29 Non Touristy & Unique Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta

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So you’re heading to Puerto Vallarta and want to do more than party and lay by the pool? 

You’re in luck!

Forget the blasting beach bars, lazing by the pool in luxury resorts, or partying till early morning. If you know where to look, there are plenty of unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico and one of its biggest resort cities. At first glance, it might seem like it’s just all-inclusive resorts and drinking. 

Don’t worry, we felt the same way and were sceptical about visiting PV at all. 

But we were pleasantly surprised, and found so many non touristy things to do in Puerto Vallarta, that most tourists won’t experience at all! 

I mean, the city is nestled between the sparkling Bay of Banderas and the lush, jungle-clad Sierra Madre mountains so of course there are some special Puerto Vallarta hidden gems. 

If you consider yourself more of an independent and adventurous traveller, you will find something to love about Puerto Vallarta. 

Yes, it’s a city. Yes, it’s busy. But take a bit of time to get away from the main tourist areas, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. We did! 

In this post, I’ll share 29 unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta. I’ll divide these into things to do in the city itself, activities in the surrounding areas, and day trips further afield. 

Unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta

These activities are concentrated within the central city area of Puerto Vallarta, across its many neighbourhoods. You should be able to walk or take an Uber to all these activities without travelling too far. 

1. Take a food tour with Vallarta Food Tours

The best and the first thing you must do in Puerto Vallarta is take a food tour with Vallarta Food Tours. It was my favourite activity we did in PV! 

The city is overflowing with an incredible range of restaurants, street stalls, taco stands and beach vendors serving up all kinds of delicious food. (We think Puerto Vallarta might even be one of the best spots we visited for food in Mexico!)

But it can be difficult to know where to find these great local spots, and overwhelming to know what to order, and even how to eat it! 

Vallarta Food Tours answers all these questions and more on their range of food tours. 

We participated in The Evening Street Taco Tour and loved it.

The tour ran from 5:30 pm until approximately 9:30 pm, and our knowledgeable local guide Al led us to nine different spots around the Zona Romantica and Centro areas. 

We got to try everything from fish tacos to handmade chocolate, street-side cow head tacos, tacos al pastor (my fave), churros and even crickets! 

Al explained more to us about the restaurants and stands we were visiting, the dishes we were eating, and all about the cuisine and the role of food in Mexican culture.

All the stops we visited were locally owned, and many had been operating in Puerto Vallarta for over 30 years, with the third generation of families now running the show! You know somewhere is good when it’s been around for that long, and there are still lines around the corner every day. 

Supporting local is the best thing you can do when you travel to ensure you are leaving a positive impact on the communities you visit. We appreciated that Vallarta Food Tours had specifically selected these stops to be part of the tour.

I would highly recommend doing one of these tours on day 1 of your PV trip.

That way, you can return to the spots you loved on the tour, and you’ll be confident ordering different local dishes on the menu. 

We also left with a printed guide of all the restaurants we visited, and many more that weren’t included on the tour but they recommend. There’s nothing we love more than some local tips for food, and this guide was so handy!

🌮 TOP PUERTO VALLARTA FOOD TOURS

• 🌯 The Original Downtown Tour (10:30 am & 11:00 am)
• 🌮 The Evening Street Taco Tour (5:30 pm)
• 🍹 Mex-ology – Tequila, Tacos and Mexican Cocktails (3:00 pm)
• 🚲 Bikes and Bites (9:30 am)
• 🦞 Seafood Lovers (1:00 pm)
• 🫔 Taste of Pitillal (10:30 am)
• 🚐 Vallarta By Road Food Tour (10:30 am)

2. Join a free walking tour

The second thing you should do in PV is join a free walking tour. 

I know, I know – that doesn’t really sound like a non touristy thing to do in Puerto Vallarta. But learning more about the history, culture and society of Puerto Vallarta is much more than most tourists do. 

Skip a morning by the pool, and instead make an effort to engage with the locals and experience parts of Puerto Vallarta you wouldn’t see on your own. 

If you do this early on, you’ll get a great ‘lay of the land’ and set yourself up for a great trip, with a good overview of the whole city. 

