27 Ultimate Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta

The best things in life are free, and so is exploring the Malecon. Walking along this picturesque waterfront promenade is one of the top free things to do in Puerto Vallarta. Stretching a mile, the Malecon is a medley of shops, buzzy restaurants, street food vendors, buskers, and plenty of sculptures that are as puzzling as they are impressive. The famous Puerto Vallarta sign also resides there. Throughout the day, there is prime people-watching potential and opportunities to see the impressive Voladores de Papantla (Papantla Flyers), aerial showmen performing a pre-Hispanic fertility ritual atop a pole that typically stretches up to forty meters high in the sky.

With so many seductive sandy stretches, it’s little wonder beaching is one of the main activities in Puerto Vallarta. Though not the calmest, Los Muertos is the most popular beach as it’s the most easily accessible being a short walk from the Malecon. What Los Muertos lacks in tranquillity it makes up for with stores, vendors, restaurants, and bustling bars to quench your thirst at. A short stroll from Los Muertos is Conchas Chinas which is considerably less crowded, making it well worth the walk. Playa Las Gemelas and Playa Mismaloya on the south of Banderas Bay warrant a visit for their beauty and serenity. The latter is the sandy stretch that started it all, where Night of the Iguana was filmed back in the early 1960s.

There are a couple of paradisiacal beaches you’ll need to hire a boat to get to, such as Quimixto, Las Animas, or crowd favorite Yelapa. If you take a day trip to Yelapa, be sure to look for the women on the beach selling slices of homemade tropical pie. Many consider the trip to Yelapa Beach worth it just for the pie, with banana cream being a favorite. But come early–pies sell out quickly, and when they’re gone, business is done for the day.

A popular excursion in Puerto Vallarta is charging through the jungle on ATVs before crossing the 1,592-foot-long Jorullo Bridge, which momentarily held the position of the world’s longest suspension bridge (it sounds scarier than it is). There is also a stop midway for swimming and diving off rocks next to a small waterfall (El Salto), so be sure to bring your swimwear. This rousing experience is offered by the Mexican-owned eco-tourism company Canopy River.

One of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta, and a great way to burn off some of those tacos and margaritas, is to hike up to Mirador de la Cruz or the Lookout on Cross Hill. The hike is a bit grueling, but it doesn’t last long (15 to 45 minutes, depending on your pace and fitness level), and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of the red-roofed city cradled by the blue water of the bay. The stairs are steep and rustic at best, so this is another jaunt unsuitable for those with mobility issues. Again, you’ll need to be reasonably fit.

You can take several routes, but the most common is starting from the Malecon, then following Abasolo Street straight up the side of the hill (there are signs pointing you in the right direction). Once up top, be sure to finish strong and climb the last several stories up the staircase to the top of the elevated platform for impeccable, panoramic views. Cerro de la Cruz is unquestionably one of the most scenic places to visit in Puerto Vallarta.

When you’re in need of serenity, seclusion, and magic, get yourself to Islas Marietas (the Marietas Islands), a group of small, protected, uninhabited islands in Banderas Bay that house Playa del Amor. Also known as Hidden Beach, Playa del Amor is a veritable bucket list destination and one of the most exhilarating activities in Puerto Vallarta. Imagine a cave with the ceiling opening up to the sky to reveal a sandy beach at the base–that’s Hidden Beach.

You’ll need to book a specific tour to visit this breathtaking enclave. Some boat tours to Islas Marietas National Park will take you snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, or paddle boarding around the pristine beaches and luminous waters of the park, but they do not go to Hidden Beach, so double check your tour itinerary, read the fine print, and book in advance. Hidden Beach can only be reached when the tides are low, and only 116 visitors are permitted daily.

Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish) is an exquisite edifice that broke ground in Puerto Vallarta in 1903. Located one block from the main square (Plaza de Armas), this religious building has become a cultural symbol of Puerto Vallarta decorating the skyline with a majestic crown sitting on its steeple. The opulent crown was made by Jalisco-born sculptor Carlos Terrés, and it is called Tecuntlanopeuh, which means “the one that was born on the peak of Las Peñas” in Nahuatl (Puerto Vallarta was previously known as Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe).

