When someone tells me to imagine paradise, I picture rolling green, jungle-covered mountains that spill into an aquamarine ocean. I’d for sure be sipping right from a coconut, relaxing in a hammock or chaise lounge, with a cool breeze carrying the salty air, and not one damn thing to think about.
That’s pretty much Corrales Bay Resort.
Just a 1.5-hour boat ride south of Puerto Vallarta, this secluded 14-room resort sits surrounded by lush green mountains and more shades of blue than I knew existed. And barely another human in sight.
This place is fantastic if your idea of luxury is being left alone somewhere beautiful. You’re coming to swim, snorkel, eat, read and disappear for a couple of days.
And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of luxury I want.
Just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. This review will help you decide if Corrales Bay Resort is for you. Spoiler alert: it’s certainly for me.
Disclosure: Corrales Bay Resort hosted my stay, but they didn’t tell me what to write. The opinions, recommendations, and excessive enthusiasm about the view are all mine. Always.
Corrales Bay Resort at a Glance
| Location | Corrales Bay, Jalisco, south of Puerto Vallarta |
| Size | 14 rooms |
| Getting there | Boat, car/shuttle, or private plane |
| From Puerto Vallarta | About 1.5 hours by boat or 3 hours by road |
| Vibe | Secluded, laid-back, and unfussy |
| Best for | Couples, relaxing getaways, water lovers |
| Beach | No sandy beach directly in front of the resort; one nearby |
| Pool | Oceanfront |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, and good enough to work |
| TVs | None in the rooms |
| Activities | Snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, 4-wheelers |
| Food & drinks | One On-site restaurant; limited menu |
| Adults-only | Unless it’s December or April, when they are family-friendly |
| How to check rates & book: | The official site is: Corrales Bay Resort |
Where is Corrales Bay Resort & How Do You Get There (with map)?
You can get to Corrales Bay Resort in three ways. By boat, car, or private plane.
We took a boat. Not only is it half the time of the drive, but who doesn’t like to arrive somewhere in style? Like James Bond style on your own private boat? The price is $145 per person round trip.
We got picked up at Marina Los Peines, near the main Vallarta Marina. After our bags went through a very quick security look-over, we hopped on board for a 1-hour-30-minute ride south along the stunning coastline of Jalisco. Rolling, vibrant green hills, one after another, feature tiny beaches and small towns scattered along the way. The further we got from Puerto Vallarta, the fewer boats we saw. And by the time we got to Corrales, there were just a handful of boats in the bay.
We went during rainy season, when the coastline is ridiculously green. If you’re planning your trip, my guide to the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta breaks down what each season is actually like.
You can take your own car or hire their shuttle for the same $145 per person, round trip. But by car, it takes around 3 hours. You can’t drive to the resort, just to Corrales Beach across the bay, so they’ll have to meet you with a boat for a super quick 5-minute ride to their pier.
But once you are there, you won’t need a car unless you decide to go to Mayto or Tehuamixtle for an afternoon.
If you’re really feeling like a splurge is in order, you can take a 15-minute private plane ride from the Puerto Vallarta Airport to the Mayto mini airport, and they’ll drive you the rest of the way, about 40 minutes.
To arrive in that kind of style, it’s $700 for up to 3 people.
Rooms at Corrales Bay Resort
The generously sized rooms have a soft color palette. It’s boho-rustic-chic (I just made that up), but you get it, right? Pale sand colored walls, with all-natural materials like parota wood and sinks made of dark stone that looks like petrified wood.
But as pretty as the rooms are, it’s the view that really shines. All 14 rooms have ocean-facing balconies with hammocks, chaise lounges or rattan chairs to sit and read on.
The beds were cozy, and we had a little workstation with a chair and a desk. But it’s almost a shame to go there and work. Yes, they have good WIFI so you could work if you had to. But you went all this way for a respite, so soak it all in while you can.
However, they’re missing a few minor practical details that could make them considerably more comfortable. Things like bedside lamps and towel bars or hooks in the bathrooms. It’s a small thing, but it’s really nice not to have to get out of bed to turn off the light.
The rooms don’t have TVs, which I’m a fan of in this kind of hotel, one where the focus is on nature.
I think the one thing the rooms need most is a mini fridge. It doesn’t even need to be stocked. But just a place to put water, or drinks, or our leftovers. Every day we had some sort of leftover we could have brought back to our rooms for a little midday snack if we’d had the chance.
Standard rooms start at $160 per night in the low season. The larger suites start at $280.
You can compare rates here: Booking.com, Expedia.com, and Hotels.com
Beach, Pool & Things to Do
The water is the star of the show here.
It’s aqua and deep cobalt and so translucent it felt like you could see for miles underwater. One of the highlights for me was snorkeling right off the pier. I saw so many colorful fish along the rocky shoreline.
I saw so many different blue fish I’d never seen before, like they were trying to outdo the color of the ocean. There were a couple of sneaky jellyfish, too, so if you have a rash guard or long-sleeve bathing suit, wear it. It won’t protect your entire body, but it will help.
