Puerto Vallarta · Things to do
Checked August 2026 · 4 official sources
THINGS TO DO
Vallarta works as a base for water — several of the best beaches have no road to them — wrapped around a walkable old centre and a botanical garden an hour south.
Malecón seafront walk
The kilometre-long pedestrian seafront in the old town, lined with bronze sculptures and closed to traffic. Free, busiest at sunset, and the simplest way to get your bearings on the first evening.
Playa Los Muertos and the pier
The main town beach at the foot of the Zona Romántica, with the sail-shaped pier that water taxis run from. Loungers and umbrellas cost money; the sand itself does not.
Vallarta Botanical Garden
About 24 km south at Km 24 of Highway 200. Open 9:00–18:00 Tuesday to Sunday from April to November and seven days a week December to March, at 300 pesos for adults. A public bus leaves the Zona Romántica every half hour and takes roughly 40 minutes.
📍 Map & photos · $$ · Website ↗
Yelapa and Las Ánimas by water taxi
Boats from Boca de Tomatlán, at the end of the southbound local bus route, reach a string of road-free beach villages in 10 to 40 minutes. Check the time of the last boat back when you land, not when you leave.
📍 Map & photos · $
Los Arcos Marine Park
Protected granite islets just offshore south of town, the best snorkelling within easy reach of Vallarta, reached by panga from Boca de Tomatlán or Mismaloya. Water clarity on the day matters more than the season.
📍 Map & photos · $