The Municipal Tourism Board offers free walking tours multiple times each walk: 

• Tuesday 9:00 am and 12:00 pm 
• Wednesday 9:00 am and 12:00 pm 
• Saturday 9:00 am

The meeting point for the tour is the Municipal Tourism Office, located here opposite the Church of Our Lady Guadalupe, near Plaza de Armas.

Check current times with the PV Tourism Board. 

Although the tour is technically free, it’s customary to tip your guide at the end for their time. 

3. Explore Zona Romantica

Zona Romantica or the Romantic Zone is one of the many different neighbourhoods in Puerto Vallarta. The area goes by a few names, including Viejo Vallarta (Old Vallarta) or Emiliano Zapato. 

Today Puerto Vallarta has spread into a large city, with huge high-rise resorts, modern shopping malls and a huge urban sprawl. But this historic area was one of the original parts of downtown Puerto Vallarta and still has a very quaint feel. 

This green and leafy area has original cobblestone streets, colourful street art and a great vibe. Yes, it is touristy and Zona Romantica houses some of PV’s most popular tourist attractions like the Malecon and Playa Los Muertos. 

But the further away from the beach you walk, the more local it gets. There are amazing street food stalls, cute parks and charming historic buildings. It’s definitely worth spending a few hours just wandering aimlessly and exploring this pretty neighbourhood! 

4. Cross the bridge to Isla del Rio Cuale

Right in the heart of Puerto Vallarta is the peaceful, lush oasis of Isla del Rio Cuale. 

It seems strange that there is an island in downtown PV, but it was formed many years ago when the Rio (river) Cuale grew and forked in two separate arms. 

What’s left is Isla Cuale, a small island connected to Zona Romantica and the Centro area by a series of bridges. 

This tiny little island is a quiet reprieve from the busier areas of Puerto Vallarta and is well worth a visit to wander through the local market stalls and under the shady lush greenery. 

There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the island too, which would make a great stop for a late breakfast or lunch while exploring the rest of the city. River Cafe looked upscale but had a lovely setting.

5. Walk the Malecon

Okay so this definitely isn’t a unique thing to do in Puerto Vallarta, but I couldn’t write this list without including this iconic sight. 

Like all the best seafront cities in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has a long boardwalk along the water, called ‘El Malecon’. (My favourite Mexican malecon was in La Paz).

It stretches from Zona Romantica in the south to the Centro area in the north. It’s only around 1.6 km (1 mi) long, but it’s a great place to wander up and down. 

In the evenings, the Malecon is lined with all different kinds of street food stalls and street performers, with a great atmosphere. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset. 

6. Laze on a quieter beach

Puerto Vallarta is primarily a beach destination, and for many visitors, their top priority is enjoying the sun, sea and sand. 

It’s no surprise that tourists crowd the sands around the busy Zona Romantica and Centro areas. 

Playa Los Muertos, Playa Olas Atlas and Playa Camarones, although nice beaches, can be incredibly busy. With other tourists, beachfront restaurants and bars, and vendors selling everything you can imagine. 

I think Los Muertos was one of the busiest beaches we experienced in all of Mexico. We could barely find a free patch of sand big enough for our towel!

But the good news is, you can still experience the beautiful beaches of Puerto Vallarta without the crowds at these less touristy beaches:

• 🏖️ Playa Punta Negra
• 🏖️ Playa Palmares
• 🏖️ Playa Esmeralda (aka Playa Garza Blanca)
• 🏖️ Playa Las Gemelas

We recommend jumping on a bus heading south to Boca de Tomatlan and hopping off at any of these beaches.

You can catch the bus from the corner of Calle Constitución & Basilio Badillo in Zona Romantica out the front of the OXXO. Just make sure it says Boca de Tomatlan on the front, and it will head south along Highway 200. You can also take an Uber. 

We spent a lovely afternoon at Playa Punta Negra. We weren’t bothered by any vendors, and there was just a handful of other locals at the beach. 

The water around Puerto Vallarta can be rough depending on the season, so be careful swimming. 

7. Enjoy Puerto Vallarta’s famous sunsets

Sitting on the west coast of Mexico on the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta is blessed with gorgeous sunsets year round!

One of my favourite things to do in Puerto Vallarta was check the sunset time and plan my day around it. Planning to be on the beach, at a lookout, or in a bar or restaurant with a good view to enjoy the sunset. 

