Things To Do
Marietas Islands
This tour includes a boat tour and snorkeling to the Marietas Islands. The main attraction is the Hidden Beach/Lover's Beach, which is one of the most photographed beaches in the world. In order to get to that beach, you must swim through a tunnel to come out on the other side of the crater beach. Spots and time on the beach are limited each day to preserve the natural beauty of the island, so you will want to book this tour ahead of time.
Majahuitas & Yelapa
Yelapa and Majahuitas are two picturesque coves, located just south of Puerto Vallarta. The boat cruise includes beautiful scenery. Yelapa is a Mexican fishing village, where you can take a hike to a waterfall. Then, head over to Majahuitas for snorkeling, kayaking or relaxing on the beach. Home to sandy beaches, warm ocean waters, and tropical wildlife both on land and in the sea, Yelapa and Majahuitas are everything you'd imagine when you think of a tropical destination. Cruise past picturesque coastal scenery, where dolphin encounters and (in winter) humpback whale sightings are common occurrences, to an area accessible only by sea. Once on land, take a scenic hike in the lively Yelapa or relax on the secluded Majahuitas beach.
Las Caletas, Cabo Corrientes
We have not been here but it looks picturesque and sounds like a perfect day for relaxing by a secluded beach. It offers snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, guided nature walks where you can see macaws and parrots, or relaxing on hammocks or floating docks. It also includes mezcal tasting, kids adventure park, cooking and clay modeling classes, and an adventure cove with obstacles and water slides.
Rhythms of the Night
We have never been to this dinner show, but have heard that it is great. It includes a boat trip to a secluded beach (with an open bar along the way), followed by a dinner and show.
ATV Tours
We have done the ATV tour through Vallarta Adventures, but Wild Treks Adventures is another tour company that offers similar ATV tours (www.wildtreksadventures.com). We would recommend the Ruta Rancho Vegas over the Ruta Cuale. The Rancho Vegas route goes through town and then up to a mountain with beautiful views and a restaurant/river. There is an optional additional zip lining once you get to the top (we did not do that). Many times these treks include tequila tasting. We had a good time on this tour, but we prefer the water sport options over the ATVs. There is also a Sayulita ATV tour that looks like it would be fun. This tour takes you to Sayulita, which is a hippie surf town north of Puerto Vallarta.
Dolphin Encounters
Vallarta Adventures, Viator (https://www.viator.com/tours/Puerto-Vallarta/Dolphins-in-the-Wild/d630-161887P1) and Dolphin Discovery (https://www.dolphindiscovery.com/puerto-nuevo-vallarta/) offer various different dolphin and sea lion encounter tours.
Puerto Vallarta Malecon
Take a walk along the Malecon. This is a boardwalk along the beach with tons of restaurants, bars, shops, street vendors and performance artists. Check out the many sculptures along the way. If you are in the mood to work out, this is a great place to take a jog.
Vallarta Botanical Gardens AC
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a leading environmental organization with the mission to study, preserve, and display Mexican native plants. There are also many endangered species that make their habitat in the gardens, including the military macaw.
ChocoMuseo
Learn the chocolate making practice and make some chocolates to take home. You can learn the history of cacao and chocolate, learn the process from harvest to production, and take a class on making the traditional dish of Mole Poblano. That class includes a visit to the local market to buy ingredients, a history lesson on the origin and history of Mole Poblano, and culminate with preparing and enjoying a delicious mole meal with chicken and rice. There are also a few other cooking class options.
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (Parroquia de Nuestra Senora Guadalupe) was built in 1903. Stop by to see the beautiful architecture.
Sayulita
Hike to Mirador el Cerro De La Cruz
Climb up steep steps to see panoramic views of the city. This hike starts in downtown at the end of Abasolo street (you will see the stairs). It takes about 30-45 minutes. When you reach the old cable car you are almost to the top. We recommend to go early in the morning before it gets too hot and bring plenty of water.