Day trips · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
6 best day trips from Puerto Vallarta
Where to go when you want a day away from Puerto Vallarta, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Puerto Vallarta is Yelapa (About 30–45 minutes by water taxi). The closest option is Bucerías, about 20 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Bucerías (20 km)
- Most popular
- Yelapa
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yelapa | 30 km | About 30–45 minutes by water taxi | Water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán or Los Muertos pier | Couples, Quiet stays, Beach |
| Marietas Islands | 35 km | About 1 hour by boat from Nuevo Vallarta | Licensed boat tour from Nuevo Vallarta or Punta de Mita | Couples, Families, Beach |
| Sayulita | 40 km | About 1 hour by bus or car | Bus from the Hotel Zone, or car | Solo travellers, Beach, Food lovers |
| San Sebastián del Oeste | 90 km | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Car or tour | Culture, Couples, Quiet stays |
| Punta de Mita | 40 km | About 1 hour by car | Car, taxi or bus | Luxury, Beach, Couples |
| Bucerías | 20 km | About 30–40 minutes by bus or car | Bus from the Hotel Zone or car | Families, Quiet stays, Beach |
The day trips
30 km · About 30–45 minutes by water taxi
1.Yelapa
A village on a cove with no road access, with a sandy beach, palapa restaurants and a short jungle walk to a waterfall. Pie ladies walk the beach selling coconut, lemon and chocolate pies.
- Getting there
- Water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán or Los Muertos pier
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays, Beach
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35 km · About 1 hour by boat from Nuevo Vallarta
2.Marietas Islands
A protected national park of uninhabited volcanic islands at the mouth of the bay, home to blue-footed boobies and good snorkelling. Access to the famous Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) is strictly limited and only possible with authorised operators.
- Getting there
- Licensed boat tour from Nuevo Vallarta or Punta de Mita
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Beach
40 km · About 1 hour by bus or car
3.Sayulita
A colourful surf village in Nayarit with a beginner-friendly beach break, surf schools, cafés, taco stands and boutiques. It gets very busy in high season, and nearby San Pancho is a quieter alternative.
- Getting there
- Bus from the Hotel Zone, or car
- Best for
- Solo travellers, Beach, Food lovers
90 km · About 1.5–2 hours by car
4.San Sebastián del Oeste
A former silver-mining town in the Sierra Madre at about 1,400 metres, with cobbled streets, an old hacienda, coffee farms and cooler air. It is one of Mexico's 'Pueblos Mágicos'.
- Getting there
- Car or tour
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Quiet stays
40 km · About 1 hour by car
5.Punta de Mita
The northern tip of the bay, with luxury resorts, surf breaks and the fishing village of El Anclote, where seafood restaurants line the beach. Boats leave here for the Marietas Islands.
- Getting there
- Car, taxi or bus
- Best for
- Luxury, Beach, Couples
20 km · About 30–40 minutes by bus or car
6.Bucerías
A relaxed beach town in Nayarit on the bay's north shore, with a long sandy beach, seafood restaurants and a weekly market, a short hop from Nuevo Vallarta.
- Getting there
- Bus from the Hotel Zone or car
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays, Beach
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Carry small change; drivers take cash in pesos.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Puerto Vallarta?
Yelapa. A village on a cove with no road access, with a sandy beach, palapa restaurants and a short jungle walk to a waterfall.
+How long does it take to get from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa?
About 30–45 minutes by water taxi — Water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán or Los Muertos pier, about 30 km.
+How long does it take to get from Puerto Vallarta to Marietas Islands?
About 1 hour by boat from Nuevo Vallarta — Licensed boat tour from Nuevo Vallarta or Punta de Mita, about 35 km.