Top Jalisco Outdoor Activities

Drive an ATV through the Sierra Madre Mountains on a half-day adventure from Puerto Vallarta. You’ll splash through jungle rivers, pass quaint villages, and get a glimpse of the real Jalisco, far from crowded resorts. Choose between a 3- and 4-hour trip by ATV, and spend the day exploring the Puerto Vallarta countryside, with both morning and afternoon departures available.

Explore the rainforest outside Puerto Vallarta on a thrilling UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) adventure. Get a brief safety tutorial and a lesson in driving the 4x4 Polaris RZR UTV. Then, throw on a helmet and goggles and hit the trails. Stop for a hike to a hidden natural pool where you can swim, relax beside a waterfall, and munch on light snacks included in the tour. 

Get off the beaten path and follow the Cuale River for a half day of outdoor fun. In an open-sided buggy you'll venture down dirt roads, through villages and countryside, seeing a side of Puerto Vallarta that many travelers miss. Stop at a natural pool surrounded by jungle in the Sierra Madre mountains. Enjoy views from the highest point above the river, then head down the mountain for tequila tasting.

Embark on an electrifying off-road adventure through small towns and along mountain trails on your own ATV. This 3-hour thrill ride ride beginning in Puerto Vallarta winds through the Vallejo valley to a local ranch, where you take a dip in a waterfall and enjoy the serenity of the surrounding rainforest. Your return trip includes an opportunity to refuel at an authentic Mexican eatery (own expense).

Climb aboard a luxury yacht for a sightseeing cruise in Puerto Vallarta. Experience the natural beauty of the Bay of Banderas during this boat trip. Go snorkeling or paddelboarding during the excursion and keep an eye out for wildlife including dolphins, turtles, and tropical fish. Relax on deck and admire views of the coastline around Puerto Vallarta. Drinks and snacks are included.

This guided tour takes you from Guadalajara to the Guachimontones ruins, a prehispanic archaeological site known for its circular pyramids. Not only does a guided tour streamline transportation for an easy trip, but it also comes with the benefit of a guide to explain and inform about the ancient culture that once called the ruins home.

Feel your pulse race during an exhilarating half-day of extreme activities in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains from Puerto Vallarta. Venture deep into an atmospheric jungle park to soar down Mexico’s longest zip line. Keep adrenaline levels high by rappelling down treetop platforms to suspended bridges, then ride in a powerful jeep and cascade down a rushing waterslide to the rainforest floor below. A safe and unforgettable experience is guaranteed on this family-friendly, small-group tour, where numbers are limited to 14 people.

Soar through the treetops of the rain forest straight into a tequila bar during this canopy tour, which begins with an optional speedboat ride. On Puerto Vallarta’s first-ever zipline circuit, cover two miles (three km) on strong cables suspended 328 feet (100 meters) in the air and enjoy panoramic vistas. Conclude the exhilarating experience with time to swim, kayak, and race down a waterslide, or greet the diverse wildlife of the on-site menagerie. 

This fully customizable private half-day ATV tour takes you through Puerto Vallarta to El Eden for a jungle adventure. With just your family and friends, enjoy a variety of landscapes as you drive your all-terrain vehicle through downtown, along a highway and into the woods of El Eden. Choose from a variety of stops: to swim in rivers, visit a charming fishing village and see a filming location for the movie ‘The Predator.' Experience a different side of Puerto Vallarta with this tour ideal for riders with previous experience on ATVs.

Satisfy an appetite for adrenaline on a thrilling 6.5-hour outdoor adventure tour from Puerto Vallerta. Enjoy an exhilarating ecological experience packed with challenges and fun on this Puerta Vallerta Adventure; ride on a super-fast speedboat; rappel down rushing waterfalls; ride powerful 4x4 jeeps; soar over the tree tops on zip lines and cross suspended rope bridges hanging high above the jungle. This tour is the ideal way to spend an exciting day outdoors on your Puerta Valletra vacation.

Explore the magnificent marine life of the Mexican Pacific and the Bay of Banderas on an exciting full-day tour from Puerta Vallarta. Snorkel to observe an incredible underwater wonderland; kayak in the warm waters of the Marietas Islands; and watch for exotic birds flying in their natural habitat. Look out for dolphins, whales, giant manta rays, and sea turtles as an experienced guide directs your attention to the wonders of nature on this eco-adventure.

