What to Do in Puerto Vallarta: 20 Plans for the Day You Want
Snorkelling at Los Arcos, whales in winter, jungle ziplines, surf in Sayulita and mountain towns ninety minutes from the beach. The full list, including how to pick an operator and what to do when it rains.
You could spend a whole week in Puerto Vallarta doing nothing but beach and food, and it would be an excellent week. But the bay also has jungle, whales, waves, rivers, mountain towns and a historic centre made for walking at night. This is our list of what to do in Puerto Vallarta, organised by the kind of day you want rather than by popularity.
The things to do even on a first visit
Walk the Malecón at sunset
A kilometre and a half of oceanfront promenade with bronze sculptures, street performers, papel picado and the best light of the day. Start near Hotel Rosita, walk south, cross the suspension bridge over the Cuale river and finish in the Zona Romántica at dinner time. It is free and it is the best introduction to the city there is.
The Guadalupe church and the old town
The crown on the parish church is Vallarta's symbol, and the centre around it — cobbled streets, white houses with tiled roofs, bougainvillea — is the prettiest part of the city. Climb a few blocks up Hidalgo or Guerrero: the view from above repays the gradient.
Isla del Río Cuale
A strip of land between the two arms of the river, right downtown, with craft stalls, enormous trees, a small museum and several restaurants with tables by the water. It is the coolest spot downtown at midday and where the city turns its volume down.
A day on the water
It is why most people come, and the offering is vast. What matters is telling the categories apart, because they are not the same thing:
Snorkelling at Los Arcos
The islets off Mismaloya are a protected natural area, with walls dropping straight down, tunnels and a lot of fish. It is the most accessible snorkelling in the bay and it works even if you have never worn a mask. Go in the morning, when the water is stillest and visibility is best.
The Marietas Islands
The protected archipelago off Punta de Mita, famous for the Hidden Beach inside a crater. Access to that beach is permit-regulated, with a daily cap and limited time inside, so book only with authorised operators and be wary of anyone guaranteeing entry in high season. Even without entering the beach, snorkelling around the islands and the birdlife — blue-footed boobies included — justify the trip.
Sport fishing
Banderas Bay and the underwater canyon in front of it have an international reputation. Sailfish and marlin season runs from late spring into autumn; dorado and tuna show up more often in the warm part of the year. There are half-day trips inside the bay, good for beginners and children, and full days out to El Banco or Corbeteña for the serious. It is worth booking with an established operation that knows the bay: we usually start with Fish and Tours, which handles fishing as well as snorkel and yacht trips.
Humpback whales
From December to March, humpbacks come into the bay to calve and to mate, and on good days you can see them from shore. Watching trips with a biologist on board are among the best experiences Vallarta offers. Regulations set minimum distances and time limits: an operator who respects them is also the one who will give you better information.
Ask three things: how many people are on board, what is included, and whether they hold a current permit for the area they visit. A tour with twenty people and a guide is a completely different experience from one with seventy and a loudspeaker. A low price is nearly always explained by passenger count.
A day in the jungle
Ziplines and rivers
The sierra around Vallarta is full of river canyons, and that is where the adventure parks were built: long ziplines, suspension bridges, rappelling, ATVs and river descents. Most sit up the Cuale river valley and toward El Nogalito. It is the most popular activity for groups and families with teenagers, with options for almost any fitness level. To compare circuits and build a full day, the catalogues at Puerto Vallarta tours and bay activities and adventure are a good starting point.
Horses and ranches
Riding up into the sierra along river trails is one of the loveliest ways to see the landscape you cannot see from the beach. Local ranches run half-day trips combining a ride, Mexican food and sometimes a waterfall. Rancho El Capomo is one of the longest-running in the area and a good reference if you have never been on a horse.
Hiking to Colomitos and the Los Horcones river
The trail from Boca de Tomatlán to Playa Colomitos — an hour of climbs, roots and ocean views — is the most popular hike in the bay and needs no guide. Beyond it, the path continues to Las Ánimas. Bring water, shoes with grip and salt if you go in summer; you can take a boat back if you would rather not walk the return.
A day of surf
Inside the bay the waves are small, which is exactly right for learning. The real scene is north: Sayulita for beginners, El Anclote at Punta de Mita to practise, La Lancha for anyone already paddling alone and San Pancho for people who know what they are doing. All are between forty minutes and ninety from downtown.