It’s such a nice way to end the day, reflect on what you’ve done and seen in this beautiful part of Mexico, and if you’re keen, kick off a big night out on the town in Zona Romantica. 

Any of the beaches around PV have great sunset views, as does the Malecon. 

One of the more unusual things to do in Puerto Vallarta is to enjoy the sunset from a rooftop restaurant! Sky Bar, Restaurante Barcelona Tapas and La Capella Restaurante are all lovely and romantic places to enjoy a drink or a meal while watching the sun go down. 

8. Eat all the tacos

I know I’ve talked about the food tour, but I want to quickly mention some of our favourite local restaurants. The food was excellent in Puerto Vallarta, with dirt cheap and delicious tacos on every street corner.

Some of our top recommendations are:

• 🌯 Tacos El Moreno – an unassuming street stall with mouthwatering carne asada. You can get tacos, but we highly recommend their burritos. They are HUGE. They’re actually on the menu as a burrita gigante (giant burrito) and the name is fitting. Stuffed with cheese, beans, some cabbage and your choice of salsas, it was incredible! Brayden and I shared one between us for lunch, as it was so large!

• 🍍 Tacos Revolucion – we went here three times in Puerto Vallarta, which tells you how good it is! The tacos were amazing, with a good range of meat, seafood and vegetarian options. But what we kept coming back for was their incredible pineapple and habañero salsa. They bring out some especially crispy corn chips with the salsas, and I think each time we scoffed them down with the pineapple salsa before our tacos even arrived.

• 🌮 Street Stalls on Lazaro Cardenas – wander down Lazaro Cardenas, near the intersection with Insurgentes and you will find a plethora of street food stalls all lined up. Most dishing up delicious tacos and associated options (quesadillas, burritos etc.). We ate at a few of the different stalls, and each was as good as the last. The opening hours are varied and not overly reliable. By lunchtime most days there was at least one or two stalls open, and by dinnertime, they were all open.

• 🐟 Mariscos Cisneros – the place for seafood tacos. Fish, shrimp, crab you name it, they have it. In tacos, quesadillas, burritos or tostadas. Their outdoor garden area is lovely to sit down.

• 🥑 Pancho’s Takos – I’m including this as it’s the most popular taco restaurant in all of Zona Romantica. It’s delicious, but it has become a bit overrated and you’ll have to wait. Most days we had to keep walking as we didn’t want to stand in a queue for 30+ minutes. But if you can get in quickly, it’s definitely worth a try.

9. Take part in the PV Art Walk

We were first introduced to this concept in San Jose del Cabo in Baja California Sur, and were pleased to find out Puerto Vallarta did the same thing. 

Every Wednesday evening between late October – late June (peak/dry season) local galleries in the Centro neighbourhood open their doors to visitors for the Puerto Vallarta ArtWalk. 

From 6 pm – 10 pm, you can take a self-guided walking art tour, visiting different galleries. You can speak with the artists, browse paintings, sculptures, ceramics and jewellery, and maybe even find a unique souvenir to take home. 

A similar initiative happens in Zona Romantica on select Friday nights in peak tourist season (January – March). Find out more about ARTE, Zona Romantica. 

10. Find all the street art

The historic area of Puerto Vallarta (Zona Romantic, Centro and 5 de Diciembre) is full of amazing street art. Huge colourful murals bring life to the streets and depict different historical, cultural and environmental themes. 

If you’re interested in learning about local artists and the meaning behind the murals, you can join a street art walking tour with a local artist guide. 

If you’re happy to explore solo, a local organisation PV Street Art has created this fantastic self-guided street art map.

11. Hike Mirador de la Cruz

If you’re looking for a decent workout and some amazing views of PV, you should hike Mirador de la Cruz. 

A short, but very steep hike leads you through the streets behind Centro, following winding alleys with hundreds of stairs.

You reach an observation tower which you can climb (more stairs!) for some beautiful views over the city and the Bay of Banderas. 

If you’re wondering what the locals do in Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find all the fitness freaks and runners tackling these stairs! 

Follow this trail on AllTrails, and be sure to have the app on your phone as the small alleys you’ll walk on aren’t marked on Google Maps. 

12. Give some love to rescue dogs and cats

Friends of PV Animals is a wonderful local shelter that rescues and rehomes street dogs and cats. 

