A resort that is packed with breathtaking views of its beaches & its mountain views is none other than Puerto Vallarta. This is a place that is filled with thousand of tourists every year. It’s located in Mexico in the state of Jalisco. The popular tropical Mexican destination was once a fishing town which the government slowly invested in and grew it into a tourist hub. You can enjoy countless things in Vallarta. If you wanna know about its culture, relish its famous activities and enjoy its nightlife, then you must visit Puerto Vallarta. We have listed down all the places you would want to visit. There are so many beautiful beaches as well with such stunning views that you could watch for hours. The sunset views are to die for. This place has many cafes, restaurants, bars & lounges too. Everything is here that a person would want or need to have a fun vacation.
Top 10 Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta
1. The Romantic Zone
The romantic zone or zona romantica, Puerto Vallarta is one of the oldest neighboring towns of Vallarta. The cobblestone streets will remind you and transport you back to the old times. It still has the old city charm which reflects through the culture, buildings, cozy cafes and small boutiques with a blend of modern bars and restaurants, tall buildings. This town is always filled with tourists and locals and is also known as the old town. The beaches, buildings and art in this town are numerous. You can visit Playa de los muertos, Las Amapas Beach, lglesia de la Santa Cruz, and many such places. One notable public art around this area is the statue of lazaro cardenas in the park of the same name. This place is famous for being lgbtq friendly. Go for a walk, explore this fun place and you won’t be disappointed.
2. Malecon Boardwalk
Malecon walk is not just a place to explore but a feeling, an experience that will forever stay etched in your memory. This boardwalk changed so many times from when it started in the 1900s. Made to protect the public against high waves, now this is not only a known landmark, but also a place where people come to see the panoramic view of the sea, the sun and the mountains. A walk here will not only be full of surprises from sand artists making stunning art, to sculptures of great artists, from jewelry sellers to yummy street food, from local vendors selling souvenirs to street artists performing. And the atmosphere at night is something else, the open bars, restaurants and the vibrant lights and sea view is to die for. Strolling through the malecon is a must. The best part is that this place is closed for vehicle traffic.
3. Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Vallarta Botanicals was opened to the public in 2004. a popular tourist spot, this conservation has a wide variety of regional plants and some of them are exotic. They also have a restaurant inside the garden, the food is tasty and you can enjoy the view while eating. There are guided tours available and a giftshop, not only this you can also hike inside the gardens. There’s a stream you can hike to but be careful of bugs. There’s also a river called Rio horcones which is open for swimming. If you’re into bird watching then do visit this place early morning or late evening. No doubt this garden has received so many awards. The charges are around 350mxn for adults and 150 mxn for children. It is a 45 minute drive from puerto vallarta and the drive is pretty with views of hills, and ocean.
4. Adventures and Water Sports
Puerto Vallarta’s beaches are a zone for many water sports and beach activities. You name it and there will be people engaging in those activities. Activities such as scuba diving, boat riding, hobie cat sailing, parasailing, snorkeling, fishing, ziplining and what not. There are many adventures in Puerto Vallarta you can explore. There are exciting activities like whale watching tour, bioluminescence and sunset local boat tour to los arcos sanctuary. Doesn’t matter if you are a thrill seeker or just want to explore what all puerto vallarto has to offer. There are 2 must do activities –
Whale watching – go on a boat ride with a marine biologist as a guide and watch the majestic humpback whales in Banderas bay.
Bioluminense and sunset boat tour – another must do activity where you swim in the blue light water. Done after sunset, this is a once in a lifetime activity.
5. Gringo Gulch
Gringo gulch is another neighbourhood in Puerto Vallarta. It became famous in the late 1950s for the foreigners who settled there including some famous celebrities of that time such as Elizabeth taylor, Richard burton, Peter o’toole. A place of history and architecture lovers, gringo gulch has cobblestone streets, and cozy shops. All you need is comfortable shoes and you are ready to explore this neighborhood that has the famous lover’s bridge, elizabeth taylor and richard burton’s old house, and statue of taylor and burton (behind a glass). Because it is on top of a hill you can see Vallarta city and the ocean. Even though it is a small place and away from the city you don’t have to worry about anything as everything is available within a short distance, cabs are also available.
