Tours & Activities
Tours & Activities
Boat trips, whale watching, hiking, and more.
What's on · September in Puerto Vallarta
September — quietest month, softest prices, warm rain. Turtle releases nightly; whales a month off.
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Pick who's coming and your budget — the list re-sorts in place and factors in today's weather. Or tap a common trip above.
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31 experiences
from
$22USD /person
Year-round (best Nov–Mar)
Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Self-guided day at the botanical gardens 30 min south of town. Orchid house, jungle trails, river swimming hole, hacienda restaurant. Bus 'El Tuito' from Centro.
Details
- Meet
- Carretera 200 sur, km 24
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family
from
$25USD /person
El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary
Eco Tours Vallarta
Boardwalk tour of a mangrove crocodile sanctuary north of the airport — rescued crocs, iguanas, birds. Cheap, quick, shaded, and a hit with kids.
Details
- Meet
- Las Juntas y Los Veranos road
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family
from
$28USD /person
Butterfly Sanctuary & Museum
Jardín Mariposario
✓ Free cancellation
A small enclosed butterfly garden and natural-history museum a short drive from Centro — hundreds of native morphos and swallowtails, shaded paths, and a quick, cheap, kid-proof hour out of the heat.
Details
- Meet
- Las Juntas — a short taxi from Centro
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- solo, couple, family
from
$31USD /person
Downtown Art & History Walking Tour
Vallarta Walking Tours
✓ Free cancellation
2.5-hour guided walk through Centro and Gringo Gulch: the church, the Malecón sculptures, the Elizabeth Taylor / Richard Burton houses, the Isla Cuale.
Details
- Meet
- Plaza de Armas, 9am
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family
from
$33USD /person
Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus
Vallarta City Tour
An open-top loop past the Malecón, the Guadalupe church, Zona Romántica, the Marina and the lookout points, with a ticket that lets you get off and back on all day. The low-commitment way to see the city on your own schedule.
Details
- Meet
- Malecón, roughly hourly from 9am
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$35USD /person
August–December
Sea Turtle Release
Eco Tours Vallarta
✓ Free cancellation
Sunset release of newly-hatched sea turtles with a marine biologist, on a protected beach. August–December only. Low-key, moving, and a favourite with families.
Details
- Meet
- Beach location, ~5:30pm
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$40USD /person
Glass-Bottom Boat — Los Arcos
Ocean Friendly Expeditions
✓ Free cancellation
See the Los Arcos reef without getting in — a glass-bottom panga over the marine park, with time to snorkel if you want. Good for non-swimmers, grandparents and small kids.
Details
- Meet
- Playa Los Muertos pier, hourly
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
- Water
- you can stay dry if you want
from
$45USD /person
Downtown E-Bike Tour
Vallarta Walking Tours
2-hour electric-bike loop — Malecón, the pier, Gringo Gulch, the Cuale island, 5 de Diciembre — with stops for photos and a snack. Pedal-assist, so the hills don't matter.
Details
- Meet
- Centro, 9am or 4pm
- Ages
- 12+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$45USD /person
Yelapa & Majahuitas Boat Day
Boca de Tomatlán water taxi co-op
Panga from Boca de Tomatlán to the car-free village of Yelapa. Waterfall hike, beach time, fresh fish and the famous pie ladies. Return by mid-afternoon.
Details
- Meet
- Boca de Tomatlán pier, 10am
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
- Water
- you can stay dry if you want
from
$49USD /person
PV Street Food & Culture Tour
Vallarta Food Tours
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
3-hour walking food tour through Centro and Zona Romántica. 8–10 tastings including tacos, birria, mariscos, agua fresca.
Details
- Meet
- Malecón Boardwalk, Los Arcos amphitheater
- Ages
- 6+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$54USD /person
Los Arcos Snorkeling Tour
Ocean Friendly Expeditions
✓ Free cancellation
4-hour snorkeling at Los Arcos National Marine Park. Sea turtles, tropical fish, manta rays. Equipment included.
Details
- Meet
- Playa Los Muertos pier, 9am
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you will get wet
from
$60USD /person
Aquaventuras Water Park + Sea Lion
Aquaventuras
Water-park day north of the airport: slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, plus an optional dolphin or sea-lion swim. A full easy day for families with a range of ages.
Details
- Meet
- Carretera 200, km 155 (transport add-on)
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- family, groups
- Water
- you will get wet
from
$60USD /person
Sayulita & San Pancho Day Trip
Vallarta Walking Tours
✓ Free cancellation
Guided day up the Riviera Nayarit coast: the surf-town buzz and artisan market of Sayulita, then quieter San Pancho for lunch. Transport and a local guide; skip the bus hassle.
Details
- Meet
- Hotel pickup, 8:30am
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$63USD /person
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop
ChocoMuseo
✓ Free cancellation
Roast, peel, grind and temper your own chocolate bar from Mexican cacao in a two-hour hands-on workshop in Centro. Take the bars home. Works for kids and non-drinkers, unlike most of the food tours.
Details
- Meet
- Centro workshop, sessions through the day
- Ages
- 4+
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$75USD /person
Sunset Horseback Beach Ride
Rancho El Charro
✓ Free cancellation
Ride along the sand and into the surf as the sun drops, north of the marina. Calm, well-kept horses; short (90 min) and beginner-friendly. Photos included on most departures.
Details
- Meet
- North-shore ranch, ~5pm
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you can stay dry if you want
from
$77USD /person
December–March
Whale Watching Tour
Vallarta Adventures
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
3-hour guided whale watching in Banderas Bay. Humpbacks December–March. Hydrophone on board to hear whale songs.