They can always use an extra hand from volunteers, to come and either walk the dogs or socialise with the cats. 

I don’t know about you, but I can always use a dose of puppy loving! We walked many sweet dogs at shelters all over Mexico, and it’s a lovely way to spend a morning. 

Get in touch with Friends of PV Animals in advance and confirm the days and times they are open for volunteers. 

13. Visit Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an iconic site in Puerto Vallarta.

This beautiful cathedral dominates the skyline, with its ornate domed spires. It looks totally different to the popular cathedral in Guadalajara.

It’s free to go inside the church, and so long as a service is not going on you are permitted to enter and (respectfully) take photos. 

The area around the cathedral is a hive of activity, with Plaza de Armas nearby, lots of street food stalls and music. 

14. Take a cooking class

No doubt you’ve been eating all the delicious Mexican food around Puerto Vallarta. Now it’s time to take a cooking class and learn how to make some of the local specialties yourself!

On top of learning how to make delicious salsas, tacos and Mexican drinks, taking a cooking class is a great cultural experience.

There aren’t a lot of tours that allow you to genuinely and authentically connect with local people. A cooking class gives you this opportunity and is one of the best non touristy things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

As part of the class, you’ll visit a local market with your chef to shop for fresh local ingredients. Your class will take place in your chef’s house, where you’ll learn to cook a number of Mexican dishes. 

The experience has a rotating roster of dishes each day of the week, so you can check in advance which day you’d like to book.

👨🏽‍🍳 Book your Puerto Vallarta cooking class

Unique things to do around Puerto Vallarta

I wouldn’t quite say these activities are day trips, but they’re on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta. Most are within an hour of Puerto Vallarta, or the tours depart directly from PV. 

15. Hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas

If you want to get out in nature, get your blood pumping and discover some beautiful beaches, we highly recommend hiking the jungle trail from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas. 

Starting from the bustling little town of Boca, the trail winds around the coast through the jungle, passing a number of stunning and almost deserted coves. Before ending at the busier Playa Las Animas, where there are a ton of restaurants to grab lunch. 

To get to Boca de Tomatlan from Puerto Vallarta, you can take the bus from the corner of Calle Constitución & Basilio Badillo in Zona Romantica out the front of the OXXO. The bus is very easy to navigate, and it costs just 10 pesos per person. Otherwise, you can jump in an Uber or taxi. 

Once you arrive in Boca, you need to cross the bridge over the river, and you will be on the trail. 

There are signs along the way, pointing to the next beach (it won’t say Las Animas, it will say Playa Colomitos which is the first beach you will encounter).

Once you’re on the trail it is pretty easy to follow the whole way, but it’s worth pre-loading the AllTrails route. 

The first leg of the trail to Playa Colomitos is the hardest, with the most ups and downs. But, resist the urge to rest at this beach, and push on a little further until you see the next one. 

I don’t think there is a specific name for this beach, but it was much more beautiful than Colomitos, with more sand and rocks to sit down on, and a better spot for a swim. We wish we had saved our break for this beach.

AllTrails lists the hike as a 7.5 km (4.5 mi) return, but I suspect it was a little more than that. 

Most people (us included) just walk one way on the trail to Playa Las Animas and then catch a boat back to Boca de Tomatlan. 

If you’re feeling fit, you can return the way you came and hike back, but after seeing the scenery once and possibly having a couple of beers or a margarita at Playa Las Animas as we did… we suggest the boat back! 

Just head to the pier in Las Animas and tell anyone official-looking you want to go to Boca and negotiate a price. It shouldn’t be more than 100 pesos, but everything in Las Animas is a bit inflated for tourists I think.

16. Visit the Quimixto Waterfall

Quimixto is hands down the best Puerto Vallarta hidden gem! 

This was my favourite less touristy place near Puerto Vallarta, and we actually decided to spend a few nights here. I highly recommend it, but it’s also easy to visit Quimixto as a day trip.

I’ve got a detailed post on Quimixto that covers exactly how to get there, which I won’t repeat here. 

If you’ve got your sights set on the waterfall, follow the path from the pier into the (very small!) town. You will see colourful signs pointing you to the cascada (waterfall). 

