Sayulita ATV Tour from Puerto Vallarta: Mountain Trails & Fishing Village

Why drive a UTV through jungle to a hidden surfing village when you could just sit on a beach

You drive your own UTV through mountain trails and creek beds from Puerto Vallarta to Sayulita, a small fishing village with a surf and arts scene. The guide leads the route, but you control the vehicle and the pace. The four to five hour trip includes transport, helmet, a light snack, and free time to explore Sayulita on your own. Bring a valid driver's license if you're driving, wear jeans and comfortable shoes, and confirm your pickup location before the day of the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

ATV tour from Puerto Vallarta to Sayulita

• Meet at Marina Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta
• Travel to Punta Mita by round-trip transport
• Drive or ride in a personal UTV
• Follow guide through mountain trails and creeks
• Arrive at Sayulita fishing village
• Walk around Sayulita with guide or alone
• Return to Puerto Vallarta/Nuevo Vallarta

The experience

There's something about the moment you realize you're steering your own vehicle down a trail that doesn't quite feel like a road (dirt under the tires, trees closing in on both sides, your guide ahead on the next ridge) that makes you stop thinking about what you should be doing and just go. That's the pull of this Sayulita ATV tour from Puerto Vallarta. You pick up a UTV (a 4WD utility vehicle that handles more like a car than a quad) at Marina Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta, and from there it's a few hours of climbing, splashing through creeks, and dropping down into Sayulita, a fishing village that somehow stayed small even though surfers and artists have been moving there for years.

The drive itself is the whole point. Your guide leads the way through the back roads of Punta Mita, and you're not sitting in a van watching someone else's route. You're making the decisions, feeling the terrain change under you, stopping when you want to look at something. Kids as young as eight can ride along (you need to be 18 to drive), and couples often book their own UTV together, which changes the whole rhythm of the day. The trails aren't technical or dangerous, but they're real enough that you notice the difference between pavement and dirt, between a smooth section and one that makes you grip the wheel a little tighter. It takes about four to five hours total, including the ride out, time in Sayulita itself, and the return to Puerto Vallarta.

Once you're in Sayulita, the guide is there if you want company, but you're free to wander on your own too. The village is small (a main street with surf shops, a few restaurants, the beach), and it doesn't feel manufactured. You'll see why people come back. The tour includes a light snack and water, and you'll want to bring cash if you're thinking about lunch or a souvenir. One thing to know upfront: there's an insurance fee at check-in that covers up to $400 USD for any damage to the UTV, and you'll need a valid driver's license to get behind the wheel. Cruise ship passengers can't book this one, but if you're staying in Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta, pickup is straightforward. Just confirm your location with the operator right after you book.

What’s included

Your day includes professional guide, round-trip transport from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta to Punta Mita, personal UTV with helmet, light snack and purified water, and free time to explore Sayulita village on your own or with the guide.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesFrom age 8

GroupUp to 24 · max 4 per booking

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$ 50

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Vallarta Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to drive yourself through real terrain instead of watching it from a bus window, and you're comfortable with a few hours of bouncing over dirt roads to reach a place that doesn't feel like a tour destination. The UTV and the guide are what make the route possible without needing your own vehicle or navigation.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Do I have to drive the UTV myself?

No. Passengers can ride along with a driver, though the minimum age to drive is 18 and you'll need a valid driver's license.

What's included in the tour?

Professional guide, round-trip transport from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta, UTV use, helmet, light snack, and purified water.

How long is the tour?

About four to five hours total, including the drive to Sayulita, time in the village, and the return trip.

Can children go?

Yes, children as young as eight can ride as passengers. The minimum age to drive is 18.

Is there an extra cost for insurance?

Yes, there's an insurance fee payable at check-in that covers up to $400 USD for any damage or collision to the UTV.

Can cruise ship passengers book this tour?

No, this tour is not available to cruise ship passengers.

What should I bring?

A valid driver's license (if driving), jeans, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cash for food or souvenirs in Sayulita.

Is this tour suitable for people with back problems?

No, it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health. Moderate physical fitness is required.