Puerto Vallarta is an easy city to fill a week in. The downtown and the Romantic Zone are walkable, the bay is big enough for whales, boat-only beaches and a protected island park, and the jungle hills behind town hide zip lines, waterfalls and trails. The hard part is choosing, which is why we put together this list of things to do in Puerto Vallarta.
We live and work here, and our guests ask us what to do in Puerto Vallarta every day. These are the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta as we would plan them for a friend: the classics you should not skip, the local picks, and honest notes on when each one is worth it. It runs from downtown out to the bay, the hills, the table and the day trips, with a quick top 10 up front.
Our top 10 things to do in Puerto Vallarta
If you only have a few days, these are the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta. Each is covered in detail below.
- Walk the Malecón at sunset.
- Snorkel or kayak at Los Arcos.
- Go whale watching between December and March.
- Take a water taxi to Yelapa or Las Ánimas.
- Spend a day on Playa Los Muertos and watch the sun set from the pier.
- Eat your way down Restaurant Row and the taco stands.
- Hike the coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán.
- Visit the Vallarta Botanical Garden.
- Ride a zip line through the jungle.
- Go out in the Romantic Zone after dark.
Downtown and the Puerto Vallarta Malecón
1. Walk the Puerto Vallarta Malecón at sunset
The Malecón is the seaside boardwalk that runs through downtown for about 12 blocks, with the bay on one side and restaurants and bars on the other. Along the way you pass a series of bronze sculptures that have become the city’s signature photo stops, and locals and visitors alike walk it every evening as the sun drops into the bay.
Time it for sunset. The light turns the whole bay gold, street performers set up along the boardwalk, and by dark the street performers have drawn their crowds. Los Arcos del Malecón, a set of arches beside an open-air stage, is the landmark in the middle of it all and often hosts free shows on weekends.
Start at the north end and walk south, so you end near the bridges to the Romantic Zone for dinner. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a camera, and give yourself at least an hour to wander rather than march. If you are only in Puerto Vallarta for a night, this is the one thing to do.
2. See the crown on the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is the building on every Puerto Vallarta postcard, thanks to the crown that sits on top of its tower. It stands downtown, a few blocks inland from the Malecón.
Step inside for a quiet few minutes, then look back at the tower from a block or two away for the classic view. If you are here from December 1 to 12, the church is the destination of the Guadalupe pilgrimages, when processions arrive each evening with music, dancers and food stalls filling the surrounding streets. Dress respectfully and keep your voice down inside.
3. Cross the bridges to Isla Cuale
Isla Río Cuale, usually just called Isla Cuale, is a small island in the river that separates downtown from the Romantic Zone, reached by footbridges from both sides. It is shaded by big trees and threaded with walking paths, and it holds a craft market, cafés and stalls selling crafts and souvenirs.
Come in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest; the island is one of the coolest places in the center to walk. Browse the market slowly, haggle politely, and stop for a coffee under the trees before you cross the second bridge.
4. Climb to the Mirador de la Cruz
Above downtown, a long, steep flight of stairs leads up to the Mirador de la Cruz, a viewpoint marked by a cross with a view over the rooftops, the church tower and the whole curve of the bay. Walk up Abasolo Street from the middle of the Malecón and follow the signs; the climb takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and it is not suited to anyone with mobility issues.
Go early in the morning or an hour before sunset, when the light is good and the heat is lower, and carry water. The reward is the photo of Puerto Vallarta that you cannot get from street level, with the bay behind the church’s crown. Wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops for the stairs, and check locally that the stairs are open before you set out.
5. Join the downtown art walk
Puerto Vallarta has a long history as an artists’ town, and downtown is dense with galleries showing Mexican painting, sculpture and folk art. From late October to May, the Puerto Vallarta ArtWalk opens around 16 galleries together every Wednesday from 6 to 10pm, with a crowd drifting from door to door.
The galleries are within a few blocks of each other, and it is a free, sociable way to spend the early part of a night before dinner on the Malecón or in the Romantic Zone. Even outside the art walk, most galleries welcome browsers, so wander in whenever a window catches your eye.
6. Watch the Voladores de Papantla
The Voladores de Papantla, the pole flyers, perform an ancient ceremony from the state of Veracruz: five men climb a tall pole, one plays a flute and drum at the top, and the other four launch themselves off, spinning slowly to the ground on ropes tied at their waists. They perform daily at a tall pole near the north end of the Malecón.
It is a short performance and one of the more memorable Puerto Vallarta attractions, so if you see the pole, wait around. There are several performances a day, often around sunset when the boardwalk is busiest, and a tip afterward is expected and deserved.
