Puerto Vallarta & Nayarit Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, and Coastal Highlights
Planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta or Nayarit? From vibrant coastal cities to laid-back surf towns, here’s your complete guide to where to stay, what to do, and the experiences you won’t want to miss.
📍 Areas covered: Puerto Vallarta + Nayarit
⏱ Ideal trip: 7 days
🔥 Highlights: Sayulita, San Pancho, Majahuitas
Table of Contents:
The sun began to set across the blue waters as waves crashed along the shore. Down the boardwalk awaited a crowd of musicians and tourists near the iconic “Puerto Vallarta” sign. To my left stood a pole displaying photos and descriptions of missing locals, a sobering reminder of the challenges the region faces.
Yet even with this heaviness, the city is alive with energy: bustling streets and a hospitality that welcomes visitors from around the world. In Puerto Vallarta, resilience is part of its story, reminding tourists that they will always be welcome here.
Like many of life’s most unexpected joys, Puerto Vallarta did not intentionally plan to become a tourist spot; it suddenly became one.
Thanks to the 1964 film The Night of the Iguana, Puerto Vallarta was thrust into stardom, with several other Hollywood films to follow. With its road to popularity came many tourists eager to follow in the footsteps of filmmakers and experience the beauty of Jalisco.
Jalisco represents the heart of Mexico. It’s the birthplace of tequila and charrería, the national sport, serving as a reminder of the beauty of Mexican culture. Puerto Vallarta is many things: it’s a spot to relax in the sun, explore vibrant streets, and enjoy some of the best food that Mexico has to offer.
Nearby is Nayarit, complete with luxury beach resorts, surf towns, and quiet backroads to explore. Both Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit have something for every traveller.
Puerto Vallarta — Vibrant and Alive
Top Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta
Take a tour of the Malecón:
At the heart of Puerto Vallarta is the Malecón, or “boardwalk” in English. As we walked along the Malecón, we became immersed in a cultural experience as we watched the pre-Hispanic tradition of Danza de los Voladores. I watched in awe as the performers suspended themselves from the top of a 30-metre pole and spun around upside down while playing the flute and drum.
The end of the boardwalk is alive with music, and crowds headed towards Mirador el Cerro de la Cruz, which offers a view of the surrounding beach, city and mountains.
Visit Canopy River Park:
A scenic 45-minute drive up to the mountains is Canopy River Park, an adventure park and hotel built by 30 local farmers. We were greeted with fruit mocktails before our ATV tour began.
We drove up windy dirt roads, over the world’s largest vehicle suspension bridge, towards a glass viewpoint, soaking in the views of the ocean peaking out between the mountains.
Our guides knew we needed a refreshing break and took us to a waterfall - perfect for swimming and the end of an exciting drive!
LUDÕ Cirque du Soleil at Vidanta World:
From the moment I walked into the custom-built theatre surrounded by aquarium walls and nearly 360-degree views, my jaw fell to the floor. It stayed that way throughout the LUDÕ performance. It was beyond awe-inspiring; it was emotional and intimate, sending me into a trance, each act leaving me as impressed as the last.
Majahuitas with Vallarta Adventures: As we made our way to the boardwalk to embark on a journey to Majahuitas, a secluded cove, we were greeted by Garett, one of the operators at Vallarta Adventures. He pointed out a massive cruise ship docked nearby, holding nearly 5,000 people.
“You can assess a situation based on how cruise ships and high-end markets respond. It’s business as usual around here; cruises are still sending 4-5000 people.””
It was yet another sign of Puerto Vallarta’s quick return to normalcy. We passed the crowds from the cruise ship to board our boat, where we were greeted by a friendly crew.
The 8:30 am departure time gave us the perfect opportunity to witness the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range awash in a bright early morning glow. After an hour boat ride, enjoying the views and free drinks from the friendly crew, we approached the shores of Majahuitas.
But first: snorkelling. As I jumped into the water, brightly-coloured fish of all sizes surrounded me, seeming unfazed by my presence. After, I made my way to the shore of Majahuitas, a secluded beach club with a variety of comfy beach decor from beds to hammocks, perfect for a morning lounge in the sun.
Relaxing Stays in Puerto Vallarta
Casa Velas
As I passed through the doors of Casa Velas, the staff immediately gave me a warm welcome with a complimentary drink and a free massage. This hospitality extended to all of the staff, where even bartenders make an effort to greet and get to know the guests. This is not by accident. According to Juan Velas, the founder of Grand Velas:
“Whenever you go to a Grand Velas Hotel, you will feel a unique closeness.”