The walk to the falls is short, around 30 – 45 minutes depending on your pace, and besides a few short inclines, it isn’t too strenuous. 

Please say no to renting a horse to take you to the falls. They stand around in the sun all day, most of them are mules, not full-size horses and it looks so cruel and uncomfortable for them to carry tourists. We didn’t see any food or water for them over the three days we were in Quimixto, and it looked like a very sad and unhappy life.

Once you arrive at the falls, you will see there is a restaurant built on a platform above the falls. From there, you can walk down some stairs to swim at the base of the falls. 

Of course, if you want to use these facilities you are expected to purchase something. Generally, one drink per person will keep them happy, but it can be a good spot to have some lunch if you’re hungry after the walk. 

Once you return back to Quimixto, I would recommend hanging out on the beach for a few hours. It is much quieter than Puerto Vallarta, and there are plenty of great spots for a meal or a drink, such as Los Cocos or El Volador. 

✨ Read my complete guide to the magical Quimixto

17. Snorkel at Los Arcos

The Los Arcos National Marine Park is a group of five small granite islands that seemingly shoot out of the ocean in the Bay of Banderas. 

The islands are located just off the coast of Mismaloya, a small beach town south of Puerto Vallarta. 

On land, the small archipelago is home to a number of birds such as pelicans and even the famous blue-footed booby! Under the water, there is a maze of tunnels and arches that are perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving. 

The area is home to a range of tropical fish like parrotfish and angelfish, and if you’re lucky you might even spot a turtle or a ray! We saw a couple of spotted eagle rays on our visit, my favourite marine animal (next to whales, of course!). 

The visibility of the water becomes quite bad in the cooler months (November – April) because the water turns a tone of green. Our captain told us it’s because it mixes with the colder water coming from the north. 

We did notice the water all over the region wasn’t sparkly blue, and this explains it. It’s not dirty, it just changes tone, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want to snorkel or dive during these months. 

You can organise a snorkel tour to Los Arcos with basically any tour company, or boat captain hanging around the pier at Playa Los Muertos.

Do be aware though that many boat tours say they include Los Arcos, but often it’s a very short snorkel stop or sometimes just passing by, without actually stopping. 

For an affordable, but very well-rated option, we recommend this tour. If you’re a bigger group or family, this private tour is great value and gives you complete control over your snorkelling time. 

18. Go whale watching 

Each winter, thousands of humpback whales come to the waters around Puerto Vallarta to mate and give birth.

Humpbacks are the most energetic and active species of whale, and there’s a good chance you’ll be treated to a show! They leap out of the water (breach), stick their heads vertically up (spy hop) and splash the water with their fins (pec slap) and tails (tail slap). 

The season runs from around mid-December to late March, with January and February being the peak time. 

There are many different whale watching tours in PV, but not all are created equally.

Skip the large cruise-style boats, and instead opt for a smaller boat with a conservation focus that interacts with the whales ethically. 

Here are our top recommended tours: 

• 🐋 Whale and Dolphin Watching with a Biologist in Puerto Vallarta – this tour takes place on a small Zodiac boat, which allows quicker maneuverability and allows you to safely get closer to the whales. The best thing is that the tour is led by a marine biologist, doing current research projects on whales and dolphins in Puerto Vallarta. You’ll get a ton of valuable information about these species. They also have a sonar system on board, allowing you to listen to the whale songs underwater. 

• 🐋 Whale Encounter Puerto Vallarta – a small group tour with expert local guides who are knowledgeable and passionate about whales and other marine life in the area. You’ll have sonar on board to listen to whale songs, and the trained captains are always respectful when approaching the whales. 

• 🐋 Whale Research Adventure Led by Marine Biologist – another conservation and research-focused tour, complete with an educational briefing beforehand. Use the hydrophones to listen to the whale song underwater, and enjoy the wonderful service of a very passionate captain and crew. 

19. Discover Hidden Beach at Islas Marietas

An alternative option for snorkelling and diving is the Marietas Islands. 

Located much further out in the Bay of Banderas than Los Arcos, this group of islands is protected as part of the Marietas Islands National Marine Park. 

Life above and below the water is similar to that at Los Arcos. But what really draws people to the Marietas Islands is the famous Hidden Beach. 

