Enjoy a swim with the dolphins, a marine animal show and cuddly sea lions at Aquaventuras Park Vallarta in nearby Nuevo Vallarta. Aquaventuras Park offers free parking, an information center, lounge chairs to chill out and enjoy the tropical breeze, lockers for your belongings, inner tubes for water slides and swimming pools, bathrooms, showers and dressing rooms. There is a...

Gallery Pacifico is one good one — and look for the lovely Mata Ortiz pottery, thin as eggshells, fine and smooth in the hand, and painted with delicate finesse. Every Wednesday night in season there is the Art Walk, a self guided walk, for which an excellent map is provided, and it’s a great way to discover some of the...

Every Wednesday night in high season, a group of the best art galleries in Vallarta stay open, from 6 until ten, offering wine and nibbles to visitors. There is often a special show, or a visiting artist, but the art on offer is mostly Mexican, carefully curated and irresistibly attractive. The following galleries are part of the Art Walk: Galería...

The Bay of Banderas is the seventh largest bay in the world, and one of the world’s deepest, with depths recorded of up to 3,000 feet, with 100 kilometres ( 62 miles) of coastline. It is bounded on the north by Punta Mita, and on the south by Cabo Corrientes. It is home to a diverse population of sealife —...

This rental company is a bit different from what you might expect. The cars, first of all, are a different line up from what you would usually find — with Hummers, side-by sides, motorcycles, ATVs and dune buggies to choose from. The service is complete with friendly advice, maps, computer videos and pictures of where to go and what to...

Diana’s Tours is a cruise company aimed at an LGBTQ audience, but more sedate than the Wet & Wild cruise. The tour includes breakfast and a shore lunch, beaches, snorkling, a sail, and a cocktail after the cruise in the rooftop bar at Blue Chairs. She has been running these tours for seventeen years.

This is an older resort, tucked into a quiet bay on Conchas Chinas. It has great charm, the food is excellent – Chef Edwardo is incredible – and the sunsets from the oceanside tables in the dining room are fabulous. The beach in front of the resort is public, and accessible, and attracts families with children. The rocks are havens...

This zipline excursion company offers a safe and exciting trip through the jungle canopy. There is also a hiking trail, and animal house, a tequila bar and a restaurant.along with a river with swimming beach, natural water slides and swimming hole. This is a good family friendly outing, though not suited for really small children.

The Puerto Vallarta Zoo is a good place to take the family for a day’s outing. You can reach the zoo by bus  or by a short drive down the south coastal road if you have a rental car. Buses depart from downtown at the intersection of Basilio Badillo and Constitución. Take the bus that says Mismaloya and get off...

Punta Mita is the Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta. It lies out on the north arm of Banderas, approximately forty minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport. The north coast is made up of  Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta Mita. It is here that you will find miles of beautiful white beaches, scenic rocky outcroppings, and some...

This is one of the excursions that promises an unforgettable evening. The trip begins with a sunset cruise to Las Caletas, followed by dinner, a brilliant live show and dancing and drinks on the return sailing. Romantic, exotic and unique — worth the price.

The Wet & Wild Cruise is a six hour experience. The trimaran leaves from the pier at Los Muertos, makes a snorkling stop at Los Arcos, stops for lunch and at a clothing optional beach, and ends with partying on board on the return sail. It is a definitely adult experience and while it is designed for gay men, female...

The Zona Romantica, also calle Old Vallarta, Old Town, or the South Side, is the part of the city that still feels like a Mexican village and is, to my mind, the most exciting part of PV. The streets are cobblestone, the buildings are white adobe with red roofs, and the whole feel of the area is decidedly welcoming. This...