Things to do · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
15 best things to do in Puerto Vallarta
15 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Puerto Vallarta are The Malecón, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and Playa Los Muertos and the pier. Of the 15 picks below, 10 are free, 1 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 6 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- The Malecón
- Free sights
- 10
- Good on a rainy day
- Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica
- Time to see the highlights
- 6 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Malecón | Centro | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe | Centro | 30 minutes | Free |
| Playa Los Muertos and the pier | Zona Romántica | Half a day | Free |
| Whale watching in the bay | Marina Vallarta | 3–4 hours | Expensive |
| Isla Río Cuale | Zona Romántica | 1 hour | Free |
| Mirador de la Cruz | Centro | 1 hour | Free |
| Los Arcos | Mismaloya | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Vallarta Botanical Garden | Cabo Corrientes road | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Playa Conchas Chinas | Conchas Chinas and Amapas | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Mismaloya | Mismaloya | Half a day | Free |
| Boca de Tomatlán and Playa Colomitos | Boca de Tomatlán | Half a day | Low cost |
| Playa Las Ánimas | South Bay | Half a day | Low cost |
| Gringo Gulch | Centro | 1 hour | Free |
| Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica | Zona Romántica | 2 hours | Free |
| Marina Vallarta boardwalk | Marina Vallarta | 1–2 hours | Free |
The 15 best things to do
Waterfront · Centro
1.The Malecón
Puerto Vallarta's seafront promenade runs for about a kilometre along the old town, lined with bronze and stone sculptures such as the seahorse rider and the ladder-climbing 'In Search of Reason'. In the evenings families stroll, street performers gather and the sunset over the bay draws crowds; the walkway continues south across the Río Cuale to Los Muertos beach.
Walk it at sunset, then continue south over the river bridges to dinner in the Zona Romántica.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Art
- Kids
Religious site · Centro
2.Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
The parish church, a short walk from the Malecón, is the town's landmark thanks to its open-work crown on the bell tower, modelled on one worn by Empress Carlota. Inside, the Virgin of Guadalupe is the focus of nightly pilgrimages during the festival in early December.
Visit during the first twelve days of December to see processions arriving with music and dancers.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
Beach · Zona Romántica
3.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. The pier, topped by a tall sail-shaped sculpture, lights up at night and is the departure point for water taxis to the southern coves.
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
4.Whale watching in the bay
Humpback whales arrive in the Bahía de Banderas to breed and calve from about December to March, and boats from Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Los Muertos pier go out to watch them breach and sing. Dolphins and sea turtles are common sightings too.
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
- Book ahead
- Book a few days ahead in January and February, the busiest months.
- Nature
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Park · Zona Romántica
5.Isla Río Cuale
A narrow island in the Río Cuale between the Centro and the Zona Romántica, reached by footbridges and shaded by fig trees, with craft stalls, cafés, a small archaeological museum and a statue of film director John Huston.
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
Viewpoint · Centro
6.Mirador de la Cruz
A steep climb of streets and several hundred steps from the Centro leads to a white cross and lookout above the town, with views over the red rooftops, the church crown and the whole bay.
Go early in the morning or near sunset to avoid the heat, and bring water.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Mismaloya
7.Los Arcos
Granite rock formations with natural arches rise from the sea off Mismaloya, part of a protected marine park. Snorkelling and diving tours stop here for reef fish and coral, and kayaks and paddleboards can be hired from Mismaloya beach.
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
8.Vallarta Botanical Garden
About 30 km south of town in the mountains, the botanical garden has orchid and bromeliad collections, a cactus garden, trails through the forest and a river where visitors can swim. The restaurant terrace looks over the jungle canopy.
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
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Beach · Conchas Chinas and Amapas
1.Playa Conchas Chinas
Just south of Los Muertos, a string of small coves with rock formations, tide pools and clear water at low tide. It is far quieter than Los Muertos and good for snorkelling on calm days.
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
2.Mismaloya
A cove 12 km south of town where John Huston filmed 'The Night of the Iguana' in 1963, the film that put Puerto Vallarta on the map. The beach has seafood restaurants, and boats depart from here for Los Arcos.
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
3.Boca de Tomatlán and Playa Colomitos
From the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlán, a jungle footpath of about 30–45 minutes leads to Colomitos, a tiny emerald cove surrounded by rocks. The trail continues to Las Ánimas beach, and water taxis connect the villages.
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
Beach · South Bay
4.Playa Las Ánimas
A long, sandy beach reachable only by boat or trail, lined with palapa seafood restaurants. Calm water makes it good for swimming, banana-boat rides and a long lunch of grilled fish.
Catch a water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán, which is shorter and cheaper than from Los Muertos pier.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Food
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Centro
5.Gringo Gulch
The steep hillside above the Río Cuale where American and European visitors built homes in the 1950s and 1960s. Its best-known landmark is Casa Kimberley, the house Richard Burton bought for Elizabeth Taylor, with a pink bridge across the lane connecting two buildings.
Walk up from the Isla Río Cuale stairs and take in the views over the river and the bay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Zona Romántica
6.Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica
Puerto Vallarta has a large community of artists and galleries, selling Huichol beadwork and yarn paintings, Mexican contemporary art and sculpture. In the high season, an evening Art Walk usually takes place weekly, with galleries opening their doors to visitors.
Look for Huichol art from Wixárika communities in the Sierra, and ask galleries about the artists' cooperatives.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Waterfront · Marina Vallarta
7.Marina Vallarta boardwalk
A palm-lined walkway around the marina basin, with cafés, restaurants and yachts moored alongside, overlooked by the marina's landmark lighthouse tower.
Stroll it in the evening and pick a waterside restaurant for dinner as the boats come in.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Food
- Views
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | The Malecón and Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica |
| History | Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Mismaloya and Gringo Gulch |
| Views | Mirador de la Cruz, Gringo Gulch and Marina Vallarta boardwalk |
| Outdoors and nature | Playa Los Muertos and the pier, Whale watching in the bay, Isla Río Cuale and Los Arcos |
| Food and markets | Playa Las Ánimas and Marina Vallarta boardwalk |
| After dark | The Malecón, Playa Los Muertos and the pier and Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica |
| With children | The Malecón, Isla Río Cuale, Vallarta Botanical Garden and Playa Las Ánimas |
| On a rainy day | Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica |
What to book ahead
- Whale watching in the bay: Book a few days ahead in January and February, the busiest months.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Puerto Vallarta?
The Malecón. Puerto Vallarta's seafront promenade runs for about a kilometre along the old town, lined with bronze and stone sculptures such as the seahorse rider and the ladder-climbing 'In Search of Reason'.
+What can you do for free in Puerto Vallarta?
The Malecón, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Playa Los Muertos and the pier, Isla Río Cuale and Mirador de la Cruz. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Puerto Vallarta when it rains?
Head indoors to Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica.
+What is there to do in Puerto Vallarta at night?
The Malecón, Playa Los Muertos and the pier and Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica are best after dark.