on the highlighted names in this section to see some of the artists or musicians work.

Yelapa Friends of the Clean Earth

We are honored to welcome those who come from all over the world to share in the unique experience that is Yelapa. We all have a love of the local culture, and respect the commitment of the pueblo in seeking a waste management solution. Some of the rare qualities which enchant us, such as the isolation and freedom from electricity, cars and roads also make recycling our wastes doubly difficult. We must all help to develop creative in-pueblo solutions if we want to make a permanent contribution towards a clean and healthy environment!

Don't Hesitate....Separate!

Written by Ali

I must admit, I did hesitate. At first I hired a nice man to haul away my trash. I didn't want to see it, and I certainly didn't want to know where he took it. "Denial, denial, denial". As recycling for Yelapa became more of a reality, this solution didn't feel right. I felt guilty! Sooo, I meditated asking the questions: What do I do? How do I do it? The answers came... I decided to set up a separation center for myself, and the family next door. I provided 6 plastic trash cans with tight fitting lids:

1...

for metal cans etc.

2...

for white, and transparent plastic bottles

3...

for colored plastic bottles, such as Clorox

4...

for glass

5...

for old worn, clean plastic bags

6...

a smaller one for small batteries (flashlight)

I marked in permanent marker what goes in each receptacle. I also added a reminder to wash clean before depositing. It's important to have tight fitting tops for the rainy season. I line each container with a black plastic bag. When it is full, I pull it out, and tie it, and it is ready to take to the pick up place. It's easy and fun once you get started. Yelapa is worth it!

During your stay in Yelapa, don' be a part of the problem. Be a part of the solution! Please recycle all of your wastes and take them to the pick up areas. The result, is a clean Yelapa for everyone. ¡Muchas Gracias!

Links

*Note** After many hours of searching the web, and using its many search engines, I have compiled a list of available resources related to Yelapa. They have been provided below, and are intended for information use only.

General Interest

The Yelapa Movie.....

home.sprintmail.com

Yelapa / Vallarta Info.....

www.vallarta-info.com

Brad's Yelapa Site.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Yelapa History.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

A Word From Yelapa.....

a-word-from-yelapa.typepad.com

One World Youth Project.....

www.oneworldyouthproject.org

Bulletin Board (P.V. Scene).....

www.vallartascene.com

Bulletin Board (All Vallarta).....

p073.ezboard.com

Currency Exchange Rates.....

www.oanda.com

Yelapa Weather Watch.....

www.elexion.com

Weather Conditions.....

weather.cnn.com

Yelapa Schools Donations...

Accommodations

Hotel Blue Moon.....

Hotel Lagunita.....

www.hotel-lagunita.com

Mar y Sol Villas.....

www.yelapajal.com

Apartamentos La Barca.....

Apartamentos Iris.....

Arenas del Rio.....

Casa Amarilla.....

www.casaamarilla.info

Casa America.....

www.yelapabob.com

Casa Ana Rosa.....

Casa Aramara.....

casa-aramara.com

Casa Arriba.....

hometown.aol.com

Casa Aurora.....

Casa de los Arboles.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Casa Bahia Bonita.....

casabahiabonita.com

For Sale Casa Bella Donna.....

Casa Bella Orquidea.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Casa Cedro.....

www.casacedro.com

Casa Coco.....

www.cocoinyelapa.com

Casa Deskansas.....

Casa Emilio.....

Casa Estela.....

www.yelapa.info

Casa Eugenio.....

Casa Frida.....

www.casafrida.com

Casa Grace.....

www.casagrace.net

Casa Hortensia.....

Casas de Angel & Irma.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Casas de Isabel.....

Casa Las Peñas.....

www.elexion.com

Casa Kimi.....

www.choice1.com

Casa Mariposa.....

www.yelapahideaway.com

Casa Milagros.....

www.casamilagros.net

Casa Mosaico.....

www.CasasYelapa.com

Partnership for Sale Casa Paloma.....

www.casapaloma.info/

Casa de los Arcos.....

www.CasasYelapa.com

Casa de Pay.....

Casa Pedrana.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Casa El Paso.....

Casa de Periquitos.....

Casa Playita.....

Casa Rosa.....

www.geocities.com

Casa Santa Cruz.....

www.yelapafun.com

Casa Sonrisa.....

Casa del Sol.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

.Casa de los Sueños....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Casa Tejeria.....

Casa Tortuga.....

Casa Tranquila.....

Casa Tres Palmas.....

www.yelapabeachhouse.com

Casa Valeria.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Casa Vortex.....

For Sale Castillo de Arena.....

El Miramar.....

Las Brisas del Sol.....

www.CasasYelapa.com

La Joya de Yelapa.....

cabanasyelapa.com

Los Naranjos.....

Luna de Miel.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Passion-flower Gardens.....

passionflowergardens.com

Quinta Carolina.....

Verana.....

Vista del Mar.....

Vista del Rio 1.....

Vista del Rio 2.....

Vista Hermosa.....

Yelapa Oasis.....

Anton Haardt.....

Note - Just arriving on the beach, and inquiring, can usually get you a place to stay. (This is dependent on the time of year, and how busy it is.) I have started a list of those people that do not have web sites, and how to get a hold of them.

Other contacts

Valentin - greets newcomers on the beach daily. ()

Lucinda - five hillside casitas available...011-52-322-224-9197

Classes, Retreats, Seminars, & Services

Spanish for Nurses.....

www.nursesspanishmexico.com

Spanish with Pegge.....

www.palapainyelapa.com

Yelapa English Spanish Institute.....

www.talkadventures.com

Energy Treatment.....

www.palapainyelapa.com