On your way to Puerto Vallarta and want to do more than party and lay by the pool?

There are plenty of unique, healthy things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular tourist destinations in Mexico and one of its biggest resort cities. Puerto Vallarta’s location by the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific ocean, has a diversity so much more accessible for all sorts of activities.

Be surprised by so many non touristy things to do in Puerto Vallarta, that most tourists will not experience at all!

The city is nestled between the sparkling Bay of Banderas and the lush, jungle-clad Sierra Madre mountains so of course there are some special Puerto Vallarta hidden gems.

If you are more of an independent and adventurous traveler, you will find something to love about Puerto Vallarta.

Get away from the main tourist areas, and you will enjoy it. As so many other people.

Puerto Vallarta, with jungle clad mountains, palm trees and jungle spilling on the beach and rocky coves with blue ocean.

Sooo little time so many things to do, unless you are for the long stay.

You may start by:

Hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas

Visit Quimixto and hike to the waterfall

Spend a day exploring the city – Zona Romantica, Isla Rio Cuale,

Walk the Malecon and hunt out all the street art

Pick one water activity – learn scuba diving at Los Arcos,

Seeing the famous Hidden Beach at Islas Marietas

Humpback whale watching

Mos of those activities are near the central city area of Puerto Vallarta, most are accessible walking or the local bus or a taxi if you have a hard time locating the meeting point .

A food tour is a good way to be guided to the different styles of Mexican food available in Puerto Vallarta and discover some of the favorites. (3 different companies do offer this activity) You will be explained about the restaurants and stands visited, the dishes eating, and all about the cuisine and the role of food in Mexican culture. Supporting local is the best thing you can do when you travel to ensure you are leaving a positive impact on the communities you visit. You may return to your favorite the spots on the tour, and you will be confident ordering something different on the menu.

The city is overflowing with an incredible range of restaurants, street stalls, taco stands and beach vendors serving up all kinds of delicious food.

Know your Tacos in Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/know-your-tacos-in-puerto-vallarta/

Puerto Vallarta is considered to be one of the best spots for food in Mexico!

Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta are positioned among the best 50 in Mexico. https://promovisionpv.com/restaurants-in-puerto-vallarta-are-positioned-among-the-best-50-in-mexico/

Different Types of Tequila Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/different-types-of-tequila-puerto-vallarta/

Explore Romantic Zone

Zona Romantica or the Romantic Zone is one of the many different neighbourhoods in Puerto Vallarta. The area goes by a few names, including Viejo Vallarta (Old Vallarta). Discover the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/about-the-romantic-zone-of-puerto-vallarta/

This historic area is one of the original parts of downtown Puerto Vallarta and still has a very warm feel. This green and leafy area has original cobblestone streets, colorful street art and a great vibe. The more you walk toward the mountain side, away from the beach you walk, the more local it gets. There are amazing street food stalls, cute parks and charming historic buildings. It is definitely worth spending a few hours just wandering aimlessly and exploring this pretty neighborhood! A row of charming colorful old buildings in Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta.

Cross the bridge to Isla del Rio Cuale, is the peaceful, lush oasis of Isla del Rio Cuale. Isla Cuale, a small island connected to Zona Romantica and the Centro area by a series of bridges. This tiny little island is a quiet reprieve from the busier areas of Puerto Vallarta and is well worth a visit to wander through the local market stalls and under the shady lush greenery.

There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the island too, which would make a great stop for a late breakfast or lunch while exploring the rest of the city. River Cafe looked upscale but had a lovely setting. A street crosses the Isla Rio Cuale in Puerto Vallarta, lined with market stalls selling colorful crafts, clothes and wares

Walk the Malecon

Okay so this definitely is not a unique thing to do in Puerto Vallarta, but I could not write this list without including this iconic sight. Puerto Vallarta has a long boardwalk along the water, called ‘El Malecon’. It stretches from Zona Romantica in the south to the Centro area in the north. It is only around 1.6 km (1 mi) long, but it is a great place to wander up and down. In the evenings, the Malecon is lined with all different kinds of street food stalls and street performers, with a great atmosphere. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset. The Puerto Vallarta Malecon, a seafront promenade winding around the coast lined with palm trees.

Beach Time

Olas Altas Beach, around the busy Zona Romantica and Centro areas. is the most popular beach, and for many visitors, their top priority is enjoying the sun, sea and sand with numerous beach restaurants. Playa Los Muertos, Playa Olas Atlas and Playa Camarones, although nice beaches, can be incredibly busy. With other tourists, beachfront restaurants and bars, and vendors selling everything you can imagine.

