Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – As the summer vacation season begins, Puerto Vallarta is addressing a water quality challenge affecting three of its beaches – Camarones, Mismaloya, and Cuale – which have been temporarily classified as unsuitable for recreational use by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris). The advisory comes after recent water samples showed levels of fecal enterococci above the national safety limit of 200 per 100 milliliters.
According to Cofepris, this is part of a nationwide assessment covering 289 beaches across Mexico’s most visited tourist destinations. Of those, 273 met the standards for safe recreational use, while 16 – including the three in Puerto Vallarta – exceeded acceptable contamination thresholds. The highest reading in the area came from Cuale Beach with 822 enterococci, followed by Mismaloya with 497, and Camarones with 211.
These results align with the rainy season, when runoff from rivers such as the Cuale and Mismaloya can carry pollutants downstream to nearby beaches. Camarones Beach, although recently awarded the international Blue Flag distinction for meeting high environmental and safety standards, also saw a brief increase in contamination during this period due to stormwater runoff from the Camarones stream.
The Jalisco State Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks conducted the water sampling between June 23 and July 2. Meanwhile, seven other local beaches – Gemelas, Oasis (Holi), Los Muertos, Las Palmas, Yelapa, Quimixto, and Las Ánimas – remained well within safety norms and are considered safe for visitors to enjoy.
Cofepris has emphasized the role that natural and human-made factors play in coastal water quality. These include storm drains, wastewater discharge, informal settlements, and the increased presence of bathers during peak travel seasons. Authorities are encouraging the public to be part of the solution by helping keep beaches clean and reporting any irregularities to local Beach Committees or through official government websites.
While the announcement raises environmental and health concerns, especially during a period of high tourism, ongoing monitoring and public cooperation are expected to help restore affected beaches to safe conditions. In the meantime, Puerto Vallarta continues to offer many clean and safe seaside spots for residents and visitors to enjoy.
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