4 Puerto Vallarta Day Trips

Puerto Vallarta is a beach destination that offers both visitors and residents the opportunity to do unique things. When venturing and exploring outdoors is a great idea, the Vallarta Lifestyles editorial team has prepared a list of the top day trips to discover with your couple, family or friends.

Yelapa

Yelapa is a remote tropical paradise, only accessible by boat, making it the perfect place for a day trip. You can take a 45-minute boat ride from Los Muertos Pier or a 20-minute ride from Boca de Tomatlán. You can wander around the exotic fisherman’s town and mingle with the locals or you can hike to its amazing waterfall, a 30-minute hike with great scenarios along the trek.

Los Arcos | Las Ánimas | Quimixto

Take a boat and spend the day at sea and secluded beaches. The trip starts at Los Arcos de Mismaloya, a natural paradise to admire beautiful tropical fish. The boat then heads to Quimixto, a remote beach town where you can horseback ride or walk to visit its amazing waterfall. The last stop on your trip will be Las Ánimas, a beautiful beach town filled with restaurants offering local delights.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens

The Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a must if you would like to explore beyond the beaches of Puerto Vallarta. You will find this amazing garden, ranked as one of the best in North America, just 30 minutes away from Puerto Vallarta downtown. The gardens include different sections, such as The Cactus Garden, The Tropical Fruit Orchard, and The Conservatory of Orchids and Native Plants. Then, you can explore its hiking trails into the forest, cross the hanging bridge and swim in the tropical river nearby.

San Sebastián del Oeste

Leave the tropical setting for a day and head to San Sebastián del Oeste, a magical town filled with history at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountain range, just an hour away from Puerto Vallarta. This former mining town will transport you back in time. Once you are there, you can spend the day walking around its colorful streets, enjoying local delights. But if you are up for more adventure, take a coffee tour or rent an ATV and visit the Cerro La Bufa to admire gorgeous views.

Hope you enjoy our options, although we know that some of them may already be on your list of things to do during your stay in Puerto Vallarta.