The city of Puerto Vallarta is unlike anything you've ever seen.
With incomparable charm and unforgettable landscapes, this small city approximately 4 hours from Guadalajara offers beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants, enviable nightlife and one of the best sunsets in Mexico.
Walking through the streets of Puerto Vallarta is like going back in time, which is why more and more tourists from all over the world are choosing this destination to spend their holidays. Cancun You have white sand and turquoise sea, but Puerto Vallarta is where you will experience the real Mexico.
With so many attractions available, the Mexico Guide has selected 18 activities that you have to enjoy in one of the best tourist destinations in Mexico.
What to do in Puerto Vallarta: 18 unmissable activities
1 – Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
This church is one of the most visited places in the city and has become the postcard of Puerto Vallarta. This parish has true works of art: paintings, woodwork and marble.
Its beautiful architecture and famous crown are the meeting point for thousands of pilgrims who visit it throughout the year and especially in December to celebrate the birthday of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
2 – Puerto Vallarta Municipal Market
Located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta's Historic Center, the Municipal Market offers visitors a wide variety of handicrafts, traditional clothing, jewelry and typical foods from the country.
Modern and functional, it was opened on November 28, 1979. It has two floors and 159 stores. Two murals adorn the facade, “Typical Market and its People” and “The Iguana of Cuale”, works by restorer Ernesto Garridos.
In its corridors you can find leather goods, typical sweets, silver jewelry, wooden toys, hats, guayaberas (typical Yucatan shirt), overalls, swimwear and countless souvenirs of the city.
In the second, you will smell the aromas of Mexico's gastronomic richness that will whet your appetite.
Traditional trattorias offer: shrimp broth, chicken mole (a sauce made with chili peppers and chocolate), chiles rellenos (similar to a bell pepper stuffed with ground beef and cheese), fish fillet, tacos, grilled onions and juices.
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3 – Pueblo Viejo craft market
Located just a few blocks from the Municipal Market, here you can find a variety of shops offering jewelry, souvenirs, clothing, local dishes, Mexican snacks and much more.
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4 – Los Muertos Beach in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta's best-known and most popular beach is Playa Los Muertos. Its curious name has persisted despite attempts to change it in favor of a more friendly name.
It comes from an indigenous cemetery that was there, but despite the name, Playa Los Muertos vibrates with vitality.
5 – Marina Vallarta
Modern and sophisticated, Marina Vallarta is located just minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport and offers visitors a variety of attractions.
A world-class golf club, an exclusive hotel zone, a marina that attracts luxury yachts and boats from all over the world, a pier with a wide variety of restaurants and a lighthouse that offers a spectacular view of Puerto Vallarta.
The Marina, day and night, offers a brilliant landscape full of glamour and elegance that you cannot miss.
6 – Puerto Vallarta Main Square
This is a peaceful place where you can enjoy a delicious ice cream or simply admire the beautiful views of the mountains or the sea.
Concerts, cultural presentations, art exhibitions are held here and it is the center of celebrations for national holidays, but on Sundays, it becomes a wonderful dance floor for those who enjoy the traditional Danzón (a typical dance from the region) after going to mass.
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7 – Viejo Vallarta “Romantic Zone”
Old Vallarta, also known as the Romantic Zone, is located on the Cuale River. This area reflects the style of a typical Mexican town, with its cobblestone streets and a relaxed atmosphere.
Here you can have a coffee and enjoy restaurants, shops, boutiques, art galleries and a variety of nightclubs close to Los Muertos beach.
8 – Malecón Arches
Puerto Vallarta is a city that never sleeps and for many, it comes alive at sunset! Along the Malecón there is a wide variety of restaurants, live music, bars and clubs, as well as outdoor shows every night with different options.
9 – Turtle Release
Witness the daily miracle of nature and have a fond memory forever by participating in the turtle release.
Some of the hotels that have this launch program are Casa Magna Marriott, Fiesta Americana, Presidente Intercontinental, Westin Resort and Velas Vallarta.
10 – Encounter with Humpback whales
Admiring the behavior of humpback whales up close each year in the waters of Banderas Bay is something unforgettable.
The tours are carried out in small boats, suitable for this activity, and are guided by specialist biologists.
They will explain to you about the wonderful world of these enormous cetaceans. It's an unforgettable experience!
