Puerto Vallarta Activities

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Back to Puerto VallartaActive Pursuits

Travel agencies can provide information on what to see and do in Puerto Vallarta and can arrange tours, fishing trips, and other activities. Most hotels have a tour desk on-site. Of the many travel agencies in town, I highly recommend Tukari Servicios Turísticos, Av. España 316 (tel. 322/224-7177; fax 322/224-2350; www.tukari.com), which specializes in ecological and cultural tours. Another source is Xplora Adventours (tel. 322/223-0661), in the Huichol Collection shop on the malecón. It has listings of all locally available tours, with photos, explanations, and costs; however, be aware that a timeshare resort owns the company, so part of the information you receive will be an invitation to a presentation, which you may decline. American Express Travel Services, Morelos 660 (tel. 322/223-2955), also has a varied selection of high-quality, popular tours. One of the tour companies with the largest -- and best quality -- selection of boat cruises and land tours is Vallarta Adventures (tel. 888/303-2653 in the U.S., or 322/297-1212, ext. 3; www.vallarta-adventures.com). I can highly recommend any of their offerings. Book with them directly and get a 10% discount when you mention Frommer's.

Diving & Snorkeling -- Underwater enthusiasts from beginner to expert can arrange scuba diving or snorkeling through Vallarta Adventures (tel. 888/303-2653 in the U.S., or 322/297-1212, ext. 3; www.vallarta-adventures.com), a five-star PADI dive center. You may snorkel or dive at Los Arcos, a company-owned site at Caletas Cove (where you'll dive in the company of sea lions!), Quimixto Coves, the Marietas Islands, or the offshore La Corbeteña, Morro, and Chimo reefs. The company also offers a full range of certification courses (up to Instructor). Chico's Dive Shop, D?az Ordaz 772-5, near Carlos O'Brian's (tel. 322/222-1895; www.chicos-diveshop.com), offers similar diving and snorkeling trips and is also a PADI five-star dive center. Chico's is open daily from 8am to 10pm and has branches at the Marriott, Las Palmas, Holiday Inn, Fiesta Americana, Krystal, San Marino, Villa del Palmar, Paradise Village, and Playa Los Arcos hotels. You can also snorkel off the beaches at Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatl?n; elsewhere, there's not much to see other than a sandy bottom.

Ecotours & Activities -- Open Air Expeditions (tel./fax 322/222-3310; www.vallartawhales.com) offers nature-oriented trips, including birding and ocean kayaking in Punta Mita. Ecotours de México, Ignacio L. Vallarta 243 (tel./fax 322/222-6606), has eco-oriented tours, including seasonal (Aug-Dec) trips to a turtle preservation camp where you can witness hatching baby Olive Ridley turtles.

A popular Vallarta adventure activity is canopy tours. You glide from treetop to treetop, getting an up-close-and-personal look at a tropical rainforest canopy and the trails far below. Expert guides assist you to the special platforms, and you move from one to another using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables, while the guides explain the tropical flora surrounding you. They also offer assistance -- and moral support! -- as you rappel back down to the forest floor. Tours depart from the Vallarta Adventures offices in both Marina Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta at 8am, returning at 2pm. The price ($79/?43 for adults, $58/?32 for children 8-12) includes the tour, unlimited nonalcoholic beverages, and light snacks. Their newest offering is the Outdoor Adventure, which combines a ride on the canopy line with a day of adventure activities. You'll learn wilderness survival techniques while hiking through the Sierra Madre foothills, splashing through streams, rappelling down waterfalls, then taking a 300m (984-ft.) zip line over jungle landscape. The 6 1/2 hour tour costs $110 (£61), for those who are physically fit, ages 12 and older.

A second option is available in the southern jungles of Vallarta, over the Orquidias River, through Canopy Tours de Los Veranos (tel. 322/223-6060; www.canopytours-vallarta.com). This tour will pick you up at the Canopy office, near the south side Pemex station, to transport you to their facilities upriver from Mismaloya. Departures are on the hour, from 9am to 2pm. In addition to the 13 cables -- the longest being a full 350m (1,148 ft.) -- it also offers climbing walls, waterslides, and horseback riding. The guides here are noted for helping even the faintest of heart propel through the treetops. Price is $80 (£44) for adults, or $50 (£28) for children ages 6 and older. Use of the natural-granite climbing wall (helmets and climbing-shoe use included) is $18 (£9.90); the 1 1/2-hour jungle horseback riding tour costs $35 (£19).

