58 Best Sights in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

ChocoMuseo is a museum where visitors not only learn all about the history and nature of chocolate but also find out how to work with it and create different cocoa-based products and dishes. You can book workshops on how to prepare the Mexican national dish of mole, make chocolate truffles, or let your children experiment with a mini chocolate workshop. 

Turtles sunning themselves on logs, crocodiles masquerading as logs, water-loving birds, and exotic orchids make the maze of green-brown canals that is La Tovara—an out-of-town must for nature lovers. Launches putter along these waterways from El Conchal Bridge, at the outskirts of San Blas, about a three-hour drive from Marina Vallarta, or from the nearby village of Matanchén. After cruising along for about 45 minutes—during which you'll have taken way too many photos of the mangrove roots that protrude from the water and the turtles—you arrive at the spring-fed freshwater pools for which the area is named. You can hang out at the restaurant overlooking the pool or play Tarzan and Jane on the rope swing. Most folks take the optional trip to a crocodile farm on the way back, stretching a two-hour tour into three hours.

You can walk or ride a bike to long, lovely Playa Borrego, 1 km (½ mile) south of town. Rent a surfboard at Stoners' or Mar y Sol restaurant to attack the year-round (but sporadic) shore or jetty breaks here, or stroll down to the southern end to admire the lovely, palm-fringed estuary. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: walking; sunset; solitude.

In 2014 Playa Palmares became the first beach in the area to get the coveted international Blue Flag certification. This certification is an eco-award designed for beaches, marinas, and boating tourism operators; recipients of the Blue Flag comply with a series of stringent environmental, accessibility, and safety requirements. Palmares is connected to Punta Negra, but its waves are smaller, which makes it a better fit for families. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

The stretch of sand right in front of downtown Bucerías is not as appealing as what you'll find if you just walk about 200 meters south. The shore break can get a bit sketchy when there's a swell, so you might just want to walk toward Nuevo Vallarta before planting your beach umbrella. Amenities: parking (free); food and drink; water sports. Best for: walking; windsurfing; sunset. 

Adjacent to the Grand Palladium Resort and the Secrets Resort, you'll encounter rocks and sea urchins at this beach once you reach the water. Burros has one of the most consistent surf breaks in the area and thus gets crowded with surfers. Non-surfers also come here to check out the action, and it is possible to swim when the waves are small. During low tide you can make your way to the beach on the other side of the small cliff where there's a natural saltwater pool. Amenities: water sports. Best for: surfing; walking.

During high season (December–April), this street is the place to go once the sun sets. There are several restaurants, art galleries, and cafés.

You're welcome any time at the Casa Museo de Doña Conchita. The affable owner shows visitors photos of her venerable family—which she traces back six generations. See banknotes from the mining days, bloomers, shirts made by hand by the lady for her many children, and other memorabilia. If you speak Spanish, ask Doña Conchita to tell you about the ghosts that haunt her house, which is right on the square between the basketball court and la presidencia, or town hall.

For a bird's-eye view of the town and coast, hike or drive up Calle Juárez, the main drag, to Cerro de San Basilio. You can also take Road 74 out of town, turn right at the fork and then right at Calle del Panteon, which is the only road you'll find before reaching the river.

The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is dedicated to the patron saint of Mexico and of Puerto Vallarta. The holy mother's image, by Ignacio Ramírez, is the centerpiece of the cathedral's slender marble altarpiece. The brick bell tower is topped by a lacy-looking crown that replicates the one worn by Carlota, short-lived empress of Mexico. The wrought-iron crown toppled during an earthquake that shook this area of the Pacific Coast in 1995 but was soon replaced with a fiberglass version, supported, as was the original, by a squadron of stone angels. This was replaced with a newer and larger rendition in 2009.

Cannons protect the ruined contaduría, built during colonial times when San Blas was New Spain's first official port.

Since its opening in 1990, the Costa Careyes Polo Club has received players from all over the world. For $500 you can play in one of their two regulation-size fields with greens fees and horse rental included.

Favored by locals because of its long stretch of sand and beautiful color, Destiladeras is especially popular on weekends. You can reach the beach by bus or car, and there's unofficial parking at the top of the cliff where guards will look over your car for a price. Amenities: parking (free); water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

The water at this beach is almost always still, and even when surf is bigger, the many jetties keep a section of the beach safe for swimming (though swimmers should still take caution). Take a panga tour to the Marietas Islands; in winter, whale-watching is popular here. You'll also have plenty of dining options nearby. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing.

El Malecón of Puerto Vallarta is its flagship attraction. The construction started in 1936 and it went through a complete renovation in 2011. Now, it’s closed to traffic and pedestrians can stroll for almost 1 km (½ mile) through a gorgeous palm-filled promenade. The walk starts at the Rosita Hotel and continues to the amphitheater across the main square. On your way, enjoy the 10 sculptures and the Voladores de Papantla (ancient Mesoamerican tradition involving bungee-jump-like "flying people").

Regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the bay, La Lancha requires some effort to get to, which means fewer crowds. To reach it, you'll need to walk for about 10 minutes along an overgrown trail that gets very muddy during the summer months. It's a great surfing beach for beginners when the waves are small, and fantastic for advanced surfers when they're big. The sand is ideal for families with small kids—just keep an eye on them if there's some surf. Amenities: water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming

There was a time when Los Muertos Pier was a sad piece of concrete extending a few meters into the sea, but that changed in 2013 when it was replaced by a beautifully designed pier that underwent years of renovations. The new pier was an instant hit and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in Puerto Vallarta. It's perfect for a romantic walk, for reading a book while listening to the sound of the waves, and for viewing at night when it lights up the buzzing Los Muertos Beach. Oh, and it also serves as a pier! You can get a boat from here to visit the amazing beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, such as Yelapa, Quimixto, and Las Animas.

The old customhouse has been partially restored and is now a cultural center with sporadic art or photography shows and theatrical productions.

The Parque Lineal Río Pitillal is basically a scenic path along the Pitillal River, starting at Avenida Francisco Villa (right in front of Cinépolis) and extending all the way to the beach. There is a nice pathway perfect for bikes and trolleys, benches, picnic tables, and even a lookout that shows a scenic perspective of the city.

This beach of fine gray-blond sand is wide and flat, and it stretches for several kilometers. Gentle waves make it suitable for swimming, boogie boarding, and snorkeling, but beware the undertow. It's a great place for jogging or walking on the beach. The place goes completely bananas every year during one weekend in August when the International Beach Festival Boca de Iguanas takes place. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; surfing; swimming.

This V-shape, rocky bay lies at the mouth of the Río Horcones, about 5 km (3 miles) south of Mismaloya. Water taxis leave from Boca to the southern beaches. As far as most visitors are concerned, this is mainly the staging area for water taxis with nowhere else to hang out. However, this dramatic-looking bay lined with palm trees does have rustic appeal. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

A long, flat, brown-sand beach whose name translates to Shrimp Beach, Playa Camarones was the first urban beach in the country to receive the Playa Limpia (Clean Beach) certification by the federal government. The certification means that the beach will always have a lifeguard present, trash bins, clean bathrooms, and handicap accessibility. Its location—parallel to the malecón between the Hotel Rosita and the Buenaventura Hotel—attracts many locals. The shore is always changing: it could be rock-strewn in the morning and clear later when the tide goes out. Watch for whales in winter from trendy beachfront El Solar Bar or from the El Barracuda Restaurant next door. Although the waves are gentle, there are strange currents here, which should discourage all but strong swimmers. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; walking.

This beach is named for the careyes (hawksbill) turtles that lay eggs here. It's a lovely soft-sand beach framed by headlands. When the water's not too rough, snorkeling is good around the rocks, where you can also fish. There's a small restaurant at the north end of the beach, and often you can arrange to go out with a local fisherman (about $20 per hour). Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The main beach in the Chamela Bay area is long and wide, with several hotels and restaurants scattered here and there. Lounge chairs and palapas are available for rent on the beach. The sea is good for kids and for swimming, as the islands in front of the coastline soften the surf in the bay. Boat trips to the islands are available. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

This beach has a series of rocky coves with crystalline water. The individual coves are perfect for reclusive sunbathing and for snorkeling. It's accessible from Carretera 200 near El Set restaurant. You can walk—be it on the sand, over the rocks, or on paths or steps built for this purpose—from Playa Los Muertos all the way to Conchas Chinas. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

This small beach has the honor of being the first inclusive beach in the Mexican Pacific. You'll see plenty of "floating chairs" for people who need assistance getting into the sea. There are also many nonmotorized water sports options such as kayaks, pedal boats, or snorkeling. The surrounding mountains give it a touch of mysticism. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The high-rise-backed Zona Hotelera beach goes by several names—mainly Playa del Holi but also Playa Peninsula. Most people, however, just refer to each piece of beach by the hotel that it faces. Interrupted here and there by breakwaters, this fringe of gray-beige sand is generally flat but slopes down to the water. Winds and tides sometimes strew it with stones that make it less pleasant. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); water sports. Best for: sunset; walking.

Also on Bahía de Chamela, this lovely beach is fringed in lanky coconut palms and backed by blue foothills. There are camping and RV accommodations and plenty of opportunities for shore fishing, swimming, and snorkeling. Almost every pretty beach in Mexico has its own humble restaurant; this one is no exception. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

At Marina Vallarta, Playa el Salado—facing the Grand Velas, Sol Meliá, Marriott, Mayan Palace, and Westin hotels—is sandy but in spots very narrow. During fine weather and on weekends, and daily during high season, you can rent Jet Skis and pack onto colorful banana boats for bouncy tours of 10 minutes or longer. In late summer and early fall, there are opportunities to view turtle-protection activities. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunset; walking; windsurfing.