The Romantic Zone
South of the Río Cuale, the Romantic Zone (Zona Romántica, or Old Town) is the neighborhood most of our guests call home for the week. It is walkable, full of restaurants and galleries, and a few blocks from the beach.
7. Wander the galleries, shops and cafés
The Romantic Zone’s streets are made for getting lost in. Galleries, small shops selling clothing, ceramics and jewelry, and cafés spill onto the sidewalks, and the pace is slow enough that nobody minds if you stop at every window. The neighborhood is also the center of the city’s well-known LGBTQ+ scene, which gives it a relaxed, open feel day and night.
Go in the morning before the heat, when the cafés are full and the shops are opening, or in the late afternoon on the way to dinner. Bring a tote bag for the ceramics you did not plan to buy. Many of our condos are a few blocks from these streets, so this is the part of the list you can do in flip-flops before breakfast.
8. Eat your way down Restaurant Row
Basilio Badillo is known as Restaurant Row, and the name is earned: the street and the blocks around it hold dozens of restaurants, from long-running favorites to new openings, Mexican and international, casual and dressed up. Dinner here is one of the simplest and most satisfying Puerto Vallarta activities.
Reserve ahead in high season, especially from Christmas through Easter, and walk the street once before you commit so you can read the menus and the mood. Our restaurant guide picks a few favorites. Dinner runs late by U.S. standards, so an 8pm table is normal.
9. Watch the sunset from the Los Muertos Pier
The Los Muertos Pier stretches out from Playa Los Muertos, and at sunset it fills with people leaning on the rails to watch the sun go down over the bay. Water taxis leave from here for the south shore beaches, so it is useful as well as pretty. By dark, the pier lights come on and the beach bars behind it get going.
Arrive 30 minutes before sunset to get a spot at the end, and stay for the blue hour afterward, when the lights along the beach come on. If you are curious why a beach this cheerful is called the Beach of the Dead, we wrote up the story behind its name.
10. Shop the Saturday farmers market
From about November to April, the Olas Altas Farmers Market sets up on Saturday mornings, roughly 9:30am to 2pm, in Lázaro Cárdenas Park in the Romantic Zone. It is a producer-only market, so the food, produce and crafts come from people who make or grow them in the region. It is a good way to stock the condo kitchen for the week and to meet the people who make things here.
Go early for the widest selection and before the heat builds. Bring cash in small bills and a bag. If you are cooking in your rental, this is where to pick up fresh tortillas, cheese and vegetables for a meal at home.
Beaches, boats and the bay
Banderas Bay is the reason the city exists, and getting out on it, or at least into it, belongs on any list of things to do in Puerto Vallarta.
11. Spend a day on Playa Los Muertos
Playa Los Muertos is the city’s most popular and lively beach, right at the foot of the Romantic Zone. Restaurants serve lunch on the sand, loungers and umbrellas are for rent, and there are banana boats, parasailing and paddleboards if you want more than a swim. The people-watching is half the fun.
Pick a restaurant with loungers and settle in for the afternoon; ordering lunch often gets you the chair for the afternoon. If you would rather have quiet, walk south toward Conchas Chinas or read our guide to the Puerto Vallarta beaches for the coves and boat-only options. Bring cash for the vendors and sunscreen for the long haul.
12. Snorkel or kayak at Los Arcos
Los Arcos is a cluster of granite rock arches rising out of the bay off Mismaloya, inside a protected marine area. Fish gather around the rocks, and it is the classic snorkeling, diving and kayak spot in the bay, and a stop on many boat trips.
Go in the morning, when the water is often calmer and the boats fewer. You can reach it by kayak or boat from Mismaloya or on a tour from town. Bring your own mask if you are particular about fit; rental gear is available but variable. Our guide to snorkeling spots compares Los Arcos with the other options, including Conchas Chinas, which you can reach on foot.
13. Go whale watching in winter
Every winter, humpback whales come to Banderas Bay to mate, give birth and raise their calves. The official whale watching season runs from early December to late March (December 8, 2026 to late March 2027), and activity peaks from mid-December through February. On a good morning you can see breaching, tail slaps and mothers with calves from a tour boat.
Book a permitted operator, go in the morning when the water is often calmer, and bring a layer for the wind on the water. No tour can promise sightings, but January and February are your best chance. Our guide to whale watching in Puerto Vallarta covers tour types and timing in detail.
