A Yelapa Christmas trades snow for warm sand, sunsets over the bay, and long dinners outdoors. Yelapa is a small village on the south shore of Banderas Bay with no roads for cars, so the holidays here move at the pace of the beach and the boats. This guide covers what December is like, the holiday events across the water in Puerto Vallarta, how to plan your boats around the busy weeks, and what to book early, as of November 4, 2026.
What a Yelapa Christmas feels like
The holidays in Yelapa are simple in the best way. Mornings start with coffee and a swim, afternoons go to a walk to the waterfall or a slow lunch on the beach, and evenings end with the sun going down over the bay. December days are dry and warm, and our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Yelapa has the averages for each month.
Many families spend the holidays cooking together, and a house with a full kitchen makes that easy. The village's three small markets carry the basics, so shop in Puerto Vallarta for anything special on your holiday menu before you take the boat over.
December is also the start of whale season. Humpbacks arrive in Banderas Bay for the winter, and our whale season guide explains when to look and what to expect.
Holiday events in Puerto Vallarta
Across the bay, Puerto Vallarta celebrates December in a big way. These are the main dates. Follow each link to confirm details before you plan around them.
| Dates | Event | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 to 12, 2026 | Fiestas Guadalupanas | Twelve days of processions with mariachis, folk dancers, and floats toward the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe downtown, peaking at midnight on December 12 |
| The week before Christmas Eve | Posadas | Neighborhood processions that recall Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, often ending with music, warm fruit punch, and piñatas |
| December 31, 2026 | New Year's Eve | Live music and dancing along the Malecón, then fireworks over the bay at midnight |
Mexico News Daily's guide to the holidays in Puerto Vallarta describes the posadas and the restaurants that serve special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus, and notes that holiday reservations fill quickly. For the rest of the season, our Yelapa and Puerto Vallarta events calendar lists festivals, races, and markets from October through April.
New Year's Eve: Yelapa or the Malecón?
You have two good ways to ring in the new year.
- Stay in Yelapa. Have a long dinner, watch the last sunset of the year, and keep the night easy and close to home.
- Celebrate on the Malecón. If the fireworks in Puerto Vallarta are the plan, book a hotel night in Puerto Vallarta for December 31 and come back to Yelapa on a daylight boat the next day. The water taxis run in daylight, so a late night in town means a night in town.
Getting to Yelapa over the holidays
Yelapa is reached by boat, from the Los Muertos pier in Puerto Vallarta or from Boca de Tomatlán. Our guide on how to get to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta by boat explains both piers, and go2yelapa's transport page lists the current water taxi times.
A few tips for the holiday weeks:
- Cross early in the day. In late December the sun sets around 6:30 PM in Puerto Vallarta, according to timeanddate.com. An earlier boat leaves time for the walk from the pier and for settling in before dark.
- Give yourself a buffer. If your flight lands late, plan a night in Puerto Vallarta and take a morning boat.
- Bring pesos. There are no ATMs in Yelapa, as the Go2Yelapa tips page notes, so get cash in Puerto Vallarta before the boat. Small bills are handy for the beach and for tips.
What to book early
December is one of the liveliest months on the bay, so a little planning goes a long way.
- Your house. Christmas to New Year is among the busiest stretches of the season around the bay, so check dates as soon as you know your plans.
- Flights into Puerto Vallarta. Holiday seats go fast.
- A Puerto Vallarta hotel night, if you plan to see the fireworks or land late.
- Holiday dinners in town. Popular restaurants fill quickly for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
At Casa Gratitud, our host family can help you get ready. They can pre-stock the kitchen, cook, and arrange boat excursions, including whale watching. Ask in your WhatsApp group, where they quote and arrange everything.
Checked November 4, 2026. Event dates and boat times can change, so confirm them at the links above before you travel.
Sources
- Visit Puerto Vallarta, Fiestas Guadalupanas 2026 and 2027 NYE in Puerto Vallarta
- Mexico News Daily, How to celebrate the holidays in Puerto Vallarta
- timeanddate.com, Sunrise and sunset in Puerto Vallarta, December 2026
- Go2Yelapa, tips for visitors
Plan your stay
Spend the holidays with a view of the bay. Casa Gratitud is an ocean-view house in the jungle above Yelapa, with two king bedrooms, a fully stocked kitchen for holiday cooking, and terraces facing the water. It sleeps up to 8, and our host family meets you at the pier and is on hand during your stay. Compare the parts of town in our guide to where to stay in Yelapa, check holiday dates and rates for our Yelapa vacation rental, and book direct at yelapacasagratitud.com.