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
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Marietas Islands: Private Safari Hidden Beach & Surf TourYou’ll swim through a marine tunnel into Playa Escondida, snorkel Skull Reef’s clear waters, watch blue-footed boobies nesting on Marietas Islands cliffs, and share fresh shrimp ceviche with your group on deck. With a local guide leading every step — plus optional surf lessons if you’ve got energy left — expect moments that stick with you long after salt has faded from your skin.
Puerto Vallarta Taco Walk and Tasting: Eat Like a LocalTaco101 is a 2.5-hour taco walk and tasting in Puerto Vallarta led by a guide who has run cultural food tours for eight years. You'll visit up to five family-run taco stands and a corn tortilla factory in the central and south neighborhoods, taste 5 to 10 different tacos with salsas and toppings, and learn the history of tacos and how they're prepared across Mexico. Domestic beer, agua fresca, dessert and all the tacos you want are included. The guide speaks English and Spanish, and children from age 2 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this walk if you want to eat the tacos locals choose for themselves, not the ones marketed to visitors. The guide's eight years of leading food tours and knowledge of which family-run stands serve what means you taste the real thing and leave understanding how to find it again on your own.
Private Los Arcos Snorkel Tour from Puerto VallartaA private four-hour snorkel tour from Puerto Vallarta departs Los Muertos Pier and takes you by boat to Los Arcos, the natural rock formation where you snorkel with provided equipment, then continues to Las Animas beach. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and snorkel gear and an ice chest are included; food and drinks are not.Is it for me?Pickup at Los Muertos Pier in the city center means you don't need a car or arrange separate transport to reach the boat—walk from your hotel or nearby accommodation and board directly. The private boat is yours alone, so the pace and time at each stop stay in your hands.
Emiliano Zapata Market Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta: Learn ChilesA 2.5-hour guided food tour through the oldest neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, centered on the Emiliano Zapata Market and four additional stops where you taste and learn how chiles are actually used in Mexican gastronomy. The tour runs at 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM, or 6:30 PM, with a live guide speaking English or Spanish; you'll visit market stands and restaurants, taste five savory dishes plus dessert, and discover that chiles are far more varied than their reputation for heat.Is it for me?Small groups work best here since the guide leads you through the market and between stops—you'll move as a unit and the explanation stays with the group. This tour is built for anyone curious about how Mexican food actually works, not just the flavors but the ingredients and the reasoning behind them.
Sayulita walking tour and zarandeado seafood grillingAn 8-hour walking tour of Sayulita and Bahia de Banderas with a local guide in English or Spanish, including a stop at a roadside market for tropical fruit and Mexican sweets, a walking tour of the surfer town, and a grilled seafood meal of zarandeado fish and shrimp on the beach. Children from age 3 are welcome; the group travels by air-conditioned vehicle and the guide prepares the meal on-site.Is it for me?Book this if you want food, walking, and beach time in one outing with a local guide who prepares an authentic Zarandeado meal on-site.
Puerto Vallarta RZR Off-Road Tour Sierra Madre & CualeThis 3-hour off-road activity puts you behind the wheel of a high-performance RZR side-by-side in Puerto Vallarta, navigating city streets, river crossings, and Sierra Madre trails before a swim in a seasonal waterfall lagoon and tequila tasting at a mountain restaurant. You drive your own machine—not a utility vehicle—with a guide, helmet, goggles and bandana included. A valid driver's license and age 18+ are required to operate the RZR; children ride as passengers with an accompanying adult.Is it for me?Choose this if you want hands-on control of the machine through mountain terrain rather than riding as a passenger, or if you prefer a half-day adventure over a multi-day commitment.
Puerto Vallarta: El Malecon Private Bike Tour & Art StopsYou’ll ride along Puerto Vallarta’s El Malecon with a private guide, stopping for stories behind street art and sculptures, tasting fresh fruit at a local market, and visiting landmarks like the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pause for ocean views or photos whenever you want—the pace is yours. This is a day that lingers long after you’re back home.