11 – Puerto Vallarta Malecon
The Malecón is located in the historic center of Puerto Vallarta and is a 870-meter-long corridor that begins at the traditional Hotel Rosita and extends to the romantic past in the Arcos area.
The Malecón is an emblematic icon of the city, not only because it is close to the sea and offers beautiful views over the bay, but because along its route it is home to a variety of restaurants, bars, art galleries, jewelry stores, sculptures and attractions that make it a favorite spot for visitors and locals alike.
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12 – Los Arcos Marine Park
If you enjoy exploring the sea, Los Arcos Marine Park is the ideal place for a relaxing stroll. Here you can go snorkeling or diving and discover the vast marine fauna, swimming beneath the caves.
This protected area has incomparable beauty and is one of the favorite excursions for visitors.
13 – Rio Cuale Island
Between the historic center and the romantic zone, this small island formed between two arms of the Cuale River is one of the friendliest places in Puerto Vallarta, due to its bucolic setting, full of vegetation and fresh air, naturally encouraged by the singing of birds and the majestic walk of iguanas.
The most important thing is to access the island via one of its suspension bridges, where you will certainly want to take a photo or a selfie.
On the island there is a market with small stalls where you can buy traditional Mexican clothing or handicrafts.
14 – Chinese Shells
Conchas Chinas is a tip from the locals especially for you. This beach is hidden from the crowds and is ideal for spending the day.
Conchas Chinas is the perfect place to relax away from the crowds and is also a great place to sample the cuisine of Jalisco or Nayarit.
The suggestion is that you eat a traditional rice with shrimp or a fish ceviche. I'm sure you'll love it!
15 – Mouth of Tomatlán
Less than 20 km from Puerto Vallarta is a picturesque beach and fishing village called Boca de Tomatlán, which you should not confuse with Boca de Tomates beach. The Horcones River flows into the small bay.
Boats depart from the entrance to take you to and from several nearby beaches, such as Las Ánimas (highly recommended), Colomitos, Majahuitas and Quimixto. Go and explore!
Among the attractions of the place are the Botanical Garden and the place where Mexican whiskey is produced, the first “Scottish” in the country. The village is mainly inhabited by fishermen who sell their seafood to restaurants and the public.
16 – Tomato Mouth
This beach has the particularity of not being able to be used by the public for bathing due to the crocodiles that roam the area, coming from the neighboring Estero Boca Negra and the Ameca River.
In addition, it has strong waves. On the other hand, visitors can sunbathe, enjoy the rich cuisine and observe nature.
The estuary is an interesting habitat for birds, turtles and reptiles, including crocodiles that bother swimmers. The predominant vegetation is mangroves.
These are species that you can see and photograph. If you’re feeling hungry, the best option in Boca de Tomates is its 5-star dish, “peixe sarandeado”, which is grilled fish with a special seasoning.
17 – Puerto Vallarta International Gastronomic Festival
This festival takes place in November at select restaurants in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. Internationally renowned chefs come to Puerto Vallarta, some with special ingredients in their suitcases. It is a space for contemporary cuisine, including Mexican cuisine.
The festival was created in 1995 by chefs Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize, with the aim of taking Puerto Vallarta's haute cuisine one step further.
It is an opportunity for connoisseurs to enjoy the culinary arts to the fullest, while budding Mexican chefs learn from the great masters of their own country and from France, Switzerland, Italy, Indonesia and other nations.
18 – Art Walk
In the case of art, the walks are much longer than a marathon and the one in Puerto Vallarta lasts 7 months, between October and May, generally one day a week.
So you should take your time to appreciate the different artistic expressions of local, Mexican and international artists, especially painting, sculpture, blown glass and ceramics.
Mexican ceramic art is particularly rich, a culture that dates back to pre-Hispanic times, highlighting the long tradition of places such as Puebla, Guadalajara, Oaxaca and Guanajuato.
Not far from Puerto Vallarta, in the same state of Jalisco, is Tonalá, a city internationally recognized for the quality and beauty of its ceramics and blown glass. Artists who come from abroad mainly exhibit paintings and sculptures.
The walk is the perfect time to purchase a work by a Mexican or foreign artist from one of the participating galleries.
If you want more information about Puerto Vallarta, leave your comment here or write directly to Mexico Guide Instagram.
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