Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
1.Puerto Vallarta International Airport** — Marina Vallarta; arrive, luggage, and allow ~1–15 hours for immigration, bags, and.
Arrive at Puerto Vallarta International Airport in Marina Vallarta and allow roughly 1–1½ hours for immigration, baggage collection, customs, and finding your transfer—longer if several international flights land together. Prearrange a hotel transfer or use the authorized taxi booths inside the terminal; app-based pickups can be inconvenient at the airport. Once checked in, keep the afternoon light, drink water, and change into sandals and breathable clothes rather than trying to launch straight into sightseeing.
Take an easy one-hour walk along the Marina Vallarta Boardwalk, following the waterfront past the boats and restaurants. This is a good first taste of the bay without committing to a long excursion, and the flat path is comfortable with walking sandals. Stop for a cold drink if the heat is lingering, but keep valuables close and avoid leaving bags unattended while taking photos. If you have luggage or a late room, most hotels can store it while you stroll.
Continue to the Faro Lighthouse for sunset if it is open; the climb and viewpoint take about 45 minutes, and the views are especially worthwhile as the boats and mountains turn gold. Opening access can vary, so treat the climb as a bonus rather than the centerpiece—wear shoes with grip and bring water. Return to Marina Vallarta for dinner at Porto Bello Bistro Lounge, allowing about MX$400–700 per person for a relaxed seafood meal. A taxi from the lighthouse area is simplest after dark; confirm the fare before leaving, and keep a light sweater or cover-up handy for the breeze and air-conditioning.
Start with breakfast at Café de olla, a relaxed local-style spot near Emiliano Zapata, then wander south through the quieter residential streets toward Isla Cuale. The market and riverside paths are good for browsing handmade crafts, huichol beadwork, and inexpensive souvenirs; go earlier for cooler temperatures and less intense sun. From there, walk along Basilio Badillo and the lanes around Lázaro Cárdenas Park, where galleries, small design shops, and cafés make for an easy, unhurried morning. Wear your walking sandals, carry water, and bring a light cover-up for shops.
Have lunch at El Campanario, just behind Guadalupe Parish, for traditional Mexican dishes in a shaded courtyard—try chilaquiles, pozole, or seafood when available. Afterward, continue toward Los Muertos Beach for a swim or a few hours under a palapa. Mantamar Beach Club is convenient if you want loungers, showers, and food service; otherwise, choose a beach restaurant and ask about minimum consumption before settling in. A taxi from the Romantic Zone back toward your hotel typically costs about MX$80–180, while a local bus is cheaper but slower; keep valuables in your daypack rather than taking the whole beach tote.
Return to the waterfront for the Malecón sculpture promenade around sunset. The public sculptures are best appreciated on foot, and the light is usually softer from roughly 5:30 PM onward in March. For dinner, try La Palapa on the beach for a polished setting or Tacos Revolución for a more casual meal; reservations are sensible for the former, especially during busy travel periods. Finish with a drink at El Colibrí, a small cocktail bar in Centro, or simply stroll the illuminated promenade. Bring your lightweight sweater or pashmina—the evening is generally pleasant, but restaurants and taxis can be heavily air-conditioned.
After reaching Nuevo Vallarta, begin at El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary, where a guided visit takes about an hour and focuses on crocodiles, birds, and the fragile wetland habitat around the bay. Aim for an early arrival, when temperatures are more comfortable and wildlife is generally more active. Confirm the day’s opening hours and tour availability before setting out; admission and guided-visit prices commonly fall around MX$150–300, depending on the package. Wear closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat—the paths can be sunny and muddy after rain.
From the sanctuary, take a short taxi ride toward Nuevo Vallarta Beach and settle in for an unhurried 2½-hour swim and sun session. Bring your dry bag, reusable water bottle, and a cover-up for walking to nearby restaurants or shops; use only designated swimming areas and keep valuables minimal. The beach is broad and relaxing, but shade can be limited, so renting a palapa or arriving with your own lightweight towel is worthwhile. Allow roughly MX$100–250 for a local taxi between stops, depending on the exact pickup points.