Bucerias ATV Tour: Single Rider Mountain TrailsYou’ll ride ATVs deep into Sierra de Vallejo’s lush jungle with a local guide leading the way. Expect quick stops for photos at hidden viewpoints, laughter over muddy boots, and real moments with your group. Safety gear and bottled water are included — plus pickup from set points — so you can focus on adventure you’ll remember long after the dust settles.Is it for me?You ride your own ATV through Sierra de Vallejo's trails while your guide handles navigation and pacing—no trailhead drive, just straight to the terrain.
Puerto Vallarta jungle: Zip line tour with river swimExperience real jungle zip lining near Puerto Vallarta with a friendly local guide and eleven thrilling platforms. Walk through lush forest, fly above treetops, then relax by a cool mountain stream before heading back. It’s an adventure you’ll feel in your bones long after you’ve left Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta Diving: Private Boat, Your Own CrewPrivate scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta puts you on your own boat with a dedicated crew and guide, exploring rocky reef dive sites within five hours. The operator offers personalized attention and beginner instruction (500 MXN per person) onboard, plus optional access to Marietas Islands' Hidden Beach for certified divers on select days. Soda, water, snacks and all dive gear are included; national park permits and wrist bands are provided.Is it for me?Book this if you want to dive without sharing a boat or waiting for a group—the crew adjusts the pace and depth to your level, and you choose between rocky reef sites close to shore or Marietas Islands (certified divers only). Beginners can take an onboard lesson and dive the same day.
Horseback Riding in Mismaloya: Mountain Streams & El EdenA horseback riding tour in Mismaloya takes you from the beach up through the mountains on well-trained horses, crossing fresh streams and passing through forest to reach El Eden, a mountain spot where you can swim, rest and take in the views. A certified guide leads the ride in English or Spanish, and children from age 5 are welcome. Food and activities at El Eden cost extra.Is it for me?Three hours is enough to climb the mountains and spend time at El Eden without eating up your whole afternoon, which works well if you have other plans in Mismaloya later. The ride itself is gentle and suitable for first-time riders and children from age 5, so it does not demand prior experience or high fitness.
Mismaloya Waterfalls Hike: 3 Falls in Puerto VallartaA full-day hiking tour from Puerto Vallarta to three waterfalls in the Sierra Madre, with private transportation, breakfast, guide and all entry fees included. The route follows one of the range's most dramatic trails, crosses the river, and ends with swimming in natural ponds. Minimum age is 18; a high level of physical fitness is required.Is it for me?This tour works best for hikers comfortable with eight hours of steady walking, river crossings and uneven terrain—the guide and small group size mean you move at a pace that lets you actually see the waterfalls and swim, rather than rushing through them.
Learn to Scuba Dive at Las Caletas, Puerto VallartaLearn to scuba dive at Las Caletas, a secluded beach south of Puerto Vallarta, with a PADI-certified instructor guiding your first dive in protected coves. The experience includes a 50-minute boat ride, all diving gear, lunch and seven hours total. This is built for first-time divers or anyone without full certification who wants to explore Banderas Bay safely under expert supervision.Is it for me?Book this if you're diving for the first time and want a small group with a dedicated instructor, or if you've dived recreationally but haven't completed your certification card yet. The protected coves and expert supervision mean you learn at your own pace without feeling rushed.
Sierra Madre Horseback Riding and ATV Tour from Puerto VallartaA 5-hour tour from Puerto Vallarta combines horseback riding through the tropical jungle of the Sierra Madre Mountains with ATV riding across rivers in the village of Las Palmas, ending at a ranch where lunch and unlimited drinks are served. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and pickup from designated meeting points is included. Children from age 1 are welcome, though the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular concerns.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to ride two different vehicles and cover more ground than a single-activity tour allows. The combination of horseback and ATV means you experience both the quiet of the forest and the rush of river crossings in one afternoon, and the ranch lunch breaks up the physical activity so the day doesn't feel like a single long ride.