If you’re looking for fun and free things to do in Puerto Vallarta, don’t miss the annual art walk. Every Wednesday evening between October and June, a host of galleries in the quaint and colorful old town open their doors to visitors from 6 PM to 10 PM. There are 16 participating galleries showcasing works by Mexican and international artists, and you can explore them all individually at your own pace. To further sweeten the deal, several galleries offer refreshments in the form of tequila and wine as well as opportunities to meet the artists.

Some impressive waterfalls surround Puerto Vallarta, and one of the best ways to explore them is by booking a waterfall hike. These range from a couple of hours to all day, and they appeal to hikers with various fitness levels. You can find tons of elevated Puerto Vallarta adventures led by locals by using Airbnb Experiences, which is a great way to support the local community. Be sure to check out the popular Jungle Waterfall Hike & Swim or Hidden Beaches tours.

An unmissable excursion in Puerto Vallarta is venturing out to Las Caletas, considered one of the best-secluded beaches in the world. Reachable only by boat and exclusively accessible via Vallarta Adventures, you’ll have a wealth of options from snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, mezcal tasting, a cooking class, or meeting tropical birds during a guided nature walk. Various activities are aimed at children of all ages, making this a great day trip for families. Splash down a set of water slides, dip into the azure waters, turn down the tempo with a relaxing massage, or find a hammock and do sweet nothing.

Walking food tours are always a fantastic opportunity to get to know a new destination. It’s a wonderful way to get a feel of the city, try some of the best food in town, and get personalized recommendations from your guide for the rest of your trip. Make this one of the first tours you book, as it could help you structure the rest of your Puerto Vallarta activities.

Arrive hungry for any of the scrumptious tours offered by Vallarta Eats. From mole-focused outings to after-dark taco tastings, you’ll have a dandy and delicious time learning about Puerto Vallarta through a culinary lens. Vallarta Food Tours also has a tantalizing variety of food and “Mexology” tours, so you’re sure to find one suited to your gastronomic interests. Their original downtown tour spends a half-day sampling ceviche, tacos, typical Mexican drinks, chocolate, mole, and lots of other delightful dishes, all while learning about the fascinating history of Puerto Vallarta.

You can channel your inner Elizabeth Taylor at Casa Kimberly. After all, the nine-room boutique hotel was her former home, a gift from her beloved Richard Burton. This palatial hillside property is etched in Puerto Vallarta’s history as it was the couple’s passionate affair that catapulted the city to international stardom. Casa Kimberly is actually two side-by-side casitas connected by a bridge. Burton put Taylor up in a villa next to his and connected them by a bridge called Puente del Amor (Bridge of Love). Modeled on Venice’s Bridge of Sighs, it facilitated visits away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Burton eventually gave the actress the home for her 32^nd birthday.

Elizabeth Taylor fans will adore the prospect of sleeping at Liz and Dick’s former love nest, wading in the same pool where they swam, or staying in what was her bedroom, a 2,500-square-foot den of elegance complete with the original pink marble heart-shaped bathtub she commissioned. The Iguana, Casa Kimberly’s open-air fine dining restaurant on the roof, is not to be missed either.

If you dream of participating in a baby sea turtle release, the months from June to December are the best times to go to Puerto Vallarta. Every year, hundreds of thousands of female turtles come to lay their eggs on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, and roughly 45 days later, the hatchlings leave the sandy nests. In-between, volunteers, marine biologists, and loving locals guard the ping pong ball-sized eggs at night to protect them from poachers and predators.

Six of the eight sea turtle species can be found in Puerto Vallarta, and the city takes turtle conservation very seriously (the World Wildlife Fund classifies sea turtles as vulnerable). Several turtle camps and beachfront hotels have dedicated education and conservation programs and also host newborn turtle release ceremonies during the hatching season. You can witness the tiny turtles setting off on their first ocean adventure at Boca de Tomates turtle camp or Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, which has an on-site biologist and turtle nursery that houses up to 500 turtles at a time.

