Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful resort city in Mexico. It is part of Pacific Ocean’s Bahía de Banderas and is considered as the second largest urban city in the whole of Mexico. Puerto Vallarta got its name from Ignacio Vallarta, a governor of Jalisco. It is commonly shortened as Vallarta in Spanish, but it is commonly known as PV in English. In addition to that, Puerto Vallarta has also been considered as the friendliest city in the world. It is also considered as the most gay-friendly destination in the whole country. That being said, we’ve taken the liberty of gathering and listing down the best non-touristy things to do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
1. Enjoy a romantic sunset cruise (from USD 179.0)
The sunset is almost always glorious in any part of the world. However, it can be improved and enhanced one way or the other. In Banderas Bay, guests may opt to enjoy a cruise while smoothly sailing and enjoying the gentle breeze of the sea as well as being bathed in the golden rays of the sun. In addition to that, guests will have a romantic candlelit dinner at the hidden cove of Las Caletas. They have the option to choose from sizzling steak, freshly caught fish, or delicious chicken, all of which are accompanied by fresh vegetables, crisp salads, and handmade tortillas.
Puerto Vallarta Sunset Cruise and Candlelight Dinner with Show
Duration 5 hours
2. Explore dazzling beaches
It is already a given that Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful haven. It has multiple popular beaches that are often visited by tons of tourists. Playa las Gamelas, however, is a hidden gem with multiple dazzling beaches. In addition to that, guests are free to mingle with the locals who know the best places to be at different times of the day.
Playa las Gemelas
Address: Playas Gemelas, 48294 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Website: Playa las Gemelas
Opening hours: All day
Price: Free
3. Indulge in some shellfish action
Being situated near the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta has a lot of fishermen and serves a lot of seafood delicacies. That includes freshly caught oysters. There are a lot of restaurants in Vallarta offering the said shellfish. On the other hand, guests are also very much welcome to explore a local fish market, buy their own fresh oysters, and prepare them themselves.
Mariscos 8 Tostadas
Address: Quilla s/n Local 28-29, Marina Vallarta, 48335 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Website: Mariscos 8 Tostadas
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (daily)
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4. Take a pleasant foodie tour (from USD 98.0)
Being guided through a local foodie tour guide, guests will be undertaking a three and a half hour walking tour of the local delicacies. They will be given multiple delicacies such as tacos and other Mexican desserts. Of course, there are also multiple Mexican cocktails served by an expert mixologist. Best of all, guests will be learning the history behind famous drinks such as Mezcal, tequila and raicilla, and taste coffee-flavored kahlúa and Michelada, Mexico´s signature beer cocktail.
Puerto Vallarta Mixology Tour with Tequila, Tacos, Cocktails
Duration 4 hours
5. Create your own sweet fix
This three-hour chocolate-making class gives out the complete experience. Guests will be starting their class with the cocoa tree and end up in the kitchen. Of course, an educated teacher will be provided. Guests will be making chocolate truffles as well as, three chocolate drinks themselves. Best of all, the guests have the option to either eat their lovely creations or take them home as souvenirs.
The Choco Museum
Address: Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez 128, Centro, 48300 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Website: The Choco Museum
Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 9:30am - 10pm; Saturday: 11am - 6pm
Price: 50 - 70 USD
6. Ride your bike up the mountains of Occidental Sierra Madre
Occidental Sierra Madre is a major mountain range in Northern America. This is perfect for the guests who opt for a bit of a thrilling activity with wonderful rewards. Guests are welcome to grab their bikes and go challenge the mountains of Occidental Sierra Madre. Of course, the biggest benefit of choosing this destination to mountain bike is the beautiful scenery it offers along the way.
Occidental Sierra Madre
Address: Sierra Madre Occidental, Chihuahua, Mexico
Website: Occidental Sierra Madre
Opening hours: All day
Price: Free
7. Have fun at Los Muertos Beach
Los Muertos Beach is a lovely beach located in Puerto Vallarta. The best thing about this beach, however, is it offers a lot of water activities. That includes parasailing. View the wonderful environment of Los Muertos Beach while in the air and being pulled by a speed boat. This allows the guests to enjoy the scenery in a literal bird’s eye view.
Los Muertos Beach
Address: El Centro (Off Calle Olas Atlas), Puerto Vallarta 48380, Mexico
Website: Los Muertos Beach
Opening hours: All day
8. HIke through Las Animas
There is a hiking trail from Broca to Las Animas which guests are free to utilize. It includes going around multiple beaches and, of course, roads. This is perfect for those with itchy feet and who love walking around while sightseeing. The great thing about the trail is that there are a lot of beaches along the way, wherein guests can take a dip and cool down. At the end of the trail, guests are free to dine at one of the local restaurants as well.
Las Animas
Address: Jardines del Puerto, 48315 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Website: Las Animas
Opening hours: All day
Price: Free
9. View gigantic sea creatures up and about (from USD 110.0)
Renowned as a birthing place for humpback whales, Puerto Vallarta is also a wonderful site for whale watching. This attraction also includes a local tour guide explaining everything that is happening around. In addition to that, the trip also includes an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet to replenish the energy the guests spent enjoying the view of the whales.
Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta
Duration 4 hours
10. Visit Aquaventuras Park (from USD 25.0)
Aquaventuras Park attends to the children of the family, as well as, the inner child in everyone. It has a whopping 10 slides for the guests to choose from. In addition to that, there is also the lazy river for those who’d rather float around than swim. Guests are also free to decide whether to get the pass only or upgrade it to include a complete lunch set.
Aquaventuras Park Admission Ticket
Escape to the beautiful resort city of Puerto Vallarta
With half of Puerto Vallarta’s funds coming from tourism, it is to be expected that tons of tourists will be pouring to the city. On the other hand, Vallarta has a lot more to offer than the popular tourist destinations. We’ve gathered and listed them down for your next vacation itinerary.