You can still experience the many beautiful beaches of Puerto Vallarta without the crowds at these less touristy beaches:

We recommend jumping on a bus heading south to Boca de Tomatlan and hopping off at any of these beaches.

What Beach to Spend the Day in Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit. https://promovisionpv.com/discover-the-beaches-to-spend-the-day/

You can catch the bus from the corner of Calle Constitución & Basilio Badillo in Zona Romantica out the front of the OXXO. Just make sure it says Boca de Tomatlan on the front, and it will head south along Highway 200.

The water around Puerto Vallarta can be rough depending on the season, so be careful swimming.

Enjoy Puerto Vallarta’s famous sunsets. Sitting on the west coast of Mexico on the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta is blessed with gorgeous sunsets year round! Planning to be on the beach, at a lookout, or in a bar or restaurant with a good view to enjoy the sunset. It is such a nice way to end the day, reflect on what you have done and seen in this beautiful part of Mexico. Any of the beaches around Puerto Vallarta have great sunset views, as does the Malecon.

Take part in the Puerto Vallarta Art Walk

Art Walk Resume October 30th 2024 Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/art-walk-resume-october-30th-puerto-vallarta/

Every Wednesday evening between late October – late June (peak/dry season) local galleries in the Centro neighborhood open their doors to visitors for the Puerto Vallarta ArtWalk. From 6 pm – 10 pm, you can take a self-guided walking art tour, visiting different galleries. You can speak with the artists, browse paintings, sculptures, ceramics and jewellery, and maybe even find a unique souvenir to take home.

Find all the street art

The historic area of Puerto Vallarta (Zona Romantic, Centro and 5 de Diciembre) is full of amazing street art. Huge colorful murals bring life to the streets and depict different historical, cultural and environmental themes.

Street Art chasers, here is a sample. About 100 images this is a sample, yes there are more, so do I. Some of the art images in the video are no longer available because of construction or remodeling of buildings. https://promovisionpv.com/puerto-vallarta-street-art-collection/

Hike Mirador de la Cruz

If you’re looking for a decent workout and some amazing views of PV, you should hike Mirador de la Cruz. A short, but very steep hike leads you through the streets behind Centro, following winding alleys with hundreds of stairs. You reach an observation tower which you can climb (more stairs!) for some beautiful views over the city and the Bay of Banderas. You will cross some of the fitness freaks and runners tackling these stairs!

Mirador de La Cruz Best View of Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/mirador-de-la-cruz-best-view-puerto-vallarta/

Visit Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an iconic site in Puerto Vallarta. Itis free to go inside the church, and so long as a service is not going on you are permitted to enter and (respectfully) take photos. The area around the cathedral is a hive of activity, with Plaza de Armas / City Hall nearby, lots of street food stalls and music. Church of Our Lady Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta with its ornate dome.

Take a cooking class

No doubt you have been eating all the delicious Mexican food around Puerto Vallarta. Now it may be time to take a cooking class and learn how to make some of the local specialties yourself! Learning how to make delicious salsas, tacos and Mexican drinks, taking a cooking class is a great cultural experience.

Cooking Paella

How to make Ceviche Aguachile.

Mexican Food & Gastronomy Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/mexican-food-gastronomy-puerto-vallarta/

There are not a lot of tours that allow you to genuinely and authentically connect with local people. A cooking class gives you this opportunity and is one of the best non touristy things to do in Puerto Vallarta. As part of a cooking class, you will visit a local market with your chef to shop for fresh local ingredients. Your class will take place in your chef’s house, where you will learn to cook a number of Mexican dishes. The experience has a rotating roster of dishes each day of the week, so you can check in advance which day you would like to book.

Get away from the center of Puerto Vallarta

Those activities are more of day trips, just on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta. Most are within an hour of Puerto Vallarta, or the tours depart directly from Puerto Vallarta.

Hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas.

If you want to get out in nature, get your blood pumping and discover some beautiful beaches, we highly recommend hiking the jungle trail from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas. Starting from the bustling little town of Boca, the trail winds around the coast through the jungle, passing a number of stunning and almost deserted coves. Before ending at the busier Playa Las Animas, where there are a ton of restaurants to grab lunch. To get to Boca de Tomatlan from Puerto Vallarta, you can take the bus from the corner of Calle Constitución & Basilio Badillo in Zona Romantica out the front of the OXXO. The bus is very easy to navigate, and it costs just 10 pesos per person. Once you arrive in Boca, you need to cross the bridge over the river, and you will be on the trail. There are signs along the way, pointing to the next beach (it won’t say Las Animas, it will say Playa Colomitos which is the first beach you will encounter).