Stop and smell the bougainvillea, orchids, magnolias, and sweet-smelling flora at Jardin Botánico Vallarta. About 40 minutes outside of the city, tucked in the Sierra Madre Mountains, this botanical garden makes for a perfect half or full-day family-friendly trip, and it’s one of the best Puerto Vallarta activities for nature lovers. This environmental organization was founded in 2004 to help conserve Mexico’s native plants and endangered species. It burgeons with fragrant flowers, trees, and plants, including Mexico’s most extensive public collection of orchids and more than a dozen species of hummingbirds. You can visit on your own or arrange for a guided tour, with some tours including lunch at the on-site restaurant.

Be sure to bring your swimming attire, as a mountain river flows through the gardens, and you might want to stay for a dip. You can hire a private taxi to take you there and arrange a return time, or a local bus will take you near (but not directly to) the gardens.

About an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in, the neighboring state of Nayarit is one of Mexico’s most famous beach towns. Sayulita is one of the most popular day trips from Puerto Vallarta. This bohemian beach town is worthy of more than a day trip, but if that’s all you have time for, it’s enough to give you a feel for the laid-back surf town and its decorated streets.

If you’re a surfer (or aspiring surfer), you can rent boards directly on the main beach or visit a surf shop to sign up for lessons. If you’re not into surfing, you can lounge on the beach or explore the charming town center, visiting the boutiques, galleries, and seafood-centric restaurants. Be sure to find your way to the beach for sunset before traveling to Puerto Vallarta.

Some of the best dive spots around Puerto Vallarta include Las Caletas, Los Arcos, or the famous Marietas Islands, where divers encounter a profusion of colorful marine life, often including octopus, schools of dolphin, turtles, giant manta rays, and the occasional humpback whale or whale shark. When diving offshore, you can explore cave systems and shipwrecks. Whether you’re already certified or considering taking lessons, you’ll find a dive shop to suit your needs. Scope out Banderas Scuba Republic, Vallarta Undersea, or Silent World Divers. Most scuba diving trips are half-day, depending on how many air tanks you purchase for your dives.

Puerto Vallarta is the fifth most populated city in the state of Jalisco, the home of tequila (and mariachis and Mexico’s national sport, charrería). The spirit comes from its namesake town of Tequila, which is about four hours away from Puerto Vallarta by car. If you would like to delve into the history of the famed distillate but can’t make it there, sign up for Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa’s tequila education program led by a female tequilera (tequila sommelier), Audrey Formisano. While learning about the art of sipping fine tequila, you’ll sample CasaMagna, the resort’s own brand that can only be bought on-site. Marriott is one of only a few hotels in the world with a proprietary tequila brand, making this one of the most unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

For whale watching, January and February are the best times to go to Puerto Vallarta, as most tours sight whales daily. The official humpback whale watching season in Puerto Vallarta is from December to March, but lucky visitors have sighted whales as early as November or as late as May. It is said that during whale season, more than 18,000 whales will pass by Puerto Vallarta, so there is a high chance of spotting a pod, a treasured experience. Be sure to bring your camera on this trip, as tour companies are able to get you up close for some truly stunning photos.

Witnessing the aquatic ballet performed by the clownfish, seahorses, eels, rays, damselfish, and colorful sea species at Los Arcos National Marine Park is one of the top things to do in Puerto Vallarta. Brimming with marine life, Los Arcos (the arches) is located in Banderas Bay between Las Gemelas and Mismaloya beaches. The granite arches provide natural swim-throughs, caves, tunnels, and even a coral reef, and one of the best ways to explore it is by booking a snorkeling trip to take in the beauty both above and below the water. Snorkelers will swim above arches, tunnels, and caves and observe many types of fish. While it is possible to snorkel Los Arcos independently, in the interest of safety, consider a tour company. As an added bonus, these tour operators tend to bring along marine biologists who educate about the region’s biodiversity and history, which has been a protected marine reserve since the early ’80s.

Practice your Spanish and bargaining skills as you secure souvenirs, paintings, pottery, jewelry, handicrafts, embroidered garments, leather goods, and more at the Cuale River Flea Market. Despite its name, there are no pre-owned items sold there. This quiet collection of stalls is located on Isla Cuale, a narrow, pedestrian-only island located between the Romantic Zone and El Centro, and it’s a delightfully scenic space for retail therapy.