Details
- Meet
- Marina Vallarta pier, 8am and 12pm
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$80USD /person
Mexican Cooking Class
Vallarta Eats
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
3-hour hands-on Mexican cooking class. Visit the local market, cook 4 dishes including mole and ceviche, eat what you make.
Details
- Meet
- Mercado Municipal, 9am
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$85USD /person
Ceviche & Seafood Cooking Class
Vallarta Eats
Hands-on class focused on the coast: three ceviches, aguachile, a whole grilled fish and a michelada to wash it down. Market visit first. Smaller and more relaxed than the mole class.
Details
- Meet
- Mercado, 10am
- Ages
- 10+
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
from
$95USD /person
Year-round (best viz May–Nov)
SeaTrek Helmet Dive — Los Arcos
Banderas Scuba Republic
✓ Free cancellation
Walk the sea floor at Los Arcos in a helmet that keeps your head dry — no swimming or certification needed. Good for non-swimmers and nervous snorkelers who still want to be underwater.
Details
- Meet
- Boca de Tomatlán, morning
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- solo, couple, family, groups
- Water
- you will get wet
from
$99USD /person
Marigalante Pirate Ship
Marigalante
✓ Free cancellation
Full-size replica galleon: day cruise with a beach stop, water games, open bar and a pirate show; or the evening dinner-and-fireworks sail. Loud, fun, unabashedly touristy — kids love it.
Details
- Meet
- Terminal Marítima, 9am or 6pm
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- family, groups
- Water
- you can stay dry if you want
from
$100USD /person
Sunset Sailing Cruise
Bahía Catamarans
✓ Free cancellation
3-hour sunset catamaran cruise along the Bay of Banderas. Open bar, light dinner, live music. Anchored swim stop near Los Arcos.
Details
- Meet
- Marina Vallarta pier, 6pm
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
from
$110USD /person
December–March
Whale Watching + Snorkel Combo
Ocean Friendly Expeditions
◆ Combo — 3-in-1
✓ Free cancellation
Morning humpback watching, then the boat drops anchor at a calm cove for a snorkel and swim before heading back. Best of both on one half-day; December–March only.
Details
- Meet
- Los Muertos pier, 8:30am
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you will get wet
from
$115USD /person
San Sebastián del Oeste Day Trip
Vallarta Adventures
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
Day trip to a former silver-mining town at 1,500m in the mountains. Colonial plaza, coffee and raicilla tastings, cool pine air. ~1.5h each way.
Details
- Meet
- Hotel pickup, 8am
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
from
$130USD /person
Rhythms of the Night — Las Caletas
Vallarta Adventures
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
Evening cruise to a candle-lit, no-electricity beach cove for a dinner and a theatrical show inspired by ancient Mexico. PV's best-known night out.
Details
- Meet
- Terminal Marítima, 6pm
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
from
$142USD /person
Cirque du Soleil LUDÕ
Cirque du Soleil
✓ Free cancellation
The first permanent Cirque du Soleil production in Mexico — an immersive theatrical dinner where acrobats, live music and a multi-course tasting menu unfold around your table. Runs several evenings a week near the Marina.
Details
- Meet
- Cirque du Soleil venue, near Marina Vallarta — evening seatings
- Ages
- 8+
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- couple, groups, family
from
$145USD /person
Sea Lion Encounter
Vallarta Adventures
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
Shallow-water session with California sea lions and a chance to touch rays in a pool. Same site as the dolphin swim; gentler and cheaper, great for younger kids.
Details
- Meet
- Nuevo Vallarta, morning & afternoon
- Ages
- 4+
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you will get wet
from
$155USD /person
Las Caletas Beach Day
Vallarta Adventures
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
Boat to a jungle-backed private cove reachable only by water. Hammocks, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, a spa menu, buffet lunch and open bar. A full relaxed day, not a rush-around tour.
Details
- Meet
- Terminal Marítima, 8:30am
- Effort
- some walking / uneven ground
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you can stay dry if you want
from
$160USD /person
Swim with Dolphins
Vallarta Adventures
✓ Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
Guided in-water dolphin encounter at Dolphin Adventure — a trainer leads a small group, hands-on, with education about the animals. The single most-booked family experience in PV.
Details
- Meet
- Nuevo Vallarta, morning & afternoon slots
- Ages
- 6+
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you will get wet
from
$350USD /group
Private Van & Guide — Custom Day
Banderas Bay Charters
Reserve now, pay later
Your own driver-guide and air-conditioned van for the day — build the route: San Sebastián, the botanical gardens, a beach, lunch spots. Price is per group of up to 8.
Details
- Meet
- Hotel pickup, your time
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- family, groups, couple
from
$600USD /group
Private Boat Charter — Half Day
Banderas Bay Charters
✓ Free cancellation
Private 4-hour boat charter for up to 10. Set your own route — Los Arcos, Las Ánimas, Quimixto. Captain, fuel, snorkel gear, cooler included. Price is per group.
Details
- Meet
- Marina Vallarta or Los Muertos pier
- Effort
- easy — little walking
- Suits
- couple, family, groups
- Water
- you can stay dry if you want
Nothing matches that combination. Clear the plan filters to see everything again.
Off the Malecón
The good stuff is
The good stuff is
a boat ride away.
Humpback whales from December, the Marietas Islands, a panga to Yelapa for lunch and a waterfall. Book direct with the operator where you can — more of it stays in town.
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