25 Unique Things to do in Puerto Vallarta (2023)

Looking for unique things to do in Puerto Vallarta? You’re in the right place!

Quick Rundown

Welcome to Puerto Vallarta, a unique destination in Mexico with a ton of things to do. I’ve gathered the 25 most unique and wonderful things to do and made a handy list here for you.

Any tourist can come to Puerto Vallarta and stay in a nice resort and hang by the pool all week. I’m going to give you the inside scoop on how to not just visit Puerto Vallarta, but experience it.

Let’s take this journey together, “Vallarta style!”

25 Unique Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta

Let’s start with a few that you can do on your own, then we’ll get into some paid tours and activities, a couple of day trips, and finish up with food options.

1. Stroll the Malecon

At Flights and Footsteps, walking is the game. Usually, the day I land, I set out and walk and start asking people about things to do, where I should go, and what I should see. Even if I sort of already know where I want to go and which things I want to do.

In Puerto Vallarta though, everyone said the same thing, “Walk along the Malecon.” And let me tell you, they’re right. It’s a lovely walk. The ocean views are great. There are plenty of great shops to stop in and buy souvenirs for your friends and family, or for yourself.

You’ll also find lots of photogenic sculptures where you can stop, take a few pictures have a seat for a few moments, and observe the life and the views around you.

2. Get Swept Away by Zona Romantica

Zona Romantica, like many places in Latin America, lives up to its name. Its colorful streets and cozy cafes and restaurants are sure to set the mood for you and your partner or make you wish you had one. It didn’t work on me (it really did), but I assume for the rest of the world it’s quite romantic.

Don’t be hasty as you wander the streets of Zona Romantica. There’s lots of street art to admire, and beautiful views that will sneak up on you or bypass you completely if you’re texting or scrolling Instagram while you walk.

Look at the screen when you’re stopped somewhere, not while walking around Zona Romantica. Look around, take it in. Stop in a cafe and order a coffee or a pastry to enjoy while you walk. One of my favorite parts of traveling is stopping in as many local cafes and shops as I can. Zona Romantica was no exception.

3. Sit in Awe of the Sunsets

Puerto Vallarta has some of the most beautiful and colorful sunsets I’ve seen. The city sits in a bay, so the waves are minimal, and the water is like glass. It almost looks like a mirror when the sun goes down, reflecting brilliant shades of pink and orange.

Make a point at least one night to be somewhere with a beach view at sunset. Whether it’s a restaurant on the beach, a casual stroll along the water, or a room with a view, you won’t regret taking in a Puerto Vallarta sunset.

If you’re a photographer, get your camera ready! That Vallarta sky is going to twirl for you.

4. Haggle at the Market

In any travel destination, visiting the local markets should always be on the list of things to do. In Puerto Vallarta Mercado Rio Cuale and Old Town Market are both excellent choices. I always say not to get caught up in deciding which market to visit. To the untrained eye, which is most of us out there, all the shops sell a lot of the same things anyway.

Where I buy them never means as much to me. Frankly, what I buy doesn’t mean that much to me either. For me, it’s about wandering around, talking to the shop owners and artisans, and finding one I connect with on some level. I always feel good about putting pesos in the hands of a local artisan, even if it’s a bit more than what I could have gotten away with paying.

Remember that the price they tell you is not the final price. Negotiating is okay and expected. Not a single artisan or shopkeeper you’ll talk to expects you to pay that first price they tell you.

I remember the first time I negotiated at a market in Mexico. It was the Old Town Market in Puerto Vallarta, actually (funny how writing brings out memories you didn’t know you had). I negotiated for a stone molcajete, which is a mortar and pestle used for grinding vegetables into a paste. A few days before in Cabo San Lucas, I’d learned to use one to make some salsas and guacamoles, and I wanted to buy an authentic one to take home with me.

Negotiating was scary and intimidating. They have a way of making you feel like every number they tell you is the real number, even as it gets lower and lower. But negotiate I did, and I got the number lower, though I surely paid too much still.

5. Ascend Mirador Cerro de la Cruz

Don’t forget your camera! The views from atop this tower will take your breath away. Just focus on the payoff as you’re huffing and puffing up those stairs.

