Puerto Vallarta: ATV Sierra Madre & Hot Springs with Tequila

Four hours on a quad bike through Puerto Vallarta's mountain villages and natural hot springs

You ride your own ATV through two mountain villages, taste tequila with locals, soak in natural thermal pools, and return to base camp after four hours of actual driving time. The guide handles navigation and safety. You handle the throttle. Lunch is available nearby but separate from the tour price.

Step-by-step itinerary

ATV tour through Sierra Madre villages

• Register for the activity
• Drive 1 hour 15 minutes to Los Llanitos
• Explore Los Llanitos village
• Visit Pueblo el Nogal and hot springs
• Relax in natural thermal pools
• Enjoy optional Mexican meal (not included)
• Return to base camp

The experience

There's something about the moment you realize you're heading into terrain most tourists never see: the road narrows, the air changes, and suddenly you're not in a resort town anymore. That's what happens about twenty minutes into this ATV tour through the Sierra Madre, when you leave the main highway and start climbing toward Los Llanitos. The ride itself takes up most of the four hours. You're on the quad bike or side-by-side the whole way, which means you actually get to feel the landscape instead of stopping every few minutes for photos. Your guide leads the group (they keep it small, usually under a dozen riders), and the pace is steady enough that even if you've never done this before, you're not white-knuckling the handlebars.

Los Llanitos and El Nogal aren't on the postcard circuit. They're working villages where people live, and that's the point. You'll see how locals actually move through their day, and there's a tequila tasting that happens in a real setting, not a tourist pavilion. After that, the route heads to the thermal pools: natural hot springs fed by the mountain itself. You can soak for a while, and the water really does feel different from a regular pool. It's warm and mineral-heavy, the kind of thing that makes your skin feel softer afterward. There's an option to visit a deer sanctuary before the pools if you want, though that's separate. A local restaurant near the springs serves authentic Mexican food if you're hungry, though it's not included in the price, so bring cash or check ahead.

The whole experience hinges on the fact that you're doing most of the driving yourself. That's what makes it feel less like a tour and more like an actual ride through the mountains. You need a valid driver's license and at least a moderate fitness level (the quad bikes aren't gentle, and the roads aren't smooth), but you don't need to be an expert rider. Show up ten minutes early for registration, and bring water. The sun at altitude is stronger than you'd expect.

What’s included

• Your day includes expert guide, all-terrain vehicle (ATV or side-by-side), use of the thermal water pool, parking fees, and a tour of the thermal water source.
• You'll ride through Los Llanitos and El Nogal villages with a tequila tasting, and have the option to visit the deer sanctuary.
• Lunch at a local restaurant is available separately.

Options for this experience

2 options

Double ATVUp to 14 people · Guide in English or Spanish · Available from 14 Nov · 09:00 and 14:00Double quad: one driver and one passenger per quad. Book an even number of passengers only, two people per quad.

Single ATVUp to 12 people · Guide in English or Spanish · Available from 14 Nov · 09:00 and 14:00The price covers one person per quad only. Pick the number of adults traveling and you will be given a quad number.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 20

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Dirty Monkey Atv Adventure

Is this one for you?This is for riders who want to explore Puerto Vallarta's mountain villages under their own power rather than watch from a passenger seat. The four-hour drive time is what makes the remote villages and natural pools reachable in one morning.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Do I need my own driver's license?

Yes, a valid driving license is required. Drivers under 16 need parental consent.

How long is the ATV ride itself?

About four hours total, with roughly one hour and fifteen minutes of riding to reach Los Llanitos, then additional time in the villages and at the thermal pools.

Is the thermal pool soak included?

Yes, use of the thermal water pool is included. Lunch at the local restaurant is not.

Can I choose between an ATV and a side-by-side vehicle?

Yes, both options are available. The side-by-side is larger and seats two, while the ATV is single-rider.

What's the age minimum for kids?

Children as young as 6 can ride ATVs, though they'll need a valid license if they're driving.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup availability depends on your hotel location. Confirm when booking.

What if I've never ridden an ATV before?

The tour is designed for mixed experience levels. You'll get a safety briefing during registration, and the guide sets a manageable pace.

Should I bring cash for lunch?

Yes, the meal at the local restaurant is not included, so bring cash or confirm payment methods ahead of time.