5 days in Puerto Vallarta

An easy first day on foot. The sea walk and its statues, the church with the crown, the cobbled streets of the old town and a pier at the end of the beach.

1. Breakfast

   Chilaquiles and strong coffee

   Crisp tortilla chips simmered in red or green salsa and topped with cream, cheese and an egg. A hearty start to a day of walking.

   Local tip Ask for the salsa on the side if you like it mild.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   The Malecon

   The long boardwalk along the bay, lined with bronze sculptures, a pier, shops and cafes. Walk it slowly and look at the statues one by one.

   Go when Early morning for quiet, or just before sunset (about 6:20 PM) when the town comes out.

   Local tip Walk it one way and take a taxi or a cold paleta back. Look for the sea horse statue and the sculptures that face the water.

   

3. Treat

   A paleta by the sea

   Paletas are fruit or cream ice pops, sold from carts and shops in flavors like mango with chile, coconut and lime. A cold treat on a warm walk.

   Local tip Try a fruit one with chile if you like a little heat.

   About 3 min walk0.2 km
4. 2
   MiddayWorth a short look

   Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

   The church with a crown on top of its tower, which is the best known sight in the old center. Step in out of the sun and look at the painted ceiling.

   Go when Late morning, before the heat builds.

   Local tip Look up at the crown on the tower from the street, then step inside for a few minutes. Cover your shoulders and knees out of respect, as it is a working church.

   

   About 9 min walk0.7 km
5. 3
   AfternoonA place to wander

   Zona Romantica

   The old part of town south of the river, with steep cobbled streets, small galleries, patios and cafes. Wander without a plan and stop wherever a table looks good.

   Go when Late afternoon, then stay for dinner.

   Local tip Go uphill early, when the cobbles are cool, and let the streets lead you. Wear flat, grippy shoes, because the lanes are steep and uneven.

   

6. Lunch

   Fish tacos on a side street

   A fried or grilled white fish taco with cabbage, a squeeze of lime and a spoon of salsa. A classic of the Pacific coast.

   Local tip Order two to start and add more. Eat them while they are hot.

   About 7 min walk0.6 km
7. 4
   EveningWorth a short visit

   Los Muertos Pier

   A white pier with sail shaped arches that reaches out over the water at the end of the beach. A calm place to watch the light change.

   Go when Around sunset (about 6:20 PM), when the light turns gold.

   Local tip Walk to the end and look back at the town and the hills. It is a good meeting point for a group before a night out.

   

8. Dinner

   A long dinner in the old town

   A table under the string lights in a patio or on a rooftop, with a few plates to share: shrimp, a whole fish, grilled vegetables and a salad. Take your time.

   Local tip Book ahead for a group, especially on weekends and holidays.

A slow day on the sand. A walk through the old hillside, a long lunch by the water, a quiet beach to the south and a rooftop for the sunset.

1. Breakfast

   Fresh fruit and a licuado

   A plate of papaya, melon and pineapple with lime, and a licuado, a blended drink of fruit and milk or water. Light, cool and easy on a warm morning.

   Local tip Ask for it with less sugar if you like.
2. 1
   MorningPick a slow walk

   Gringo Gulch

   A hillside neighborhood above the river, once home to film stars, with steep lanes, old villas and views of the bay. Take the climb slowly, in the cool of the morning.

   Go when Morning, while it is cool.

   Local tip The lanes are steep, so take water and wear good shoes. Look over the walls at the old villas, and respect the privacy of the houses.

   About 10 min walk0.8 km
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Playa de los Muertos

   The main beach of the old town, with fine sand, umbrellas, a lively promenade and the pier at one end. A good place for a long lunch and a swim.

   Go when Midday for lunch and a swim, or late in the day for the glow.

   Local tip Use reef safe sunscreen, and check the flags and the surf before you swim. Eat a lunch on the sand, with your feet in it, and take your time.

   

4. Lunch

   Aguachile and ceviche

   Raw shrimp or fish cured in lime, with cucumber, onion and chile. Aguachile is hotter and ceviche is milder. Served cold with tostadas.

