Puerto Vallarta Day Trips: The Ocean, Jungle, and Local Towns

I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta a dozen times (or so) over 20 years. On many of those visits, we just relax on the beach and bop between bars in the Zona Romantica.

Let’s go over a few day trip options, for visitors looking to explore:

• The surrounding jungle
• Local towns & culture
• Off-shore

Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta

I’d break this into a few categories.  If you’re looking for something downtown, close to the beach, and in the middle of the nightlife, the Pinnacle Resort properties are a great option.   

A few blocks removed from the noise is the historic Bellview Hotel Boutique. 

And if you’re looking for something all-inclusive and quieter, Marival Distinct or Armony are great options in Nuevo Nayarit and Punta de Mita.

This interactive map is centered on the Zona Romantica. You can plug your dates in to check the rates and rentals:

On the Ocean with Vallarta Adventures

Vallarta Adventures is a longtime tour company based in PV, with a variety of day trips and tours from Puerto Vallarta:

• Adventure Park
• Snorkeling
• Whale & dolphin watching
• ATV rides
• Sunset cruises
• Ziplining

The list goes on.   

➡️ Click to Book Snorkeling at Los Arcos

I’d say, for first-timers: a trip to Yelapa or Quimixto would be an interesting and enjoyable way to spend the day.

Another favorite excursion from Puerto Vallarta is off the coast, south of the city, swimming and snorkeling near Los Arcos, the famous rock arches south of the Zona Romantica.

The area was first protected by the Mexican government in 1975 as a refuge for marine flora and fauna after concerns about reef damage and overfishing, and it officially became a national marine park in 1984.

The protections are aimed at both the waters around the arches and the rocky islands themselves, which serve as nesting and breeding grounds for seabirds. You’ll spot around 60 species of birds on the rocks:

• Blue-footed boobies
• Brown boobies
• Pelicans
• Cormorants
• Frigatebirds
• Ospreys
• Parakeets and parrots

The blue-footed boobies are relatively rare outside places like the Galápagos Islands.

➡️ Click to Book PV Snorkeling Tour

Below the surface, the marine park protects coral and rocky reef ecosystems filled with tropical fish and larger marine animals. Divers and snorkelers often spot:

• Angelfish
• Pufferfish
• Parrotfish
• Moray eels
• Octopus
• Lobsters
• Rays and manta rays
• Sea turtles
• Dolphins
• Seasonal humpback whales

According to the dive masters, the visits change with the seasons:

In the winter, you’ll spot more species of fish, but the water might not be as clear because of the plankton swimming around.

In the summer, the water is clearer, but you’ll see fewer fish.

Into the Jungle With Canopy River Park

Canopy River Park has grown from humble beginnings in the jungle near Puerto Vallarta. It was originally started (and is still owned) by a group of local farmers.

Today, it features ziplining, a glass platform on a peak, ATV tours, its own hotel, and a claim to fame: the longest suspension bridge in the world.

➡️ Click to Book a Jungle Tour

You can take a variety of tours, and they’ll pick you up from various spots in Puerto Vallarta.

For the ATV tour, you’ll need a driver’s license to drive your own along the dusty trails through the jungle.

You’ll stop at certain spots to get a drink or hike to a waterfall.

Part of the ATV tour includes driving across the Jorullo Bridge, which Canopy River Park promotes as the world’s longest vehicular suspension bridge.

It stretches about 1,540 feet long, and hangs roughly 500 feet above the river valley.

For Christmas in 2023, the owners opened a glass platform on one of the peaks.  It’s a stop on one of the ATV tours.  The glass is an impressive structure to check out, especially after the mountains green up in the summer and fall.

There’s also a big restaurant at the main entrance area, and a few drink spots to stop at along your tour.

➡️ Click for ATV Jungle Tour

A Visit to the Remote Town of Quimixto

There are no roads to Quimixto, a rural town south of Puerto Vallarta. You’ll have to take a boat to visit.

Only around 500 people live here year-round.

It’s home to several businesses, a village, a waterfall, and a small school.

Tourism, farming, and fishing keep Quimixto alive, and they welcome the tourists who arrive each day from PV.

Right off the boat, you’ll walk by a couple of small shops, including Veronica’s stand selling locally-grown fruit.

➡️ Click to Book a Quimixto Tour

Fruit & Nut Heaven

Quimixto is home to an astounding number of fruit and nut trees.  I love gardening, so it was fun to walk the streets spotting all the different kinds of things growing on the branches:

• almond trees
• pistachio trees
• lime trees
• passion fruit trees
• papaya trees
• banana trees
• mango trees
• jackfruit trees

Casa Tipica

A few of the property owners will open up their homes to welcome visitors to their “casa tipica.”

Our hosts had lived in their home for decades, and built much of it by hand, including the clay oven outside.

It’s wood-fueled, and perfect for homemade tortillas.

Using a wooden press, flopping the flattened tortilla dough onto the hot surface was much more challenging than I’d expected!

The lunch they served, of the homemade tortillas, guacamole, and ceviche, was delicious.

Donkey Rides

Also in Quimixto, you can ride a donkey around the dusty trails and through the streams.  Even first-timers will quickly get the hang of it.

Waterfalls

You can hike, take a donkey, or ride an ATV to the waterfalls near town.  

The first waterfall is small, and open to the public.

A second, much more impressive waterfall is behind one of two restaurants. 

You can walk up to it, but you’re expected to at least buy a drink.  Depending on the conditions, you can jump in and swim.

El Paraiso serves a full menu, and it’s nice to just relax for a while in nature with a margarita.

A husband and wife opened a second restaurant, Gondito, in 2024.  

Their specialty is a margarita made with locally grown berries.

Bucerías: Bustling Small Town Charm, Coffee, and Tacos

Bucerías may be a “small town,” but it’s growing rapidly.   I’d still describeit as a laid-back beach town, 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta along the Bay of Banderas. 

It’s clinging to its local roots, while expanding rapidly with an international expat community. Condo construction is underway on every street.

If you’re staying at one of the Marival resort properties north of PV in Nuevo Nayarit, Bucieras is a short bike ride up the coast.  

Originally a small fishing village, the word Bucerías comes from the Spanish word for divers (who historically dove here for oysters and pearls).

You’ll find cobblestone streets, colorful homes, taco stands, artisan shops, and a central plaza, but also beach bars, boutique hotels, yoga studios, and a strong food scene.

Some well-known spots around town include:

• La Negra:  trendy open-air restaurant and cocktail spot
• MIKOH: upscale sushi in the Golden Zone
• Sukha Beach House: beachfront hangout known for sunsets and live music
• Sandrina’s Restaurant:  longtime Mediterranean favorite
• The Sunset Club: rooftop views
• Karen’s Place:  casual local staple on the beach

I rode into town on a bike for a morning coffee tour, stopping first at Beach Please and Matre Mia.

We stopped at Café de Bucerías for breakfast. It’s a great spot with a large menu.  

The coffee tour turned into a Bloody Mary tour, after we pulled into Karen’s and ordered rounds of drinks in the sand!

Next time, we’ll coordinate with the sunset, and plan to spend it on the rooftop of the Sunset Club.

Other Hikes Around PV

If you have a car or driver, and are looking to hike off the margaritas and chips, there are a couple of famous hikes north of PV:

• Mirador del Toro 
• Monkey Mountain