The first leg of the trail to Playa Colomitos is the hardest, with the most ups and downs. But, resist the urge to rest at this beach, and push on a little further until you see the next one. Most people just walk one way on the trail to Playa Las Animas and then catch a boat back to Boca de Tomatlan.

Visit the Quimixto Waterfall

Quimixto is hands down the best Puerto Vallarta hidden gem! This was my favourite less touristy place near Puerto Vallarta, and we actually decided to spend a few nights here. I highly recommend it, but it’s also easy to visit Quimixto as a day trip.

Follow the path from the pier into the (very small!) town. You will see colorful signs pointing you to the cascada (waterfall). The walk to the falls is short, around 30 – 45 minutes depending on your pace, and besides a few short inclines, it is not too hard. Once you arrive at the falls, you will see there is a restaurant built on a platform above the falls. From there, you can walk down some stairs to swim at the base of the falls.

Snorkel at Los Arcos

The Los Arcos National Marine Park is a group of five small granite islands that seemingly shoot out of the ocean in the Bay of Banderas. The islands are located just off the coast of Mismaloya, a small beach town south of Puerto Vallarta. On land, the small archipelago is home to a number of birds such as pelicans and even the famous blue-footed booby! Under the water, there is a maze of tunnels and arches that are perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving.

The area is home to a range of tropical fish like parrot fish and angelfish, and if you’re lucky you might even spot a turtle or a ray! We saw a couple of spotted eagle rays on our visit, my favorite marine animal.

The visibility of the water becomes quite bad in the cooler months (November – April) because the water turns a tone of green. Our captain told us it’s because it mixes with the colder water coming from the north.

Go whale watching

Each winter, thousands of humpback whales come to the waters around Puerto Vallarta to mate and give birth. Humpbacks are the most energetic and active species of whale, and there is a good chance you will be treated to a show! They leap out of the water (breach), stick their heads vertically up (spy hop) and splash the water with their fins (pec slap) and tails (tail slap). The season runs from around mid-December to late March, with January and February being the peak time.

Discover Hidden Beach at Islas Marietas

An alternative option for snorkelling and diving is the Marietas Islands. Located much further out in the Bay of Banderas, this group of islands is protected as part of the Marietas Islands National Marine Park. Life above and below the water is similar to that at Los Arcos. But what really draws people to the Marietas Islands is the famous Hidden Beach. This beach is inside an open-air cavern, invisible from the outside. Only accessed at low tide, with a short swim or kayak through a tunnel, this beach has become very popular. Access to this fragile area is strictly controlled by the government, with only a small amount of permits issued each day. If you are permitted to enter on your tour, your time will be limited.

Baby Turtle Release

Every year from June – December, hundreds of mama sea turtles come ashore in the Bay of Banderas to lay their eggs. Sadly in Mexico, turtle nests are at risk of being stolen, eaten by predators, or crushed by ATVs and foot traffic. To combat this and conserve the population of sea turtles, local NGOs all over the country set up secure hatcheries, and relocate nests. Several locations are distributed along the cost for nesting and releasing. One center location is Playa del Holi, the Marriott Hotel in Marina Vallarta (you can call concierge to know if the re will release on that day)

Please remember that the turtle release are first and foremost about the protection and conservation of the turtles, NOT as a tourist attraction. Some visitors seem to forget this and are very demanding of the volunteers.

Puerto Vallarta Botanic Gardens

If you want to experience a slice of rainforest in Puerto Vallarta, head to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanico Vallarta). Located a 45-minute drive from Zona Romantica, the gardens showcase an impressive range of native plants and flowers. The property features planned and manicured gardens, as well as a range of trails through natural rain forests, rivers and waterfalls.You could easily spend a day here exploring all the different trails, and the further you get from the main gardens and visitor centre, the more likely you are to have the trails to yourself! Take the bus going to ‘El Tuito’ from Zona Romantica, from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Aguacate.

There is a restaurant on-site that serves up a range of international and Mexican-style dishes, which was surprisingly good and affordable considering the location. The restaurant sits on the upper floor of the visitor center, with a beautiful open-air balcony overlooking the gardens.