14. Take a water taxi to Yelapa or Las Ánimas
South of Boca de Tomatlán, the road ends and the coast belongs to the boats. Water taxis from the Los Muertos Pier and from Boca de Tomatlán run to a string of beaches you cannot drive to: Las Ánimas, with its beach restaurants; Colomitos, a tiny cove; Majahuitas; and Yelapa, a village with no road access known for its beach and a waterfall you can walk to.
Make it a full day. Las Ánimas is the easy choice for lunch on the sand; Yelapa is the bigger adventure. Confirm the time of the last boat back before you get off, bring cash, and pack light. In the rainy season the Yelapa waterfall runs fullest.
15. Visit Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands
Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) sits inside the Marietas Islands, a protected national park off the north end of the bay. Because of the protection, visits are by permitted tour only, with a limited number of visitors each day, some days closed entirely, and sea conditions that can cancel the beach stop even after you have set out.
Book well ahead and treat the beach as a possibility rather than a guarantee; the islands, the birds and the snorkeling are worth the trip on their own. It is a long day on the water, so bring sun protection and motion-sickness tablets if you need them. Our guide to Puerto Vallarta tours explains how to choose a trip.
16. Take a sunset cruise
A sunset cruise on Banderas Bay is the easiest way to see the city from the water: the Malecón, the church tower and the hills behind them lit up gold, then the lights coming on along the shore. Sailing trips and catamaran cruises leave from the marinas and from downtown, most with drinks and music on board.
Choose a sailboat if you want quiet and a catamaran if you want a party, and ask whether the price includes drinks before you book. Boats fill up in high season, so reserve a day or two ahead.
17. Go sport fishing
Sport fishing charters run from the marinas, with trips ranging from a half day inside the bay to a full day offshore. Many captains will clean your catch, and some restaurants will cook it for you.
Book directly with a charter rather than through a beach vendor, go early, and bring sunscreen, a hat and your own snacks. Our guide to fishing charters covers the options and where to fish.
18. Release baby sea turtles
Sea turtles nest on the beaches around the bay, and protected nesting camps collect the eggs and release the hatchlings when they are ready. The main public release is at the turtle camp at Boca de Tomates, near the airport, where volunteers explain the work and visitors can help release hatchlings at sunset, roughly from summer through December. It is free, and donations keep the camp running.
Go with a camp or program that follows the protection rules, listen to the staff, and leave the flash off your camera. Children remember this one for years. Release times vary, so check with the camp on the day or ask us when you book.
Nature and adventure
Behind the beach, Puerto Vallarta climbs straight into the jungle. These are the things to do in Puerto Vallarta when you want to get your heart rate up or get into the green.
19. Ride a zip line through the jungle
Zip line parks run through the jungle in the hills south of town, with lines stretched between platforms above the canopy and rivers. Many combine several lines with extras such as rope bridges or rappels.
Book ahead in high season, wear closed shoes and clothes you can sweat in, and leave anything you would hate to drop behind. Ask about weight and age limits before you book if you are bringing children. This is a half-day commitment, so pair it with a lazy afternoon by the pool.
20. Hike the coastal trail from Boca de Tomatlán
The coastal hiking trail begins in the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlán and follows the shore south toward Colomitos and Las Ánimas, dipping down to small beaches along the way. It is a real hike with climbs and rough footing, and the reward is a swim at a cove you earned.
Start early, carry more water than you think you need, wear shoes with grip, and plan to take a water taxi back from Las Ánimas rather than walking both ways. The dry season is the comfortable time to do it. Our guide to hiking trails covers this one and the other trails in the hills.
21. Visit the Vallarta Botanical Garden
The Vallarta Botanical Garden is about 30 minutes south of town in the hills, with collections of native plants and orchids, forest trails that drop to a river, and a restaurant with a view over the garden. It is one of the calmer Puerto Vallarta attractions and a good half day away from the beach.
Go in the morning, wear walking shoes and insect repellent, and allow time for lunch at the restaurant. The garden is at its greenest in and just after the rainy season, but it is worth the trip in any month. Combine it with Mismaloya or Las Gemelas on the way back to make a full day on the south shore.
22. Mismaloya and the Night of the Iguana story
Mismaloya is a beach and small village about 9 miles south of downtown, surrounded by jungle, with calm water and seafood restaurants on the sand. It is also where The Night of the Iguana was filmed in 1964.
Spend a beach afternoon here, eat fish at one of the village restaurants, and read our post on the film before you go so the setting makes sense. Los Arcos is just offshore, so it pairs well with a snorkeling trip. A taxi from the Romantic Zone is the simplest way out.
23. Chase waterfalls in the rainy season
The hills behind Puerto Vallarta are full of rivers, and from June to October they run high. Waterfalls such as Palo María, south of town, and the falls at Yelapa are at their fullest then, and the whole landscape turns deep green.