Immerse yourself in the magical mysticism of Las Caletas by night with an enchanting evening excursion from Puerta Vallarta. Watch the sun sink into the shimmering sea as you sail to a secluded beach surrounded by rugged rock formations. Dine upon a gourmet 3-course meal by candlelight before watching the renowned Rhythms of the Night show, a stunning spectacle that promises to transport viewers to a spiritual land that time forgot.

Satisfy your appetite for adventure on a morning or afternoon private ATV experience from Puerto Vallarta. Climb aboard your powerful ATV vehicle and discover spectacular scenery at your own leisurely pace; see impressive mountains, virgin beaches and rushing rivers as you drive on a variety of terrains. Customize your private tour according to your interests and learn about the heritage and geology of the area from your expert guide.

Spend hours at your leisure in the forests, bays, and beaches outside Puerto Vallarta. This relaxing day trip takes you to the nearby villages of Yelapa and Majahuitas. A light breakfast and buffet lunch are served on the boat where you’ll have access to sandy shoreline and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters.

Discover the secluded and sublime Las Caletas nature reserve on an enchanting full-day tour from Puerto Vallarta. Venture to Mexico’s answer to the Garden of Eden during your excursion to the coastal haven of Banderas Bay; stroll through the atmospheric jungle on the hunt for diverse wildlife; experience an authentic cooking class; or let the stress slip away on the golden sands of the beach. Enjoy a light breakfast, fulfilling and flavorsome buffet lunch in addition to an open bar on this family-friendly adventure.

This half-day tour near Puerto Vallarta combines several adventures in the morning or afternoon. After an ATV tour, take a dip in the Canopy River, then ride a zipline course through the treetops with the Sierra Madre Mountains as your backdrop. A short mule ride to Jalisco ends with a tequila-tasting session.

Discover wildlife in their natural environment with this half-day tour in Puerto Vallarta. Climb aboard a boat with a biologist guide and utilize a hydrophone to find dolphins based on their sounds. Go swimming with wild dolphins and keep an eye out for a range of marine life including turtles, rays, and more. Support marine ecology research with this wildlife-focused tour.

Active outdoor enthusiasts will love this snorkeling tour to the Marietas Islands. It includes time at the Hidden Beach, a beautiful strip of sand and sea that only a select few tourists get to see each day because of limited permits. On the boat ride out you may enjoy sightings of dolphins, turtles, manta rays, and whales, while underwater you can check out a colorful array of tropical fish.

Puerto Vallarta doesn’t just have great beaches. It’s also a renowned birthing hub for humpback whales. Get a close-up peek of the larger-than-life marine mammals on this exclusive whaling cruise, which includes entertaining onboard commentary from your guide. You also enjoy free onboard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, plus a tasty buffet lunch spread and continental breakfast.

Get into the spirit of adventure by taking this exciting ziplining tour. Fly above the treetops and then go rappelling down cliffs. Finally, hop on an innertube to float down the Cuale River. Once finished, get on a donkey who will ride you back to the starting point where you will indulge in a tequila tasting.

Get away from the Puerto Vallarta crowds with this combo ATV off-road and zipline tour. Easily navigate over rugged backcountry roads in your ATV—you go up in elevation and catch incredible views along the way—and then soar down an 8-cable zipline course. Photo and video footage is included, too, for extra value.

Being the national drink of Mexico, tequila plays an important role in the country's culture and history. Delve deep into the tequila- and mezcal-making experience during this full-day excursion through the state of Jalisco. Visit a local distillery to learn about the manufacturing process, enjoy a tasting at a local venue, and stop at the town of Tequila to explore.

Leave Puerto Vallarta behind to explore one of Mexico's last hidden vestiges: San Sebastián, tucked within the Sierra Madre. On this tour, take in scenes of daily rural life as you travel by comfortable vehicle into the mountains toward this colonial enclave. Meander among its whitewashed structures with your guide, see remnants of its mining past, and simply enjoy a town mostly untouched by tourism. Lunch is included.

Enjoy a day of speedboating, ziplining, and relaxing at a secluded beach on this half-day tour in Puerto Vallarta. Take a boat ride to the southern shore of Banderas Bay, glide through the jungle on a zipline, do a tequila tasting (included), and grab lunch at a riverside restaurant. Check out an animal sanctuary with a variety of birds and monkeys and kick back at a beach with water toys.