I’m not much of a hiker myself, but I’ll go through almost anything to get a great view. What you’ll find at the top of Mirador Cerro de la Cruz is exactly that.

6. Practice Your Spanish

If you’re working on learning Spanish, Puerto Vallarta is a nice place to do it. Because of the heavy tourism, a lot of people you’ll meet in restaurants and cafes and on the streets will speak English.

It would be easy for you to simply speak English back to them. Don’t do it! Answer in Spanish. If you’re new it can be intimidating. The first time someone spoke to me in Spanish, I forgot everything I ever learned.

The longer you put it off, the more intimidating it will get. You might as well start practicing in a comfortable environment like Puerto Vallarta, where the natives are uniquely bilingual and can help you out if you need it.

7. Admire the Street Art

I love street art! One of my favorite parts of walking around Puerto Vallarta is the many unique murals and sculptures you’ll find as you walk.

Maybe it’s just me, but I always find these murals and sculptures to be surprisingly deep and meaningful.

8. Visit the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The bells from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe can be heard for miles and are one of the unique sounds that let you know you’re in Puerto Vallarta.

Visiting the church is a stop I recommend making. The architecture is beautiful. Even if you’re not religious, seeing these old colonial-style churches is always awe-inspiring.

9. Cross to Cuale River Island

The Cuale River connects to the ocean just north of Zona Romantica. Right before it gets to the ocean though, it splits in two and wraps around a little strip of land called the Cuale River Island.

This is one of the more unique things Puerto Vallarta has to offer. Take a few pictures on the staircase that leads to it. Everyone does. It’s obligatory.

There are plenty of restaurants and shops to visit, even a cultural museum if that’s your thing.

Unique Tours in Puerto Vallarta

Now for a couple of tours. I will tell you something. Tours are not exactly my cup of tea. I typically prefer finding my own way and doing things on my own terms.

However, sometimes tours are the only way to see a place. In these cases, I obviously must cede to the circumstance. I will also admit that some places are better seen with a tour. Usually, I don’t know which places those are until I have the gift of hindsight.

I’ll give you some insight into my tour experiences, so you don’t have to wait until it’s too late to know if you need/should take a tour. I take a couple on every trip I go on, to make sure I’m pushing my comfort zones, so I’ll share the ones I recommend, the ones I believe to be the most unique experiences you can find in Puerto Vallarta.

10. Islas Marietas/Hidden Beach

The boat tour to the Marietas Islands is a full day, and I mean a full day. There are a few different versions of this tour that exist, all of which include an onboard lunch. It will depend on how many people sign up for each of them and which experience you get.

You’ll likely get more than you bargained for on this tour because they won’t give you less, if anything is different, you’ll get more, especially if you sign up for the Hidden Beach, which is the most expensive part of the tour.

I paid for a boat trip to Hidden Beach and ended up getting dropped off at another island before that, to hang at that beach for a little while also. Some other people on our boat paid for that, so we got to do it too.

It’s worth mentioning that on the day of this tour, I was sicker than a drunk sailor with a belly full of bad oysters. I’m not sure if it was seasick, or I ate some bad shrimp combined with too much tequila the night before, but MAN was I in a bad way.

I tried my very best not to let it stop me from doing anything on the tour and suffered for it visibly and embarrassingly. But here I am with a story to tell.

When it came time for the Hidden Beach part of the tour, we boarded a dinghy that took us to another dinghy where we were given helmets. The boat took us a bit farther until we had to jump out and swim to the island, through a tunnel, to the hidden beach on the other side.

That swim is HARD. They make you wear a life jacket, embrace it, it’s your friend. The tide goes up and down several feet by the minute, so helmets are necessary during the swim through the tunnel.

When you’re approaching Hidden Beach on the other side, the receding waves will make you curse the moon, the ocean, and everything else as they carry you back away from the beach, erasing the last ten hard strokes of swimming progress.

Everyone in my group was exhausted. I was exhausted and sick. We did finally make it to land though and were rewarded with a one-of-a-kind view. Imagine an upside-down bowl with the bottom (now the top) removed, with a beach inside! You work hard to get this once-in-a-lifetime view, but it’s worth it!

11. Zipline at El Eden

I did this as part of a tour. You can find your own way to El Eden, but the combined price of transportation and the zipline experience will likely cost you more than doing it as a tour. Our specific tour was quite unorganized and late, and I didn’t talk to anyone with a better story, but it’s fairly inexpensive at $30 for the experience including transportation.