If it is your first time, a lesson saves you an entire morning of frustration: the instructor's job is not teaching you to stand, it is putting you on the right wave. Surf lessons in Vallarta and Sayulita usually include the board, a rash guard and transport, and after two sessions most people are standing on their own.
A day out of town
| Destination | How far | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Sayulita | ~45 min north | Surf, shops, papel picado, bohemian and packed on weekends |
| San Pancho | ~1 h north | The quiet version of Sayulita: wide beach, polo, cafés |
| Bucerías | ~30 min north | Endless beach, zarandeado fish, art market |
| Yelapa | Boat from Boca or Los Muertos | Road-free village, waterfall, worth sleeping over |
| San Sebastián del Oeste | ~1.5 h into the sierra | Mountain mining town, high-altitude coffee, cool air |
| Mascota and Talpa | ~2 h into the sierra | Mountain towns, colonial architecture, raicilla |
San Sebastián del Oeste deserves a separate mention: a 17th-century mining town at 1,500 metres, with cool weather, a cobbled plaza and coffee estates. Going from beach to sierra in ninety minutes is one of the sharpest contrasts this region offers, and it is the best plan of the year when coastal heat becomes unbearable. Several operators run it as a day trip; PV Tours handles those mountain departures alongside the classic bay outings.
What to do when it rains
From July to September it rains hard in the afternoon, usually for two or three hours. It does not cancel the day, it reorders it:
- Municipal market and downtown shopping in the morning.
- A long lunch somewhere covered with a view of the water coming down.
- A raicilla or tequila tasting — an indoor activity that explains the region well.
- A Mexican cooking class, very common here and usually including the market.
- A spa or massage, which in Vallarta costs a fraction of what it does up north.
How to build three perfect days
- Day 1 — The city. Late breakfast in the Zona Romántica, morning at Playa Los Muertos, a seafood lunch, a nap, the Malecón at sunset and dinner with a view.
- Day 2 — The water. Early boat out: snorkel at Los Arcos, beach at Las Ánimas or Colomitos, back mid-afternoon. Tacos at night.
- Day 3 — Pick your adventure. North for surf in Sayulita, or the sierra for San Sebastián, or the jungle for ziplines and river. Close with a quiet dinner you do not have to drive to.
Practical details that save headaches
- Book water activities in the morning. Wind picks up after midday and the sea changes.
- Carry cash. Many boats, entries and ranches do not take cards.
- Reef-safe sunscreen. Required in protected areas and you will be asked for it.
- Timeshares. If someone offers you a free tour or free airport transport, it is nearly always a three-hour timeshare presentation. Not a scam, but not a gift either.
- Keep the last morning free. Airport transfers in high season take longer than they look.
If you are still building the trip, see our beach guide to pick where to spend your mornings and the guide to where to eat so you do not waste a single meal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Puerto Vallarta tour if I can only do one?
A boat trip down the southern bay: snorkelling at Los Arcos in the morning and a beach stop at Las Ánimas, Quimixto or Colomitos afterwards. It combines water, road-inaccessible beaches and food, and works for almost any age and fitness level.
When can you see whales in Puerto Vallarta?
Humpback season runs roughly from December to March, when they come into Banderas Bay to breed. On clear days you can see them from shore, and watching trips with a biologist on board are the best way to see them while respecting the distance regulations.
Are the Marietas Islands worth it?
Yes, though go with clear expectations: access to the Hidden Beach is limited by permits and a daily cap, and entry is not always possible. Snorkelling around the islands and the birdlife justify the trip on their own. Book only with authorised operators.
What is there to do in Puerto Vallarta when it rains?
The rain is usually intense but short, and almost always in the afternoon. The market and downtown in the morning work well, as does a long covered lunch, a raicilla or tequila tasting, a Mexican cooking class or a spa. The day is not lost, just rearranged.
How many days do you need in Puerto Vallarta?
Three days cover the essentials: one for the city and the Malecón, one on a boat down the southern bay and one for adventure north or into the sierra. With five or six you can add Sayulita, San Sebastián del Oeste and a whole day with no plan, which is usually the best one.
