Boat Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Boat tours in Puerto Vallarta: Marietas Islands, Los Arcos snorkel & sail, speedboat bay tours and catamaran cruises on Banderas Bay.
Puerto Vallarta is one of the few beach towns in Mexico where you can snorkel a marine park, ride an ATV through jungle rivers, watch humpback whales and be on a sunset sailboat — all in the same 24 hours. This is the full menu of Puerto Vallarta tours we recommend, grouped by what you want to do. Every category page shows real durations, departure times and our direct prices next to what the hotel concierge charges for the same trip.
How to use this page
First-timers: pick one water tour and one land tour. In whale season (Dec–Mar) make whale watching the water one. Groups of six or more: look at private tours and yacht charters — priced per boat or vehicle, they are usually cheaper per person than group tickets.
Puerto Vallarta Boat Tours & Water Activities
Banderas Bay is the reason most people come. From a three-hour speedboat run to a full day at the Marietas Islands, these are the tours that put you on the water.
Snorkeling Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Snorkeling tours in Puerto Vallarta: Los Arcos marine park, the Marietas Islands, Majahuitas beach and family snorkel trips for kids 6+. All gear included.
Scuba Diving Tours in Puerto Vallarta NEW
Scuba diving in Puerto Vallarta: Discover Scuba for beginners, two-tank dives at Los Arcos and the Marietas Islands, and night dives. PADI guides, small groups.
Sailing Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Sailing tours in Puerto Vallarta on real sailboats: half-day sails, sunset sails, all-day trips to Yelapa and private sailing charters on Banderas Bay.
Sunset Cruises in Puerto Vallarta
Sunset cruises in Puerto Vallarta: sunset sailing, catamaran party cruises, private romantic sunsets and the pirate ship show. Open bar and dinner options.
Private Yacht Charters in Puerto Vallarta
Private yacht charters in Puerto Vallarta: 38 ft sport yachts, 50 ft catamarans, 65 ft luxury and 95 ft mega yachts with crew, open bar and your own itinerary.
Water Sports in Puerto Vallarta
Water sports in Puerto Vallarta: jet ski rentals, parasailing over Banderas Bay, flyboard sessions and paddleboard and kayak rentals from the beach.
Beach Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Beach tours in Puerto Vallarta to Las Ánimas, Yelapa, Mismaloya and Conchas Chinas: water-taxi, palapa lunch and a day of doing nothing.
Wildlife Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Humpback whales from December to March, wild dolphins year-round, sea turtles at sunset and 350+ bird species in the hills.
Whale Watching Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Whale watching tours in Puerto Vallarta, December to March: half-day humpback trips, photo tours, whale-and-snorkel combos and sunset whale watching.
Swim with Dolphins in Puerto Vallarta
Swim with dolphins in Puerto Vallarta: encounters, swims, trainer-for-a-day and kids' dolphin adventures in a natural-water habitat.
Fishing Charters in Puerto Vallarta
Fishing charters in Puerto Vallarta: half-day inshore, full-day offshore, premium sportfishers and pangas for marlin, sailfish, dorado and tuna.
Eco Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Eco tours in Puerto Vallarta: Vallarta Botanical Gardens, mangrove kayaking, sea turtle releases and birdwatching in the Sierra Madre. Small groups, local guides.
Jungle, Adventure & Land Tours in Puerto Vallarta
The Sierra Madre starts ten minutes from the beach. ATVs, buggies, ziplines, horses and colonial mountain towns.
ATV Tours in Puerto Vallarta HOT
ATV tours in Puerto Vallarta: El Eden canyon, San Sebastián del Oeste, sunset rides and jungle-to-beach combos in the Sierra Madre.
Jungle Buggy Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Jungle buggy tours in Puerto Vallarta: side-by-side RZR and UTV rides through El Eden, the Sierra Madre and sunset trails, plus buggy-and-beach combos.
Canopy & Zipline Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Canopy tours and ziplines in Puerto Vallarta: El Jorullo (the longest zipline in Mexico), express jungle circuits, tequila combos and a family canopy.
Horseback Riding Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Horseback riding tours in Puerto Vallarta: sunset beach rides, jungle waterfall trails, Sierra Madre half-days and beginner intros. Calm ranch horses.
Sightseeing Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Sightseeing tours in Puerto Vallarta: city highlights, San Sebastián del Oeste, tequila country and Sayulita day trips with bilingual guides.
Private Tours & Transfers in Puerto Vallarta
Your own driver-guide, your own schedule — and a car waiting at the airport with your name on it.
Private Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Private tours in Puerto Vallarta with your own bilingual driver-guide: city half-days, custom full days, tequila country and photo days. Your group, your schedule.
Puerto Vallarta Airport Transfers
Puerto Vallarta airport transfers (PVR): private sedan, SUV, van or Sprinter to your hotel. Fixed prices, English-speaking drivers, no timeshare desks.
Puerto Vallarta Tours: FAQ
What are the best tours in Puerto Vallarta?
The five tours locals recommend first: a boat tour to the Marietas Islands or Los Arcos, whale watching in season (December–March), an ATV or buggy ride into the El Eden canyon, the El Jorullo zipline and a sunset sail on the bay. If you have one day, do a morning boat tour and an evening sunset cruise — you will see the whole bay from the water.
How much do Puerto Vallarta tours cost?
Group tours run from about US$35 for a beach day by water-taxi to US$199 for a fishing charter seat. Most half-day activities (snorkeling, ATV, zipline, whale watching) fall between US$59 and US$99 per person, and the prices on this site are lower than the same tours sold at hotel concierge desks. Private yachts and private tours are priced per boat or per vehicle, so they get cheaper per person the bigger your group.
Should I book Puerto Vallarta tours in advance?
In high season (December–April) and Easter week, yes — whale watching, the Marietas Islands and the pirate ship sell out days ahead. In the green season you can often book the day before. Booking direct with a local operator instead of through your hotel avoids the concierge markup and the timeshare pitch that usually comes with it.
Are Puerto Vallarta tours safe for kids and seniors?
Most are. Beach days, snorkeling at Los Arcos, dolphin encounters, the botanical garden, sightseeing tours, sunset cruises and the family canopy are all built for mixed ages. ATVs, buggies and jet skis have driver age minimums (16–18) and ziplines and horseback tours have weight limits. Every category page lists them.
What is the best time of year for tours in Puerto Vallarta?
November to April has dry weather, calm seas, the clearest water for snorkeling and the whales. May to October is the green season: hotter, afternoon storms, fewer people, lower prices and the best waterfalls and river crossings for ATV and buggy tours. Fishing and boat tours run year-round.
Where do tours in Puerto Vallarta leave from?
Boat tours leave from Marina Vallarta (north, near the airport) or the Los Muertos pier in the Zona Romántica; south-shore beach trips from Boca de Tomatlán; and ATV, buggy, zipline and horseback tours pick you up at your hotel in an air-conditioned van. Departure points are listed on each tour.
Plan Your Puerto Vallarta Tours
Not sure which tour fits your group? Read our guides to the best Puerto Vallarta tours, shore excursions for cruise passengers, how to pick the right tour for your group and the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta. Or just ask — we answer in under an hour.