Photo: August Dominus, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
The 5-day plan, rearranged for 6 days: every place stays and a few more are added, and each day keeps to one part of town.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: warm, sunny days with little rain score highest (the air stands in for the sea, which is not included). Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
A relaxed surf town up the coast, with a sandy bay, colorful streets, small shops and cafes. A pleasant place for a slow lunch and a walk on the beach.
Go when Late morning, then a long lunch and a swim.
Local tip It is a good while away by bus or car, so make it a day of its own. Check ahead on the road and on the surf before you swim.
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.
A small, quiet beach town just up the road from Sayulita, with a wide beach, murals and a relaxed main street. Easy to add to a day on the north shore.
Go when Afternoon, after Sayulita.
Local tip Walk the main street and look at the murals, then sit on the sand. The surf can be strong, so check the flags before you swim.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to June and November to December are the best months for a beach trip to Puerto Vallarta. This plan is built for late November, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 6 days in Puerto Vallarta, planned for late November. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 0.4 to 57.4 kilometers between its stops, and 111.7 kilometers in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days in San Miguel de AllendeAbout 460 km away
4 days of getting happily lost in Mexico CityAbout 660 km awayOther guides with a page about Puerto Vallarta. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyagePuerto Vallarta, the free travel guideLonely PlanetPuerto Vallarta travel guideTime OutThings to do in Puerto VallartaPhoto: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Melikamp, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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