Fishing -- Arrange fishing trips through travel agencies or through the Cooperativa de Pescadores (Fishing Cooperative), on the malecón north of the Río Cuale, next door to the Rosita Hotel (tel. 322/222-1202). Fishing charters cost $100 (?55) per person, for one to eight people; or select from other options where the price varies with the size of the boat; a boat can be rented for 8 hours for $450 (?248). Although the posted price at the fishing cooperative is the same as you'll find through travel agencies, you may be able to negotiate a lower price at the cooperative, which does not accept credit cards. It's open Monday through Sunday from 7am to 10pm, but make arrangements a day ahead. You can also arrange fishing trips at the Marina Vallarta docks, or by calling Fishing with Carolina (tel. 322/224-7250; cell 044-322/292-2953; fishingwithcarolina@hotmail.com), which uses a 9m (30-ft.) Uniflite sportsfisher, fully equipped with an English-speaking crew. Fishing trips cost $350 (£193) for up to four people for 4 hours and include equipment and bait, but drinks, snacks, and lunch are optional, at $12 (£6.60) per person. If you mention Frommer's when you make your reservation, they'll offer a free lunch with your booking. All boats have brand new engines.

Golf -- Puerto Vallarta is an increasingly popular golf destination; five courses have opened in the past 6 years, bringing the total in the region to nine. The Joe Finger-designed private course at the Marina Vallarta Golf Club (tel. 322/221-0073) is an 18-hole, par-74 course that winds through the Marina Vallarta peninsula and affords ocean views. It's for members only, but most luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta have memberships for their guests. Greens fees are $90 to $136 (?50-?75) in high season, $115 (?63) in low season. Fees include golf cart, range balls, and tax. Hiring a caddy costs $10 (?5.50). Club rentals, lessons, and special packages are available.

North of town in the state of Nayarit, about 15km (9 1/3 miles) beyond Puerto Vallarta, is the 18-hole, par-72 Los Flamingos Club de Golf (tel. 329/296-5006; www.flamingosgolf.com.mx). It features beautiful jungle vegetation and underwent a renovation and upgrade of the course in 2005. It's open from 7am to 7pm daily, with a snack bar (but no restaurant) and full pro shop. The daylight greens fee is $140 (?77), which drops to $90 (?50) after 2:30pm. It includes the use of a golf cart; hiring a caddy costs $20 (?11) plus tip, and club rental is $30 to $40 (?17-?22). A free shuttle runs from downtown Puerto Vallarta; call for pickup times and locations.

The breathtaking Jack Nicklaus Signature course at the Punta Mita Golf Club (tel. 329/291-6000; fax 329/291-6060) has 8 oceanfront holes and an ocean view from every hole. Its hallmark is the optional Hole 3B, the "Tail of the Whale," with a long drive to a green on a natural island -- the only natural-island green in the Americas. It requires an amphibious cart to take you over when the tide is high, and there's an alternate hole for when the ocean or tides are not accommodating. The course is open only to guests staying in the Punta Mita resort or Four Seasons, or to members of other golf clubs with a letter of introduction from their pro. Other selected area hotels also have guest privileges -- ask your concierge. Greens fees for hotel guests are $185 (£102) for 18 holes and $110 (£61) for 9 holes, and for nonguests are $230 (£127), including cart, with (Calloway) club rentals for $60 (£33). Lessons are also available. In early 2008, a second Jack Nicklaus Signature course will open in Punta Mita, adjacent to the new St. Regis Resort slated to open at the same time.

Another Jack Nicklaus course is located at the Vista Vallarta Golf Club (tel. 322/290-0030; www.vistavallartagolf.com), along with one designed by Tom Weiskopf. These courses were the site of the 2002 PGA World Cup Golf Championships. The club is the foothills of the Sierra Madre, behind the bullring in Puerto Vallarta. A round costs $174 (?96) per person. Cart fee is an extra $46 (?25), with club rentals available for $49 (?27) per set/per round.

The Robert von Hagge-designed El Tigre course at Paradise Village (tel. 866/843-5951 in the U.S., or 322/297-0773; www.paradisevillage.com; www.eltigregolf.com), in Nuevo Vallarta, opened in March 2002. The 7,239-yard course is on a relatively flat piece of land, but the design incorporates challenging bunkers, undulating fairways, and water features on several holes. El Tigre also offers lessons and has an expansive clubhouse. This seems to be the favored course of local pros. Greens fees are $185 (£102) a round, or $85 (£47) if you play after 2pm. Club rentals are $45 (£25).

Horseback-Riding Tours -- Travel agents and local ranches can arrange guided horseback rides. Rancho Palma Real, Carretera Vallarta, Tepic 4766 (tel. 322/222-0501), has an office 5 minutes north of the airport; the ranch is in Las Palmas, approximately 40 minutes northeast of Vallarta. It is by far the nicest horseback riding tour in the area. The horses are in excellent condition, and you enjoy a tour of local farms on your way to the ranch. The price ($62/£34; American Express or cash only) includes breakfast and lunch.