The ziplines are enjoyable, taking you around the canopy of the jungle where scenes from the movie Predator were filmed. There are a few tacky photo spots reminiscent of the movie, a crashed helicopter, and a Predator statue. Things like this always make me cringe a bit, but I see the appeal.

There are quite a few zip lines and they’re easy to navigate and hook up to, and the canopy views are more than worth the small price tag.

12. eFoiling

If you’ve never heard of eFoiling, don’t worry, it’s still pretty new. This is the newest and hottest trend in watersports. It’s unique, so you won’t be able to find it everywhere, and Puerto Vallarta is the perfect place for it.

An eFoil is a surfboard that while being ridden, will hover a few feet above the surface of the ocean. It’s connected by a fin or mast to the electric propulsion underwater.

It sounds complicated, but the lessons are loads of fun! Puerto Vallarta typically has calm waters, because of its position in the bay, but the electric propulsion will have you feeling like you’re flying over the water.

13. Rhythms of the Night/Alma

This tour was described to me as, “An experience you’ll never forget.” For the price tag, I hoped that to be true.

Well, the jury is in and Rhythms of the Night did NOT disappoint. It starts with a booze cruise across the bay to a beautiful beach only accessible by boat. Here, a high-quality buffet dinner is served.

Then, it’s showtime. In the outdoor amphitheater, you’ll be treated to a show inspired by Mayan culture that involves healthy doses of both acrobats and fire.

Another booze cruise with great (who knows if it was actually great or not after that many drinks?!) entertainment will take you back to the harbor to finish off the night.

14. Explore Yelapa and Majahuitas

There are a few options for seeing Yelapa and Majahuitas. There are boat tours, and snorkeling tours, you can even rent a horse when you get there.

Whichever one you take, make sure you take the walk to Yelapa Waterfall!

Yelapa is a quiet little town where you won’t see any cars. It’s a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta.

15. Tequila Tasting

Tequila tastings are a must if you’re in Mexico. If you’ve done one before in another part of Mexico, don’t let that stop you from doing it here. Every tequila distillery is a little different.

Obviously, tequila is not unique to Puerto Vallarta. But, you might find something in Puerto Vallarta you’ve never tried before. These tastings are always a blast, trying lots of tequilas and doing toasts before each shot that will make you laugh.

If you find one you like, and you checked a bag for your trip, buy one to take home. If you didn’t check a bag, you’ll just have to drink it before you fly home.

16. Take a Cooking Class

Learn to make food authentic to Puerto Valla after picking up some fresh produce from the market with your guide/chef. You won’t know what you’re going to make, as it depends on what is fresh and in season at the market.

After you’ve prepared the food and it’s time to eat, you’ll be offered tastings of tequila and mezcal to complete your Mexican dining experience. Cooking classes are one of my favorite things to do when traveling, as it’s always unique to the destination, and Puerto Vallarta doesn’t disappoint.

17. Snorkel at Los Arcos

Usually, I don’t talk about tours you can do anywhere, like parasailing, ATVs, and snorkeling, which are offered at nearly every tourist destination you’ll ever go to. But the scenery at Los Arcos is unique to Puerto Vallarta and if you like to snorkel, I’d hate to leave out the Los Arcos snorkeling experience.

Day Trips From Puerto Vallarta

18. Head up to Sayulita and Chill

About an hour north of Puerto Vallarta sits Sayulita, a charming fishing and surfing village. Surfing is better in Sayulita because it’s not set back in the bay like Puerto Vallarta is.

Sayulita is the new hot spot for travelers in this area. Tourists will still flock to Puerto Vallarta, but the hostel travelers are gravitating more towards Sayulita these days.

I met a girl at the airport who had just landed and wasn’t even going to spend any time in Puerto Vallarta. She was heading straight to Sayulita.

While I don’t recommend skipping Puerto Vallarta completely, Sayulita absolutely qualifies as a unique day trip worth doing.

19. San Pancho

If you keep heading north from Sayulita a few miles, you’ll come to San Pancho. San Pancho is even smaller and laid back than Sayulita.