Go in the morning before the afternoon storms, wear shoes you can get wet, and never swim below a waterfall when the water is brown or rising. In the dry season some falls slow to a trickle, so manage your expectations between January and May.
24. Rent a bike and ride the coast
A bike is a good way to cover more of the city than you can on foot, from the Hotel Zone along the shore to the Malecón and over the river to the Romantic Zone. Rentals are available around town.
Ride early in the morning, when traffic is light and the air is cool, and stick to the quieter streets and the shore. Our guide to bike rentals covers where to rent and where to ride.
Food and drink
25. Eat tacos from the street stands
The taco stands and taquerías of Puerto Vallarta are where the city eats, and they are some of the most satisfying meals you will have here for the least money. Tacos al pastor shaved off the spit, birria on weekend mornings, fish and shrimp tacos near the beach: each stand does one or two things well.
Follow the lines, eat where locals eat, and go in the evening when the pastor spits are turning. Our guide to the best tacos in Puerto Vallarta names the stands we send guests to. Carry small bills and a napkin.
26. Take a food tour
Food tours are popular in Puerto Vallarta for good reason: a guide walks you through a neighborhood, you eat at several places you would not have found alone, and you come away knowing how to order for the rest of the week.
Do it on your first or second day, so the rest of your meals benefit. Come hungry, skip lunch, and wear comfortable shoes. Book ahead in high season, and tell the guide about allergies when you reserve rather than at the first stop.
27. Host a tequila tasting in your rental
One of the pleasures of staying in a condo instead of a hotel is the kitchen and the dining table, and a tequila tasting is the easiest way to use them. Pick up a few bottles from a local shop, line up a blanco, a reposado and an añejo, and taste them side by side with friends on the terrace.
Our guide shows you how to host a tequila tasting, from which bottles to buy to how to taste them properly. Pair it with sunset on the rooftop and dinner at home from the farmers market, and you have a night in that beats most nights out.
28. Try the craft breweries
Puerto Vallarta has its own craft breweries and taprooms pouring beer made in town, a good change from the beach bar’s bucket of bottles.
Go in the late afternoon, when the taprooms are quieter. Our guide to the breweries lists who is pouring what. Pace yourself and drink water between rounds; the heat makes beer hit harder than at home.
29. Visit during Restaurant Week
Restaurant Week usually runs from mid-May into early June, when restaurants across the city offer set menus at fixed prices for the event. It is a chance to try the dressed-up places at a lower price, and because it falls in the quiet shoulder season, you can usually get a table.
Plan a few dinners around it, reserve the popular restaurants anyway, and use the menus to try places you would normally walk past. May is warm and mostly dry, so it is a good month for the trip as a whole. Check the dates for the year you are traveling.
Puerto Vallarta nightlife and shows
30. Experience Puerto Vallarta nightlife in the Romantic Zone
Puerto Vallarta nightlife centers on the Romantic Zone and the Malecón. Bars, clubs and cabaret shows pack the neighborhood’s blocks, and the neighborhood is home to the city’s well-known LGBTQ+ scene, with gay bars and clubs that welcome everyone. The Malecón has its own bars and clubs as well.
Start with a rooftop or a cocktail bar, then let the night take you. Nights run late, so an 11pm start is normal. Our LGBTQ+ travel guide and our pick of the gay bars in Puerto Vallarta cover the scene in detail. Staying in the Romantic Zone means you can walk home.
31. See Rhythms of the Night
Rhythms of the Night is a dinner show at Las Caletas, a cove south of town that you reach by boat. The evening, about five hours in all, combines a sunset cruise across the bay, a candlelit dinner and a music and acrobatic performance in an open-air theater in the jungle, before the boat home.
It is a long evening and a splurge, better suited to couples and families with older children. Check dates and book ahead, especially in high season, bring a light layer for the boat ride back, and skip it if you are prone to seasickness or short on time.
Slow down
32. Book a spa day or a couples massage
Puerto Vallarta has spas at every level, from hotel day spas to small neighborhood places, and massage therapists who will come to your condo. A massage on the rooftop or the terrace, with the bay in front of you, is a different experience from a windowless room at home.
Book a day or two ahead in high season, and ask whether the therapist can come to your rental. Our guide to a couples massage covers the options and what to expect.
33. Play a round of golf
Golf courses ring Banderas Bay, from courses near the marina to resort courses up the coast in Nayarit, with mountain and ocean views. It is a good way to spend a morning away from the beach.