Another excellent option is Rancho El Charro, Av. Francisco Villa 895 (tel. 322/224-0114; cell 044-322/294-1689; www.ranchoelcharro.com), which has beautiful, well-cared for horses, and a variety of rides for all levels, departing from their ranch at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Rides range in length from 3 to 8 hours, and in price from $56 to $100 (£31-£55). There's even the $69 (£38) Wild Ride, where you gallop along a ridge to a jungle waterfall -- too often, riders are disappointed with only trotting along well-marked trails on these excursions, and this ride allows experienced riders much more freedom. Rancho El Charro also has multiple-day rides -- check their website for details. Rancho Ojo de Agua, Cerrada de Cardenal 227, Fracc. Las Aralias (tel./fax 322/224-0607; www.mexonline.com), also offers high-quality tours, from its ranch located 10 minutes by taxi north of downtown toward the Sierra Madre foothills. The rides last 3 hours (10am-1pm, 3-6pm, or 4-7pm) and take you up into the mountains overlooking the ocean and town. The cost is $59 (£32). Both of the ranches listed above have other tours available as well as their own comfortable base camp for serious riders who want to stay out overnight.

Parasailing -- Parasailing and other watersports are available at many beaches along the Bay of Banderas. The most popular spot is at Los Muertos Beach. WaveRunners, banana boats, and parasailing are available by the hour, half-day, or full day. Be forewarned, however, that the swiftly shifting winds in Banderas Bay can make this a dangerous proposition. Fly at your own risk!

Sailing -- I personally believe that a trip to the Vallarta area is not complete without a journey out on the water -- there's no better way to see the entirety of the area, the beauty of the surrounding mountains, and get a sense of the area than from the perspective of a sailboat. Banderas Bay is increasingly being used at the site of national and international regatta competitions.

A recent (2005) and welcome addition to Vallarta's sailing scene is most impressive -- Coming About (tel. 322/222-4119; www.coming-about.com) is a women-only sailing school that provides hands-on sailing instruction for day-sailing excursions, as well as week-long sailing classes at a variety of skill levels. Owned and operated by Pat Henry, who spent 8 years sailing around the globe, then wrote about it in her book By the Grace of the Sea: A Woman's Solo Odyssey Around the World, the classes are challenging, inspiring, and entertaining, as Pat shares her adventures with participants. Dubbed "any woman's sailing school," the goal is to take away the fear and the mystery, and make the skill of sailing accessible to everyone. Courses range from a 1-day introductory course to a 9-day bareboat charter captain course. Fees for the 1-day course are $475 (£261) for four people; $2,800 to $3,600 (£1,540-£1,980) per person, based on double occupancy, for the 9-day course, including hotel.

Swimming with Dolphins -- Ever been kissed by a dolphin? Take advantage of a unique opportunity to swim with Pacific bottlenose dolphins in one of two facilities -- a clear lagoon or a special swim facility that's part of the Vallarta Adventures offices. Dolphin Adventure (tel. 888/303-2653 in the U.S., or 322/297-1212, ext. 3; www.vallarta-adventures.com) operates an interactive dolphin-research facility -- considered the finest in Latin America -- that allows limited numbers of people to swim with dolphins Monday through Saturday at scheduled times. Cost for the swim is $135 (£74). Reservations are required, and they generally sell out at least a week in advance. You may prefer the Dolphin Encounter ($69/£38), which allows you to touch and learn about the dolphins in smaller pools, so you're ensured up-close-and-personal time with them. You can even be a Trainer for a Day, a special 7-hour program of working alongside the more experienced trainers and the dolphins, for a cost of $250 (£138). The Dolphin Kids program, for children ages 4 to 8, is a gentle introduction to dolphins, featuring the Dolphin Adventure baby dolphins and their mothers interacting with the children participants ($60/£33). I give this my highest recommendation. Not only does the experience leave you with an indescribable sensation, but it's also a joy to see these dolphins -- they are well cared for, happy, and spirited. The program is about education and interaction, not entertainment or amusement, and is especially popular with children ages 10 and older.

Tennis -- Many hotels in Puerto Vallarta offer excellent tennis facilities; they often have clay courts. The full-service Canto del Sol Tennis Club (tel. 322/224-0123 and 322/226-0123; www.cantodelsol.com) is at the Canto del Sol hotel in the Hotel Zone. It offers indoor and outdoor courts (including a clay court), full pro shop, lessons, clinics, and partner matches.