Mexican Wave

Spread Your Towel: Majahuitas Cove, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Shore lines: The day-trippers from Puerto Vallarta know this palm tree–backed beach, accessible only by boat, in a little cove at the southern end of Banderas Bay. But the real secret is that the day-trippers are there for only a few hours. Stay at the eight-room hotel tucked up under the palms, and most of the day the beach has only your name on it. The boat ride from Puerto Vallarta is about 20 minutes; go barefoot, as it ends with getting your feet wet. Although not a high-energy kind of place, the cove is perfect for snorkeling, kayaking, and trying not to feel superior to the people who have to take the return boat.

Best Bunk: A little eight-room hotel with the same name as the beach, Majahuitas manages to have an upscale feel while being so simple that the rooms are without electricity. Each is an open-air casita, either up high, overlooking the cove, or almost right down at the tide line. And yes, you have to be OK with sharing space with the occasional bug.

Majahuitas
Tel: 1 877 278 8018
Doubles from $375