Things to do in Puerto Vallarta
Whale Watching Puerto Vallarta9 optionsSnorkeling Puerto Vallarta23 optionsATV Tour Puerto Vallarta19 optionsZipline Puerto Vallarta16 optionsBoat Tour Puerto Vallarta48 optionsPuerto Vallarta Airport Transfer8 optionsMarietas Islands Tours15 optionsCatamaran Cruise Puerto Vallarta8 optionsFood Tour Puerto Vallarta38 optionsHiking Puerto Vallarta14 optionsCity Tour Puerto Vallarta8 optionsSunset Cruise Puerto Vallarta8 options
Sort
Puerto Vallarta: Whale & Dolphin Watching with Biologist GuideYou’ll join marine biologists in Puerto Vallarta for real whale & dolphin watching—not just sightseeing but helping with actual research too. Expect close-up moments with humpbacks and playful dolphins, a simple lunch onboard, and plenty of stories from your guide. The quiet when a whale surfaces will stay with you long after.
Puerto Vallarta: Hidden Beaches & Snorkel Trail with LocalsYou hike through jungle and along beaches following a local trail, stop at Colomitos Beach for photos and swimming, snorkel at a quiet reef spot with included gear, and return by boat. The guides are biologists who explain the plants and animals along the way. Transport from the city center and all snorkel equipment are included; you arrange your own lunch at the final beach.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see the beaches and jungle around Puerto Vallarta without renting a car or arranging guides separately—the fixed route and included transport handle both, and the biologist guides actually know what you're looking at instead of just walking you past it.
Puerto Vallarta: Hot Springs, Mexican BBQ & Beach MassageYou're picked up from Puerto Vallarta and driven to a local market to choose fresh ingredients, then taken to the natural hot springs at Nuevo Ixtlán where your host grills your lunch while you soak in the 25°C geothermal pools. After exploring the springs and eating, you head to Bucerias for a beachfront massage before returning to the city. Private transport and all meals are included, and the whole experience is paced by you, not by a schedule.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day away from the resort without arranging transport, sourcing a meal, or coordinating separate activities — the private format and single host means everything flows as one experience, not as a checklist of stops.
Puerto Vallarta Catamaran Beach Tour: Remote Island WaterfallsThis all-inclusive catamaran tour departs Puerto Vallarta for Playa Chica Locca, a remote private beach accessible only by boat, where you spend six hours kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming and hiking to the Quimixto Waterfalls. Fresh guacamole and chips greet you on arrival; a full Mexican lunch with fajitas, rice, beans and tortillas follows; an open premium bar runs all day. You can add an ATV or horseback ride to the falls for cash. The tour includes all water equipment, a guide, and return transport to Vallarta; meeting points are Sayulita, Puerto Vallarta Cruise Terminal, or Nuevo Vallarta.Is it for me?Book this if you have a single day in Puerto Vallarta and want everything arranged—no car rental, no planning stops, no negotiating with vendors. The catamaran handles the transport and the beach handles the rest; you show up, and the day unfolds without you building it. If you're on a cruise ship, the guaranteed return time removes the worry of missing your departure.
Puerto Vallarta: ATV & RZR Jorullo Bridge with Waterfall & TequilaYou drive your own ATV or RZR across the Jorullo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Latin America, with stops at El Salto waterfall for swimming and a mountain bar for refreshments. The five-hour experience includes round transport from the office, jungle roads through the Sierra Madre, photo time on the bridge itself, and a tequila tasting back at the facilities. Bring a valid driver's license, swimsuit, and closed shoes; this tour runs in all weather.Is it for me?Book this if you want to drive something yourself rather than sit in a tour van, and you're comfortable on dirt roads in the mountains — the five-hour day is built around the drive time and the bridge crossing, which is what makes both feel unhurried.
