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Major city · Mexico

Tomatlán

Go only if you have a car and want empty beaches: 1–2 nights in town. No car, no beaches; day-tripping from La Manzanilla is a long haul (check).

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season)
avoid Jun–Oct (rain, heat, hurricane season)
Airports
PVR · ZLO
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Tomatlán is a small agricultural town of about 9,800 people (2020) in Jalisco, roughly 15 km inland from the Pacific and part of the Costalegre stretch. It is a Pueblo Mágico, but its draw is not the plaza: it is the municipality's undeveloped beaches and the Cajón de Peña reservoir. Sights are spread out on rough dirt roads, so a rental car decides whether the trip works. Most travellers give it one or two nights, or visit as a day trip from La Manzanilla or Barra de Navidad.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Tomatlán, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee2026 estimateM$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beer2026 estimateM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi in town2026 estimateM$60–120 (≈ US$4–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimateM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personMX$250 (≈ US$14)
  • Mid-range bedModerate hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,200 (≈ US$65)
  • High-end bedModerate hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$2,200 (≈ US$120)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$600 (≈ US$35) · Mid MX$1,200 (≈ US$65) · High MX$2,200 (≈ US$120)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Pueblo Mágico statusEmpty Costalegre beachesCajón de Peña reservoirParroquia Santiago Apostol
Airports
PVR Puerto Vallarta (About 107 km by road on MEX 200; the usual arrival airport.) · ZLO Manzanillo Playa de Oro (About 179 km by road; useful if coming from the south.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Tomatlán: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C

17°C

1 rd

Feb

29°C

17°C

1 rd

Mar

30°C

17°C

0 rd

Apr

31°C

18°C

0 rd

May

32°C

20°C

1 rd

Jun

32°C

23°C

8 rd

Jul

32°C

23°C

13 rd

Aug

32°C

23°C

14 rd

Sep

31°C

23°C

13 rd

Oct

31°C

22°C

5 rd

Nov

31°C

20°C

1 rd

Dec

30°C

18°C

1 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Downtown is small enough to walk: bus station to zócalo is a few minutes on foot. Everything else — the beaches and the lake — needs a car or a taxi arranged in town. Beach roads are often rough dirt; agree a pickup time with your driver, because no taxis wait at the beaches.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Playa Chalacatepec

go

Door to door: Check locally

Drive or taxi from Tomatlán on dirt roads; no scheduled transport

Sea turtle nesting beach with a conservation station; no facilities, bring water.

Playa Peñitas

go

Door to door: Check locally

Drive or taxi; rough dirt road

Long sand and rock formations with petroglyphs; camping allowed, no services.

Cajón de Peña reservoir

caution

Door to door: Check locally

Drive or taxi from town

Jalisco's largest lake, dammed in 1976; cabins for rent, fishing and watersports. Check access and boat hire locally.

La Manzanilla

caution

Door to door: Check locally

Drive north on MEX 200

Beach village with restaurants and lodging; a better base for a beach-first trip. Confirm the drive time before committing to a day trip.

Barra de Navidad

caution

Door to door: Check locally

Drive south on MEX 200

Lagoon, beach and seafood; pairs well with Tomatlán in one loop. Confirm the drive time before committing to a day trip.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Centro (around the zócalo)

Walkable to the church, market and bus station; Hotel Mision San Miguel is here.

Galeana / Colonia las Delicias

A short walk from Centro; Hotel Hacienda Vieja and several seafood places.

Carretera Tomatlán km 1.5

Highway-side hotels with parking; best if you have a car and leave early for the beaches.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$600–1,000 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
Mid
M$1,000–1,800 (≈ US$55–100) excl. bed
High
M$1,800 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Moderate hotel double room1 × 2 nights × MX$1,200MX$2,400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MX$1,200MX$4,800
Rental car, one day (pick up at PVR or ZLO)1 × MX$900MX$900
Bus Puerto Vallarta → Tomatlán, one way2 × MX$200MX$400
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$900
Trip total≈ MX$2,475 per person per day, bed includedMX$9,900≈ US$550

2026 estimate in pesos; long-distance buses and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee2026 estimateM$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
Seafood plate (zarandeado, coconut shrimp)2026 estimateM$200–300 (≈ US$11–17)
Birria and hand-made tortillas2026 estimateM$120–200 (≈ US$7–11)
Beer2026 estimateM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
Bus Puerto Vallarta → Tomatlán2026 estimateAbout M$200 (≈ US$11)
Taxi in town2026 estimateM$60–120 (≈ US$4–7)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimateM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Tomatlán is a working agricultural town and generally calm, but the beaches are remote with no lifeguards, no phone signal in places and rough surf on some stretches. Carry water, don't swim alone, and drive the dirt roads in daylight.
  • Beaches have no restaurants, rest rooms or shops: carry food and water.
  • Arrange your return taxi before you are dropped off; walking back to town is long.
  • Some beaches have rough surf and rip currents: swim only where locals do.
  • Rural roads can be unlit and rough after dark; drive in daylight.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Tourist assistance (SECTUR)
078
Green Angels roadside help
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

TomatlánTomatlán

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Tomatlán; the US consulate is in Puerto Vallarta and most embassies are in Mexico City (check addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Puerto Vallarta → Tomatlán: about M$200 (≈ US$11), 2 h 30 min
  • Taxi in town: M$60–120 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Rental car, one day: from about M$900 (≈ US$50) plus fuel

Say or show

  • Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEHN-tah por fah-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach? (DON-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)

Cash is king outside Centro; carry pesos for taxis, beach days and small restaurants.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tomatlán. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid Jun–Oct (rain, heat, hurricane season) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PVR and ZLO: last bus times, taxi fallback, first-night rung.
  2. Beach access pages with road condition, parking and pickup arrangements.
  3. Eat pages with last orders for the Centro seafood places.
  4. Rainy-season and rough-road fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources