YELAPA, MEXICO
FEBRUARY 25
YELAPA SITS ALMOST HIDDEN AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF MEXICO'S BANDERAS BAY. BACKED BY STEEP JUNGLE WITH NO ROADS IN OR OUT, IT IS CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF MEXICO BY LAND AND ONLY ACCESSED BY BOAT. THE NATURAL ISOLATION KEEPS YELAPA FEELING UNTOUCHED. THE COLOURFUL VILLAGE SPILLS DOWN THE HILLSIDE TOWARD A CURVED GOLDEN BEACH, WHERE BEACH BAR PALAPAS SERVE PINA COLADAS, AND THE LOCAL MEN WALK UP AND DOWN WITH GIANT IGUANAS. BEHIND THE BEACH A RIVER RUNS INTO THE JUNGLE, AN EPIC SPOT TO PADDLE BOARD AMONG BEAUTIFUL BIRDS. I STAYED AT TIJARETA HOUSE IN A BEAUTIFUL SPACIOUS APARTMENT UP IN THE SKY, MANAGED BY MIRAMAR AND BOOKED THROUGH AIRBNB, AND WOULD 100% STAY THERE AGAIN.
THE PEOPLE OF YELAPA ARE REAL CHARACTERS. SEE BELOW! TITO'S BAR OPENS AT 10AM AND HE MAKES SUPER STRONG MARGARITAS, BOATMEN ARE ALWAYS ON HAND TO GET YOU IN AND OUT, SOME LOCAL MEN ALWAYS WANDER AROUND WITH IGUANAS, AND SOME YOUNG LADS WHO GREW UP IN YELAPA ARE NOW BASED IN PUERTO VALLARTA AND BRING AMERICAN TOURISTS IN FOR AN HOUR EACH DAY.
