Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, August 8, 2026 – Three beaches along Puerto Vallarta’s northern hotel and marina corridor were off limits to swimming Friday after lifeguards raised red and purple flags at Westin Regina, Marriott and Boca Negra, while seven monitored beaches elsewhere remained under yellow caution flags.
The August 7 beach report issued by Puerto Vallarta Civil Protection listed Palmares, Conchas Chinas, Los Muertos, Burros, Camarones, Holi and Playa de Oro with yellow flags. Water entry is permitted under yellow, but swimmers are expected to use greater caution and follow lifeguard instructions.
At the three northern beaches, the combined red-and-purple warning carries two separate messages. Red prohibits swimming because conditions are considered dangerous, while municipal flag guidance identifies purple as a warning involving potentially dangerous wildlife.
The distinction is important. Friday’s bulletin did not identify a specific animal at Westin Regina, Marriott, or Boca Negra, so the purple flags should not automatically be considered confirmed crocodile sightings.
The restrictions do, however, come during an active stretch of crocodile warnings along the city’s coastline. Vallarta Daily reported five beaches under crocodile-related alerts earlier in the week. A decomposed juvenile crocodile was also recovered near Icon Vallarta Beach Tuesday and documented by federal environmental authorities.
Friday’s three red-purple beaches represented a smaller restricted area than the five reported earlier in the week, although Civil Protection did not explain what caused the warning area to narrow.
Because the cited status comes from Friday’s Turno B report, anyone heading to the shoreline Saturday should rely on the flag actually posted at each beach and current lifeguard instructions rather than assume Friday’s conditions remain unchanged.