Created by military test bombing in the early 1900s, this beach is inside an open-air cavern, invisible from the outside. 

Only accessed at low tide, with a short swim or kayak through a tunnel, this mysterious beach has become very popular. 

Many different tours visit the Marietas Islands for snorkelling, but not all of them include a visit to Hidden Beach. Be sure to read tour descriptions carefully if you’re really hoping to see this secret playa.

Access to this fragile area is strictly controlled by the government, with only a small amount of permits issued each day. If you are permitted to enter on your tour, your time will be limited. 

This tour guarantees a visit to Hidden Beach. You’ll notice it costs a lot more than other tours to the islands, and it’s because accessing the beach is guaranteed. 

This is one of the most unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta and all of Mexico!

🏖️ Book your guaranteed Hidden Beach tour

20. Swim with wild dolphins

Whales aren’t the only creatures in the sea around Puerto Vallarta! Year-round, huge pods of bottlenose dolphins can be seen in the Bay of Banderas. 

On this tour with a local environmental group, you’ll use a hydrophone to find dolphins through their unique clicking sounds. The crew are marine biologists who conduct important research on the species. 

They are experts on dolphins and familiar with their habits and behaviours, so you have a great chance of getting up close. You’ll usually have the chance to jump in the water a couple of times, to swim with the dolphins.

They swim very fast, so it might only be a quick glimpse underwater. But the experience is a special one nonetheless, and seeing so many dolphins up close is wonderful. 

Sadly there are a lot of dolphins kept in captivity around Mexico, for the purpose of tourism. But the dolphins you’ll see here are completely wild and free, in the ocean where they should be. 

🐬 Book your wild dolphin swimming tour here

21. Participate in a baby turtle release

Every year from June – December, hundreds of mama sea turtles come ashore in the Bay of Banderas to lay their eggs. 

Sadly in Mexico, turtle nests are at risk of being stolen, eaten by predators, or crushed by ATVs and foot traffic.

To combat this and conserve the population of sea turtles, local NGOs all over the country set up secure hatcheries, and relocate nests. 

In Puerto Vallarta, there is a fantastic organisation Campamento Tortuguero – Boca de Tomates doing this important work. 

From August to December, you can help a freshly hatched turtle make its way into the ocean.

The camp posts on their Facebook page after 1 pm, if they will have a release that evening. It is dependent on the turtles that hatch during the day. Releases always happen around sunset as it becomes dark. 

The camp is located on the beach at Boca de Tomates near the airport. You can take an Uber here.

If you’d prefer, you can join a tour. It provides more detailed information and briefing about the turtles than the volunteers at the camp can give. They do give an educational talk, but their primary focus is safely releasing the turtles. 

Please remember that the turtle liberations are first and foremost about the protection and conservation of the turtles, NOT as a tourist attraction. Some visitors seem to forget this and are very demanding of the volunteers. 

The experience is free, but please donate to support this important work. 

🐢 There are also turtle releases in Sayulita and San Pancho

22. Hike to Cascada Palo Maria

Another beautiful hike around Puerto Vallarta is to the Cascada Palo Maria. 

This 2.6 km (1.6 mi) return hike follows a riverbed up into the Sierra Madre mountains. It’s steep in parts and requires a bit of rock hopping and bouldering. But it’s all worth it when you reach the Palo Maria Waterfall and pools to cool off in. 

This hike is easily done solo. The trailhead is just off Highway 200, near the Hotel Garza Blanca. Any bus going to Boca de Tomatlan will pass here, or take an Uber. Follow this route on AllTrails. 

If you’d prefer to hike with an expert guide, this tour is a great option. You’ll use the local bus to reach the trailhead, and won’t have to worry about navigating as your guides lead the hike.

They’ll teach you lots of information about the flora and fauna of the jungle, and they know all the secret paths at the waterfall, including hidden caves and where is safe for cliff jumping. 

🥾 Book a guided hike to Cascada Palo Maria

23. Explore the Vallarta Botanic Gardens

If you want to experience a slice of rainforest in Puerto Vallarta, head to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanico Vallarta). 

Located a 45-minute drive from Zona Romantica, the gardens showcase an impressive range of native plants and flowers. The property features planned and manicured gardens, as well as a range of trails through natural rainforests, rivers and waterfalls.

