Destination guides

Puerto Vallarta guides

Everything worth knowing to explore Banderas Bay: beaches, islands, villages, whales and ways to get out on the water.

The bay, place by place

Islands & beaches
Marietas Islands and Hidden Beach: what you should know
What the Marietas Islands are, how access to Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor) works, what to see in the national park and how to visit from Puerto Vallarta.
20°42′ N · Off Punta de Mita, Nayarit
Plan your trip
Where to take a boat tour in Puerto Vallarta
Where boat tours leave from in Puerto Vallarta (Maritime Terminal, Marina Vallarta, Los Muertos Pier, Boca de Tomatlán) and how to choose yours.
20°39′ N · Maritime Terminal (Puerto Mágico)
Towns & villages
What to see in Puerto Vallarta: places you can't miss
Puerto Vallarta's must-sees: the Malecón, downtown, the Romantic Zone, viewpoints, beaches, Los Arcos and the bay seen from the sea.
20°37′ N · Malecón and Our Lady of Guadalupe
Islands & beaches
Snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya: what to see and how to go
A guide to snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya in Puerto Vallarta: what you'll see, when to go, how to get there and how to protect the area.
20°33′ N · Off Mismaloya, south of town
Islands & beaches
Las Ánimas, Quimixto, Majahuitas and Madagascar: beaches you reach only by sea
A guide to the beaches on Puerto Vallarta's south coast with no road access: Las Ánimas, Quimixto and its waterfall, Majahuitas and Madagascar.
20°30′ N · By boat or by trail
Towns & villages
Yelapa: Puerto Vallarta's village with no road
How to get to Yelapa, what to do in the village and on the beach, the waterfall and tips for your visit from Puerto Vallarta.
20°29′ N · Southern end of the bay, Jalisco

Whale watching in Banderas Bay: season and what to expect

December — March

In season

Whale watching in Banderas Bay: season and what to expect

When to see humpback whales in Puerto Vallarta, what behaviors you'll see and how to choose a responsible whale-watching tour.

Read the guide

The bay, place by place

Marietas Islands and Hidden Beach: what you should know

Where to take a boat tour in Puerto Vallarta

What to see in Puerto Vallarta: places you can't miss

Snorkeling at Los Arcos de Mismaloya: what to see and how to go

Las Ánimas, Quimixto, Majahuitas and Madagascar: beaches you reach only by sea

Yelapa: Puerto Vallarta's village with no road

Whale watching in Banderas Bay: season and what to expect

Plan your trip