The Ultimate 5 Day Puerto Vallarta Itinerary
Are you wondering how to best spend five days in Puerto Vallarta?
If you are staying at a resort, there are often a lot of activities and things to do right on the property. However, I prefer to get out and see experience the town and surrounding activities when I visit a new place.
I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta twice now, once on a couples trip with my husband and another couple and once on a girls trip. Both were about 5 days long, and this itinerary pulls inspiration from both of my trips.
If you’re looking to get out and explore Puerto Vallarta, keep reading this itinerary for your vacation inspiration!
How to Get to Puerto Vallarta
Before we dive into the Puerto Vallarta itinerary, let’s review some details on how to get to there. There is one international airport and it’s relatively small.
Several airlines, such as Delta, Southwest and United provide direct flights from major cities across the US, including Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis and more. We flew direct from Minneapolis on Delta.
Getting through customs took us less than an hour. There is an initial passport check, luggage claim and then final customs. It is pretty similar to most of the airports I’ve been to in Mexico (it went much faster than the Cancun experiences I’ve had recently).
There are plenty of taxi drivers and transportation companies waiting for you at the airport once you’re through customs. I typically recommend booking with a company ahead of time so you can thoroughly look at reviews and costs ahead of time. I often use Viator to book our airport transport.
Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
There are SO many options on places to stay in when you visit Puerto Vallarta. The city isn’t a giant metropolitan, but it is big and there are key differences to certain neighborhoods.
The Hotel Zone is a clear choice to check out. This area is in close proximity to a lot of shops and restaurants. Many of the hotels are directly on the beach and you can find something in a range of budgets.
Zona Romantica is an area filled with charm and history. Walk along the cobblestone streets among small businesses and plenty of restaurants. This area is quieter and away from the beach. It is within easy walking distance to the pier and the Malecon boardwalk.
The South Zone is where several of the larger chain resorts are, but there are smaller boutique options as well. This area is beautiful as it has lush green surroundings and stunning views of the ocean. There are quaint beach towns such as Mismaloya. This area is an easy taxi ride to Zona Romantica or the pier/boardwalk areas.
I personally stayed at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta in the South Zone. Hyatt properties tend to have better rates for credit card points redemptions, so that was a factor in our decision.
You can also stay near the marina or downtown. These areas tend to have more locals and less tourists. Staying near the marina may be a good choice if you plan to do boat excursions and it is conveniently close to the airport.
Here is a list of some hotel options I’d look at:
- Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta – family friendly, but also good for couples (South Zone)
- Hilton Vallarta Riviera All Inclusive – great for families with teens (South Zone)
- Garlands Del Rio – boutique hotel in the hustle and bustle (Zona Romantica)
- Secrets Vallarta Bay – Adults Only (Hotel Zone)
- The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta – conveniently located by the airport (Marina)
How to Get Around Puerto Vallarta
Wondering how to get around Puerto Vallarta? This will depend a bit on where you are staying and how much you will be going out and about. There are an abundance of taxis and this is how I would recommend getting around for most people.
For most people, a rental car is not necessary. Parking can be very limited and rental cars often come with a lot of extra fees. If you are taking a taxi to/from one or two places a day, it will cost less than a rental car. Plus, it will be much less stressful!
There is also a public bus. We didn’t end up taking the bus at all, but I heard from several others that it is pretty easy to figure out!
Day One: Malecon Boardwalk
Alright, let’s get started! This itinerary is assuming you want to get out and explore, but also want to have some time to relax and enjoy your vacation. Many of the activities only take a few hours, so you’ll still have time each day to enjoy activities like a dip in the pool or reading on the beach with a drink.
After you’ve settled into the place you are staying in Puerto Vallarta, you’ll head off to the Malecon Boardwalk. This is a pedestrian only boardwalk along the ocean. It is the perfect spot to stretch your legs after a long flight! All along the boardwalk you’ll find restaurants, souvenir shops, unique art installations, street performers, tequila bars and various street vendors.
The boardwalk is a bustling, vibrant area. I love it because it has something for everyone. Shopping, food, drinks, art and the ocean – nothing can beat that combination! If you walk quickly you can spend as little as an hour on the boardwalk. We ended up eating and stopping places along the way and spent about 3 hours enjoying the area.
We had lunch at The Sea Monkey on the beach. Service was good and the food was ok. There were people approaching us to buy things nonstop while we were sitting there and that honestly got very annoying. There are plenty of restaurant options along the boardwalk!
If you like cocktails, we thoroughly enjoyed having a drink on the rooftop at The IK Bar. It is a stunning place to watch the sunset and has fun, unique vibe. The staff was very accommodating when we were there for our short visit.
There is a lively nightlife with clubs and bars in the area, fireworks and shows right along the beach. It is a fun, lively spot for an evening out!
This area can be very busy and prepare to be approached by people selling things regularly. If that’s not your vibe, you may want to skip it or walk closer along the ocean as it can be a little quieter off the actual boardwalk.
