Top things to do in Puerto Vallarta

02.12.2024 - 23:23 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 2, 2024 • 7 min read

The sun-soaked Mexican beach town of Puerto Vallarta calls out to outdoor enthusiasts with its palm-fringed coves, thrilling wildlife-watching opportunities and delightfully walkable downtown. Top that off with buzz-worthy cuisine, loads of public art and Mexico's most accessible and relaxed LGBTIQ+ scene and it's easy to see why this is one of the nation’s most popular beach destinations.

Whether you come for the sunshine, the adventure activities or the culture, here are some of the best things to do on your next visit to Vallarta.

Vallarta’s southern beaches hug a spectacular stretch of jade-green coastline, dotted with secluded coves, making this an ideal spot to get away from big city life. One of several lovely coastal hamlets, Yelapa has fine sandy beaches and jungle trails leading to quiet hillside B&Bs and a cascading waterfall. It's a great alternative to the busy beaches in town.

Planning Tip: Most visitors reach the coves around Puerto Vallarta via water taxis departing from Playa de los Muertos pier. Services run every hour or so from 8am to 6pm.

The secret is out about this national marine park’s hidden beach – Playa Escondida, which appears unexpectedly, hidden inside a collapsed sinkhole – but these uninhabited islands also provide some of the best wildlife-watching on the bay. Sea turtles, rays and dolphins are easily spotted in the Marietas’ clear waters, while on land you’ll see a variety of tropical bird species, including the charismatic blue-footed booby.

Planning Tip: To visit on a snorkeling, diving or kayaking tour, contact tour operator Vallarta Adventures and check out their many options.

If you’ve never participated in a sea turtle release, you should definitely sign up for the thrill of watching tiny hatchlings scurrying into the ocean for the first time. Vallarta Adventures runs private tours to the nearby beach towns of Sayulita and San Pancho when the turtles are nesting, offering the chance to sit on egg-laying and chaperone hatchlings on their way to the surf, a truly timeless experience that will mesmerize kids and captivate adults.

Planning Tip: August to December is the main hatching season for olive ridley turtles – the most common species in the waters around Puerto Vallarta.

Snorkelers rave about the clear, marine-life-rich waters at Playa Majahuitas, one of Vallarta's best beaches. Visibility is excellent in this small protected cove, which teems with parrotfish and angelfish, and its tranquil golden sands make for a great escape from downtown. Eagle rays, stingrays and turtles are often spotted here, and there's a beach club and restaurant that often hosts live music events.

Planning Tip: If you have your own snorkeling gear, water taxis