Puerto Vallarta: Whale Watching Tour with Marine Expert & HydrophoneYou’ll get close to wild whales in Banderas Bay with a marine expert guiding you — listening to their songs through a hydrophone, watching mothers care for calves, helping with research notes if you want, and sharing fruit or juice on board as the sea air hits your face. It’s not just sightseeing; it’s being part of something wild.
Whale Watching Cruise Puerto Vallarta: Sunset & All-Inclusive BarA 3-hour evening whale watching cruise on Banderas Bay departs from either Nuevo Vallarta or Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal, with a live guide in English or Spanish tracking humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles and rays. The boat is a 100-foot mega yacht with open premium bar service—water, coffee, juices, sodas, margaritas, piña coladas, beer, tequila, wine and champagne—plus fresh guacamole and blue corn chips included. Humpback season runs December through April, though whales sometimes arrive in early November. You choose your meeting point before booking; bring a sweater for the return after sunset.Is it for me?Book this if you want to watch whales and sunset from a stationary yacht with a full bar—you stay seated while the crew searches, perfect for your first evening in Puerto Vallarta without committing to an early morning.
Puerto Vallarta: Night Street Taco Tour & Local Sweets WalkYou’ll wander Puerto Vallarta’s lively Old Town by night with a local guide, tasting tacos hot off the grill and sipping agua fresca between stops. Expect five or more food tastings—from arrachera to cabeza—and finish with handmade ice cream or a popsicle before heading home full and happy.
Puerto Vallarta: Los Arcos Snorkeling, Cliff Jump & Hidden BeachYou get picked up from Zona Romántica in Puerto Vallarta, ride 15 minutes to Mismaloya beach, then board a boat for cliff jumping, snorkeling through marine park caves and arches, and time on a secluded beach. The whole experience runs about half a day, with all snorkel gear, water, snacks and beer included. Small groups mean you're not jostling for space or waiting for stragglers.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Puerto Vallarta water activities—snorkeling, cliff jumping, a secluded beach—without arranging transport, gear rental or figuring out which spots are worth the trip. Small groups and local guides mean you're not herded through; you get the story behind what you're seeing.
Puerto Vallarta Butterfly Sanctuary Tour: See New HatchlingsA guided tour of the Butterfly Heritage Museum and a subtropical sanctuary in Puerto Vallarta where you walk among native butterfly species, learn their life cycle from an expert guide, and help a newly emerged butterfly take flight for the first time. The tour runs about an hour and includes museum entry, all fees, and a guide who speaks English or Spanish. Suitable for families, children and all fitness levels; wheelchair accessible with parking on-site.Is it for me?At an hour, the tour leaves your morning or afternoon open for other plans—you're not committing a full day to it. The guided format means you learn details about the butterflies and the sanctuary ecosystem that a self-guided walk would miss, and the expert can answer questions as they come up.
Puerto Vallarta: Sierra Madre ATV Tour & Tequila TastingYou’ll ride an ATV through winding Sierra Madre trails from Puerto Vallarta, splash at El Salto waterfall, and share laughs (plus tequila) with your local guide. Expect muddy boots, canyon views, hotel pickup—and a sense of adventure that sticks with you longer than any souvenir.
Puerto Vallarta Adults-Only Luxury Sunset SailAn adults-only sunset sail in Puerto Vallarta aboard a luxury French sailboat or catamaran, with appetizers, fine wines and a premium open bar included. You drift across Banderas Bay for three hours, taking in views of the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific horizon. A guide in English or Spanish is aboard; the minimum age is 16, and this experience is not available to cruise ship passengers.Is it for me?Book this if you want to watch the sunset from the water while seated the whole time—no walking, no standing, just drinking and eating as the crew sails.
Finca 18 Puerto Vallarta Tequila Tour: 5-Course TastingFinca 18 is a tequila distillery tour and tasting class in Puerto Vallarta hosted on a 12-acre family estate with 150 years of local history. You arrive at the historic ranch, receive a welcome cocktail, then walk the agave fields and distillery with a guide before sitting down to a five-course tasting of premium agave spirits curated by a Master Sommelier, each pour paired with award-winning chocolate, guacamole, and snacks made on-site. The experience runs about two hours and includes a visit to the gift shop; a liability waiver is signed at arrival. Minimum age is 18; the operator arranges your return transport by taxi or Uber.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Puerto Vallarta without a car—pickup and return taxi are included—and have a two-hour window rather than a full afternoon.