After the beach, have a light lunch nearby, then head to Estero del Salado for the planned guided mangrove ecology outing, which lasts about 1½ hours. This is the day’s most timing-sensitive activity: guided departures and access can vary, so reserve or confirm the outing in advance rather than assuming you can join on arrival. Expect a close look at mangrove channels, resident birds, and the estuary’s role in protecting Nuevo Vallarta from flooding. Bring insect repellent, water, and sun protection; avoid flip-flops if the route includes uneven boardwalks or damp ground.
Finish at Porto Bello Bistro & Lounge for a relaxed beachfront-style dinner, allowing about 1½ hours. Budget approximately MX$500–800 per person before drinks, and consider arriving around sunset, when the setting is at its best. A short taxi ride from Estero del Salado is more practical than walking, particularly after dark; ask the restaurant to call a licensed taxi for the return journey. Keep the evening easy—tomorrow’s Yelapa boat outing requires an early start, so confirm your morning transfer and water-taxi arrangements tonight.
Leave Nuevo Vallarta around 7:00 AM by taxi or Uber for Los Muertos Pier in the Zona Romántica; allow 35–60 minutes, depending on traffic, and keep extra time for finding the pier and buying a same-day water-taxi ticket. Boats to Yelapa generally take 45–60 minutes, but schedules and fares vary with season and sea conditions, so confirm the return departure before boarding. Carry cash, a dry bag, sunscreen, water, and your microfiber towel—the landing can be wet. Once in Yelapa village, settle in at Yelapa Beach for roughly two hours; beach chairs and food service are available, though prices are higher than in town.
From the beach, follow the inland path toward Yelapa Waterfall, a shaded but uneven hike taking about 1½ hours round trip. Wear the closed-toe sneakers or hiking shoes from your packing list rather than flip-flops, and use insect repellent; the trail can be slippery after rain. Return for lunch at Gloria’s Restaurant, a casual local seafood spot where you can expect to spend approximately MX$250–500 per person. Order something that cooks quickly if you have a fixed return boat, and keep cash handy—card acceptance and connectivity can be unreliable.
After lunch, take an unhurried hour through Yelapa village and artisan lanes, browsing small galleries and craft stalls rather than trying to fit in another excursion. Walk back to the pier well before your intended departure—boats may wait for passengers, but surf, weather, and changing schedules can create delays. Allow 45–60 minutes for the ride to Los Muertos Pier, then arrange your taxi or Uber back to Nuevo Vallarta; if traffic is heavy, the return can take closer to an hour. Keep your cover-up accessible for the pier and transport, and save the smart-casual outfit for dinner rather than wearing it on the boat.
Take the morning water taxi from Yelapa to Boca de Tomatlán, allowing 30–45 minutes on the water plus time to disembark and arrange onward transport. Aim to arrive around 8:00–9:00 AM, then walk up from the beach landing through the compact fishing village to the pier. Confirm the last boats back before leaving Yelapa; schedules can shift with sea conditions, and cash is essential. At the pier, arrange a local panga to Quimixto—the short ride generally takes about 15–20 minutes and costs roughly MX$100–250 per person each way, depending on the boat and group size.
Spend about 45 minutes around Boca de Tomatlán watching the pangas load, browsing the small shops, and buying water or a simple snack before boarding. At Quimixto Beach, settle into the sand for a swim and an easy couple of hours. Keep your dry bag close and avoid leaving phones or valuables unattended; the beach is relaxed but facilities are basic. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and your microfiber towel, and use sandals with firm soles rather than flip-flops for the next section.
From Quimixto Beach, follow the inland trail toward Quimixto Waterfall. The hike takes approximately 1–1½ hours round trip, with uneven, sometimes muddy ground and a few shallow stream crossings. Closed-toe sneakers or hiking shoes, insect repellent, and plenty of water will make a noticeable difference. The waterfall’s flow varies by season, so treat the pool as a refreshing stop rather than relying on a dramatic cascade. Allow enough time to return to the beach and catch a panga back to Boca de Tomatlán; agree on a pickup point and departure time before starting the hike.