   Local tip Choose a busy place where the seafood moves fast, and ask how spicy the aguachile is.

   About 9 min by car or transit2.1 km
5. 3
   AfternoonA quiet beach stop

   Conchas Chinas

   A quieter stretch of coast south of town, with rocky coves, tide pools and calm pockets of sand. Check ahead on the swimming conditions, and watch the surf.

   Go when Afternoon, when the light is soft.

   Local tip The rocks are sharp and the surf can be strong, so wear water shoes and check conditions first. Bring your own shade and water.

   

6. Dinner

   A night out in the old town

   The old town stays lively late, with music, patios and bars along the cobbled streets. Go out for dinner first and then let the night take its course.

   Local tip Plan your ride home before you go out. Keep to lit streets, watch your drinks and your belongings, and keep it easy on the second night.

7. Treat

   A toast at sunset from a rooftop

   A rooftop terrace is a classic way to end the day, with a view of the bay and a glass in your hand. Tequila and raicilla are the lasting spirits of the region. Sip slowly, with a glass of water.

   Local tip Arrive a little before sunset to get a good seat, and agree on a way home before you start.

A full day on the water. A water taxi from the end of the road, snorkelling off a rock arch and a lunch on the sand in a village you can only reach by sea.

1. Travel from Conchas ChinasAbout 25 min by car or transit10.6 km

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Coffee and a sweet roll before the boat

   A cup of coffee and a pan dulce, a soft sweet roll, by the river at the end of the road. Eat lightly before a day on the water.

   Local tip Take water and a snack for the boat.
3. 1
   MorningWhere the boats start

   Boca de Tomatlan

   A small fishing village where the road ends and the water taxis begin. Sit by the river mouth, have a coffee and watch the boats come and go.

   Go when Morning, before the first boats fill.

   Local tip Water taxis leave from here for the coves. Check ahead on sea conditions and on the return boat, so you are not stuck at the end of the day.

   

   About 11 min by car or transit3.0 km
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Los Arcos Marine Park

   A protected marine park of rock arches and clear water, popular for snorkelling. Sea conditions vary, so check ahead and follow the guide on the day.

   Go when Morning, when the water is clear and calm.

   Local tip Bring reef safe sunscreen and look at the fish without touching anything. Sea conditions vary, so check ahead and listen to your guide.

   

   About 1 h 53 min by car70.7 km
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Yelapa

   A small village on a bay with no road in, reached by boat. Walk the sandy lanes, swim at the beach and look for the waterfall trail. Check ahead on the sea and on the return boat.

   Go when Midday for lunch, then back on a boat before the light fades.

   Local tip Walk the sandy lanes and swim at the beach. Take cash for small purchases, because cards may not work, and check ahead on the return boat and the sea.

   

6. Dinner

   Shrimp at the end of the day

   Garlic shrimp or shrimp tacos, a cold drink and a table with a view of the lights across the bay. A good way to finish a day on the water.

   Local tip Order the shrimp with garlic and a squeeze of lime.

7. Lunch

   Grilled fish on the sand

   A whole fish grilled over wood and served with rice, salad and tortillas at a simple beach table. Fresh, plain and made to be shared.

   Local tip Ask what was caught that day and share one fish among a few people.

A day of gentle stops. A morning on the island in the river, a garden up in the hills and a quiet evening where a famous film was made.

1. Drive from YelapaAbout 38 min by car25.5 km

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Huevos rancheros

   Fried eggs on tortillas with warm tomato salsa, beans and a little cheese. A simple, filling start before a day out of town.

   Local tip Add a coffee with cinnamon.
3. 1
   MorningWorth a short visit

   Isla Cuale

   A small island in the middle of the river, with shaded paths, craft stalls, a small museum and a bridge from each bank. A cool place to walk before the heat.

   Go when Morning, in the shade.

   Local tip Walk from one bridge to the other and look at the river from the middle. Browse the craft stalls and stop for coffee under the trees.

