Outdoors · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
8 best outdoor things to do in Puerto Vallarta
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Playa Los Muertos and the pier, Whale watching in the bay and Isla Río Cuale. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 21–28 hours across 6 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 21–28 hours
- Areas
- Zona Romántica, Marina Vallarta and Mismaloya
Outdoors in Puerto Vallarta
Beach · Zona Romántica
1.Playa Los Muertos and the pier
Buy a drink or meal for a lounger rather than renting one, and catch a water taxi from the pier to Yelapa.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Marina Vallarta
2.Whale watching in the bay
Choose a certified operator that follows the whale-watching distance rules; small boats give a closer, quieter experience.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Park · Zona Romántica
3.Isla Río Cuale
Cross the swinging suspension bridge at the eastern end and wander the craft market on the way to Los Muertos.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Mismaloya
4.Los Arcos
Go on a calm morning for the best visibility, and choose an operator that limits group size.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
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Garden · Cabo Corrientes road
5.Vallarta Botanical Garden
Take the Tuito bus from the Zona Romántica, and stay for lunch to watch hummingbirds from the terrace.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
Beach · Conchas Chinas and Amapas
6.Playa Conchas Chinas
Walk south along the shore from Los Muertos at low tide, then return by taxi.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Beach · Mismaloya
7.Mismaloya
Take the local bus marked 'Mismaloya' from the Zona Romántica for a cheap ride along the coast road.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
Beach · Boca de Tomatlán
8.Boca de Tomatlán and Playa Colomitos
Wear proper shoes for the rocky trail and take a water taxi back from Las Ánimas.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Zona Romántica | Playa Los Muertos and the pier and Isla Río Cuale | Half a day + 1 hour |
| Marina Vallarta | Whale watching in the bay | 3–4 hours |
| Mismaloya | Los Arcos and Mismaloya | Half a day + Half a day |
| Cabo Corrientes road | Vallarta Botanical Garden | Half a day |
| Conchas Chinas and Amapas | Playa Conchas Chinas | 2–3 hours |
| Boca de Tomatlán | Boca de Tomatlán and Playa Colomitos | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 1 low cost, 2 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Whale watching in the bay. The longest visit is Playa Los Muertos and the pier; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Whale watching in the bay: Book a few days ahead in January and February, the busiest months.
How to fit them into 7 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Zona Romántica): Playa Los Muertos and the pier → Isla Río Cuale, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Marina Vallarta): Whale watching in the bay, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Mismaloya): Los Arcos, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Mismaloya): Mismaloya, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Cabo Corrientes road): Vallarta Botanical Garden, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Conchas Chinas and Amapas): Playa Conchas Chinas, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Boca de Tomatlán): Boca de Tomatlán and Playa Colomitos, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- March: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry and sunny, with spring-break and Easter crowds and the end of the whale season.
- April: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 0 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and dry, with the sea still on the cool side; crowds ease after Easter.
- January: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, sunny and pleasant, with cool evenings and the height of whale season; very busy with winter visitors.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Zona Romántica — Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars
- Marina Vallarta — A yacht marina with a boardwalk, golf course and resort hotels
- Conchas Chinas and Amapas — Hillside villas and boutique hotels above rocky coves south of town
More of Puerto Vallarta
All things to do in Puerto Vallarta · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Puerto Vallarta?
Playa Los Muertos and the pier. The town's most popular beach is lined with restaurants, beach clubs and loungers, with volleyball, vendors and a lively LGBTQ+-friendly section towards its southern end.
+Which of these are free in Puerto Vallarta?
Playa Los Muertos and the pier, Isla Río Cuale, Playa Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya.