Arrive at Playa Vista mid-morning and settle into your beachfront bungalow or the boutique Hotel Mar de Luz; drop your bags, freshen up, and take a short walk to the nearby Playa Central kiosk for a strong local coffee and a coconut pastry. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the palm-lined Paseo del Mar — pop into the artisan shops for handmade sandals and sun hats, then cool off with a dip at the sheltered Cala del Sol, where tide pools brim with small reef fish.
Enjoy a relaxed seaside lunch at La Brisa, ordering ceviche and grilled snapper while watching fishing boats return to the harbor, then rent a stand-up paddleboard from Vista Watersports and glide along the bay to stretch your legs. After paddling, stroll up to Mirador Alamo for panoramic views of the coastline and to orient yourself for the week ahead, taking photos of the dramatic headlands and planned lookouts you’ll visit later in the trip.
As the day winds down, head to Playa Vista’s long sandy shore for a sunset beach stroll — walk toward the wooden pier and pause at the cliffside benches to watch the sky turn coral and gold. Finish with a casual dinner at Sunset Palapa where live acoustic music and fresh seafood skewers make for a perfect first-night celebration, and return to your accommodation early to rest for tomorrow’s coastal drive.
After a relaxed first night in Playa Vista, set out mid-morning for a scenic drive along the Coastal Highway, windows down and the ocean breeze filling the car. Stop first at Punta Faro Lookout to photograph the jagged headlands and the lighthouse, then pull into Mirador Azul for a short walk along the cliffside path where seabirds wheel below and you can watch surfers carving the swells.
Continue along the highway to the charming fishing village of Cabo Verde and enjoy a seaside lunch at Casa del Pescador — order the catch-of-the-day with plantain mash and a cold local beer. After lunch, hike the short trail from the village up to Los Arcos viewpoint, where tide pools and basalt formations reveal hidden coves; if tides allow, descend to a small pebble beach to explore rock pools and snorkel near the reef.
Return toward Playa Vista as the afternoon light softens and pause at Mirador de las Tres Bahías to watch the coastline glow at golden hour, then head back into town for dinner at El Acantilado, a clifftop restaurant known for grilled lobster and panoramic sea views. Finish the evening with a quiet walk along the Paseo del Mar or a nightcap at your hotel’s terrace, preparing for a full beach day at Coral Bay tomorrow.
Wake to the sound of surf and stroll the short drive from Playa Vista to Coral Bay Beach for a leisurely morning swim in the calm, turquoise shallows. Rent snorkel gear from Coral Bay Outfitters and explore the fringing reef near the northwest cove, where colorful parrotfish and curious angelfish dart among coral heads — pause for fresh fruit and iced coffee from the beachside Palmarito stand between swims.
After a light seaside lunch at Bay Breeze Café (try the fish tacos and mango salsa), spread your towel beneath a shady palm and sink into a long afternoon of reading, sunbathing, and the occasional paddle in a rented kayak toward the small reef islets. If you’re feeling adventurous, join the 2:30 pm guided snorkel tour led by Marine Guide Lucia to visit a deeper coral garden and learn about local conservation efforts while spotting rays and cleaner wrasse.
As the sun softens, walk the sand toward the east jetty for golden-hour photos, then head to Seaside Grill at Coral Pier for a relaxed dinner of grilled mahi-mahi and coconut rice as the harbor lights twinkle. Finish with a moonlit stroll back to your bungalow in Playa Vista or a nightcap at Hotel Mar de Luz’s rooftop bar, reminiscing about today’s reef encounters and gearing up for tomorrow’s island excursion to Isla Verde.
Catch the 8:30 AM boat from Playa Vista Harbor for the short hop to Isla Verde, enjoying coffee and pastries from the harbor stall as the mainland shoreline shrinks behind you. Once ashore, join the ranger-led tidepool walk at Punta Coral to spot hermit crabs and nurse sharks in the shallows, then hike the island’s shaded Sendero del Guayabo to the high bluff for sweeping views back toward Coral Bay and the headlands you visited earlier in the week.
Return to the island village for a fresh-caught lunch at La Palapa Verde — try the grilled octopus and a cold tamarind agua fresca — before renting a kayak to circumnavigate the quieter western shore, paddling past sea caves and small heron rookeries. In the mid-afternoon, disembark and take the coastal trail loop through dry forest to Mirador del Viento, where interpretive signs explain local flora and you may spot a troupe of endemic iguanas basking on sun-warmed rocks.
Head back on the late ferry to Playa Vista in time to catch the sunset from Mirador Alamo, comparing tonight’s colors to the cliffs you admired on the coastal drive, then dine at Harborlight Bistro with a table overlooking the water — order the catch-of-the-day ceviche and a glass of chilled white. Wind down with a relaxed stroll along the pier or a nightcap at your bungalow, savoring the island’s calm and preparing for your final market-filled day tomorrow.
Start your final day with a stroll through the bustling Mercado del Mar in the Seaside Town Center, sampling fresh tropical fruit, artisanal cheeses, and a cortado from the same vendor recommended by your hotel. Browse stalls for last-minute souvenirs—hand-painted ceramics from Señora Rosa and woven beach totes from the cooperative—then pop into the nearby Iglesia de la Playa to admire its colorful tiles and catch a final glimpse of the coastline from the plaza benches.
For lunch, take the short walk up to Mirador Plaza and dine at Café Panorama, choosing the signature ceviche tostada and a passionfruit iced tea while you watch fishing boats drift below and remember your Isla Verde kayak route; afterward, enjoy a gentle walk along Paseo de los Artesanos to see local painters and pick up a framed print as a keepsake. If time allows, pause at the Seaside Botanical Garden for a final shady sit among bougainvillea and succulents before returning to your accommodation to pack and check out.
Plan a relaxed early evening departure—savor a final sunset snack at Pier 7 Tapas if your schedule permits, ordering small plates of grilled shrimp and plantain chips while the harbor lights come on, or opt for a takeaway empanada to enjoy en route to the airport. Arrive at Playa Vista Harbor or the regional airport with plenty of time, feeling content after a week of reefs, cliffs, and island trails, and promise yourself a return to this warm coastal paradise.