This is a local village that will you give you a glimpse into real Mexico. It’s nice to walk along the quiet beaches and buy a few handmade goods from the artisans here. You’ll pay a lower price for similar items found in Puerto Vallarta.

Food in Puerto Vallarta

I can talk about walks, views, and tours all day. But for a lot of people, the best thing to do in Mexico is eating!

A quick note about the seafood in Puerto Vallarta, as they’re famous for their unique ceviches.

If you like ceviche and fish fillets fresh from the ocean, you’ll be in heaven in Puerto Vallarta. I have to warn you though because I wish someone would have warned me. Their ceviche is made “Vallarta Style”.

Usually, ceviche is left to marinade in the citrus juice before serving, allowing the fish to cook a bit, turning the shrimp, for example, from grey to pink. Vallarta Style ceviche, or aguachile as it is sometimes called, is served directly after tossing in the shrimps or fish, intended to be consumed raw. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if raw fish is your game, you’ll love these Vallarta Style aguachiles.

Mexico always has amazing local food, with each city or region having a specialty. The specialty in Puerto Vallarta is seafood. Let’s get into some of the most unique Puerto Vallarta food experiences.

20. Dinner and a Show at Mi Pueblito

Right next to the beach towards the south end of Zona Romantica, you can find Mi Pueblito. I recommend visiting for dinner, as the menu is more extensive, and has some great offerings.

It’s a bit fancy and pricey compared to some of the other options, but still quite affordable when compared to the U.S. prices. I was with two friends.

We all ordered HUGE margaritas (they bring you two for the price of one during happy hour), tequila shots, and delicious dinners, and I felt plenty comfortable picking up the $53 bill. That would have been $200 in L.A. or Las Vegas.

21. Sunset Dinner at Karuma Gourmet Grill

Karuma Gourmet Grill is the newest and hottest restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. It opened in the spring of 2022 and shot straight to #1 on lists far and wide.

It’s easy to see why, too! Come casual but the dining is fine. The open-air dining area is nestled in the jungle and provides the ocean view that brought you to Puerto Vallarta in the first place.

The prices are perfectly reasonable for such an experience and a setting. It’s still new, so check it out and be part of the hype!

22. Eat in Style at La Capella

If you’re in the mood for something on the fancier side, check out La Capella. Its open-air area offers a great view. The menu is one of those where everything sounds delicious and it’s hard to choose what to order.

You’ll even get some entertainment in the form of live violin music. It’s the perfect place for an upscale feel night out.

23. Relax for a Bite at Barcelona Tapas

When the sun is too strong and you need a place to relax even though you’re not starving, pop into Barcelona Tapas. Between noon and 5 p.m., they offer 2-for-1 sangria, the perfect refresher during a day of leaving your footsteps all over Puerto Vallarta.

Their tapas menu is extensive ensuring everyone can find something small. I love going to places like these and ordering a few different items and a drink to regroup and gather my energy before heading back out on the town.

24. Mariscos El Guero

If you want to get away from that upscale atmosphere and not feel like you’re paying tourist prices, stop at Mariscos El Guero.

Mariscos is the Spanish word for “seafood” if you didn’t know. They nail it here. The food is great. Eating here will make you feel like a local. It’s right in Zona Romantica but doesn’t hit you with the high prices of some of the other places around.

25. Head Out and Enjoy the Nightlife

Puerto Vallarta is a great place to party. Tequila is affordable, there are places to dance. Whether you like electronic music, top 40, or something a little more local, you’ll find it in Puerto Vallarta.

There’s a row of bars and nightclubs on the Malecon that are worth doing a crawl from one to the next. La Dolce Vita, La Vaquita, and Zoo Bar are the centerpieces, with loud music and a fun crowd. If you like to go out and have a good time, you’re in the right place in Puerto Vallarta!

Puerto Vallarta FAQs

If you’re in Puerto Vallarta looking for unique things to do, you may have some questions. Let me answer them preemptively

What is Puerto Vallarta Known For?

Puerto Vallarta is known for its beautiful sunsets, great ocean views, and a plethora of things to do. That’s why it’s a popular cruise ship destination. In recent years, it has developed a reputation as a hotspot for the LGBTQ community, proudly displaying Pride insignia year-round.

If you’re heading to Puerto Vallarta, or are there already searching for some unique things to do, we’re covering it all.