You will experience a super relaxing and lovely day, and after exploring the trails, lazing on the lawn in the shade reading a book in the peace and quiet. One of Puerto Vallarta’s best kept secrets!

Take a day trip to Yelapa

Yelapa is a small coastal village south of Puerto Vallarta, at the very edge of the Bay of Banderas. Accessible only by boat, it might seem like this area is an island. It is on the mainland, but the jungle around town is so dense, that there are no roads or cars here. You will find quieter beaches, some pretty waterfalls in the jungle and rural village life. You may stay in Yelapa for a few nights or just a discovery day trip. You can DIY your visit, taking the bus to Boca de Tomatlan, and then boarding a boat to Yelapa.

Yelapa tropical paradise near Puerto Vallarta https://promovisionpv.com/yelapa-tropical-paradise-near-puerto-vallarta/

You will land on Playa Yelapa, a gorgeous beach, and can easily while away a day lazing on the sand, exploring the village and hiking to the waterfalls. There is one waterfall that is quite close to the beach (follow this trail), but a second, quieter waterfall is a decent hike into the jungle (follow this trail) if you have got the time.

Hang out in Mismaloya

But this laid back coastal village is where tourism really started in Puerto Vallarta! It was the setting for the famous movie Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton. He brought his then-mistress Elizabeth Taylor with him to Puerto Vallarta while he filmed, and they both fell in love with the area and moved into Casa Kimberly in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

It is a great place to spend a day, with a sandy beach, Playa Mismaloya, and plenty of great restaurants to enjoy a fresh seafood feast. Keep your eye out for the resident iguanas roaming around town.

Mismaloya has also been the movie set to The Predator with Arnold.

If you are feeling active, there is a fantastic hike into the jungle to three gorgeous waterfalls. It’s a long and challenging hike, so come prepared. But chances are you’ll be the only one there! You can take the bus towards Boca de Tomatlan from the bus stop located here and get off at Mismaloya. The beach in Mismaloya, with a narrow strip of golden sand curving towards a rocky headland with jungle rising up the mountain dotted with hotels and villas

Change it up and get out of Puerto Vallarta to these surrounding towns. No high-rise resorts, heavy traffic or shopping malls in sight. If you have got the time, you can add a couple of nights at any of these destinations for a change of scenery.

Discover Surf town to Sayulita

About an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in the neighbouring state of Nayarit is the colourful surf town of Sayulita. This pueblo magico has become a pretty popular spot for travellers over the past few years. Sayulita is a beach town that revolves around surfing, yoga and partying. It’s a funky place, with aesthetic cafes, tons of great restaurants, cute artsy stores and gorgeous boutique hotels.

In Sayulita, you can see all the main sights walking, and the best thing to do is wander around the town, hit the beach, take a surf lesson and enjoy the great dining scene.

San Pancho, Nayarit

For a destination even more laidback than Sayulita, try San Pancho. Officially San Francisco de Nayarit this hippy village is just a few minutes north of Sayulita. It has a similar vibe, with colourful streets and great surf, but it hasn’t become as popular or crowded as Sayulita.

“The Children’s Circus” Circo de Los Niños, San Pancho, Nayarit https://promovisionpv.com/circo-de-los-ninos-san-pancho-nayarit/ Circo de Los Niños, Circo de Los Niños de San Pancho, circus school,

Get into the mountains at San Sebastian del Oeste

Another great day trip from Puerto Vallarta, in a completely different area! San Sebastian del Oeste is one of Jalisco’s Pueblo Magicos or magic towns. Located high in the Sierra Madre mountains, this small mining town has cool, fresh air and offers a reprieve from the heat and humidity of the coast. The small town offers a glimpse into rural Mexican life and feels as if you’ve stepped back in time. With whitewashed buildings and cobblestone streets, it’s a cute pueblo to explore. A charming white washed church with an archway to enter in the town of San Sebastian del Oeste near Puerto Vallarta

You may get your tour/trip at a better price from: Here are some people I have known for 25+ years
You can call Chon at 322-278-2884 for some possible discounts or ask for any other recommemdations by Chon or Julian at their stand next to the OXXO at the Marina Terminal Entrance. They have been there for more then 25 years.

Jose Luis walks along the los muertos malecon, wares a red CN cap.

Jaime Humberto stands outside at the Los Arcos Hotel in the morning until 12

Jorge, stand is at the entrance of the Los Muertos Pier

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