Puerto Vallarta tours that are actually worth it

When you unrecorded successful Puerto Vallarta, you go beauteous bully astatine spotting the quality betwixt a worthwhile circuit and a tourer trap. I’ve tried dozens of tours successful this metropolis implicit the years. Some I’d ne'er repeat, others I inactive urge to friends and household visiting without hesitation. 

What makes a circuit really worthy it for maine is astir the people. These tours are led by locals who are passionate astir food, culture, wildlife, and community. They debar the cookie-cutter scripts and present experiences that connection connection. These tours are engaging for everyone, from first-time visitors to residents who person been surviving present for years.

If you’re readying a travel (or looking for a amusive mode to bask the spot you live) and looking for Puerto Vallarta tours that are really worthy your clip and money, these 4 standout experiences emergence supra the rest.

1. Vallarta Food Tours: The flavors of Versalles

(Abulón Antojería del Mar/Facebook)

Let’s commencement with the circuit that changed my people successful Puerto Vallarta (literally). I signed up for the Vallarta Food Tours’ Versalles Neighborhood Tour a fewer years ago, not realizing that I’d extremity the time smitten with much than conscionable tacos. This circuit introduced maine to a caller culinary avenue of Puerto Vallarta, a beloved neighborhood conscionable extracurricular the main tourer zone, wherever family-run restaurants tally the show.

The walking circuit includes stops astatine spots I present predominant weekly, including El Puerco de Oro, wherever the pork belly tacos are slow-cooked to melty perfection, and Abulón, Antojería del Mar, a seafood-focused edifice wherever the shrimp al pastor tacos are tangy and fresh, served atop fluffy bluish maize tortillas. You’ll besides deed places for handmade tortillas, section birria, and originative desserts. It’s a heavy dive into Vallarta’s foodie scene, led by section guides who cognize the chefs, the stories, and the concealed menus.

If you privation to acquisition Puerto Vallarta similar a resident, this circuit is wherever to start.

2. Rhythms of the Night: Believe the hype

(Vallarta-adventures)

There are a batch of sunset cruises and meal shows successful Puerto Vallarta, but nary rather similar Rhythms of the Night. I was skeptical astatine first. A sunset vessel ride, buffet dinner, and jungle show sounded similar a agelong of tourer cliches. I could not person been much wrong.

The acquisition begins with a scenic catamaran thrust crossed the Bahia de Banderas conscionable arsenic the prima dips into the Pacific. You get astatine a secluded formation lone accessible by boat, wherever hundreds of flickering candles enactment jungle paths to a stunning open-air amphitheater. Dinner is served buffet-style beneath thatched palapas by the beach, with better-than-expected nutrient (and unlimited drinks). The amusement is Cirque du Soleil meets past Mexican mythology. The aerial acrobatics, occurrence dancing, and unrecorded euphony unfold nether the stars, backed by the dependable of waves.

3. Chica Locca Tours: A time connected the bay

Before you rise an eyebrow, I volition corroborate that yes, this is simply a vessel tour. But no, it’s not that benignant of enactment boat. Chica Locca Tours is an all-inclusive catamaran acquisition that volition alteration your sentiment of party-heavy catamaran experiences. My proposition is to publication their circuit to Islas Marietas, a protected marine parkland celebrated for its volcanic stone formations, endemic wildlife, and the elusive Hidden Beach.

From the infinitesimal you committee the oversized boat, implicit with hammocks, legume bags, and shaded lounge spaces, you cognize you’re successful for a comfy ride. There’s an unfastened barroom and snacks from the get-go, but the absorption is truly connected the h2o activities. You tin snorkel, paddleboard, oregon lounge connected the foam lily pads. If the tide allows, you’ll adjacent aquatics done the cave to scope Hidden Beach, an acquisition that everyone should bash astatine slightest once.

It’s family-friendly, fun, and well-run, with an enthusiastic unit that keeps things organized and upbeat without going afloat outpouring break. 

4. Eco Tours Vallarta: Whale watching with a purpose

(Explora Vallarta)

From December done April, humpback whales instrumentality to Bahia de Banderas to breed, springiness birth, and enactment connected 1 of nature’s top shows. While galore companies connection whale-watching tours, Ecotours Vallarta stands retired for its ethical and acquisition wildlife encounters.

Operating since 1994, Ecotours was founded by biologists and continues to beryllium led by experts who are passionate astir conservation. Each circuit is tiny and respectful, without large euphony oregon immoderate crowding of the animals. Instead, the guides supply thoughtful narration astir whale behavior, biology, and migration, often supported with hydrophones truthful you tin perceive the whales sing.

It’s a acold outcry from the crowded booze cruises that contention retired into the bay for a speedy whale sighting. The accent is connected knowing and observing these gentle giants without disturbing their earthy mode of life. It’s perfect for families, photographers, and anyone seeking a much meaningful transportation with the Pacific coast’s wildlife. 

Meagan Drillinger is simply a New York autochthonal who has spent the past 15 years traveling astir and penning astir Mexico. While she’s connected the roadworthy for assignments astir of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her location base. Follow her travels connected Instagram astatine @drillinjourneys oregon done her blog astatine drillinjourneys.com.