Puerto Vallarta Airport to Punta Mita: Private Luxury SUV TransferYou're met at Puerto Vallarta airport by a driver holding your name, then driven in a private luxury SUV to your Punta Mita resort with bottled water and air conditioning included. Flight tracking means the driver knows your arrival time, and the fixed price is confirmed before you land, so you avoid negotiating at the curb or worrying about the route.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your Punta Mita resort without arranging transport, negotiating a fare, or wondering about the route — the fixed price and flight tracking mean your arrival is handled before you land.
Electric Bike Tour Puerto Vallarta: Vallejo Mountains & MaleconAn electric bike tour from Puerto Vallarta that swaps the city for the mountains, riding down the Malecon Boardwalk and across the Cuale River toward Vallejo on e-bikes with motor assist. A live guide leads the route in English or Spanish, and bottled water is included. The tour runs four hours and covers more ground than a standard bike ride would in the same time.Is it for me?The electric motor means you climb and cover ground without the full physical demand of a standard bike tour, so the four-hour route stays manageable for riders with moderate fitness rather than requiring advanced cycling strength. If you want to see more of the landscape around Puerto Vallarta without pedaling hard the whole way, the motor assist is what makes that possible.
Snorkel Majahuitas & waterfall hike from Puerto VallartaA full-day tour from Puerto Vallarta combines snorkeling at Majahuitas with a hike through jungle trails to a waterfall in Quimixto, followed by lunch at a local restaurant serving fresh seafood. The day starts with a public bus to Boca de Tomatlán, then a 20-minute boat ride south along the coast, and includes a guide in English or Spanish; children are welcome from age 12.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to combine water and land in one day — the boat gets you to a place most day-trippers don't reach, the hike is real jungle, not a paved path, and the waterfall is where you swim, not just look at. The moderate fitness requirement and the 7-hour commitment mean this suits travelers who are comfortable moving through heat and terrain, not those looking for a short or easy outing.
Horseback Riding Sierra Madre Mountains Suspension BridgeA 4-hour horseback riding activity in Puerto Vallarta's Sierra Madre Mountains where you ride along the Cuale River through jungle paths and open countryside, then dismount to cross one of the world's longest vehicular suspension bridges on foot at 150 meters high. The guide speaks English or Spanish, water and tequila tasting are included, and children from age 8 are welcome.Is it for me?The ride itself is leisurely and suits all fitness levels, but the day includes a 150-meter suspension bridge crossing on foot—if heights make you uneasy or you have back, heart, or pregnancy concerns, this activity isn't the right fit. The 4 hours of saddle time and bridge crossing is what makes the Sierra Madre and the river views possible in a single morning without a full-day commitment.
El Nogalito Mountain River Hiking Tour near Puerto VallartaEl Nogalito Mountain River hiking tour near Puerto Vallarta takes you beyond the resort strip into the mountains and jungles for five hours of hiking, river exploration and swimming at a natural waterfall pond. A guide leads the route through the Fairy Portal area, pointing out flora and fauna along the way; shared transport picks you up from a meeting point, and lunch plus one beverage are included. Minimum age is 18, and moderate fitness is required for the terrain and elevation.Is it for me?This tour is shared, so you hike with other travelers and split the cost, which suits anyone who doesn't need a private guide and wants to meet people on the trail. The five-hour pace and moderate fitness requirement mean it works best for hikers comfortable with sustained walking and elevation, not for a casual stroll or a first-time hiker testing the waters.
Puerto Vallarta sunset yacht cruise: Private boat with open barA private luxury yacht sunset cruise in Puerto Vallarta's Bay of Banderas departs from Marina Vallarta and sails to Los Arcos National Marine Park, where you photograph the islands and the sunset, then returns along the coast past the Malecón boardwalk after dark. The 3-hour cruise includes an open bar with cocktails and champagne, freshly prepared snacks, and a bilingual crew.Is it for me?The boat departs from Marina Vallarta, so if you're staying elsewhere in Puerto Vallarta or don't have a car, you arrange your own transport to the marina—but once you're aboard, the crew handles everything else, and you're on the water for the whole golden hour without needing to navigate or time anything yourself.