6. Nightlife
This is a site that is renowned for its nightlife, where you get to find out several bars, restaurants that are always open early in the morning. You get everything here, from lounges to intimate venues to rooftop bars to stunning beaches with their sunset views of that place. They have different places like dive bars, sports bars, cocktail bars, gay bars, rooftop lounges, craft beer bars and nightclubs. You will definitely find something or someplace that will match the vibes you are looking for. These places are always hosting events like live music and performances. And you can party till the morning hours if that is your jam.
7. Beaches
The beaches of Puerto Vallarta have a charm of their own. Some are great for swimming and others for water sports activities. If you are into beaches and believe in just relaxing while watching the waves and soaking in the sun then you are going to love this place. With more than 50 options in puerto vallarta. Whether you want to just soak in the sun, do water sports activities, swim, or just have fun and relaxed time with family. You ‘ll find plenty of options here. Some of the best beaches in puerto vallarta are-
Hyatt ziva’s beach
A hidden beach in puerto vallarta, Hyatt ziva is a resort and the beach is a private and a paid beach. The best part is you can buy a day pass and avail the facilities. If you don’t like crowded beaches then this is the place for you.
Los Muertos Beach
Los Muertos in love romantica is another popular beach in Vallarta. This beach is perfect if you are a social person, here you will find a lot of families, tourists, locals.
8. Quimmixto
A small town a few miles away from Puerto Vallarta. It is apt for people who want to have a few quiet days of their vacation to themselves and do nothing. This hidden gem near Vallarta is the complete opposite of Puerto vallarta. On the one hand, Vallarta is a tourist hub, but this place is completely off the grid, and not many tourists come here. This no car town is only accessible through boats. You can do a few activities here. One of them is visiting the cascada. It’s a 45 min hike. There are few luxury retreats as well where you can buy a day pass and avail all the facilities they have to offer for a day. The trail is easy, and the waterfall is beautiful where you can swim. Another thing you can also do is hike to las animas.
9. Cuale Island
Isla del rio Cuale or Cuale river island is a small and another little place to go to when feeling overstimulated from the hustle of Vallarta. This place was used as a public park during the 70s and is now a place where there are museums, restaurants, shops, parks, etc. There’s a flea market filled with art and sculptures, jewelry, souvenirs and food with local flavors. Some notable attractions are the river cultural center, and John Houston’s statue. You can also visit the la iguana bridge which offers some beautiful and scenic views.
Another place you must visit is Rio Cuale Archaeological Museum – it was opened in 1978 by the national institute of anthropology and history. If you are into ancient history, then you are going to love the artifacts and the exhibitions they do. You will find tools, ceramic symbols, tombs, some of them as old as 2000bc.
10. Mirador De La Cruz Hike
There are so many hikes you can do in and near Vallarta such as the Mirador de la cruz hike. Also known as the hill of the cross viewpoint, it is a popular viewpoint in Vallarta. A short hike that will take only 30-45 minutes but it is still not recommended for people who have mobility issues as it is pretty steep. And a lot of stairs to climb. The views of the city, the ocean and mountains are beautiful especially during sunset or early morning. This hike starts near the malecon board. Do not forget to keep a water bottle as the weather is mostly humid there and you are going to feel thirsty pretty quickly. You can get water, coffee and some snacks at the top.
Conclusion
Puerto Vallarta has so much to offer. There are a lot of places you can visit that are not mentioned on the list such as parroquia de nuestra senora de guadalupe church, Yelapa and many more. Whether you want to be adventurous or want to have chill days. From zipline and water sports activities to wine and food tasting tours or chocolate making guide. This is a perfect vacation spot for friends and family with all the facilities available. There are so many resorts and hotels in Puerto Vallarta such as Hotel regina, Krystal grand, Playa Los Arcos Hotel. Some affordable options are hotel rio malecon, flamingo vallarta etc. Do visit some of these places if you are planning a Mexico trip.