You could easily spend a day here exploring all the different trails, and the further you get from the main gardens and visitor centre, the more likely you are to have the trails to yourself! 

There is a restaurant on-site that serves up a range of international and Mexican-style dishes, which was surprisingly good and affordable considering the location. The restaurant sits on the upper floor of the visitor centre, with a beautiful open-air balcony overlooking the gardens. 

If you’re lucky, you will spot some hummingbirds on the feeders that hang from the roof. 

When we visited there was hardly anywhere else around!

It was a super relaxing and lovely day, and after exploring the trails, we lazed on the lawn in the shade reading our books in the peace and quiet. One of Puerto Vallarta’s best kept secrets! 

To get here, take the bus going to ‘El Tuito’ from Zona Romantica, from the corner of Basilio Badillo and Aguacate. 

24. Go on a fishing charter

Puerto Vallarta is a popular spot for fishing, and whether you stay inside the Bay of Banderas, or head further out to sea there’s the possibility to catch some big fish! 

A lot of the charters on offer cater to very serious sports fishermen, spend over eight hours at sea, and cost well over $300 USD per person. 

We aren’t mad keen anglers and were happy to do a shorter experience inshore. So we hunted out a private charter that was more affordable and ended up renting a boat with a captain for four hours from Vikingo Charters. 

The cost was 1,000 pesos per hour, which we were pretty happy with.

Vikingo were fantastic, they were great to deal with, the boat was really comfortable, and all the fishing gear and licenses were included. They also had an esky with ice onboard for any food or drinks we wanted to bring.  

With only four hours we stayed inside the bay, and the captain sorted all the fishing gear for us and set everything up.

It was just our luck that we didn’t catch anything. Not. One. Single. Fish. 

Seriously, we didn’t even touch the rods the whole time! 

But being out on the water was still such a great time, and getting to look back from the sea to the stunning, mountainous coastline around Puerto Vallarta was amazing.

After a few hours, we called it quits on the fishing and decided to go snorkelling instead at Los Arcos, which was wonderful. 

If you’re hoping to catch some big fish, you’ll need to organise a charter for 8+ hours, so you can head out of the bay into the deeper ocean. 

25. Take a day trip to Yelapa

Yelapa is a small coastal village south of Puerto Vallarta, at the very edge of the Bay of Banderas. 

Accessible only by boat, it might seem like this area is an island. It’s on the mainland, but the jungle around town is so dense, that there are no roads or cars here. 

This little town is the more popular alternative to Quimixto and has become more built up in recent years. 

But it’s still far less touristy than Puerto Vallarta. You’ll find quieter beaches, some pretty waterfalls in the jungle and rural village life. 

If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of PV, you can stay in Yelapa for a few nights. If you don’t have the extra time, a day trip is possible. 

You can DIY your visit, taking the bus or Uber to Boca de Tomatlan, and then boarding a boat to Yelapa. 

You’ll land on Playa Yelapa, a gorgeous beach, and can easily while away a day lazing on the sand, exploring the village and hiking to the waterfalls.

There is one waterfall that is quite close to the beach (follow this trail), but a second, quieter waterfall is a decent hike into the jungle (follow this trail) if you’ve got the time. 

If navigating buses and water taxis doesn’t sound fun, you can join a boat tour that departs from Puerto Vallarta. You’ll get a scenic boat ride across the bay, with stops for snorkelling, before having time to explore Yelapa, the beach and the waterfalls. The tour does seem like a typical tourist day with quick stops at lots of places, but the option is there. 

26. Hang out in Mismaloya

With so many great little beach towns south of PV, like Boca, Quimixto and Yelapa, so many people forget about Mismaloya. 

But this laidback coastal village is where tourism really started in Puerto Vallarta! 

It was the setting for the famous movie Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton. He brought his then-mistress Elizabeth Taylor with him to Puerto Vallarta while he filmed, and they both fell in love with the area and moved into Casa Kimberly. 

The area got a lot of international attention as a result, and the movie kicked off tourism to this part of Mexico. 

Today, Mismaloya has retained a small-town feel. 

It’s a great place to spend a day, with a sandy beach, Playa Mismaloya, and plenty of great restaurants to enjoy a fresh seafood feast. Keep your eye out for the resident iguanas roaming around town. 

