The place
Las Caletas, the cove by boat
Where Las Caletas is, why only a boat reaches it, who once lived there and who runs it today, drawn from Wikipedia and the operator's own page.
Book the sunset sail and show on Viator ↗Quick answer
Las Caletas is a beach on the southern shore of Banderas Bay, near Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, between the villages of Yelapa and Quimixto. The booking page says you can reach it only by boat. The film director John Huston once had a home there, and Wikipedia says the operator of Rhythms of the Night now leases and runs the site.
Where Las Caletas is
Wikipedia calls Las Caletas a beach near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. The operator places it on the southern coast of Jalisco, between Yelapa and Quimixto. Wikipedia lists Las Caletas among the settlements near Boca de Tomatlán, a fishing village on the southern edge of the bay about 11 kilometres from downtown Puerto Vallarta, and puts Yelapa in the southernmost cove of the bay.
Why only a boat reaches it
The booking page describes Las Caletas as a secluded cove reachable only by boat, and the operator's page says it is accessible only by sea. Its neighbours work the same way. Wikipedia says Yelapa has no road big enough for normal vehicles, so the only way in is by water from Puerto Vallarta or Boca de Tomatlán, and it says Quimixto is likewise reachable only by water taxi. That is why the sail is not an add-on to this evening: it is the route.
John Huston's retreat
Wikipedia says the Hollywood director John Huston once had his home at Las Caletas. Its account of his life says he decided to build a home on remote Las Caletas beach, and a house in town, after filming The Night of the Iguana at Mismaloya, a cove about thirty minutes south of Puerto Vallarta. The production drew intense worldwide media attention. The operator calls the place his former seaside retreat. A statue of Huston stands in the town, on Isla Cuale.
Who runs it today
Wikipedia says Las Caletas is now leased and operated by Vallarta Adventures, a tour provider, which is the operator behind Rhythms of the Night. That matters for what you see: the candle-lit paths, the dining area and the amphitheatre belong to a managed site rather than a public beach with a show added. The operator's page describes hundreds of candles and guided pathways leading into the jungle after dark.
Jungle, beach and waterfalls
The booking page lists jungle, beach and waterfalls as part of the setting. Wikipedia gives the nearby coast a tropical wet and dry climate with a marked dry season in winter, and describes Yelapa's weather as mild compared with other places on the Mexican Pacific coast. Conditions in the cove therefore change with the season, and the booking page promises no particular waterfall or view on your night.
Seeing the coast another way
Las Caletas is not the only way to see this shore. Wikipedia says water taxis and ferries serve Yelapa and Quimixto from Puerto Vallarta and Boca de Tomatlán, and that Los Arcos National Marine Park, offshore of Mismaloya, has been protected since 1984 and is popular for snorkelling. Those are separate trips with their own details. The Rhythms of the Night booking is an evening visit to Las Caletas with dinner and a show, not a daytime beach stop.
Who this isn't for
Anyone hoping to explore Las Caletas by day, wander its paths at their own pace or swim from its beach will not get that here. It is a guided night visit with a fixed purpose, and the booking page warns that the paths are uphill and sandy and that boarding is not accessible. Travellers who want a daytime boat trip along the coast should look at a separate listing for that.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Las Caletas?
On the southern shore of Banderas Bay in Jalisco, between Yelapa and Quimixto, near Boca de Tomatlán. Wikipedia describes it as a beach near Puerto Vallarta.
Can you drive to Las Caletas?
No. The booking page says it can be reached only by boat, and the operator says it is accessible only by sea.
Who lived at Las Caletas?
The film director John Huston had a home there, according to Wikipedia. The operator calls it his former seaside retreat.
Who runs Las Caletas now?
Wikipedia says it is leased and operated by Vallarta Adventures, a tour provider. That company runs Rhythms of the Night.
Can I visit by day?
This booking is an evening trip. For daytime coastal trips, look at separate listings; Wikipedia notes water taxis serve nearby Yelapa and Quimixto.
Sources