Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, August 13, 2026 – Swimming restrictions were concentrated at five guarded beach zones Thursday, led by red and purple flags along the Marina Vallarta shore and separate warnings at the Pitillal and Cuale river mouths. Most other monitored beaches remained open under yellow caution flags.
The Thursday flag code issued by Puerto Vallarta Civil Protection and Fire Department and its Turn B beach report placed red and purple flags at Velas Vallarta, Marriott and Boca Negra. A red flag bars entry to the water, while purple signals potentially dangerous marine life. Together, the flags mean swimmers must stay out and follow lifeguard directions along those stretches.
The Pitillal River mouth, beside Playa Holi in the Hotel Zone, carried red and yellow flags. The Cuale River mouth carried a purple warning. Both advisories apply to marked areas around the river outlets and do not amount to a closure of every beach in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Palmares, Los Muertos, Burros, Camarones and Playa de Oro were under yellow flags. Swimming is permitted with caution at yellow-flag beaches, although the flag displayed onsite and instructions from lifeguards take priority if conditions change.
Civil Protection measured waves at about 50 centimeters, with surf increasing, a rippled sea under southwest wind and low tide. The relatively low wave measurement does not cancel a red flag or make a restricted stretch safe to enter.
The northern restrictions continue a pattern along the Marina Vallarta coastline. Five days earlier, red and purple flags kept swimmers out at Westin Regina, Marriott and Boca Negra. Thursday’s list kept Marriott and Boca Negra under the same restrictions and moved the third Marina warning from Westin Regina to Velas Vallarta.
The color purple is a broad warning tied to potentially dangerous marine life. It carries particular weight in this corridor after the fatal crocodile attack near Boca Negra on June 27 and repeated rainy-season crocodile alerts at Marina Vallarta beaches and river mouths.
Beach flags may change during the day as wind, currents, surf and wildlife conditions shift. Anyone arriving later Thursday should follow the flag posted at that beach rather than rely on an earlier citywide list.