If you’re feeling active, there is a fantastic hike into the jungle to three gorgeous waterfalls. It’s a long and challenging hike, so come prepared. But chances are you’ll be the only one there! Follow the route on AllTrails. 

You can take the bus towards Boca de Tomatlan from the bus stop located here and get off at Mismaloya.

Day trips to less touristy places near Puerto Vallarta

Change it up and get out of Puerto Vallarta to these surrounding towns. No high-rise resorts, heavy traffic or shopping malls in sight. If you’ve got the time, you can add a couple of nights at any of these destinations for a change of scenery. 

27. Take a day trip to Sayulita

About an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in the neighbouring state of Nayarit is the colourful surf town of Sayulita. 

This pueblo magico has become a pretty popular spot for travellers over the past few years. But despite this, it still has a completely different feel to Puerto Vallarta. 

There are no large resorts or big-city vibes. Sayulita is still a small beach town that revolves around surfing, yoga and partying. 

It’s a funky place, with aesthetic cafes, tons of great restaurants, cute artsy stores and gorgeous boutique hotels. 

I’d highly recommend spending a few days here, as it offers a totally different experience to Puerto Vallarta. But if you’re really short on time, you can take a day trip. 

There are public buses between the towns, or you can take an Uber (it’s harder to get an Uber back to PV though).

Once you’re in Sayulita, you can see all the main sights on foot, and the best thing to do is wander around the town, hit the beach, take a surf lesson and enjoy the great dining scene. 

🌈 Read my complete guide to Sayulita with more details to plan your day there

28. Or San Pancho

For a destination even more laidback than Sayulita, try San Pancho. 

Officially San Francisco de Nayarit this hippy village is just a few minutes north of Sayulita. 

It has a similar vibe, with colourful streets and great surf, but it hasn’t become as popular or crowded as Sayulita. 

We much preferred San Pancho, and really appreciated the quiet, peaceful vibe. It feels worlds from the busy and developed Puerto Vallarta. 

If you’ve got a few nights to spare, San Pancho offers a really nice contrast. If not, a day trip is feasible and you get here via the same methods as Sayulita. 

You could combine the two towns in one (long) day if you really wanted to. If you want to hit both places, taking a tour is probably the best way as you won’t waste time on public transport. 

This well-rated tour combines both towns and includes return transport from your hotel in PV. 

🏄🏽‍♀️ Book a Sayulita and San Pancho combo day tour

29. Get into the mountains at San Sebastian del Oeste

Another great day trip from Puerto Vallarta, in a completely different area! 

San Sebastian del Oeste is one of Jalisco’s pueblo magicos or magic towns.

Located high in the Sierra Madre mountains, this small mining town has cool, fresh air and offers a reprieve from the heat and humidity of the coast. 

The small town offers a glimpse into rural Mexican life and feels as if you’ve stepped back in time. With whitewashed buildings and cobblestone streets, it’s a cute pueblo to explore. 

Unless you’ve got a rental car, the best way to visit is via a tour. An experienced driver will navigate the winding mountain roads, and a guide will teach you more about the town and its mining history. A yummy lunch is included too. 

⛰️ Book a day tour to the charming mountain town of San Sebastian del Oeste

Non touristy Puerto Vallarta: Final thoughts

There’s no sugarcoating that Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. It’s busy, noisy and entirely catered towards international visitors.

It’s not winning any prizes for our favourite place in Mexico, but I’ll admit, it surprised us.

If you know where to look, you can have a really great time in Puerto Vallarta. Even if you’re not the type of person who spends your holiday by the pool in a resort!

I hope these unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta have given you some inspiration on how to experience Puerto Vallarta in a different way.

Don’t forget to combine your time in Puerto Vallarta with another less touristy, quieter spot nearby. My top choices are Quimixto and San Pancho.

MORE JALISCO & NAYARIT POSTS

• Complete 5-Day Guadalajara Itinerary for First Timers
• Quimixto Travel Guide: Puerto Vallarta’s Hidden Gem
• Sayulita Travel Guide: Mexico’s Hippy Surf Town
• San Pancho Mexico Travel Guide: Tropical Bliss in Nayarit
• Hotel Maraica San Pancho – Tropical Eco-Resort in Nayarit, Mexico