The 10 Best Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta has spent decades as one of the favorite destinations on the Mexican Pacific, and not only for its beaches. Behind the Malecón, in the state of Jalisco, sits a jungle that runs almost down to the sea, coves you can only reach by boat, and mountain villages that look like they stopped somewhere in the last century.

So what should you do in Puerto Vallarta? Walking the Malecón, snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya National Park, and wandering the Zona Romántica are the most repeated plans within the city, while Las Caletas, Sayulita, and San Sebastián del Oeste are the day trips people look for most when leaving the bay. You’ll find all the details below.

1. El Malecón

The Malecón is the backbone of Puerto Vallarta, a seafront promenade running just under half a mile (1 kilometer) where restaurants, terraces, and a dozen bronze sculptures sit side by side. Several have become symbols of the city, like the seahorses of “La Nostalgia” and the giant octopus of “La Rotonda del Mar.”

It’s also one of the best places to watch the sunset over Banderas Bay, especially from the piers near the lighthouse. At night the atmosphere changes completely. Bars with live music and street food stalls keep it busy well into the early hours.

2. Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

A few streets from the Malecón, this church is the most photographed building in the center thanks to the crown topping its tower, modeled on the one worn by Empress Carlota of Mexico in the 19th century. Its exposed brick facade stands out against the more modern buildings around it.

The original crown went up in 1965, but an earthquake destroyed it completely in 1995. For years a temporary fiberglass version stood in its place, until in 2009 a sculptor from Jalisco carved the crown you see on the main tower today.

You can see it as part of the bicycle tour of Puerto Vallarta, which also passes the Malecón lighthouse and other points in the historic center in a little over two hours.

3. Zona Romántica and Isla Río Cuale

South of the Río Cuale, the Zona Romántica keeps the fishing-village feel Puerto Vallarta had before the tourism boom, with cobbled streets and a far more varied food scene than the center. Playa de los Muertos, right alongside, is the liveliest city beach, with food stalls and vendors working the sand all day.

In the middle of the riverbed, Isla Río Cuale holds a small craft market and an archaeological museum, a quiet stop to make before crossing to either bank.

4. Snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya National Park

Twenty minutes from the center, Los Arcos de Mismaloya is a cluster of rocky islets bored through by the waves, forming one of the most visited marine parks on the Mexican Pacific. Its clear water and underwater caves are home to a wide range of tropical fish, and seabirds nest on the rock above.

You can book the Los Arcos catamaran trip, which sails out to the islets and gives you time in the water, or browse the wider range of boat trips in Puerto Vallarta if you’d rather stay dry.

5. Las Caletas

Las Caletas is a private beach set deep in the jungle, reachable only by boat. For years it belonged to the film director John Huston, who used it as a retreat after shooting The Night of the Iguana in the area. It still has that hidden-away feel, with trails through the vegetation and wildlife ranging from iguanas to semi-wild spider monkeys.

You can book the Las Caletas trip, which includes the catamaran crossing from the marina and free time to swim, snorkel, or just rest on the sand. Since it’s private property reachable only by sea, you won’t find the crowds that gather on other beaches around the bay.

6. Hidden Beaches and Snorkeling at Colomitos

South of the bay, several beaches are reachable only on foot or by boat, tucked between cliffs and tropical forest. Colomitos, the best known, is a tiny cove with calm water, ideal for snorkeling without having to go far from shore.

You can book the hidden beaches hike with snorkeling at Colomitos, which starts in the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlán and follows the coast on foot to reach the cove.

7. Sayulita and San Pancho

Over the line in neighboring Nayarit, a little more than an hour from Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita went from fishing village to one of the most popular surf destinations in Mexico, with a center full of craft stalls and painted murals. San Pancho, its quieter neighbor, keeps a far more relaxed and less touristy feel.

If you surf, the waves at Sayulita are among the most beginner-friendly on this stretch of coast, with several local schools renting boards and running one or two hour lessons.

You can book the Sayulita and San Pancho day trip to see both towns in the same day, with free time to walk around and swim at their beaches.

8. Majahuitas and the Yelapa Waterfall

Majahuitas is another of the coves you can only reach by sailing across the bay, with a stretch of near-untouched jungle behind the sand. A short way along the coast by sea, the village of Yelapa hides a waterfall that drops straight into a natural pool, one of the most photographed spots on this part of the coast.

You can book the Majahuitas Cove and Yelapa trip to see both places on a single boat outing from Banderas Bay.

9. San Sebastián del Oeste

Up in the Sierra Madre Occidental, about two hours from the coast, San Sebastián del Oeste is a Pueblo Mágico that has kept its old mining town appearance almost intact, with red-tiled houses and cobbled streets a world away from the tropical landscape of the bay. The change in altitude shows in the climate too, noticeably cooler than Puerto Vallarta.

Trips up here usually include a tasting of coffee or raicilla, the traditional spirit of this part of Jalisco. Availability varies through the year, so it’s worth checking the current range of day trips from Puerto Vallarta if you want to get there on an organized excursion.

10. The Sierra Madre by Quad

If you’d rather mix nature and sport without needing much in the way of fitness, the Sierra Madre that wraps around Puerto Vallarta is easy to get into on four wheels, combining paved stretches with dirt tracks running through the vegetation.

You can book the Sierra Madre quad tour, a comfortable option if you like the idea of an active route but don’t have much off-road experience.

How to Get Around Puerto Vallarta

You can cover the center and the Malecón perfectly well on foot, since the main sights sit close together. If you’d rather move around without tiring yourself out, the Puerto Vallarta hop-on hop-off bus is a good option. For the southern beaches like Mismaloya there are also cheap public buses leaving the center every few minutes, though Las Caletas, Majahuitas, and Yelapa are only reachable by boat.

When to Visit Puerto Vallarta

The dry season, from November to April, brings the most settled weather, with clear skies and comfortable daytime temperatures. It’s also when you can spot humpback whales in Banderas Bay, roughly between December and March.

June to October is the rainy season, with heavy but short downpours, almost always in the afternoon or overnight. The jungle looks far greener in these months, though it’s worth leaving some slack in your itinerary in case a boat trip gets delayed by rough water.

Frequently Asked Questions About Puerto Vallarta

Is Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco?

Yes, Puerto Vallarta belongs to the state of Jalisco, though its bay is shared with neighboring Nayarit, where you’ll find towns like Sayulita, San Pancho, and Punta Mita.

How Many Days Do You Need in Puerto Vallarta?

Three or four days is enough to see the center, fit in a snorkeling trip, and visit at least one nearby town such as Sayulita or San Sebastián del Oeste. If you want to cover several full-day excursions, stretch the stay to a week.

What Can You Do on the Malecón at Night?

After dark the Malecón fills with street food stalls, bars with live music, and street performers working in front of the bronze sculptures. It’s also one of the best places for a drink with a sea view once the sun has gone down.

When Can You See Whales in Puerto Vallarta?

Humpback whales come into Banderas Bay to breed roughly between December and March, which lines up with the dry season. It’s the time of year when most whale watching trips run from the port.

Puerto Vallarta combines the feel of an established resort city with direct access to jungle, mountains, and coves that seem far more remote than they really are. Split your days between the center and a couple of excursions and you’ll come away with a picture of the place that goes well beyond the Malecón.

If you want to keep exploring the Mexican Pacific, take a look at the full Civitatis catalog. It brings together the best activities in English all over the world, ready to book in a few minutes.