How to Get Around in Puerto Vallarta

Arriving in Puerto Vallarta can be overwhelming. From the moment you pass the security checkpoint and enter the main terminal, you’ll be bombarded by offers for taxi rides. “Taxi? Need a Taxi amigo? Taxi?”

They’re not shy either. They’ll yell at you from ten feet away. They’ll come right up, probably closer than you want. For Americans, or beginner travelers, this can come off rude, but it’s the norm in a lot of places, including Puerto Vallarta.

Some people preorder a taxi service. Others seek out reputable taxi services and approach their desk to set up a ride. Some people set up a ride with their hotel or hostel, and there will be a driver waiting for you outside with a sign with your name on it. My advice, though, is to politely bypass all the offers for a taxi and order an Uber.

Uber is noticeably cheap in Puerto Vallarta. I haven’t done exact price comparisons, but it felt like the best bargain to me of almost anywhere I’ve been. There’s a trick when you arrive though. Don’t worry, I’ll share it with you, so you’ll be prepared.

Uber drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport where all the other pickups happen. There is a different pickup point. When you exit the terminal, turn left. As you’re walking in that direction you’ll see a street in front of you. The Uber pickup is on the other side of that street.

There’s a walking bridge that will take you to the other side of the street, where your Uber driver can meet you. It’s a bit of a jaunt if you have a heavy backpack or duffel, but if you’re a budget traveler, you’ll want to start your trip by saving on the ride. My Uber was half the price the taxis were asking.

Can You Drink the Water in Puerto Vallarta?

Like the rest of Mexico, you should absolutely stay away from tap water in Puerto Vallarta. I advise you to even be careful while you shower and brush your teeth. Those parasites can be sneaky. Fun fact, the water purification process in Mexico is actually fine. It’s the distribution system that causes the problems.

Stick to buying bottles, especially at little tiendas and markets while you walk about the city. If you wait to buy them at restaurants or cafes, they’ll be two or three times the price of small markets. I carry around my Thermoflask and fill it with a cold bottle whenever I pass by a tienda.

A lot of people wonder if the water is bad, what about the ice? They serve ice in their drinks. Yes, they do. If it’s the round ice, and it will be, you’re good. That ice is made and distributed by a company that filters the water on site and is government regulated. Restaurants are not allowed to make and serve you their own ice. So don’t be afraid when you see ice in your drinks.

Can You Swim in Puerto Vallarta?

The Pacific Ocean is always a little chilly for my taste, but as far as safety goes, you can absolutely swim at the beaches in Puerto Vallarta. Because of its position in the bay, the waves and current are calm.

The flat, glassy water doesn’t make for great surfing, but if you just want to splash around the shore and soak up some sun, Puerto Vallarta is a great place to do it. Of course, you’ll want to stick to the sandy beaches, as some of Puerto Vallarta’s beaches are quite rocky and uncomfortable to walk around, but the beach by Zona Romantica is perfect for some swimming and splashing about.

Puerto Vallarta vs. Cancun

Is Puerto Vallarta better than Cancun? That’s a tough question. In a straight city vs. city comparison, I’d probably say that it is. The beaches in Cancun are nicer and more swimmable, because of the warmer water temperatures.

If given the choice of what airport I want to fly to, I’d probably choose Cancun, because there are other areas outside of Cancun that I enjoy more. Tulum, Akumal, Bacalar, Valladolid. These are all more accessible through Cancun.

Puerto Vallarta has the added bonus of Sayulita, which sits about forty-five minutes north, which is also a great little destination for travelers.

But, if we’re talking simply Puerto Vallarta vs Cancun, Puerto Vallarta wins for its charm. Walking around in Puerto Vallarta is more of a pleasant experience than the touristy Cancun.

Is Puerto Vallarta Worth Visiting?

Short answer, ABSOLUTELY! Of all the tourist cities in Mexico, this one feels the least touristy to me. It’s a big city, and it does cater to tourism in a big way. But it’s still quite affordable, there are plenty of chances to practice Spanish, which is important to me when I travel somewhere. It still has that local charm and cultural feel.

If you’re wondering whether or not you should check out Puerto Vallarta, let me say that you should. Don’t doubt, check it out!

Have fun out there!

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