Yelapa The jumping-off point: Puerta Vallarta, Mexico How to get there: The only way to get to this remote, hippie-dippie beach where rainforest meets the sea is by boat. First, though, you gotta get to the boat. From downtown PV, look for the bus that says Boca, Tuito, Botanical Gardens, or Mismaloya on the windshield. After about 30 minutes, you’ll get off at Mismaloya, where you’ll then walk down a set of stone steps to the beach and catch a small, rickety water taxi to Yelapa for about 70 pesos ($4). The ride takes about 25 minutes and can be rough, but it’s also stunningly beautiful as it hugs the rocky coastline. And whales often breach nearby. Tip: There is “civilization” in the form of bungalows to rent and beers to buy on Yelapa, but there are no ATMs and very little electricity, so bring cash. Try Cafe Bahia for an amazing plate of smoked beans and Mexican-style eggs.
When Leonardo DiCaprio stood on “The Beach” he’d discovered in the film version of Alex Garland’s novel of the same name, his blue eyes glistened against the turquoise Thai sea. Travelers and beach bums alike were taken by Leo’s big baby blues, but also by the unspoiled piece of heaven he’d happened upon after following a hand-drawn map over a cliff and through some unmarked brush.
Now, 15 years after that film’s release, that beach — on Ko Phi Phi Island off Thailand’s west coast — is as big a tourist trap as any, leaving many who visit struggling to relax in peace without someone shoving a selfie stick in their sightline. Thankfully, there are plenty of other unspoiled sandy shores ripe for toe-tingling. Here are 10 worth the trek:
Gregg Doyel flashed a heart sign at Caitlin Clark at her introductory press conference on Wednesday afternoon to kick off an incredibly strange back-and-forth.