Puerto Vallarta: ATV, Zipline & Tequila Tasting Combo TourYou’ll tear down ATV trails near Puerto Vallarta with a local guide leading the way, cool off swimming at El Salto’s natural pools, fly over the river on ziplines high above the trees, then wind down with a mule ride and tequila tasting session. Expect laughter, splashes, maybe a little dust — and memories that stick with you longer than any souvenir.
Puerto Vallarta: Sunset Boat & Bioluminescence Swim Los ArcosYou board a boat in Puerto Vallarta, cruise to Los Arcos marine sanctuary watching the sunset and spotting wildlife, then slip into the water after dark to swim through bioluminescence — the glowing phytoplankton that lights up around your body. Lifevest, welcome drink, and all park fees are included. Groups stay under 14 people, and the whole experience runs about three to four hours depending on light and conditions.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see bioluminescence without arranging your own boat, timing the sunset, or buying separate park tickets — the fixed departure and all-inclusive price mean you just show up and swim in glowing water.
Puerto Vallarta: Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch & Open BarYou’ll sail Banderas Bay with a local guide spotting humpback whales up close—sometimes right beside the boat—while enjoying fresh ceviche and an open bar on deck. Live stories bring the bay’s wildlife to life as you drift under Pacific sun. It’s not polished or fancy—just honest moments with whales and real people on the water.
Mismaloya: Bioluminescence Kayak & SUP to Los ArcosYou paddle your own kayak or SUP from Mismaloya beach to Los Arcos Marine Park at night, moving through glowing water created by bioluminescence. The silence and your own effort make it feel like a real encounter, not a tour. You return to hot chocolate and a campfire, with free photos and transport included. Plan for a moderate paddle — the physical effort is what makes the glow feel earned.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to experience bioluminescence actively rather than passively, and who can paddle a kayak or SUP with moderate effort. The physical exertion is what makes the glow feel like something you've earned, not just observed.
Chocolate Workshop Bean to Bar in Puerto VallartaA hands-on chocolate workshop in Puerto Vallarta's city center where you learn the bean-to-bar process from expert chocolatiers, roasting and grinding raw cocoa beans into authentic Mexican chocolate that you take home. The two-hour class includes cocoa beans, chocolate, toppings, an apron and hat, and a guide who walks you through the history of cacao among the Olmecs, Maya and Aztecs.Is it for me?Book this for a morning or afternoon when you want to step away from the beach and make something with your hands—the two-hour format fits between other plans, and you leave with chocolate instead of just a memory of the place.
Puerto Vallarta: Horseback Riding & Waterfall Trek Sierra MadreYou ride through Sierra Madre foothills, cross hanging bridges to a waterfall where you swim, then return to the ranch to prepare and eat a Mexican lunch with an open bar. Pickup from designated points outside Puerto Vallarta is included, along with the guide and all drinks. Plan for a full morning and early afternoon out of the city.Is it for me?Right for riders who want a full Sierra Madre experience in one morning without arranging transport or lunch — the horseback riding, waterfall swim, and meal you help prepare are all handled. Expect a few hours out of the city with some walking and climbing mixed into the riding, which is what makes the waterfall and the swim possible.
Puerto Vallarta: Taco Bike Tour, Old Town & Beach DrinksYou’ll cycle through Puerto Vallarta’s neighborhoods with a local guide, tasting jalapeño seafood tacos and steak at legendary stands, pausing at colorful landmarks like El Malecon and Old Town. Expect laughter over language slips, ocean breezes on your face, and a beachside drink as you watch the sun dip low — it’s more than just food or cycling.