   

   About 35 min by car or transit20.4 km
4. 2
   MiddayCheck ahead

   Vallarta Botanical Garden

   A large garden in the hills south of town, with orchids, palms, a river and a path through the trees. Check ahead on hours and on how to get there, and bring a hat and water.

   Go when Morning or early afternoon, when the paths are cooler.

   Local tip It lies in the hills, so check ahead on hours and on how to get there. Bring a hat, bug spray and water, and plan a swim in the river if it is open.

   

5. Lunch

   Birria

   Slow cooked goat or beef in a rich red broth, a favorite of Jalisco. Served with tortillas, onion, cilantro and lime.

   Local tip Dip the tortilla in the broth, and add lime and salsa as you like.

   About 28 min by car or transit12.2 km
6. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short visit

   Mismaloya

   A small beach town in a bay south of Puerto Vallarta, known as a film location. Swim or sit on the sand, and look out at the rock arches in the water.

   Go when Afternoon, then a long dinner on the way back.

   Local tip It is known as the setting of a film. Look out at the rock arches in the bay and stay for a swim if the water is calm.

7. Dinner

   Tacos al pastor

   Spit grilled marinated pork shaved onto small tortillas with pineapple, onion and cilantro. A classic late night taco.

   Local tip Eat them standing at the stand and order a few at a time.

8. Treat

   A raicilla tasting

   Raicilla is a lasting spirit of the Jalisco coast, made from agave, with a smoky, fruity flavor. Taste it in small sips, with a slice of orange.

   Local tip Sip it slowly and ask what the agave is. Drink water between sips.

A day up the north shore. A boat to a protected island park, a fishing town on a long beach and a last toast to the trip when you get back.

1. Drive from MismaloyaAbout 47 min by car36.6 km

   Where Day 4 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Pan dulce and coffee

   A soft sweet roll and a strong coffee before the boat. Eat lightly if you get seasick.

   Local tip Take water and a hat with you.
3. 1
   MorningA point by the sea

   Punta de Mita

   A point of land at the north end of the bay, with surf breaks, beaches and boats that go out to the islands. A quiet place for a breakfast by the sea.

   Go when Morning, before the islands tours go out.

   Local tip This is where boats leave for the Marietas Islands. Check ahead on the sea and on the rules, and take sun protection.

   By boat, about 15 min9.4 km

   Options

   BoatAuthorized boat tours leave from Punta de Mita. Landing on the islands is generally not allowed.

   CheckHidden Beach has a daily limit and a visit is not guaranteed.

4. 2
   MiddayCheck ahead

   Marietas Islands

   A protected park of small islands off the coast, home to seabirds and clear water. Access is limited and the rules change, so check ahead on what is open and on how to visit.

   Go when Morning, when the sea is calm.

   Local tip It is a protected park, with limited access that can change. Check ahead on what is open, how to visit and what you may do in the water.

   

5. Lunch

   Shrimp tacos by the water

   Grilled or battered shrimp in a warm tortilla with cabbage, salsa and lime, at a simple beach table.

   Local tip Order a pitcher of fresh fruit water to go with it.

   By boat back, then by road25.0 km

   Options

   BoatThe tour boat returns to the mainland.

   RoadThen by road to Bucerias.

6. 3
   AfternoonA slow beach town

   Bucerias

   A laid back beach town on the road back, with a long stretch of sand, seafood shacks and a plaza. A good place to slow down for the rest of the afternoon.

   Go when Afternoon, on the way back to the bay.

   Local tip Walk the long beach, then sit at a seafood shack with shrimp and a cold drink. It is a good place to watch the day wind down.

   

7. Dinner

   A last long dinner

   Choose the dish you liked best from the week, or a seafood platter to share: fish, shrimp, oysters and a salad. End with a coffee and a slice of flan.

   Local tip Book ahead for a group, and let the table fill up.

8. Treat

   A last toast at sunset

   Raise a glass to the trip on the sand or a rooftop as the sun goes down over the bay. A tequila, a cold beer or a fruit water all work.

   Local tip Make the toast out loud. Say what each person liked best.