Day Two: Scuba Diving or Snorkeling
As an avid scuba diver, I wasn’t going to miss out on diving while we were in Puerto Vallarta. You can read my full post here about Scuba Diving in Puerto Vallarta.
We had an incredible diving experience with Banderas Scuba Shop and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to go diving. We also did some snorkeling as part of another tour, which you’ll hear more about in day 3.
If you’re looking for snorkeling, there are great destinations near Puerto Vallarta! Los Arcos and The Marietas Islands are very popular snorkeling locations that are both accessed by boat. Both are protected National Parks.
Los Arcos is closer and many of the snorkel tours there last 3-4 hours. The Marietas Islands are a further boat ride that will take about an hour each way. These tours are more commonly 6-7 hours.
Prepare to see a ton of wildlife! Puerto Vallarta is home to turtles, rays, octopus, eels, pufferfish and so much more. When we were scuba diving Los Arcos we were lucky enough to see giant manta rays right near the surface!
In the winter months, the water can be quite cold. Be sure to pack a wetsuit, towel and warm clothes for after your snorkel. Summer months the water is much warmer. Don’t forget your reef safe sunscreen!
Day Three: Explore Yelapa via Party Boat
Get ready to party! When we were in Puerto Vallarta, we booked this tour via Viator as we were interested in visiting Yelapa and it seemed like a fun way to make it happen.
The tour goes out of the cruise ship terminal (Puerto Magico), which is north of the hotel zone. It’s a bit of a process to board the boat, as you have to go through security lines and metal detectors.
Once you’re on the boat, the tequila shots (and anything else you could want to drink) start flowing. They provide a small continental breakfast plate of food and you’ll head south down the coast.
There is about an hour of cruising time. Our cruise director, Ricky, made sure the music was blasting and worked hard to keep everyone in joyful spirits. There are a lot of staff members on the boat and no one will go thirsty or hungry.
First stop was in a little bay near the shore. Passengers on the boat have several options of first activities including paddleboarding, snorkeling and kayaking.
When we went in January, the water was cold and it was a bit of a cloudy day so it was actually a bit cold for the water activities. We still went snorkeling but many people chose to just hang out on the boat and relax.
Next up was our stop to Yelapa. It is a very small town, only accessible by boat. There are only about 1,500 residents in this quiet beach town. You will need to transfer from the larger tour yacht to smaller boats to get to the dock. The tour gives you about an hour to explore the town.
There is a church, a cute cafe and drink stand right at the pier, vendors selling products like bags, jewelry and more trinkets. You can wander the streets and enjoy a local moonshine (warning – it is VERY strong!).
There is a waterfall just outside of town, that is a nice short hike that takes about 10 minutes. Note, this is NOT the jungle waterfall, which is a much longer hike. It is a pretty easy walk up there, although not handicap accessible unless you hop on an ATV ‘taxi’.
After the hour in Yelapa, you’ll get back on the yacht and start cruising back to the port. If you are visiting Puerto Vallarta in December – March timeframe, there is a high likelihood you’ll get to enjoy humpback whale season. We were there in January and saw MANY out on the tour. The crew was great about slowing down so we could watch when they were near.
Day Four: Jungle Adventure
Not only are there beautiful beaches and ocean activities, but Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by stunning jungle. It is definitely worth exploring for a day of your trip to Puerto Vallarta.
There are many different jungle tours that include driving ATVs, ziplining, exploring waterfalls and more. Most of the tours last 4-5 hours, depending on which activities are included. Here are a few of the top rated ones in the area:
If you aren’t interested in the more adventurous jungle activities, check out the Vallarta Botanical Garden instead! It is a stunning location in the mountains, easily accessible via taxi or bus.
The Botanical Garden offers beautiful foliage as well as hiking trails. You can also swim in the river and enjoy a meal or snack at the restaurant there. Pack your swimsuits, bug repellent and sunscreen!
Day Five: Food Tours + Chocolate Making + Tequila Tasting
The last day of your trip is all about soaking in the TASTE of the local culture before you have to leave. Puerto Vallarta has incredible food and drinks that you will miss once you are back home!
There are several incredible walking food tours in the Zona Romantica. This is the perfect way to try several different types of food and drink in a short amount of time. I love these types of tours as you also get to hear more information about the ingredients and the traditions and history of the food and drinks.
Check out these top rated food tours in Puerto Vallarta:
If you’re a sweet tooth and love chocolate as much as I do, you should check out the Chocolate and Truffles workshop. Learn about the process of harvesting cocoa beans and turning them into the chocolate you love. Then, make some of your own!
Final Thoughts!
There you go! I hope this 5 day Puerto Vallarta itinerary inspires you to plan your trip and experience all this beautiful spot has to offer. From the ocean to the jungle, it is a treasure trove of activity and beauty.
Enjoy your time in Puerto Vallarta!