One thing I wish they had is some sort of ladder to make getting in and out of the water easier, since it is so rocky. Plus, the waves can get intense there at times. It’s a good idea to have water shoes because the rocks can be slippery (these are cute and can be worn for hiking as well. I love mine).
Corrales Bay Resort has no direct beach. For sand, you’ll need to walk/boulder down the jungle path just around the corner. It took us 20 minutes because we kept stopping for pics at every turn. And of course, there was no rush.
If having the perfect ocean to dip in isn’t enough, they have a wonderful oval-shaped pool overlooking the ocean. One end is deep enough to keep it cool, while the other side has two shallow levels to sit and sip your fresh coconut (aka tequila) or spend the afternoon chatting.
They also have paddleboards and kayaks you can use to explore the area or take to the beach.
The timing was perfect for me since I’d had an emergency appendectomy two weeks earlier, so this was literally what the doctor ordered—rest and relaxation. And I took that order very seriously.
The biggest decision we had to make was what time to eat.
If you’re not a water person, you can rent a 4-wheeler or go on a 4-wheeling tour. But most other activities revolve around the water, boats, and other beaches.
We went all in on relax mode and got massages under a tent in front of the ocean. They were $40 per hour. You need to schedule a day ahead so they can set it up. There is no onsite spa per se, but getting a massage in a tucked-away spot by the ocean is much better than almost any spa I’ve been to. Millions of cicadas sang in waves through the trees, one chorus picking up where another left off. All while the water crashed on the rocks below.
Food and Drinks
It’s a pretty small menu with few choices. Some things were standouts that I still think about today. Like the guacamole with tuna chicharron. A heaping mound of bright green guacamole with the perfect amount of onions in it, topped with pieces of fried tuna that were so tender they just melted as we ate them.
One day we asked for the fresh fish zarandeado (grilled fish marinated in dried chilis like guajillo, garlic, soy sauce, and citrus). They told us we couldn’t have it until tomorrow.
Turns out, you need to pre-order it so they can send someone out that morning to catch a fish for you. It doesn’t get much fresher than that. And when we did eat that fish, it was worth the wait—it was out-of-this-world fresh and flavorful. It arrived alongside delicious steaming homemade tortillas, rice, a couple of salsas, and a fresh green salad with strawberries and grapes.
I hope we didn’t eat one of the pretty blue fish, but I didn’t ask.
When we go back, I would eat that guac and fish every day. Their grilled veggies with shrimp were a go-to, and so was the shrimp pastor.
If you go there for more than a couple of days, you might feel a bit bored with the selection towards the end. But there is always the restaurant on the beach you can walk or kayak to for lunch.
As for drinks, the bar wasn’t open while we were there. The kitchen crew was making the drinks, and they were limited to margaritas, pina coladas, a spirit + a few mixers, and beer. If there was a drink or wine menu, we didn’t see one.
What It’s Like to Spend a Weekend Here
In a word, I’d say tranquil AF. OK, that may be three words, but you get the point.
It was so chill that I’m glad we brought games to play when we wanted to be social instead of reading your Kindle by the pool. This could def be a romantic couple’s weekend, a fun weekend getaway from Puerto Vallarta with friends, or even a small event if you rent out all the rooms. There’s not much to do except read/swim/eat/repeat. And that’s kind of the point.
The service matches the laid-back vibe. It looks quite luxe, but operates much more casually. It’s very hands-off.
If you’re sitting by the pool for 5 hours, they’re not going to come over asking if you need something. They leave you alone and wait for you to ask. But whenever we asked for something, if they had it or could do it, they did it.
When we first arrived, they gave us freshly cut coconuts, and again after our massages, exactly when we needed them most.
Again, it was low season, so there may be more staff and pool service during high season.
Who Is Corrales Bay Resort For? And Who Should Skip It?
This place is perfect for someone who:
- Wants to escape Puerto Vallarta, get away from the mayhem, and just chill.
- Wants to spend all day in the water, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
- Doesn’t need someone constantly checking on them and is happy being left alone.
- Wants to walk out their door to a swimming pool and a luminous ocean.
- Is perfectly happy staying put for a few days without restaurants, nightlife, or somewhere else to be.
- Wants a secluded romantic getaway near Puerto Vallarta without actually staying in Puerto Vallarta.
It’s not for someone who:
- Wants a large, high-end dining selection.
- Expects top-tier, constantly attentive service.
- Isn’t a water baby.
- Needs a lot to do or organized entertainment.
Would I Stay at Corrales Bay Resort Again?
Absolutely. I’d go back when I needed a couple of days to shut everything out and do very little. It’s close enough to Puerto Vallarta to feel like an easy escape, but far enough away that once you’re there, you really do feel away from it all.
Next time, I’d bring a stack of books, a couple of games, and order that fish the minute I arrived. Then I’d settle into a delightful routine of swim, eat, read, repeat.
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Would you go to Corrales Bay Resort? Let me know in the comments below.
That sounds like the perfect offline vacation! I’m sure your appendix was jealous it didn’t get to experience it!
Haha, Michael! It was very jealous! But just what the doctor ordered.