From Sea to Sky: Puerto Vallarta Adventure Guide

I just came back from Puerto Vallarta, in the beautiful state of Jalisco. Before I went, I thought Puerto Vallarta was all about all-inclusive resorts and destination weddings. But what I did not expect were all the offerings for adventure lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

And my favorite part? The tour operators are small, family-owned businesses that focus on sustainable and local experiences instead of cheesy tourist traps. I fell in love with this adventurous side of Puerto Vallarta, and I want to share my three favorite adventurous things to do in Puerto Vallarta with you:

Canopy River Park

This was by far the biggest surprise for me, and I honestly thought I would hate it. It seems like every cruise destination has at least one of those zip-lining or ATV adventure parks, many of them owned by the cruise companies or big chains. Not really my thing.

But Canopy River Park is different. It originated as an ecological conservation program that was started in the 1940s as a reforestation and seed-saving program in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Northern Jalisco. In 2005, 36 local families began working together to make the idea of a sustainable ziplining park a reality. This grass-roots project has prospered and expanded a lot since then and now also offers ATV and RZR tours, hiking, trekking, mule and horseback riding, river rafting, viewing platforms overlooking the jungle, suspension bridges (including the longest one in the world – 470m/1542ft), and more.

Not only does Canopy River Park operate with sustainability in mind, but it also has lifted the local community out of poverty. The money you spend there goes directly back to the local community and supports the locals. And the best part? Tourists get to enjoy the park together with the locals.

I was there on a weekend, where they offer a brunch buffet and some entertainment. Only a handful of tourists were there; the rest were locals. Local families were there to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, mixing with a few tourists. The food was excellent and authentic, and the entertainment was fun and impressive.

They also just opened a hotel at the park, so if you want more than one day of activities, this is a perfect option fo you.

Wildlife Connections Dolphin Tour

I love animals, so I was super excited about the Dolphin Tour with Wildlife Connections. We often see dolphins when we are sailing in San Diego, and I love seeing these amazing animals in the wild.

The tour was led by Marine Biologist Maria Eugenia Rodriguez, who wrote her thesis on the pod of bottlenose dolphins that live in Banderas Bay. She knows these animals intimately, their personalities and behaviors so well, that they have a 100% dolphin spotting guarantee. Did you know that there are rarely any sharks in this bay, because there are so many dolphins?

In 1998, Maria and wildlife photographer Eduardo Lugo teamed up to start Wildlife Connections, offering dolphin tours, whale watching, bird watching, turtle camp tours, and more. Guests can also participate in citizen scientists projects and even adopt a dolphin.

What I love the most is that they genuinely put the well-being of the animals first. The dolphins know the boat and have learned that they are not a danger, so they get curious and playful. As we were cruising on the boat, the dolphins followed us, jumped, and played close to the boat, even the mothers with their young ones.

If conditions are right, guests can even swim with the dolphins. Only four people are allowed in the water at a time and at a distance, giving the dolphins the option to come closer if they want or stay away. When Maria saw that the dolphins were not showing curiosity and interest in us, she called off the swimming, and instead, we just watched them from a distance. I love this kind of animal encounter that puts the animals first! If you love wildlife safaris and ethical animal encounters, then this is the tour for you. I highly recommend it! Check availibility here>>

Vallarta Adventures Snorkeling and Private Beach Club

If you want a more luxurious adventure in Puerto Vallarta, then the Luxury Snorkeling and Private Beach Club tour by Vallarta Adventures is for you. The crew and service were on point, always offering us drinks and snacks along the way and making sure we had a good time.

My favorite part was the ambiance: it was fun, chill, and relaxed, but without the hyped-up booze-cruise party animation that I have experienced on other tours.

The tour has two stops: First, you get to snorkel, and then you chill at a beautiful private beach club before heading back to Puerto Vallarta Marina. The snorkeling was decent, but the water was a bit cloudy. I wish they did not feed the fish, though I have to admit, it was stunning to see all the colorful fish swarming together in one spot.

Next up was a stop at a private beach club called Majahuitas Beach. The water was a beautiful deep turquoise and much clearer here, and the beach was just picture-perfect. Coconut trees and lots of cozy spots to sunbathe or chill in the shade. It reminded me a bit of Thailand. If you are into watersports, you could also check out snorkeling gear, paddle boards, or kayaks, or chill on the lily pads floating next to the boat.

Of course, there was a beach bar as well to keep you hydrated, but they only offered beer, water, and a delicious hibiscus agua fresca. The bar on the boat had more selection, though, including beers, tequila, vodka, whiskey, and various cocktails and was unlimited.

I really enjoyed this tour and found it super relaxing. It really puts you in “vacation mode” and you feel like you are in paradise. Check for prices here>>

Top Tip: You have to swim approximately 100 ft from the boat to get to the beach and back, so if you want to bring your phone or camera, sunscreen, or a towel, then bring a dry bag. I forgot mine and really wish I could have brought my phone to take photos at the beach and read my book.

How to Get to Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is such an easy getaway from San Diego, but I highly recommend using Cross Border Xpress (CBX) and flying from Tijuana. CBX is a convenient border crossing for people using the Tijuana airport. You can park your car in the US, walk across a short bridge, go through immigration and enter the Tijuana airport. Super simple. And since only ticketed passengers can use it, immigration is a breeze.

Also, it is often 40-60% cheaper than flying from San Diego International Airport and you get to fly direct. Viva and Volaris together offer 20 direct flights per week, and it only takes about 2.5 hours to get to Puerto Vallarta. Another benefit is that you go through immigration at CBX and can skip the often long lines at immigration in Puerto Vallarta and SAN.

Read more about Cross Border Xpress here:
Cross Border XPress: 5 Reasons To Fly From Tijuana
How to Get to Cross Border Xpress CBX?

Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta

I stayed at the beautiful Velas Vallarta all-inclusive resort in the Marina district of Puerto Vallarta. The medium-sized resort is right on the beach and a beautiful pool area that included 3 pools and a lazy river. I loved the stunning landscaping and lush garden. The architecture and decor is traditional Mexican, but very classy. It’s the perfect spot to kick back and relax after your Puerto Vallarta adventures.

What makes this property special is that every room has a fully equipped kitchen and dining table, perfect for anyone traveling with children or if you prefer to cook some meals yourself. This was super helpful as some of my tours were quite early in the morning and going to the restaurant would have taken too much time. I just ordered room service and enjoyed it at leisure in my room (at a real table vs a desk, which is always a bit of a let-down for me).

There are two main restaurants as well as various food stations and 24-hour room service and the food was excellent. I really loved the fresh aguachile at the La Ribera restaurant right on the beach. Doesn’t everything taste better with a view of the ocean? But the fish tacos and the tres leches cake at the more elevated Andrea restaurant were fantastic as well.

If you are looking for a beachy destination that also offers opportunity for some fun adventures, then definitely add Puerto Vallarta to your list! It is absolutely stunning and I can’t wait to return!!!

Disclaimer: This Puerto Vallarta Adventure Guide was written after I was invited on a press trip by Visit Puerto Vallarta, Visit Mexico and Tianguis Turistico. My transportation, hotel stay, as well as the tours, activities and meals were hosted. Please note that this did not influence my opinion on this destination, tours or hotel.

Last Updated on May 6, 2025 by Maria Haase

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