Book early tee times to beat the heat, especially outside the winter months, and arrange transportation in advance since the courses are spread around the bay. Our guide to the golf courses compares them.
Day trips from Puerto Vallarta
The city makes a good base for exploring the rest of the bay. Two trips are worth a day, and a third, Punta Mita at the northern tip of the bay, is the luxury-resort option for a lunch or a beach club visit.
34. Day trips north: Sayulita and Bucerías
Sayulita is a small surf town north along the coast, about 45 minutes to an hour from the airport by car, with beginner-friendly waves, a compact center of shops and cafés, and a laid-back feel that fills up fast in high season. Bucerías, a beach town between Nuevo Vallarta and Sayulita, is quieter, with a long beach and a small-town plaza.
Leave in the morning, have lunch on the beach, and head back before the evening traffic. If you are still deciding where to base yourself, our comparison of Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta or Sayulita explains the trade-offs.
35. Drive up to San Sebastián del Oeste
San Sebastián del Oeste is a historic former mining town in the mountains behind the bay, about an hour and a half each way by car on a winding two-lane road, with cooler mountain air that feels a world away from the beach. It is the day trip for people who want history and quiet rather than sand.
Go with a driver or a tour unless you are comfortable with mountain roads, bring a layer for the cooler air, and plan a long lunch in the plaza. It is a full day. Check road conditions before you go, especially in the rainy season.
Things to do in Puerto Vallarta by season
The list above works in any month, but some things to do in Puerto Vallarta are tied to the calendar. Our guide to Puerto Vallarta weather by month has the full picture; here are the dates to plan around.
- November: Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2, then U.S. Thanksgiving week, which marks the start of high season.
- December: the Guadalupe pilgrimages from December 1 to 12, Christmas lights along the Malecón, the opening of whale season on December 8, 2026, and fireworks over the bay at midnight on New Year’s Eve in Puerto Vallarta. Our December traditions post covers the whole month.
- December to March: whale season, peaking mid-December through February.
- March 21 to 28, 2027: Semana Santa, when Mexican families fill the beaches.
- Late May: Pride, centered on the Romantic Zone, and Restaurant Week from mid-May into early June.
- June to October: the rainy season, when the hills are green and the waterfalls full.
- September 15 and 16: Mexican Independence Day celebrations, starting on the night of the 15th.
Where to stay to do it all
Most of this list is walkable from the Romantic Zone. Our Romantic Zone condos are a few blocks from Los Muertos Beach and within walking distance of Restaurant Row, the Malecón, the pier where the water taxis leave and the nightlife, and many of the buildings have rooftop pools for the afternoons in between.
If beach days and whales are the priority, our Hotel Zone beachfront condos at Harbor 171 and Grand Venetian put the sand outside the door, and in season guests can see whales from the balcony. For views and quiet, our homes in Amapas and Conchas Chinas sit on the hillside just south of the Romantic Zone, most looking out over the bay.
Our team meets you at the building when you arrive, and when you book direct there are no platform fees. Pick your base, then see our condos.
FAQ
What is Puerto Vallarta best known for?
The Malecón and its sculptures, the church with the crown, Banderas Bay and its beaches, and humpback whales in winter. It is also known for its restaurants, its LGBTQ+ friendly Romantic Zone, and as the town where The Night of the Iguana was filmed in 1964.
What can you do in Puerto Vallarta for free?
Walk the Malecón at sunset, watch the street performers and the Voladores, visit the church and Isla Cuale, climb to the Mirador de la Cruz, and spend the day on Playa Los Muertos or Playa Camarones. In winter you can sometimes spot whales from the shore or a high balcony. The Wednesday ArtWalk from late October to May is free too.
What are the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta at night?
Start with sunset on the Malecón or the Los Muertos Pier, have dinner on Restaurant Row, then head into the Romantic Zone’s bars and clubs or the Malecón’s. A sunset cruise or the Rhythms of the Night dinner show make a good special evening. A tequila tasting on your own rooftop is the quiet alternative.
How many days do you need in Puerto Vallarta?
Five to seven days lets you do the downtown and Romantic Zone highlights, two or three beach or boat days, one jungle outing and a day trip without rushing. A long weekend covers the Malecón, a beach day and a boat trip. Two weeks is not too long if you like to settle in.
Is Puerto Vallarta walkable?
Downtown and the Romantic Zone are very walkable, with the Malecón connecting them and most restaurants, galleries and the beach within a few blocks. The hills south of town and the Hotel Zone are a short taxi ride. For a frank look at getting around on foot and at night, read our post on is Puerto Vallarta safe.
