Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings offer you the opportunity to explore many attractions and around 25 miles of never-ending beautiful beaches. Although many of the Puerto Vallarta beaches are secluded, and can only be accessed by boat, there are cruises and boat tours that not only arrive at the beaches but also let you enjoy the view of Bay Banderas. Some other beaches are only accessible by car since public transport only reaches the north and the south of the town. In addition, Puerto Vallarta offers a wide variety of water sports such as snorkeling, surfing, and diving.

If your pursuit is watersports, Puerto Vallarta can definitely meet your expectations. Puerto Vallarta provides e.g. with excellent opportunities to scuba dive at all levels of expertise in its beaches such as: El Morro, Islas Marietas, Punta Mita and Los Arcos. Other sports can take place in the calm waters of Las Animas e.g. or in Yelapa like water-skiing parasailing, jet skiing and kayaking. Puerto Vallarta also has beaches for more adrenaline rushing activities like windsurfing as Playa de Oro and Boca de Tomates. And if you want to go to the extreme you can try the bungee jump at Mismaloya.

Banderas Bay counts on a rich variety of fish species such as sawfish, red snapper, tuna, marlin, dorado, sailfish, marlin, and lobster, which lives amongst the coral reefs. That’s why Puerto Vallarta has become a leading destination for sportfishing. Between November and May, there are important fishing tournaments: The International Puerto Vallarta Sailfish and Marlin Tournament, has been held since 1956 and attracts fishermen from all over the world. The beaches where fishing is mostly possible are Yelapa, Punta Mita and Mismaloya.

Puerto Vallarta is the perfect destination for outdoor activities, like horseback riding including the view of a mountain path flanked by lush tropical vegetation and ending at a hidden waterfall in a small canyon. In Playa de Oro you can go for a gallop across the sand.

A Canopy tour is another option to get in touch with nature as you glide down cables from platform to platform in the middle of the forest.

But if you play golf you will definitely enjoy the stunning golf courses of Puerto Vallarta. Nuevo Vallarta also offers 7 world class golf courses and it is the host of the 2002 EMC World Cup.

The striking scenery of Puerto Vallarta can fulfill all the requirements of the most demanding nature buffs. Puerto Vallarta natural settings encompass flourishing life, waterfalls and amazing landscapes. The exuberant jungle offers a wide variety of vegetable species, from palm trees to orchids and bougainvillea.

Moreover, Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings have a wide variety of fauna ranging from the wildlife inhabiting its fend, serving as breeding grounds for fish and crustaceans, to even crocodiles that camouflage with the foliage of the vegetation. Over 320 colorful bird species also nest in the area, such as Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee and Hooded Oriole. Sea turtles and monkeys are also to be seen in the waterfalls

Humpback whales with its peculiar breaching and flipper slapping can be appreciated in Banderas Bay, where they give birth, nurse their calves and mate. In these waters, dolphins (Bottlenose and Spinner) also jump freely while other sea creatures like giant Manta Rays, and exotic tropical fish swim.

Then, Puerto Vallarta nature oriented activities can range from hiking, visiting the sea turtle sanctuaries, snorkeling and diving in the company of the marine animals and watching whales and dolphins in their natural habitat.

From November through April, there are boat tours that provide you with stunning views of Banderas Bay, where you can even be lucky enough to touch a dolphin if the conditions are favorable. Jungle and tropical tours, mountain biking, hiking, bird watching and dolphin swimming are some of the other eco tours available.

Some of the most noteworthy spots of Puerto Vallarta for eco adventures are Colomitos, Islas Marietas, Los Arcos, Boca de Tomates, Boca de Tomatlan.

Nuevo Vallarta, famous for its delightful unexplored beaches, also offers fun activities like bay cruises, city tours, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, scuba, hiking, biking, horseback riding and much more.

You can admire the craftsmanship and creativity of local artists in the markets and in the galleries of the streets downtown. Here you can find handmade items such as: hats, baskets, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and crafts made by the indigenous Huichol people. You can also be taught to come up with your own creations guided by the Huichol people themselves.

A visit to the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta can give you the impression of walking back in time specially with display of quaint constructions such as: the Main Plaza of Ignacio L. Vallarta, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Temple, Santa Cruz Church, among others.

If you are an art connoisseur you will be pleased to come across the wood sculptures, paintings, the murals painted by Manuel Lepe in the city hall, as well as the miniature replicas of the statues on the Malecon (boardwalk), e.g. the Sea Horse, the Statue of John Huston, and the Dolphin Fountain, etc.