Things to do in Puerto Vallarta
Activities and Tours

Wondering about things to do in Puerto Vallarta? You will find plenty of Puerto Vallarta activity, to keep you more than busy while on your Mexico vacation to this beautiful city. Here is a partial list of Puerto Vallarta activities and tours to give you a taste of the variety and what to expect.

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Canopy Adventure
Approximate Duration: 5 Hours
This is probably the coolest things to do in Puerto Vallarta, not for the faint at heart. A truly thrilling experience where you glide through the treetops on a network of cables suspended high above the jungle trails in Puerto Vallarta's tropical forest. You can sail from tree to tree and platform to platform on a network of pulleys and horizontal cables mounted between 10 and 70 feet above the ground of the tropical forest. This exciting adventure consists of 14 observation platforms, 11 horizontal traverses, a "Tarzan" swing, two hanging bridges and a thrilling vertical descent.

Tropical Jungle Tour
Approximate Duration: 4 Hours 30 Minutes
Perhaps our favorite Puerto Vallarta activity. This tour takes you along the scenic coastal highway, in the foothills of the mountains, is one of the most exciting jungle locations in the area, where Predator was filmed. This site was chosen because of the dense vegetation and absolute primal nature of the area. You almost feel as if you have stepped back in time. You can see the growth and lush vegetation that characterizes this tropical forest. There are brilliantly colored plants and flowers and examples of local wildlife. There's time for a swim in the natural pools formed by the river.
 

In the top left photo you see the last remaining prop from "The Predator" movie, the burned out hulk of the crashed helicopter.
In the right top and left side photo you see the waterfall and pool where Arnold battled the Alien. This is a really neat swimming hole, you can slide down the waterfall into the pool. There is a restaurant and bar terraced in the surrounding rocks and boulders, that offers a cool drink and spectacular view.
The "Canopy Tour" also passes overhead, providing a glimpse of all of the tourists playing Tarzan!
 

Marieta Island Eco-Discovery Tour
Approximate Duration of this Puerto Vallarta activity: 7 Hours
If you can find the time, don't miss this of Puerto Vallarta activity! The Marieta Islands are located northwest of Puerto Vallarta. This tour will allow you to experience the ecological sights and sounds of this natural environment. Comprised of four, large, distinct rock formations, this area has been classified as a National Wildlife Preserve due to the numerous species of birds, marine mammals and fish.

Rhythms of the Night
Approximately 4 1/2 hours
This is an evening dinner and boating cruise that was really entertaining. It's worth doing once for the experience. It begins with a scenic sunset cruise across Banderas Bay to the isolated cove of Las Caletas.

You follow a torch lit path to various dining areas, either beachside on in jungle palapas. The aromas of grilled steak, chicken and fish really tempt your appetite for a dinner accompanied by a full buffet of freshly prepared vegetables, salads and handmade tortillas.
 
After dinner there is a Rhythms of the Night Folklore show with native dancers and actors relating stories of an ancient civilization through music and dance. The evening ends with a nightcap and dancing under the stars on the short cruise back to Puerto Vallarta.
 

In the photos above, you see the beach and jungle that awaits you on the Rhythms of the Night tour. There is a natural amphitheater back in the jungle where the evening show is presented.

This was an incredible sight! As we were cruising to our Rhythms of the Night destination , the boat encountered a school of dolphins. They put on quite a show, jumping and cruising in the bow wake of the boat. This went on for probably 10 minutes!

Dolphin Encounter
Approximate Duration of this Puerto Vallarta activity: 3 Hours
No more than seven guests in the specially designed educational pool. Standing in water waist deep, meet your dolphin and for approximately 15 minutes.
The difference in these two Puerto Vallarta tours, is basically the time spent in the pool and the number of other folks that are in the pool at the same time. Oh, and the price!

Yelapa Beach Snorkeling & Sailing
Approximate Duration: 7 Hours
This is a wonderful Puerto Vallarta activity to participate in. A boat trip to the Los Arcos Snorkeling site, where you’ll see a wide variety of exotic and colorful tropical fish. You'll spend approximately 45 minutes here before re-boarding the sailboat to sail to remote Yelapa Beach. This exclusive beach is only accessible by sea. While at Yelapa Beach, you will have a great lunch and some free time to enjoy the beautiful sandy beach. A must do of Puerto Vallarta tours.

Sunset Pirate Boat Adventure
Approximate Duration: 6 Hours
 

This one of Puerto Vallarta tours sets sail from the dock adjacent to the cruise ship.

You'll be welcomed with live Mariachi music. Dinner is accompanied by wines of your choice, and you will be attended to by waiters dressed in costume.

Once dinner is completed you may take part in fun Mexican games where you may win a prize.

After sunset, the ship transforms itself into the magical setting of pre-Hispanic era, with a light and sound show featuring impressive dances.

 

More things to do in Puerto Vallarta;

Puerto Vallarta Tours of the City
Approximate Duration: 4 Hours
This Puerto Vallarta activity will ride you along the main highway to the Old Town. Check out the cobblestone streets of the city with a stop at City Hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Near Gringo Gulch, you'll see from a distance the homes of Elizabeth Taylor and the late Richard Burton. the south end of town, you will see beautiful Banderas Bay

Sierra Madre Hiking Exploration
Approximate Duration: 3 Hours 30 Minutes

Puerto Vallarta Scuba Dive
Approximate Duration: 7 Hours

Half day Whale Watching Tour
Approximate Duration: 4 Hours

Historic Towns & Tequila Making
Approximate Duration: 5 Hours 15 Minutes

Tropical Rainforest Horseback Ride
Approximate Duration: 4 Hours 30 Minutes

Off Road Bicycle Adventure
Approximate Duration of this Puerto Vallarta activity: 4 Hours

Las Caletas Hideaway
Approximate Duration: 7 Hours
Another of the more beautiful Puerto Vallarta tours. The tour of this interesting location begins as you step aboard catamaran for the 1.5-hour cruise to Las Caletas. Accessible only by boat, this was once the hideaway home of filmmaker John Houston and still contains some of the original furnishings and memorabilia that once belonged to this American icon.

If you are looking for free things to do in Puerto Vallarta, during high season, the twice-monthly Art Walk is a major happening, drawing throngs of visitors for a self-guided tour of new exhibitions. There's a similar openings-and-cocktails evening for marina galleries, as well as a well-attended tour of artists' studios. The blossoming art scene extends to the city's Malecon, its kilometer-long seaside promenade that sparkles with a string of bronze sculptures. Ambling along the breezy walkway, you'll join streams of people munching on scrumptious foods - grilled corn on the cob, mango-on-a-stick, ice cream - and watch local kids happily climb on the sculptures in the piazzas.