That’s why, to Juan, the pride and joy of the Grand Velas chain is his staff.
The rooms were also spacious and suffered no shortage of a variety of ways to relax, so much so that I didn’t need to leave my room. On the outdoor balcony, a mini pool and lounge chairs awaited. The interior of the room boasted a large bathroom with a shower and jacuzzi, as well as a comfy couch and large TV.
The rest of the property offered a gym, spa, pool and golf course, with food available from the delicious Emiliano restaurant.
2. Almar
Almar is an LGBTQ luxury beachfront resort in the heart of the Zona Romantica. Guests also have access to a spa, a rooftop bar, and upscale beach-bar dining. Both outdoor restaurants are perfect for a sunset meal overlooking all of Puerto Vallarta.
3. River Park Hotel
This mountain escape isn’t just for adventurers; it’s also perfect for those in need of relaxation and a mountain escape. Canopy River Park also has a new hotel with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and ocean, a rooftop restaurant and an infinity pool. In addition to the ATV tour, activities include swimming, a horse show and a tequila-making demonstration.
Nayarit- Luxury and Boutique Stays
The St Regis in Nayarit
For those who need a more isolated tropical escape, Punta Mita is the spot. Only an hour from Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita awaits in a quiet, oceanside oasis. As we entered Punta Mita, we drove past green fields, quiet sidewalks, and even saw a family of wild boars.
From the moment we pulled up to the St. Regis, it became clear it was the definition of luxury. We were greeted with tropical drinks from the staff and immediately offered a short complimentary massage overlooking the countless pools and palm trees. From there, a butler gave us a private tour of our rooms, making sure to take my phone number so I could text him if I needed help.
This was just the beginning.
With access to 4 pools across the resort, a gym, and a tranquil beachfront view with surfing and paddleboarding, it was truly paradise. Every single dish from Mita Mary was unforgettable. From churro-shaped French fries that melted in my mouth to a perfectly cooked steak with tropical sauces, every bite left me dreaming of more.
As I soaked in the last of the sun from one of the pools, I looked towards the ocean with shock as a whale leaped out of the water, its tail leaving towers of water behind it. It was a reminder that even for the animals, the shores of Punta Mita are also a place of refuge.
Sayulinda in Sayulita
Just steps from the ocean and some of the best surfing in Mexico, Sayulinda is perfect for those in search of rest and exploration. Located right in the heart of Sayulita, Sayulinda is equipped with a rooftop lounge, pool and bar. Each room has patios overlooking the ocean- the perfect spot to soak in the colours of the sunset as the surfers enjoy their final few rides of the night.
Things to do: Surfing, Shopping and More
Sayulita
🏄 Best for: Shopping + surfing
🌅 Don’t miss: Sunset beach walks
Just out front of Sayulinda are the lively streets of Sayulita, lined with a variety of small restaurants and cute boutiques.
An hour wasn’t nearly enough time to explore all the shops Sayulita has to offer, but I still found a favourite spot: Palu Gallery. With a cafe at the front, beautifully decorated art indoors, and a van full of art and jewellery, it sucked me in (and drained my wallet).
Sideroads are also full of bright paintings to discover, and the local market is a perfect place to shop for local handicrafts.
However, one of the main draws for tourists is the surfing. I watched with envy as golden hour hit and visitors took to the waves to surf and swim. For dinner, we stopped at Don Pedros, a beachside restaurant with fresh seafood and a 4 course meal. A memorable end to a perfect day.
2. Slowing down in San Pancho
San Pancho is a much more laid-back version of Sayulita. It’s the ideal place to relax and stroll through the quiet streets and explore the many boutique shops, pottery stores and cafes. However, the street tacos and hibiscus juice from Tacos Al Pastor Diaz were the highlight. The Al Pastor was perfectly cooked, and the salsa bar and other toppings kept me coming back for more.
Relax at Tierra Tropical Beach Club
For those in search of a more luxurious beach experience, head to Tierra Tropical. The food is flavourful and fresh, and the cocktails are innovative and creative. Visitors can lounge in hammocks near the pool or rest on a quiet beach. However, there is also a third option: to simply walk around and appreciate the phenomenal decor.
Whether it be the bustling streets of Sayulita or the warm welcome of locals, it became clear that Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit are ready to welcome tourists and will not be defined by the news headlines. Every destination has its ups and downs, but after a week in paradise, I can confirm that it would be a grave mistake to take Puerto Vallarta off the bucket list.
Start planning your trip now! Visit https://visitpuertovallarta.com/ for more information.
For more destinations in Puerto Vallarta, including Islas Marias, check out our article here.
