The 15 Best Puerto Vallarta Tours, Ranked by Locals (2026)
Marietas, whales, El Eden, sunset sails and yachts — the fifteen tours worth your vacation hours, in order, with prices and who each one is for.
Real guides, honest advice, season-by-season tips. If a tour is overrated we say so; if a beach is overcrowded in March we tell you. Updated when we learn something worth sharing.
🌴 Puerto Vallarta 101 — Start Here
Puerto Vallarta Shore Excursions: Best Tours for Cruise Passengers
Which tours fit a 7–10 hour port call, how far each is from the pier, ship vs. direct booking, and three hour-by-hour plans.
Mayto & Tehuamixtle: The Best Day Trip South of PV
Five kilometres of empty beach, oysters in a fishing cove, turtles at dusk — and a new airstrip that turns the drive into a 15-minute flight.
How to Pick the Right Tour for Your Group
Couples, families, big groups, mixed ages — matching the activity to the people you're actually travelling with.
25 Best Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta
A local's honest short list — beaches, tours, food, nightlife and day trips, plus when to go and what to skip.
Where to Stay: PV Neighborhood Guide
Zona Romántica, Centro, Marina, Hotel Zone and beyond — which one fits your trip.
How to Get Around Puerto Vallarta
Buses, taxis, Uber, water-taxis and the airport — costs, tips and scams to avoid.
Puerto Vallarta on a Budget
Free and cheap things to do, local eats, and how to travel PV without blowing your budget.
📚 Essential Reads
The Best Time to Visit Puerto Vallarta — Month by Month
Honest breakdown by month: weather, prices, whales, crowds, sea turtle season, and the weeks we'd flat-out avoid.
Whale Watching in Banderas Bay: Full Season Guide
When humpbacks peak, where to find them, how to actually see them up close.
Top 5 Hidden Beaches Around Puerto Vallarta
The ones not in guidebooks (yet). How to get there, when to go.
ATV vs Jungle Buggy: Which One?
Same trails, very different ride. Honest comparison.
🏄 Surf Guides
vallartasurf.comIn collaboration with Vallarta Surf — Emilian Sitges' surf school (Tripadvisor Best of the Best 2025). Book lessons directly with them.
Can You Surf in Puerto Vallarta? Yes — Here's Everything
The best beaches, wave levels, perfect months. Mexico's hidden Pacific surf gem.
Best Surf Spots in Punta Mita — La Lancha & More
From La Lancha's clean lines to El Faro's challenging walls.
Best Surf Spots in Mexico — Coast to Coast
From La Lancha to Puerto Escondido and Baja. Complete guide.
The History of Surfing in Puerto Vallarta
From 1960s California pioneers to today's thriving community.
Surf Culture & Community in PV
Locals, music, art, traditions — the Pacific surf scene from the inside.
Surfing & Whale Watching — A Unique Combo
Catch waves while humpbacks breach in the distance. Dec–Mar magic.
Best Surf Clothing in Puerto Vallarta
Local shops and global brands that actually deliver on Mexican beaches.
Private Boat Charters in Nuevo Vallarta
Three boats by the hour out of the marina, real peso rates, and when a whole boat beats a tour ticket.
Luxury Catamaran in Punta Mita — Rayando el Sol
Brand-new 2025 Tanna 47 with private chef and premium open bar. The surf-trip rest day.
Punta Mita Yacht Charters — Rent a Yacht by Owner (BYRBO)
Marietas, Hidden Beach, whales and sunsets — boat types, pricing, and how to book direct with the owner.
🍤 Eat & Drink
The Best Seafood in Puerto Vallarta
Top restaurants and must-try dishes, high-end to hole-in-the-wall.
Best Food for Surfers — Eat Like a Local
Ceviche, smoothie bowls, fish tacos. Post-surf food we crave on the drive home.
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