Back in the village, have a late lunch at El Volador, a casual riverside seafood restaurant. Expect about MX$300–600 per person for a meal, depending on drinks and the day’s catch. Order something simple and local—grilled fish, ceviche, or shrimp—and take a shaded table overlooking the river. After lunch, catch a south-coast bus toward Puerto Vallarta or arrange a taxi from Boca de Tomatlán; allow roughly 45–60 minutes to reach town, with traffic making the bus slower at busy times.
After arriving in Sayulita and dropping your bags, head straight to Sayulita Beach for an unhurried start. The main beach is lively and convenient, though the water can have stronger shore break than it first appears—swim near the busier central stretch and ask a local instructor about conditions before entering. A beginner surf lesson is a good fit here; expect roughly MX$800–1,500 depending on group size and board rental. Allow about 2½ hours, including time to change and rinse off. Wear your long-sleeve linen shirt or rash guard if you have one, and keep valuables in the hotel rather than your beach bag.
From the beach, walk a few minutes into Centro for the Sayulita Farmers Market, if it is operating that day. Market schedules can change seasonally, so treat it as a flexible stop rather than a guaranteed one; browse local snacks, fruit, handmade goods, and crafts for about an hour. Continue on foot to Sayulita Plaza, where the colorful decorations, shade trees, and surrounding cafés make for easy people-watching. This is a good place to pause with a cold drink rather than adding another formal activity.
Spend the afternoon at your own pace—your hotel pool, a shaded café, or a short siesta will be welcome after the morning in the water. Around golden hour, walk toward the north end of town for the Sayulita coastline viewpoint walk. The route is generally easy, but uneven pavement and sandy paths make grippy walking sandals preferable to flip-flops. Give yourself about an hour and time the return so you are back near town before it gets fully dark.
Finish at Don Pedro’s Restaurant & Bar for sunset seafood dinner. Dinner is approximately MX$500–900 per person before drinks and tip; arrive a little before sunset if you want a prime ocean-facing table, since seating and sunset timing vary by season. Bring a light cardigan or pashmina for the walk back, and confirm the restaurant’s current hours locally—Sayulita businesses sometimes adjust schedules during the quieter season.
Leave Sayulita around 7:00 AM if you are taking the ATM or Compostela bus toward Puerto Vallarta; allow 1–1½ hours for the ride, the walk or taxi connection from the highway, and the onward drive south to Vallarta Botanical Garden. A private taxi is more practical with luggage and a fixed schedule. Once there, spend about three hours on the orchid paths, riverside trails, and shaded jungle walks. Wear your closed-toe shoes, bring insect repellent and water, and check the garden’s current opening hours before leaving—hours and admission policies can change seasonally. The garden is south of town, so a taxi back toward the center is usually easier than trying to coordinate local buses.
Have lunch at Hacienda de Oro Restaurant inside the garden, where the mountain setting is the real highlight; allow about an hour and budget roughly MX$350–700 per person. Afterward, return toward Puerto Vallarta and continue to Los Muertos Beach in Zona Romántica. Plan around two hours for a final swim and an easy beach break. The water can be lively, so stay near the busier swimming area, keep valuables minimal, and use your cover-up when walking into nearby shops or restaurants. If you have luggage, arrange for your accommodation to hold it rather than taking it onto the sand.
From Los Muertos Beach, walk north through Zona Romántica and across toward the Río Cuale craft market in Centro—roughly 15–25 minutes depending on the route and browsing stops. This is a good place for last-minute textiles, small artworks, and locally made souvenirs; carry cash in smaller pesos and compare a few stalls before buying. Finish at La Cervecería Unión for dinner and cocktails overlooking the bay. Reserve or arrive early if you want a terrace table, especially during busy March evenings, and budget approximately MX$500–900 per person. Keep the evening relaxed: this is the best point to confirm your accommodation and airport transfer for the following departure rather than adding another attraction.
No packing list attached yet.