A One-Day Itinerary for Puerto Vallarta

• 8:00am - Breakfast at Fredy’s Tucan: Start your day with a delicious breakfast at a local institution. Try the chilaquiles verdes or the banana pancakes. This is the perfect spot to fuel up before a day full of exploration.
• 9:00am - Walk Along the Malecon: Stroll along Puerto Vallarta’s iconic boardwalk, which overlooks the ocean. Admire the sculptures and street performers while taking in the stunning views. Keep an eye out for the Friendship Fountain and the famous Puerto Vallarta sign.
• 10:30am - Visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens: Take a taxi or bus to the breathtaking Vallarta Botanical Gardens, which are located about 45 minutes south of the city. Explore the vast collection of orchids, palm trees, and other tropical plants. Don’t miss the bird watching tower or the river walk.
• 1:00pm - Lunch at El Arrayán: Head back to the city for a gourmet lunch at El Arrayán, which serves traditional Mexican cuisine with modern twists. Try the cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish, or the chiles en nogada, which are stuffed poblano peppers.
• 2:30pm - Relax on Los Muertos Beach: Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun and surf at one of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular beaches. Rent an umbrella or lounge chairs, or bring a towel and find a spot on the sand. Grab a drink from one of the many beach vendors.
• 5:30pm - Sunset at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz: Head up to this scenic overlook for one of the best sunset views in Puerto Vallarta. The hike up to the top is steep but short, and the reward is a panoramic vista of the ocean and city below.
• 7:00pm - Dinner at Tintoque: Enjoy a romantic dinner at Tintoque, a chic seafood restaurant in the trendy Emiliano Zapata neighborhood. Try the aguachile, a spicy shrimp-based dish, or the grilled octopus with black garlic.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Fredy’s Tucan (breakfast): 100 MXN, 1 hour
• Malecon (walk): free, 1.5 hours
• Vallarta Botanical Gardens: 250 MXN, 3 hours
• El Arrayán (lunch): 450 MXN, 1.5 hours
• Los Muertos Beach: free, 3 hours
• Mirador Cerro de la Cruz (sunset): free, 1.5 hours
• Tintoque (dinner): 600 MXN, 2 hours
• Total Estimated Costs: 1450 MXN (excluding transportation)

Transportation

To get around Puerto Vallarta, you can take a taxi or Uber, which are both readily available. Alternatively, you can use the city’s public transportation system, which consists of buses that run throughout the city and along the coast. Fares are very cheap, with most rides costing less than 10 MXN. If you’re taking a taxi, make sure to agree on a price before getting in the car.

To get to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, you can take a local bus from Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town. The buses leave roughly every hour and cost around 70 MXN each way.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider taking a boat tour of Puerto Vallarta’s coastline or visiting the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a stunning church located in the heart of the city’s Old Town. If you have less time, consider skipping the Vallarta Botanical Gardens or cutting your beach time short. Bring plenty of sunscreen and be prepared for high temperatures and humidity.